Asterisk

I just got my asterisk to start learning steno and so far it's great. The only thing that could be better is if there was a way to change the default sensitivity in the firmware as it resets every time the keyboard is plugged in. I'm sure there is a way to do this in the firmware, but that's for someone smarter than me to find out and make a video or something on how to do it.

100% satisfied with purchase. Just now learning steno. Laptop keyboard live at same time as Asterisk keyboard. Touch screen functions perfectly. You can add new definitions on-the-fly. On line courses are very good and there are many. The Discord app has a problem solving and question group. I use Compose key (ctrl-r) within Plover. Plover works good in Linux. If the manufacturer produces another similar keyboard with perhaps a split or perhaps an additional row I will be the first to buy it. Kudos! First class product.

I typically use a Lumi II at work. I got the Asterisk so that I could use embedded steno on my court-issued laptop and impress people. So far, no one has actually noticed, but I do like the board very much. It's not a replacement for a professional machine and I don't think that it purports to be, but since people often ask me "Can I use this for work?", I thought I'd put it out there.

I find that I much prefer the touch sensors to keyboard switches.

My accuracy isn't as good on this as I'd hoped, but it's too early to say if it's my fault, the board's fault, or a combination of both. And I'm very happy that the sensitivity is adjustable.

Haven't used it for extended periods of time; so I can't say how it holds up with long-term use yet. Perhaps soon I'll have more to add.

Only thing I'd change is perhaps some tactile reference for vertical boarders between keys. I know I can add those myself as well. I also know that the computer in the middle of all the board requires the vowels to be spaced out and the layout overall to be split and the asterisk key to be split... but I wish they didn't have to be, honestly. I, however, have small hands and find the traditional steno machine layout span to be perfect. I know that many people find the traditional machine experience to be too smooshed; so this layout may be good for others.

All in all, a great product.

-Elizabeth Tremmel, RPR

I'm still new to steno - still in the 30 WPM range. But I wanted a board that would both be silent and able to translate steno on-board. (I want to use it to take notes in church and in-person meetings.) Lo and behold, this board comes out doing all the above...and it's the least expensive Stenoboard yet! The spacing is tighter than the Georgi, so I'm having to spend some time getting used to it. But it's everything I was hoping for, and I'm quickly getting better with it.

Thank you StenoKeyboards!

As always, I write my messages and emails to you guys on the stenomachine I purchased from you. The Asterisk is amazing! It might take a bit to get used to, but within 30 minutes I was writing up to 175 words a minute, and I am sure I’ll hit my highest speed as usual within a couple of hours. It’s an interesting machine that has grooves that you can feel your way around the keyboard. Looking at the picture, you don’t see the grooves, but the black lines in between the keys are actually grooves that you can feel. I love the Uni and have used it on jobs remotely, yet love this one even more. With the silent Asterisk, I could use this on in-person jobs or remote jobs as a CART captioner. I recommended this to several other CART providers I know. It takes a little time to get used to and it’s a great back up machine for them, for me I’ll use it regularly. I am so thankful for stenokeyboards.com, for their innovations and I imagine the next development will be steno gloves, typing on the thighs. I used Velcro dots on the four pads on the back of the machine, to attach to a lap board, for easy positioning on my lap. This is the only enhancement I made. And no, I don’t expect the developer to provide a lapboard. This special and amazing stenokeyboard is only $50, a lapboard can be had for $10-$20 on Amazon. The Velcro dots are something like six dollars for a couple dozen of them. Only need four of them. I bought two of the keyboards, and love the heck out of the first one I opened.

Also, for those thinking about this as a career, I would definitely start off with a keyboard like the Asterisk, $50 instead of $5000. All too often, I see machines on eBay that people have spent a fortune on and decided court reporting was not for them or CART captioning was not their thing.

— Mark Crossley, RID/SCL&CSC, NAD/MasterV, CCRA/CCG, Certified Court ASL Interpreter and Certified CART Captioner

I just got my asterisk to start learning steno and so far it's great. The only thing that could be better is if there was a way to change the default sensitivity in the firmware as it resets every time the keyboard is plugged in. I'm sure there is a way to do this in the firmware, but that's for someone smarter than me to find out and make a video or something on how to do it.

100% satisfied with purchase. Just now learning steno. Laptop keyboard live at same time as Asterisk keyboard. Touch screen functions perfectly. You can add new definitions on-the-fly. On line courses are very good and there are many. The Discord app has a problem solving and question group. I use Compose key (ctrl-r) within Plover. Plover works good in Linux. If the manufacturer produces another similar keyboard with perhaps a split or perhaps an additional row I will be the first to buy it. Kudos! First class product.

I typically use a Lumi II at work. I got the Asterisk so that I could use embedded steno on my court-issued laptop and impress people. So far, no one has actually noticed, but I do like the board very much. It's not a replacement for a professional machine and I don't think that it purports to be, but since people often ask me "Can I use this for work?", I thought I'd put it out there.

I find that I much prefer the touch sensors to keyboard switches.

My accuracy isn't as good on this as I'd hoped, but it's too early to say if it's my fault, the board's fault, or a combination of both. And I'm very happy that the sensitivity is adjustable.

Haven't used it for extended periods of time; so I can't say how it holds up with long-term use yet. Perhaps soon I'll have more to add.

Only thing I'd change is perhaps some tactile reference for vertical boarders between keys. I know I can add those myself as well. I also know that the computer in the middle of all the board requires the vowels to be spaced out and the layout overall to be split and the asterisk key to be split... but I wish they didn't have to be, honestly. I, however, have small hands and find the traditional steno machine layout span to be perfect. I know that many people find the traditional machine experience to be too smooshed; so this layout may be good for others.

All in all, a great product.

-Elizabeth Tremmel, RPR

I'm still new to steno - still in the 30 WPM range. But I wanted a board that would both be silent and able to translate steno on-board. (I want to use it to take notes in church and in-person meetings.) Lo and behold, this board comes out doing all the above...and it's the least expensive Stenoboard yet! The spacing is tighter than the Georgi, so I'm having to spend some time getting used to it. But it's everything I was hoping for, and I'm quickly getting better with it.

Thank you StenoKeyboards!

As always, I write my messages and emails to you guys on the stenomachine I purchased from you. The Asterisk is amazing! It might take a bit to get used to, but within 30 minutes I was writing up to 175 words a minute, and I am sure I’ll hit my highest speed as usual within a couple of hours. It’s an interesting machine that has grooves that you can feel your way around the keyboard. Looking at the picture, you don’t see the grooves, but the black lines in between the keys are actually grooves that you can feel. I love the Uni and have used it on jobs remotely, yet love this one even more. With the silent Asterisk, I could use this on in-person jobs or remote jobs as a CART captioner. I recommended this to several other CART providers I know. It takes a little time to get used to and it’s a great back up machine for them, for me I’ll use it regularly. I am so thankful for stenokeyboards.com, for their innovations and I imagine the next development will be steno gloves, typing on the thighs. I used Velcro dots on the four pads on the back of the machine, to attach to a lap board, for easy positioning on my lap. This is the only enhancement I made. And no, I don’t expect the developer to provide a lapboard. This special and amazing stenokeyboard is only $50, a lapboard can be had for $10-$20 on Amazon. The Velcro dots are something like six dollars for a couple dozen of them. Only need four of them. I bought two of the keyboards, and love the heck out of the first one I opened.

Also, for those thinking about this as a career, I would definitely start off with a keyboard like the Asterisk, $50 instead of $5000. All too often, I see machines on eBay that people have spent a fortune on and decided court reporting was not for them or CART captioning was not their thing.

— Mark Crossley, RID/SCL&CSC, NAD/MasterV, CCRA/CCG, Certified Court ASL Interpreter and Certified CART Captioner