Another useful feature is the ability to add words to the dictionaries used by Transcriber. The program comes with a main dictionary, but you can also add words to a user-specific dictionary. You do this by highlighting the word and then making a motion similar to a tall and skinny "U", basically down and then straight back up. This action, known as Quick Correct, would normally launch a small keyboard filled with punctuation characters, but with a word selected, it activates a dictionary function instead. This function displays a list of words to choose from for correction, and if the word is not already in the dictionary (ironically enough, "Transcriber" was not) you'll be given the option to add it to a user-specific dictionary. This improves Transcriber's ability to recognize the word in the future.

The tests
The ultimate tests for an SIP are usability and accuracy. To test accuracy, I simply began writing. Understand that descriptions of my handwriting range from illegible to psychotic (my wife's opinion), mostly due to a bad habit of combining both cursive and printed characters in an inconsistent manner. To my surprise, as difficult as this makes deciphering my writing for most people, Transcriber was both adept and accurate. So, in a bid to totally throw it, I attempted writing completely in cursive. (I gave this up in college, as it became difficult for me to read my own notes.) To my total amazement, not only did Transcriber still recognize my words, but its accuracy actually improved!

To test usability, I did the unthinkable. I spent an afternoon writing the first draft of this review on Pocket Word using Transcriber exclusively. Once again, it delivered. I've attempted such writing exercises using previous versions of Windows CE's Notes. While I was able to outline effectively, I was never able to enter text efficiently enough to write whole sentences. Although not as quick as typing on a full-size keyboard, Transcriber allowed me to effectively write a first draft in fairly decent time. I found that the speed was more than adequate for taking notes in meetings as well.

Room for improvement
While I was extremely impressed overall, there are a couple of choices I question. One is the choice of motions for both Enter and Quick Correct. The motion for Enter resembles the icon on the Enter key on your keyboard. You move your stylus down a short distance and then to the left. It looks simple enough, but takes some practice (see Helpful Hints below). The Quick Correct motion mentioned earlier gave me similar problems. Half the time I used it, it was interpreted as a character rather than producing the desired result. Understandably, you'll eventually run out of useful gestures for such things, but the ability to customize the gestures might be helpful.

I also question the fact that Transcriber was not installed in ROM with the Operating System itself. The utility is extremely useful and well done, but takes over 800k of RAM. I think Microsoft or one of the Pocket PC manufacturers should have included it in the basic installation or operating system. Transcriber can give the Pocket PC a built-in advantage over the competition and save RAM space for MP3s at the same time.