Electronic dictionaries

[MrUltimateGaijin]

i just use the DS, so it is usable. im JLPT l3ish

[vitellus]

I saw somebody use the DS for english to japanese translation and it seemed a real hassle to use compared to other electronic dictionnaries. How does it work exactly? I am also JPLT3ish level and I would need an electronic dictionary for use during my japanese course classes (at home i use the computer). Basically I would need to make quick searches on words but entering them in hiragana, and not Kanji.

What is the name of the software you use with it? what kind of functions are there? How long does the software take to load? does it have a standby mode? is it quick and easy to use if you have to search for a word every once in a while?

And most importantly, is it still possible to buy a DS?? I popped into a video game store in Shinjuku and I couldn't see one on sale anywhere...

[ttjereth]

Dunno if anybody is still interested but Amazon.jp has up to 70% off on some of their electronic dictionaries.

http://www.amazon.co.jp/gp/feature.html/ref=pe_5562_6614552_pe_r7i/?docId=1000122546&plgroup=1

I'm kind of considering either picking up one of these since they are cheap:

http://www.amazon.co.jp/Ex-word-%E6%89%8B%E6%9B%B8%E3%81%8D%E3%83%91%E3%83%8D%E3%83%AB%E6%90%AD%E8%BC%89-56%E3%82%B3%E3%83%B3%E3%83%86%E3%83%B3%E3%83%84%E5%8F%8E%E9%8C%B2-%E3%83%87%E3%82%A3%E3%83%BC%E3%83%97%E3%83%96%E3%83%AB%E3%83%BC-XD-SW4800PL/dp/B000OLFWE4/ref=br_lf_m_1000122546_1_7_ttl?ie=UTF8&m=AN1VRQENFRJN5&s=electronics&pf_rd_p=87410606&pf_rd_s=center-4&pf_rd_t=1401&pf_rd_i=1000122546&pf_rd_m=AN1VRQENFRJN5&pf_rd_r=1JHD37HMZ2H8CRWD8K1Y

Or going whole hog and buying one of these:

http://www.amazon.co.jp/%E3%82%B7%E3%83%A3%E3%83%BC%E3%83%97-%E3%82%AB%E3%83%BC%E3%83%89%E3%82%B9%E3%83%AD%E3%83%83%E3%83%88%E3%83%BB%E9%9F%B3%E5%A3%B0%E6%A9%9F%E8%83%BD%E3%83%BB%E3%83%AF%E3%83%B3%E3%82%BB%E3%82%B0%E3%83%81%E3%83%A5%E3%83%BC%E3%83%8A%E3%83%BC%E3%83%BB%E6%89%8B%E6%9B%B8%E3%81%8D%E3%83%91%E3%83%83%E3%83%89%E6%90%AD%E8%BC%89%E9%9B%BB%E5%AD%90%E8%BE%9E%E6%9B%B8-PW-TC920R/dp/B000RYWLDI/ref=pd_sbs_e_img_4

anybody ever used either of these models?

[GomiGirl]

Still expensive in my opinion - I don't like spending over 315yen a month on my dictionary needs.

[ttjereth]

[quote="GomiGirl"]Still expensive in my opinion - I don't like spending over 315yen a month on my dictionary needs. ]

I like having a dedicated dictionary and the more stuff it has the better. The big point for both of these for me was the handwriting interface, but the more expensive one actually has a lot more interesting features including dictionaries for 7 other languages and the ability to use them without a cell phone or paying cell phone bills

[GomiGirl]

[quote="ttjereth"]I like having a dedicated dictionary and the more stuff it has the better. The big point for both of these for me was the handwriting interface, but the more expensive one actually has a lot more interesting features including dictionaries for 7 other languages and the ability to use them without a cell phone or paying cell phone bills ]
15 languages just added in machine translation section. Works for single word look-ups too!!

You should be on packet hourdai plan - in fact, everybody should get with the program as this much cheaper in the long run - I hate packet fees too!!

You know I was only pulling your chain though right??? I think that there are times when *some* people like to use an electronic dictionary and that is cool. I just don't prefer lugging around an extra device. But each to their own.

Handwriting - well you have me there. That is until somebody brings out a decent touch screen device. We have the technology, just not the equipment to deploy in this market.

[ttjereth]

[quote="GomiGirl"]15 languages just added in machine translation section. ]

For language other than Japanese I am mainly interested in the incorporated phrase/travel books they have built in. I don't need to learn the language for a vacation but I absolutely hate not being able to handle at least the basics.

I'm not knocking software/web based dictionaries either. I make extensive use of them when I work, but it is nice to just have the small one to throw in a bag and such sometimes.

My cell phone is hardly ever used (seriously, like maybe 3-4 mail a month) so I have the cheapest plan on everything. When I go out, it is usually tossed in my bag or pocket and I never notice calls or mail till I get home anyway. 99% of my work related stuff is conducted through email on my pc, so blah. A lot of this stems from the fact that I hate typing on cell phone, but I'd say I'm not generally the standard customer for TangoTown, a lot of times I'd be more likely to leave my phone behind than my dictonary when I go out.

But, the expandability and special field/lingo dictionaries are nice as well.

[omae mona]

Ah, how far we have come in 9 years. We now have touchscreen mobile phones which - as a bonus feature - not only do what all these electronic dictionaries used to do, but they even read stuff for us.

irohas.jpg

[Mike Oxlong]

[matsuki]

In your best dad voice, "Does that make Japan cool?"

https://www.ana-cooljapan.com/contents/ ... NT12080059

[kurogane]

Classic stuff that gives me a pineapple penis.

How did the " thing get dropped on the smartphone version? Is that user entered?

[matsuki]

Classic stuff that gives me a pineapple penis.

How did the " thing get dropped on the smartphone version? Is that user entered?

You use google translate to take a pic and it auto-reads the text from the pic...even if it missed a tenten

[kurogane]

Ahh, cool idea, not working yet. We had a Euro tourist at the bar the other day asking repeatedly for some Manko Juice. I tried but he was so slaughtered we decided to let it go. The women were flinching every time he said it. Can anybody think of a European language where G becomes K?

[wagyl]

Maybe a white South African or Botswanan who is a native speaker of Tswana, with its postnasal devoicing? OK, that is a stretch....

[kurogane]

No, no........you might be onto something. He was muttering in something vaguely Scando-Germanic / drunk NZer and he was boorishy drunk and completely unappreciative of our efforts. Sort of a shame because we don't get many furryners down this way so when they're complete A'holes it makes it more like work than fun. There is next to no English or Roman signage so I like to help when I can but not when it's that much effort.

[wagyl]

It is imperative thet you deliver me a manko juice, rait nao!

spoken like you were born to rule.

Wagyl, currently in an area where the supermarket has a shelf for boerewors and braai sauce. I'm surprised that the butcher doesn't offer springbok. Life in East Pretoria.

[Wage Slave]

Wow, I always thought you were Australian. Victorian in fact. I really didn't expect you to be in Pretoria. Visiting or settling? Quite a contrast with life in Japan in any case.

[kurogane]

It is imperative thet you deliver me a manko juice, rait nao!

spoken like you were born to rule.

Yup, thet sinds aboat rate.

.......or settling? ...........

Unintended, no doubt, but still beautiful

Good luck with thet, yeh.

[Russell]

Wow, I always thought you were Australian. Victorian in fact. I really didn't expect you to be in Pretoria. Visiting or settling? Quite a contrast with life in Japan in any case.

Yep, didn't expect this either. I thought Wagyl was from some tropical island owned by Oz. It now all starts to make sense.

[Takechanpoo]

my guess is that uncle wagyl is deeply interested in mysticism, especially the ones which remain to be primordial state. his handle name is probably for the reason. and its also the reason he selected east pretoria, i guess. yeah

[wagyl]

Quite a contrast with life in Japan in any case.

Not really so much difference between

we have the funny little yellow men do work in the garden and do the laundry

and

we have the black boys do work in the garden and do the laundry.

[Takechanpoo]

uncle wags frontal lobe is melting and shrinking by aging. it seems to make him wild and frank recently.
just be careful not to let your young exotic vietnamese wife to be turned adrift.

[wagyl]

It is imperative thet you deliver me a manko juice, rait nao!

spoken like you were born to rule.

Yup, thet sinds aboat rate.

I have just received some instructive advice that your only correct response to the situation that will have any effect is to say

Listen, you have to say man go because manko means cunt, you bloody baboon!