What users say about Instant Text

I truly believe I wouldn't have CTS if I'd made the jump to IT... by Michele Gilbert

Posted February 2, 2007 on the Instant Text Forum

I'm an MT of 12 years, 10 of those with Smartype (DOS and Windows), the first 2 years with PRD. I also have carpal tunnel syndrome despite good keyboarding habits (previous musician of
20 years and ASL interpreter... in other words, my hands have
been my life).

I tried IT at the time I converted to Windows in about 2000, and instead chose my trusty Smartype (which had just come out in a Windows format) because I didn't want to brave the learning curve.
I'm presently kicking myself for that decision! :-)

I've used IT for two days now. I'm one of those insane cold turkey types, and I decided to import my ST phrases into IT and just go for it. I knew I could go back to ST at any time. I kept Word's Autocorrect running, but don't feel terribly attached to it.

My workday today (day two of the transition) took about 1 1/2 hours longer than it normally would. But I KNOW I am typing less already. The extra time is more a function of learning to quickly scan the phrases and words and getting used to using markers (my biggest struggle so far).

I truly believe I wouldn't have CTS if I'd made the jump to IT about five years ago. Talk about regrets... CTS can be a real downer. So, to recap: An MT with carpal tunnel syndrome in both hands is telling you she cranked out over 1700 (gross) lines in about 6 hours on the second day of using IT. It's only going to get better from here.

As soon as I break my addiction to the spacebar...

Michelle Gilbert

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