Olympus DS-7000

It's hard to swallow $500 for the DS-3500, and even harder to justify the extra $100 for the DS-7000, when the DS-3500 delivers almost all the same features. The strength of both of these devices is in their security features and content-management software.

Fast and responsive; Sensitive mic; Large recording capacity; Index marks on-the-fly for noting important points in a recording; Can adjust playback speed without affecting tone; Voice-activated recording; Real-time file encryption and password protection

Very expensive; No automated transcription; Takes time to grasp features and software

Good quality recorder.

I have used the Olympus digital recorders for many years. This one works quite well. The only drawback is a slow reverse on the slide bar. This has been a long term problem that has not been addressed.

Might require an upgrade to your transcription software

I needed the slider switch, and this is why I went with this unit. It replaced a Sanyo unit that I had for many years, that became obsolete when I upgraded my computer to Windows 7 from Windows XP and the old Sanyo became incompatible.

Outstanding Item!

I work in a mid-size law firm and all the attorneys are set up with these DS7000. They work great, are reliable, and allow the rest of staff to transcribe efficiently and with professional results every time.