LightSpeeders:

Here is the information I've gathered for the service contract for your LightSpeed.
FYI, please keep your contact information current with Stenovations so that when they send out notices of contracts, etc., you will be sure to receive them.

Stenovations is allowing every LS user (who purchased the writer new from Stenovations) to buy in to the service contract for $300, IF you buy the contract within 30 days of receiving notice of the contract.

The support contract for one year is $300. You must buy the contract within 30 days of the receipt of the email which was sent out (assuming you've had your writer the full year).

If you buy a support contract outside of the year, it is $300 plus a $200 penalty, for $500.

If you have had your writer less than a year, the contract will be available at the one-year anniversary for $300. You will be sent notice from Stenovations. You will have 30 days to purchase the contract at $300. If you do not purchase the contract and decide later to purchase it, it will be $300, plus a penalty of $200, for $500. If you then re-up the contract after the next year, it is $300.

If you have bought your LightSpeed used from someone other than Stenovations, your first support contract will be $300 plus the $200 penalty, for $500, then $300/year after that.

The contract covers defective parts, software upgrades, tech support. It does not cover damage caused due to misuse, etc.

Loaners: Loaners, based upon availability, will be sent out if repairs cannot be done within 48 hours of receiving writer.

They are mulling the per-call support suggestion.

You do not have to be on an active support contract to use the trade-in option on the "next generation" of LightSpeed. You do have to be the original purchaser to use this trade-in option. The current redesign of the key overlay (from individual hard keys to a rubber-like overlay) is not a new generation.

Success?!

Bright and early Saturday morning, my LightSpeed and went to Prince Institute and sat for the Certified Realtime Reporter examination. We had a good test!

Certified Realtime Reporter exam

I took the CRR test Saturday on my LS. I'm hopeful that I passed. I stacked a couple of words with the period, leaving "B" for "about." and another capital letter for another word/period stack. I think I saw about three untranslates, and a few "s" or "ed" endings which shouldn't have been in the word. But no time to replace words from the writer; it was stressful enough to just write it!

I'm aware of one other LightSpeeder who was taking the exam. Waiting to hear from you, Tina!

Taking CRR with LS

Today is the big day -- I'm taking the Certified Realtime Reporter examination on the LightSpeed.

NCRA Midyear conference in New Orleans

I had a great time working with Carmen Santone at the Midyear Conference in New Orleans, a city I adore.

The highlight was the LightSpeed vendor seminar by Mark Kislingbury, with me as the helper. I didn't have much to say. Mark is amazing and did a great presentation. We had many reporters stop and try out the LS, plus a few LS owners. I got to meet some of the Depoman people, which was neat.

Johnny Jackson sent a prototype of an improved LS. The key overlay is one piece, eliminating the spaces on the sides of the key which allowed light in (in very, very bright conditions) and caused problems with the light refraction. The prototype's key surface was like a hard rubber, with the keys molded into it. A different feeling, but I think I liked it. Some of the keys had small ridges at the top (bottom row consonants) or the side edge (vowels) which made it easy to find your "home" position.

I would bet that by the Annual Convention there will be an even more improved prototype, if not updated model available.