“The improvements in the latest release of ViaVoice, Version 8,
include better voice control over the Windows desktop and a shorter
setup time (but reading the training scripts out loud still takes
about three times as long as NatSpeak’s five-minute blurb).
NaturallySpeaking 5, for its part, has beefed-up features for
e-mail and Web browsing.”
“All but the most basic versions of these programs let you
control the computer itself by speaking (opening menus and
switching programs, for example). Versions of each program can
transcribe recordings from certain pocket voice recorders. But
NaturallySpeaking is more accurate than its rival, and its commands
are more natural; to capitalize a word, for example, you just say
‘cap before pronouncing it.”
“The equivalent ViaVoice command is ‘capitalize this,’ which can
tie your tongue into knots when you dictate, for example, ‘How
Green Was My Valley.’ On the other hand, ViaVoice is the only
dictation program available for Linux.”