The scoop: Dragon NaturallySpeaking Version 9, from Nuance Software, pricing from $100 to $200 (or higher), depending on edition offered (basic, preferred or professional).

Click to see: Naturallyspeaking speech recognition software

What it is: The latest speech-recognition software from Nuance, Version 9 of Dragon NaturallySpeaking includes improved speech accuracy (company claims 20% more accuracy than Version 8), support for additional applications (including Mozilla Firefox and Thunderbird), and less training required than previous versions. With the software, users can dictate letters and e-mails (with Outlook support, among others), and conduct Web browsing by using their voice instead of a keyboard. The professional version came with an Andrea Electronics anti-noise headset (microphone and headphone combination), so we didn't need to use a third-party microphone (this may vary with the other editions).

Why it's cool: It's been a while since I looked at speech-recognition software, and accuracy was important to me. After a quick training session, in which I read some text and the software scanned some of my columns and e-mails to assess my writing style, I was ready to go. As long as I spoke relatively clear and at a normal pace (Nuance recommends not speaking slowly or too quickly), the software figured out what I was saying. I also enjoyed being able to scan, reply to and delete e-mails without having to use a mouse and keyboard. When mistakes were made, I could easily correct them. For heavy-duty users, the advanced features, including letting you create custom voice commands (macros) and specialized vocabulary additions, were impressive.

Some caveats: I think and type at the same time, so when I write a column there are stretches when nothing happens because I'm trying to think of the right word or phrase. With speech, you have to know what you want to say before you say it. While the editing functions let you change words and phrases after you're done with the initial dictation, it takes time to get comfortable with the software.

This version seemed to work only with Windows 2000 and XP; we couldn't try this on a new Windows Vista system, and it looked like Version 9 wouldn't be available for Vista. Nuance says a Windows Vista version is "coming soon."

Grade: four stars (out of 5)