ZEB B  Spend some time looking at: http://textware.com/overview/overviewpage.htm

The bottom line is that Instant Text does not depend on learning abbreviations or on typing the starts of words. As an example not mentioned on the web page, I use a shorthand based on NoteScript by Lawrence Hawkins (at amazon.com). There are a few specialized abbreviations, but most of the savings comes from elimination of vowels ( e.g. "elmntn of vwls"). Instant Text learns a system like this with very little training.  
(Version 4.2)

ZEB B  None of these programs holds a candle to Instant Text by Textware in Windows. For a serious typist, Instant Text is reason enough to stay with a PC or to run Windows in a virtual machine.

Wanted: a dev to partner with Textware and port Instant Text to the Mac.   
(Version 4.2)

MUUSER  Most recent version posts only a blank screen when the pref panel is selected (Typeit4me 4.2 purported to work with Snow Leopard but no go here). No apparent solution in sight (none offered in response to two email reports of this problem). Reinstalling 4.1.2 (as per prior comment) corrects the problem -- but that version is not available in the links on the download page on the developer's site.  
(Version 4.1.3)

SLOB  Developer - get your versions right. The download results in version 4.1.2. So the 'upgrade' results in a hang.  
(Version 4.1.3)

WRITESTUFF  I've used this for years and just can't do without it. Yes it can be a little slow, but with so many features I can accept a few drawbacks. User names, passwords addresses, etc., all at a click of the mouse. What more do you need?

Now there is the auto spelling, with the Mac voice 'Whisper' to tell you when you've got it wrong and key clicks for odd words.

Marvellous and thank you.  
(Version 4.0.3)

MMUECK  I've been using this product for over a year and have been at the developer for most of that time to deal with an infuriating issue with the text expansions. I've found the developer to be much more interested in adding features than fixing issues. On the average, about once in every couple dozen expansions (I have a library of over 2500 expansions) the expanded text gets all mangled e.g. the result is some combination of the abbreviation and the final text, or it fails to include the trigger character, or the expansion occurs in the middle of the following word etc. It's true you can really blast along typing at higher speeds (although I'm just a medium speed 4 finger peck and shoot typist), but I'm sure spending a lot of time having to meticulously proof read the result of my typing to fix all the expansion mangling. I also own Typinator and TextExpander and they don't have this problem. The ONLY reason I've been putting up with TypeIt4Me is because it does single-character expansions and the competition didn't. I've been urging the developer of Typinator to implement this feature and he's finally released a version that does it! However, his implementation has a couple killer limitations that must to be addressed before I jump ship, but he's getting there.  
(Version 4.0.2)

TUNT  I noticed a little bug in 4.0.1, starting in Off-Mode, and Riccardo fixed it in a day. TypeIt4Me works great and saves a lot of time!  
(Version 4.0.2)

SLOB  Works ok on an intel though the installation was slightly clunky (T4me not reading my default file until it was pointed to it) - but on my g4 pbook.. oops, blank pref screen even after machine restart. Lucky the previous version was backed up which still works fine. So be careful with this, looks like late beta.  
(Version 3.2)

MACAL  Bought this a LONG time ago and never really used it so almost forgot it. Then, on a whim, I dowwnloaded the latest version. WOW!

Much, much better intergartion and performance than I remembered. Is now a 'must' when installing/reinstalling.  
(Version 3.0.1)

WILMA  A fantastic and indespensible program! I use TypeIt4Me all day, every day, in both Classic and OS X. Unlike Spell Catcher (which I use like a dictionary for looking up words), TypeIt4Me shares the SAME shortcuts file for Classic and OS X -- so you can instantly change, add, or delete a shortcut from either interface, and it updates both!

TypeIt4Me is fantastic for:

+ Correcting commonly mispelled words (such as "teh" for "the")

+ Email signatures and tag lines, phone numbers, addresses, etc.

+ Shortcutting long or difficult-to-spell words, phrases, and names

+ Shortcutting common phrases and names that you type a lot

It takes only seconds to add, modify, or delete a shortcut, which makes TypeIt4Me very handy for typing a document with a bunch of repetitions of some name or phrase, then deleting the shortcut afterwards.

I use this program hundreds to thousands of times per day. It has speeded up my typing, reduced my spelling errors, and made my life a lot easier.  
(Version 3.0b31)

DAYCARE  I tried all of the similar app's I could find because T4M is too expensiv - but all of the ones I've tried slowed down the system. When blind-typing, I was faster than those app's (leaving junk all over the text)

So far, T4M is the best of all (I've tried) - but has some issues in the german version: Pref panel won't let You turn T4M 'ON' again because of placement of the sensitive areas (radio button is not visible where the 'sensive' part lies, translation lacks)

Beside of this: Please, Mr. Developer, lower the prize!

:-)  
(Version 3.0b31)

VEGGIEDUDE  I have been using this since System 8. This beta version is the best version so far of typeit4me - until now I have been mostly dissatisfied with the OS X version, performance wise and asthetically. But this new version finally has it the way it should have been for OS X. Be sure to log out after installation, as the expansion triggers did not work for me until I had restarted my machine.  
(Version 3.0b22)

HARRISTYPE  TypeIt4Me used to be the only show in town, but now there are a couple of others: Typinator, which has a of $19.99, and Textpander, which is free. I have been using Textpander for a couple of months, and must say that there is no justification in paying $27 for TypeIt4Me. Textpander is the best of the lot when you consider price, functionality, and integration with the OS. Textpander is also a preference pane, which what the others SHOULD be. Before I get flamed by the users of TypeIt4Me, remember, this is my opinion, and I have used all three.  
(Version 2.3)

RICHARD DALZIEL-SHARPE  I have been using TypeIt4Me almost since its inception. I find it absolutely indispensable, saving me hundreds of keystrokes a day and never intruding as some other " helpful" text entering applications do.   
(Version 2.1b3)

FARIBORZ AMIRSHAHI - VERONA (ITALY)  If you do a lot of repetitive typing then you owe it to yourself to buy TypeIt4Me. This amazing software sits aside silently and takes control only when a certain abbreviation is typed - extremely handy when you type business letters and repetitive phrases gobble half of your precious time. I can't recommend it enough!   
(Version 2.0)

JAMES KATT  I'm glad TypeIt4Me X 2.0 finally shipped. It's been a long wait. I'm sure people who use it will be pleased.

However, because of the buggy 1.0 version, and the long waiting period for 2.0 to be finally released, I have moved on. I found that Spell Catcher can do everything TypeIt4Me can do AND spell checking in all applications as well. Spell Catcher can also immediately correct your spelling as you type. Spell Catcher also allows you to have two-word abbreviations which can then be automatically expanded. It does so much more than TypeIt4Me that I'm not going to look back. Spell Catcher has been also stable.  
(Version 2.0)

BOBWEINER  TypeIt4Me is an excellent utility -- it does what it is supposed to do, and does it well. The author has always been very responsive to my emails. The time this program has saved me is easily worth the asking price.  
(Version 2.0b6)

ANDREW  I couldn't seem to figure out how to open any sort of program once I installed and restarted, and I'm an experienced Mac user. Frankly, I don't trust it.  
(Version 2.0b6)

ANONYMOUS  TextExtras can do this for free too. $27... what a ripoff  
(Version 2.0b6)

ANONYMOUS  There is a free (donation-ware) alternative. Butler. Create custom pasteboards with your text and assign abbreviations. Call up your abbreviation in Butler and have the full text entered into text docs, forms in web browsers, anywhere you normally enter text.   
(Version 2.0b6)

ANONYMOUS  I love the App but there seems to be a problem where if you choose 'Add New' but don't have anything on your clipboard, the error message that tells you that will not go away. You cannot force-quit it either (I am sure you could through the terminal but...).

Doesn't crash the machine but does render itself useless.

Also on installation, it plays around with the input method settings - I use the japanese input method.

I was able to go back and reset things easily enough but again...

Panther -   
(Version 1.0)

ANONYMOUS(BUT NOT MY EMAIL)  wow! I was looking for the middle ground in these reviews and it turn out to be a vast area. From I can,t live without it to the killing of the industrial strenght OS. Where is the middle ground? I have to pass on rolling the dice.  
(Version 1.0)

MATHMN  I installed OS 10.3. I have had some bugs with TypeIt4Me since. I love this utility. It's been on my computer since it was first introduced years ago. I went through about 5 system changes. Now I'm tring to retinstall and it gives me an error message.  
(Version 1.0)

FLASH  A Six star appl' I can hardly function without it. I was reluctant to migrate to O S X without   
(Version 1.0)