A bit more information.
I tried to make a disk image of the "English Data Disk" with toast thinking that I could mount that and maybe it would help if it was installing it from a file on the HD as opposed to a DVD. The creation of the disk image failed and toast warned that there were errors on the disk. I tried it again with the error correction turned on and it got stuck at 4%.

So even though my disk mounts and the data instals, I think its bad.

I bought iListen 1.8 from a Canadian mail-order house, then "crossgraded" to MacSpeech Dictate for $29. I had a heck of a time doing this, as the web site kept trying to charge me $79 instead of the promised $29 for the upgrade. After multiple e-mails to MacSpeech, I finally got past that, and the CD package arrived about a week later by FedEx ground in a plain cardboard sleeve mailer. The plastic CD case was cracked, but at least the CDs were ok. The software installed without a hitch on my 2.6 Ghz MacBook Pro running 10.5.2.

I have FileVault enabled, and this doesn't seem to present any sort of problem. Dictate can still keep up with me talking at normal speed. The touted high accuracy of the program for ordinary speech is real and pretty amazing when you first play with it. I've tried it both with the Plantronics DSP-200 headset supplied with iListen, and the MacBook Pro's internal microphone, with ambient noise reduction enabled in the System Preferences/Sound/Input control panel. The internal mic is almost as accurate. Unfortunately for me the program is still unusable as it lacks a spelling mode, and any capability to train it to recognize unfamiliar words - core competencies of any speech recognition program for professional use. These are promised in a future free upgrade - hopefully soon! In the meantime I'm going back to ViaVoice for OS X, which works well in my Tiger partition, but is virtually unusable in Leopard - hence the need for Dictate.

- Bob

I want to thank you for posting a solution to my Macspeech problem!

I received a new set of disks from Macspeech yesterday (Saturday) but had the same problem. Apparently the new data disk would not load as the it was reading that the data (albeit faulty) was already loaded. Once I used your method to remove the faulty data and reinstall everything worked.

Many thanks. Maybe Macspeech should hire you on as Chief Support Guru!

I'm glad I'm not the only one that thinks the "crossgrade" process was weird. I have owned iListen for a long time and I didn't feel like I was treated any better. They really should have just said that they were changing the name of the product to Dictate, and since it was completely new, they needed to charge an upgrade price... but since current customers had been patient and loyal while they improved the product they were making that price as fair as possible (maybe around $59 or $19 for anyone who purchased it in 2008). Everyone would have been much less touchy and likely more tolerant of these problems. I know I would have.

Crossgrade is a term you use when you offer a discount to someone you want to steal away from a competing product. I made it seem like they didn't feel they owed me anything for my patience with the quite flawed iListen. I don't get software companies sometimes. I just can't figure out how they could be so out of touch. Maybe its just me.

Well, I am glad you got it installed, from my research it would appear that the problem is not universal. I can't wait to start my tech support phone adventure monday morning. : P

You know, if I were them... I would have people working this weekend answering phones and emails... once again. Guess its me thats out of touch with the way things are.

Sorry to hear you guys and gals are having problems with Dictate. I had no problems installing and running on my MacPro and Ibook c2d 2.0ghz, Santa Rosa chipset.

Just an FYI, their support can be a bit slow, sometimes you will get a response in a couple of days, sometimes over a week. They will respond. Second, the crossgrade update process is kinda screwy (at first it tried to charge me $79 instead of $29), but I did receive my DVDs after a few weeks.

Feel free to check out my videos and reviews of Dictate at
http://cerebreality.com/?p=121 & http://cerebreality.com/?p=124



I am an academic, there are no ads on my site, just posts on some Mac goodness. If there is anything I can do to help you so far as testing or trying to get Dictate to work, I'd be happy to try.

I got the same "tier 2" BS today. I am absolutely positive the data DVD is bad. Is anyone out there willing to make a dmg so we can "test" the theory and prove they supplied bad DVD's?

For those who've been having problems with their English data disks, I saw this on Mac Speech's web site today
(http://www.macspeech.com/article_info.php?articles_id=293)

Limited Data Disc Problem Notification

Our disc duplicator recently notified us that Data Discs may demonstrate a higher than normal failure rate for discs produced prior to March 20, 2008. The cause of this issue has been corrected. However, anyone experiencing difficulty mounting or using the data disc, or if the disc when mounted is not named "MacSpeech English Data," should contact MacSpeech, Inc. technical support for a replacement. We sincerely apologize for any inconvenience.

I am having the same problem with creating a profile. I've been dealing with these guys for almost 3 weeks now. I don't know what their problem is but it is getting harder and harder to get in touch with them. Every time they sent me an email they ask me for something different and now they are asking for stuff that I already sent to them. On top of that, I have installed it on 3 different computers and it didn't work on any of them. I think they have major problems and are just stalling for time. They need to be more honest and find a solution. I am worried that they are going out of business and we are going to be stuck with this useless product.
Caveman

I'm 15 minutes into soft rock/jazz songs on the phone hold system at the moment... its weird. Some are very short. I just start to groove on one and it abruptly ends. Then the next seems to go on forever. The songs actually stop each time the voice comes on to say please hold. All this just to get started with help. I emailed them days ago but I assume that action carries no weight.

10 min later: My cell phone is getting hot, but you know the minute I put it down on speaker, thats when they will come on, not think I am on the line and hang up cause they can't hear me.

10 min later: I did put the phone on speaker finally... couldn't take the sweaty ear. Literally dozed off a couple of times as I am bored as hell. I am starting to worry about how hot my phone is getting.

44min total wait for a 4 min conversation in which the person basically told me he would send me a questionnaire in an email. : )

I don't want to bust these guys chops too bad... I need them to succeed. But I really hope they get it together.

I called a second time today, and their level one guy acknowledged (a mere few hours after my first call) that- yes, they are replacing DVD's. It will be 7-10 days shipping. I suggested a .dmg download. The kid I spoke with agreed- said he suggested it to company. Problem is the blame game. They are pointing the finger at the DVD duplicator company and vice versa. If you ask me, they are the big, visible company. Doesn't matter what specific step caused the problem- it's their product and they are selling it. They need to accept the responsibility for this problem.

They are willing to accept the accolades (best in show, etc.) without paying compliments to their DVD duplicator company; so, they should likewise accept responsibility for the bad DVD's. It's their product. No one cares if their subcontracted partner is to blame. Maybe they should have found a more reliable partner. As the captain of the ship, it's your job to get everyone home. Period.