Philips 720 Transcription System: Still Worth It?

The Philips 720 transcription system sits in countless medical offices and law firms, gathering dust. This foot pedal and software combo was once essential for converting recorded dictation into documents. But here's the thing: it's basically a glorified play button with extra steps.

What You're Actually Getting

The Philips 720 isn't a dictation device. It's playback equipment. Someone else records audio, then a transcriptionist uses the foot pedal to control playback while typing everything manually. Think of it as a very expensive way to make someone else do all the work.

The foot pedal has four controls. Play, pause, rewind, fast-forward. Transcriptionists tap these with their feet while typing. After weeks of practice, good transcriptionists can handle about 15-20 minutes of clear audio per hour. Bad audio? Double that time.

The Real Cost Nobody Mentions

Sure, the hardware costs $300-400. But that's nothing compared to the ongoing expense. Professional transcriptionists charge $60-120 per audio hour. Even if you train internal staff, you're paying someone to sit there for 3-4 hours typing up each hour of recordings.

One doctor I spoke with was spending $3,000 monthly on transcription. That's a car payment. For typing.

Why Some Offices Keep Using It

Honestly? Sunk cost fallacy. They bought the equipment years ago, trained their staff, and switching seems harder than continuing. Plus, some transcriptionists genuinely prefer the foot pedal control. They've built their entire workflow around it.

The hardware rarely breaks. Philips built these things to last, which is both good and bad. Good because your investment works forever. Bad because you're stuck with outdated technology that works just well enough to avoid replacing.

The Alternative That Makes Sense

Modern dictation software like Dictation Daddy skips the middleman entirely. Speak, get text. No foot pedals, no waiting three days for transcription, no paying someone to type what you already said.

The Philips 720 made sense when it was invented. Today, it's like insisting on using a typewriter because you already own one. Yes, it still works. No, that doesn't make it a good idea.

If you're considering the Philips 720 system today, don't. If you already own one, calculate what you're actually spending on transcription annually. That number will probably convince you to try something modern like Dictation Daddy that turns your voice into text immediately.

The foot pedal was innovative in 1995. Now it belongs in a museum.