Help with choosing electronic dictionary.

[endered]

Hi, Im studying chinese and i saw that one of my classmate got a electronic dictionary from China. The size was like an Iphone(not big at all), it was touchscreen and you could write the chinese word and then the dictionary translate the word for you and it also has pinying. It was from chinese - English and English - Chinese. He brought it for about 500-700 yuan.

Now I want the same, because its useful. All I want is a dictionary that can translate from CH-EN and EN-CH. I also want a touchscreen to write the unknown chinese word. It shouldnt be too big and not difficult to carry, easy to use and not too expensive.

This kind of electronic dictionary is quite new for me, and I dont know which model i should choose. I need a good one and the name of the model so I can tell my relatives to buy one for me.

some recmomendation?

thanks!

[cababunga]

Most people these days would choose to own a smartphone, which allows you to have much greater range of features related to your study in addition to what smartphones are useful for in general. For example Pleco, which is available for both Android and iOS will let you do everything you've just described, plus it can use smartphone's camera for optical character recognition. Plus there are other useful features targeted specifically to learners, like SRS integrated with the dictionary.

Sorry it looks like a sales speech, but the product is really great and I'm not affiliated with them.

[icebear]

I'd recommend going with a iOS or Android device; either a full on smartphone or a touchscreen MP3 player/mini tablet for cheaper, and then using Pleco. iPod Touch starts from around twice the price you've quoted (in China, cheaper elsewhere), but you'll get a lot more functionality out of it then strictly the dictionary. Get Pleco with a basic student package (flashcards, document reader, web reader, OCR) and you'll essentially be set for all of your electronics related Chinese needs.

[daofeishi]

I would highly recommend 步步高s electronic dictionaries. I have had the precursor to this one for 5 years, and it still works as if it were new. I once accidentally stepped on it and broke the touch screen, but when I went to a 步步高 outlet, they replaced it for me in 10 minutes.

The model I have does translation both ways, has several specialized dictionaries such as chengyu/medical terms, has pinyin/wubi/handwriting input, comes with bilingual practice texts/essays, contains a grammar guide, is very lightweight and has a battery that lasts forever. They have the 步步高s in most stores that sell electronic dictionaries, so if you are not sure if you want to go with a smartphone or get a standalone device, go and try them out.

[endered]

I dont have a smartphone and dont have any thought to buying it either.

[tooironic]

步步高 is not bad but probably the best electronic dictionary is Casio's line. At least, it seems to have the best reputation among native speakers. Coincidentally, I'm buying one second-hand this afternoon, the E-B 200. I'll let you know if it's as good as all the Chinese students in Melbourne claim it is.

Note: Casio's electronic dictionaries can be expensive, and the features are pretty advanced. If you're a beginner/intermediate learner and only interested in something more basic, 步步高 and Pleco are more than sufficient.

[paike]

Casio's dictionaries are simply the best, as far as stand alone dictionaries go. I got one for 1700 yuan a few years ago, English/Chinese/Japanese. Now they have a new line with color display that was WAY more expensive, like 3000-4000 yuan.

Its an awesome chinese-chinese dictionary, WAYYY better than Pleco,s chinese-chinese, but sadly, the Casio doesnt have much in the way of flashcard or going on the web with baidu baike. The Ipad2/Pleco combo is truly a beautiful way to study chinese. If you have the money. I use that combo whenever I study Chinese, everyday. I've gotten thousands of hours out of those two together, nice!

[feng]

iPhone plus pleco.

The days of owning separate

• phone
  
• camera
  
• GPS
  
• electronic dictionary
  
• mp3 player
  
• watch
  
• voice recorder
  
• calendar
  
• address book
  
• ebook reader
  
• calculator
  

are close to being a distant memory for many people.

I know some people are against buying more expensive phones (aka "smart phones"), in my opinion, people under-estimate the value of owning such a thing until they actually own one. Many of my friends were (despite my protest) against buying an iPhone, when they eventually purchased one, they have all told me they now understand.

Even if the only benefit was being able to pull out my phone and find places I have never been to before in distant lands, this is worth the extra money in my opinion.

[icebear]

I know some people are against buying more expensive phones (aka "smart phones"), in my opinion, people under-estimate the value of owning such a thing until they actually own one.

Getting a iPod Touch is a pretty reasonable intermediate step for those sorts of people; forgoing and iPod Touch for a still expensive, single function electronic dictionary seems crazy to me though.

[skylee]

The days of owning separate

• phone
  
• camera
  
• GPS
  
• electronic dictionary
  
• mp3 player
  
• watch
  
• voice recorder
  
• calendar
  
• address book
  
• ebook reader
  
• calculator
  

are close to being a distant memory for many people.

I tend to agree except for "watch". I would say alarm clocks are obsolete but not watches, please. Please wear a watch.

Edited February 19, 2012 at 11:25 PM by skylee

[hanyu_xuesheng]

There are still people (like me) who are not willing to spend so MUCH money for an iPhone or an iPod touch.

The smartphone's built-in camera is often crappy, the built-in GPS often useless in a car.

The phone function is too expensive (compare iPod touch and iPhone).

The book reader in an iPhone is a joke.

The smartphone's battery need often be recharged.

What's more, the standalone electronic dictionaries from CASIO or Chinese manufacturers have still a lot of other advantages, too (e.g. faster lookup, better battery).

And don't forget the TOTAL price for Pleco AND the smart phone!

I prefer the stand-alone solution.

[daofeishi]

步步高 is not bad but probably the best electronic dictionary is Casio's line. At least, it seems to have the best reputation among native speakers

Do you know specifically how the two brands compare, e.g. the differences in dictionary quality and functionality? 步步高 comes bundled with Longman + specialized dictionaries, and I have never found that side of the device lacking. I don't use the non-dictionary functions on my device much, so I personally am not sure if I would want to spend three times as much on one compared to a 步步高.

[Silent]

I tend to agree except for "watch".

You don't agree on the watch? I'ld say that's the obvious one unless you're a diver or travel where no electricity is available. But then, if there's no electricity time is usually not taken too serious.

It's true that the smartphone solution is not always so obvious as some advocate. Many smartphonefunctions depend on internet connectivity which is not always available. Also lack of electricity may be an issue though solar chargers are quite affordable now. Also weather proof is an issue. I don't think many smartphones would survive an extensive navigation sessie in pooring rain, never tried, but even if I submerge my gps it should survive....

The big issue with combining 'everything' in a smartphone is that if the smartphone fails or gets lost/stolen you 'lose' everything.

I guess in the end it's finding a balance between the convenience of many functions in a compact tool, the quality of the tools compared to more specialised tools, the costs and the risk of loosing all in once.

[icebear]

I don't think many smartphones would survive an extensive navigation sessie in pooring rain, never tried, but even if I submerge my gps it should survive....

Actually, I have someone in my family whose passion is sailing (in relatively rough waters) and although he keeps all the standard, sturdier navigation electronics on board as always, these last few years he's increasingly used similar Apps on his iPhone which is encased in one of the top OtterBox cases and tethered to his belt. He speaks very highly of using an iOS device for navigation in a variety of conditions!

[skylee]

The big issue with combining 'everything' in a smartphone is that if the smartphone fails or gets lost/stolen you 'lose' everything.

That's why we need to back up our data. (I don't back up properly although I know I should.)

[Silent]

With loose everything I don't mean (only) data, but also functionality. If you heavily rely on a smartphone for communication (dictionary and phonecalls), and navigation and (also more and more combined) for paying/getting cash etc you make yourself quite vulnerable.

[skylee]

How do you use a smartphone to get cash?

[Silent]

How do you use a smartphone to get cash?

By storing your pinnumber on it:)

[icebear]

How do you use a smartphone to get cash?

Newer smartphones supposedly will have 'near field payment', which will mean they can function are a credit card (scan it and pay). I've read they already have similar systems in place in Japan.

[skylee]

oh then it is electronic payment, not cash.