Installing Dragon NaturallySpeaking on my Windows 8 laptop?

They are countless laptops that now are made without DVD/CD drive. First is to keep them very thin because having one add bulk, and of course it keeps the cost low, as well.

You need to get yourself an external DVD drive. They can be bought very inexpensively and is connected to your computer through the USB port. The smaller one does not need an external power support and of course one can be used watch movies, too.

Here is one:

http://www.meritline.com/samsung-se-208db-tsbs-sli...

So you know how well Dragon NaturallySpeaking works, here is the demonstration that I created for a friend of mine. I'm using Dragon Medical, which is their top-of-the-line but nevertheless it uses the same voice recognition engine as yours. I'm using it right now to write this entire answer.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/little_pooky/10578881...

It truly is a useful program. Be sure NOT to use the netbook / laptop's own microphone and use the one that comes in the box. Built in microphone is not good enough for this.

After you install it, download the Service Pack 1, which will upgrade your copy to 12.5. There might be another upgrade, to make your copy version 12.51, too.

Best wishes

Your computer should have a CD / DVD drive installed. I've yet to see one that doesn't.

If it really doesn't have a drive, you will have to get and external drive. Best Buy and other retailers have them.