Forum: CAT Tools Technical Help
Topic: Is there a need for multiple CAT tools?
Poster: Mario Chavez
Post title: Eye of the beholder
[quote]DJHartmann wrote:
I'm coming to the end of my 3 year Wordfast license and am wondering, after my very positive experience with it, whether it's even worth considering other CATs?
What is the opinion of those who have multiple licenses for this expensive software? [/quote]
What one person considers expensive may be a bargain to someone else. That applies to anything used as a tool. Would I be happy with a $2.00 toothbrush or a $6 toothbrush? A $5 task chair or a $50 one?
Different texts and different clients require different workflows and tools. It's best to be the versatile translator and not a cheap one who relies on freeware and obsolete tools. But it's in the eye of the beholder. I suppose a recent college graduate can ill afford to purchase a software program for $400 a license when cheaper, basic options exist.
On the other hand, paying for quality tools (which usually involves investing in brand-recognized programs and tools) adds to the professional image we all try to cultivate. Taking a page from the book of a sister profession, graphic design, a single license of Adobe InDesign used to cost more than $400 (and even more years ago). Now Adobe has a subscription structure, typically $40/month for a single program; they have student discounts starting at $20/month (they also have yearly subscription rates). Now, we all like to draw comparisons but we often forget to make sensible ones. For instance, if I consider a Trados 2017 license for $400 (an example, I don't know the exact price right now), I may feel tempted to compare it to a) the monthly cost of food for one person in my household, b) a set of four new tires (tyres) for my car, or c) a one-way airfare from New York City to London, UK. However, those comparisons are useless.
And to answer your question, it's a qualified yes: you need multiple CAT or TEnT tools if you want to grow professionally as a translator (that is, serve different clients in different specializations and markets).
Topic: Is there a need for multiple CAT tools?
Poster: Mario Chavez
Post title: Eye of the beholder
[quote]DJHartmann wrote:
I'm coming to the end of my 3 year Wordfast license and am wondering, after my very positive experience with it, whether it's even worth considering other CATs?
What is the opinion of those who have multiple licenses for this expensive software? [/quote]
What one person considers expensive may be a bargain to someone else. That applies to anything used as a tool. Would I be happy with a $2.00 toothbrush or a $6 toothbrush? A $5 task chair or a $50 one?
Different texts and different clients require different workflows and tools. It's best to be the versatile translator and not a cheap one who relies on freeware and obsolete tools. But it's in the eye of the beholder. I suppose a recent college graduate can ill afford to purchase a software program for $400 a license when cheaper, basic options exist.
On the other hand, paying for quality tools (which usually involves investing in brand-recognized programs and tools) adds to the professional image we all try to cultivate. Taking a page from the book of a sister profession, graphic design, a single license of Adobe InDesign used to cost more than $400 (and even more years ago). Now Adobe has a subscription structure, typically $40/month for a single program; they have student discounts starting at $20/month (they also have yearly subscription rates). Now, we all like to draw comparisons but we often forget to make sensible ones. For instance, if I consider a Trados 2017 license for $400 (an example, I don't know the exact price right now), I may feel tempted to compare it to a) the monthly cost of food for one person in my household, b) a set of four new tires (tyres) for my car, or c) a one-way airfare from New York City to London, UK. However, those comparisons are useless.
And to answer your question, it's a qualified yes: you need multiple CAT or TEnT tools if you want to grow professionally as a translator (that is, serve different clients in different specializations and markets).