Customer Reviews
Don't expect much from the "rolodex" feature, and the readout is dim.
I just got this item (the more expensive model, by the way), so I have not had much time using the dictionary functions. However, I have a couple of caveats. First, the screen needs to be backlit more than it is. There is not sufficient contrast between the background and the type to make it easy to read. It has the option for reading e-books, but I think it would be annoying to try to read this display for any length of time because it is so dull. The "rolodex" function is very basic. It defaults to first name alphabetization. There is no space for email addresses, which is bizarre in 2006. You can probably fit in more than one phone number, but not identify which number is which if you do. There is barely space for one address. I am most disappointed in this device because of the dim readout, but the Fred Flintstone rolodex is a big letdown as well.
Very Pleased Overall!
I bought this so that I could quickly look up new words as I encountered them while reading. Before, I would just write them on a piece of paper, then look them up later in a book-form dictionary. Using this electronic dictionary makes it possible to learn the word's definition immediately (virtually at the moment I encounter it).
I wasn't much impressed with the battery life until I switched from using the alkalines to rechargeable "AAA" NiMH batteries (Powerex brand 800mAh is what I use; these can be gotten at thomasdistributing.com - I heartily recommend them and the appropriate charger they have for these batteries!). Battery life improved dramatically with the rechargeables!
There 'have' been a couple of incidents in which this unit froze-up on me while I was playing a couple of the games (namely, Hangman and Letris); I took the batteries out, then put them back in and the unit went back to working just fine. Unfortunately, if you happen to have anything stored or saved on the unit (words saved in the databank, for instance) they are wiped out and you have to start from scratch.
My tastes may be extreme, but I wish this device had more entries for the lesser heard of words and phrases that one encounters consistently if one is a voracious reader; there is, nevertheless, a great many entries for these to be found within. It is just a guess, but maybe every 7 or 8 words that one has not even heard of will be found there.
I like that you can instantly and easily store and recall up to 40 words at any given time in a database; that way you can go to them later and learn them at your leisure. It would be nice, however, if more that 40 could be stored within, because I filled it with 40 words in pretty short order.
Conclusion:
I recommend this electronic dictionary as a very useful tool in improving one's vocabulary and as a worthy companion to the traditional book-form dictionary.
Excellent!
This dictionary is very complete and it has the option to be used as translator with additional cards. The cards for other languages like Spanish and Italian are very complete. The cards provide word gender information and examples on how the words can be used.
Cons: speaking dictionary for English or Spanish: the sound is not clear at all. It is a little bigger than expected.
