But (and this is so cool), when in the Pilot Desktop ToDo module, I can simply click the New button, click in the ToDo field, and dictate my action item. This gets me fully up and running with my PalmPilot.

There are some definite limits to NaturallySpeaking. The software initially crashed on me repeatedly and eventually stabilized into a usable state, although it still crashes on occasion. It took a very long time before recognition became anywhere near tolerable. The company claims over 95 percent recognition, but I'm living somewhere around 80 percent. Even so, I can write articles like this and do my job.

There were two other problems. First, the documentation is pretty weak, especially in the very critical area of getting recognition up to usable quality. Second, when installing NaturallySpeaking, the Dragon Systems installer chose to install a DLL that conflicted with my Visual C++ compiler. The suggestion by the technical support staffer that I constantly switch DLL versions when I want to run in NaturallySpeaking or my Visual C++ compiler was less than helpful.

Nonetheless, if you happen to be in a situation like me where speech recognition is suddenly essential to your daily functioning, NaturallySpeaking will get you through, despite occasional frustration.

So that has been the story of my last week and a half. If you haven't seen me on the PowerBoards or I've been slow in responding to my email, now you know why. Have fun, take care, and watch your step.

David Gewirtz is the Founder and Chairman of Component Enterprises, Inc. He is the Editor-in-Chief of PalmPower Magazine, published by Component, and The Insider for Lotus cc:Mail, published by The Cobb Group division of Ziff-Davis. He is also the author of "The Flexible Enterprise" and "Lotus Notes Revealed!"