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AIBU?

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Original poster

Can anyone recommend a laptop / scribe software for uni?

36 replies

Worriedmummy2400 · 26/08/2024 10:01

I know it’s not an aibu but traffic wise it makes sense.
For A levels my child used read write on the sixth form laptops and hated it. It stopped working during the exams 3 times in one exam and they hated using it. We need a laptop / software recommendations for essays. We are totally overwhelmed with choices for uni. Does anyone have any recommendations from experience? Thank you everyone.

OP posts:
DiscoBeat · 26/08/2024 10:46

DS14 chose this one recently and he says it's excellent - very smooth, and the pen he got with it works very well. He uses it for violin music and detaches from the keyboard so it can sit on the stand.
NB he got it direct from Microsoft and got a 10% student discount, I think.
www.johnlewis.com/microsoft-surface-pro-copilot-pc-qualcomm-c10-snapdragon-x-plus-processor-16gb-ram-512gb-ssd-13-inch-pixelsense-flow-display-black/p112051945?s_ppc=2dx92700080435419196_mixed_technology_BAU&tmad=c&tmcampid=2&gad_source=1&gclid=Cj0KCQjwz7C2BhDkARIsAA_SZKZF1kJXpq7zuYYq-fkYiVar1-689Lgyt-I5l2e7eb-3c_mHo4BypQ0aAoDMEALw_wcB&gclsrc=aw.ds

Original poster
Worriedmummy2400 · 26/08/2024 10:39

BloodyAdultDC · 26/08/2024 10:20

Second speaking to the uni op.

A number of my students' assignments were flagged for cheating due to use of scribing software - those who had approval from our disability support team were processed much quicker as they could check their Adjustment Requirements automatically. Go for whatever system the uni recommends.

Oh no! Not thought about the possibility of this. So the disabled students were not in trouble?

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Original poster
Worriedmummy2400 · 26/08/2024 10:38

Thank you! I was thinking Mac book and dragon speak from our research. But was a bit overwhelmed.

OP posts:
LucasNorth1 · 26/08/2024 10:22

Worriedmummy2400 · 26/08/2024 10:01

I know it’s not an aibu but traffic wise it makes sense.
For A levels my child used read write on the sixth form laptops and hated it. It stopped working during the exams 3 times in one exam and they hated using it. We need a laptop / software recommendations for essays. We are totally overwhelmed with choices for uni. Does anyone have any recommendations from experience? Thank you everyone.

Laptop Recommendations

  • MacBook Air (M1 or M2): Known for its reliability, long battery life, and excellent performance. macOS also has built-in accessibility features that could be beneficial.
  • Dell XPS 13: A top Windows alternative with great build quality, strong performance, and a vibrant display.
  • Microsoft Surface Laptop 5: Lightweight, with a touchscreen and compatibility with Windows apps. Also offers excellent typing experience.
  • Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Carbon: Renowned for its durability, keyboard quality, and robust security features.
Scribe Software Recommendations
  • Dragon NaturallySpeaking: Highly recommended for voice-to-text software. It's known for its accuracy and can be customized for specific vocabulary.
  • Ginger Software: Offers grammar checking, translation, and text-to-speech features, which can be helpful for essay writing.
  • Grammarly: While not a scribe tool per se, it offers real-time grammar and spell checks, which could complement scribe software.
BloodyAdultDC · 26/08/2024 10:20

Second speaking to the uni op.

A number of my students' assignments were flagged for cheating due to use of scribing software - those who had approval from our disability support team were processed much quicker as they could check their Adjustment Requirements automatically. Go for whatever system the uni recommends.

Original poster
Worriedmummy2400 · 26/08/2024 10:17

Thank you.

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Original poster
Worriedmummy2400 · 26/08/2024 10:17

We applied for dsa

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Original poster
Worriedmummy2400 · 26/08/2024 10:16

We have a call with the disability department Wednesday so I will ask. We thought we had to supply the equipment.

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Original poster
Worriedmummy2400 · 26/08/2024 10:15

Is it reliable? I’m wary as the sixth form said read write was great but it really wasn’t. They were lucky the uni course took them as the exam tanked their results.

OP posts:
KatieB55 · 26/08/2024 10:14

Contact the uni. My DD was provided laptop with software by the disability access office.

Crispynoodle · 26/08/2024 10:12

They are likely to get Microsoft office at uni. All their applications word etc. have a voice recording capability if that helps