Plantronics Foldable USB Stereo Headset (Optimized for Laptop Use) (Audio 470 USB) by Plantronics
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Our Price: $129.99 Availability: Usually ships in 1-2 business days Category: CE See more digital camera details and other models |
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Digital camera reviews of Plantronics Foldable USB Stereo Headset (Optimized for Laptop Use) (Audio 470 USB)
Digital camera Review: A must add for speech recognition programs
Summary: 4 Stars
This headset is to be used for DNS [Dragon Naturally Speaking]speech recognition program version 10.1 on Vista.
Pros: easy to install on Vista, plug 'n play, excellent speech recognition, nice long cord, portable
Cons: the wires are very flimsy, the headset is not made to last, no carry case, no lighted on /off switch
As an owner of a much older Plantronics USB headset, I have read where this headset may be used in speech recognition and I am comparing my older headset with this one. Unfortunately the quality has dropped in the last few years and I do not think that this headset will put up to continuous use as compared to the older headset.
With that said, there is an interesting feature that makes this headset unique. As you can see from the picture the headset plugs into a USB dongle which plugs into your computer. I tried the dongle with a different brand headset [Adria] and it worked flawlessly.
All computers today whether they are desktop or lap top have built-in sound cards. The sound cards are usually of low quality especially on laptops. When you plug directly into your built-in sound card the quality is not good. Speech recognition suffers tremendously. That is why I started using USB headsets years ago for speech recognition and found them to be an excellent investment.
If you are having trouble with your speech recognition program, the 1st thing I would suspect is your built-in sound card. Bypassing your built-in sound card using this USB headset should have superior results.
Even though the headset is flimsy I know I can easily replace it and use the USB dongle. It would be nice to purchase the USB dongle by itself. I would suspect that the quality of ANY headset (that plugs directly into your computer) would be improved using the USB dongle.
My older Plantronics USB headset had thicker wires, a better on /off switch which had a light. This one does fold nicely and is portable however is lacking a carry case which is no problem as I had purchased an inexpensive case. Currently I am using this headset on both my laptop and desktop computer and will purchase another one.
Digital camera Review: A must for the dragon software!
Summary: 4 Stars
I read about this headset when I was buying the dragon voice recognition software. After receiving the software and the "high quality" headset that came with it, I quickly realized I should have purchased the Plantronics headset as some had suggested. It is light weight and comfortable and can be used with the USB or just plugged in. The only downside was that I could not adjust the mic more. Overall it is a great headset and could easily have been five stars! I too am suggesting the purchase of this headset if you are buying the dragon software or using it for any other type of voice recognition or microphone.Digital camera Review: Already Broken
Summary: 1 Stars
The wires are very thin. They broke within two weeks of using the product.Digital camera Review: Average Performance
Summary: 3 Stars
This item was purchased for use to create screencasts of software for self-directed learning activities. Screencasts are created with Camtasia on a Dell Latitude D830 laptop computer. The Plantronics unit is sufficient for the task. However, I find the microphone too sensitive. Sequestered in a private room while recording, I note with disappointment that laughter down the hall, the building heating system, and so forth are able to be heard as background noise.Digital camera Review: Awesome Headset
Summary: 5 Stars
I use this headset when I'm on skype and my voice comes in clear and I hear the other person beautifully. One problem I do have is that it doesn't stay on my head that well but I think someone else used it and stretched it so sometimes it feels like its loose. But, nevertheless, I am very satisfied with this headset! Definitely recommend it!