partner55083777 Wrote:I generally recommend people just use an epwing reader over buying an electronic dictionary, so I was pretty surprised when so many people were in support of electronic dictionaries over epwing readers.

What are your reasons for preferring an electronic dictionary? I can understand things like specialized 書道 dictionaries or classical japanese dictionaries, but for casual use I feel like epwing wins hands down, especially in regards to price and amount of content.

On Amazon.co.jp an Ex-Word XD-D9800 (which includes the GG, koujien, Genius to name but a few) will set you back ￥30000, but an Epwing CD-ROM for the GG alone will cost you ￥20000, ￥17000 for the genius, and a further ￥10000 for the Koujien.

Unless you are relying on free dictionaries alone like edict or eijiro, or you are pirating your dictionaries, then there is no way on this planet that Epwing wins on price. I'm not beating down on Epwing, but a dictionary reader is only as good as the software inside it right?

fishhead Wrote:Thanks again everyone for all the helpful and informative responses.
So, if I go with EPWING, will I be able to get Kenkyuusha and progressive J-E and E-J dictionaries?

And, if you don't mind my asking, what advantages does the CASIO EX-word XD-D10000 have over the 9800? There is not such a huge difference in the price, and if it will basically last a lifetime I suppose it is worth investing in a good model.

I have both an A9800, and a D10000 (don't ask lol), and the answer is not a right lot. If the price difference is tight, then I'd say go for it, but you will be MORE than thrilled with whats in the 9800. If anything, the D10000 comes with a better kokugo, more classical dictionaries, more specialised stuff that probably won't bear any relevance to you, and more tat you probably won't ever read.

squarezebra Wrote:Unless you are relying on free dictionaries alone like edict or eijiro, or you are pirating your dictionaries, then there is no way on this planet that Epwing wins on price. I'm not beating down on Epwing, but a dictionary reader is only as good as the software inside it right?

I guess I should have stated that my assumption was that you would not be paying for dictionaries. If you did have a requirement that you needed everything to be legit, then I would definitely say go with an electronic dictionary.

thurd Wrote:I tried numerous dictionaries for Android (none paid though) and found each and every one of them unsatisfactory. It's always sort of a middle ground between depth and functionality which feels downright amateurish at times.
I don't have an electronic yet but I'm looking for a complete and ultimate solution to my dictionary needs. Vast & specialized dictionaries with UI that was developed and perfected over a long period of time.

I actually felt the exact opposite. I'm using DroidWing and it's been working great. Searching and looking up words is just so easy. The only thing that it doesn't have that my 電子辞書 has is the ability to look up something like "かわ?い" and have it match words like 川沿い（かわぞい） and かわいい.

(Functionality to search by regex would also be awesome, but I don't think the epwing format really supports it. You'd probably have to hack it into eb4j or eblib.)

On the other hand, I've felt that the UI on all the 電子辞書s that I've used is awful. Navigating around the UI, selecting words, jumping to other dictionaries, doing certain types of searches--it's all just really bad. I'd really like a chance to play around with a good 電子辞書.

I am using an old Dell Axim x51v and some of the free and premium dictionaries available at:

http://japaneselanguagetools.com/

Eijiro and Waeijiro dictionaries are the flagship and you can buy them as downloads at about 5000¥ I think. He also has some free dictionaries for download. I have the dictionaries on my Dell, Mac and iPhone using ebpocket (epwing reader) so the cost of the dictionary is spread over three devices. And I'll have it in ten years.

***FREE - The guy that runs that site has put all the readings in kana next to each word, which can save a lot of jumping. Get the free dictionaries as a start and get the readings.

The Axim is older but the Kanji input is fantastic. Kanji input on my Mac and iPhone is Chinese based so miss enough popular kanji to be irritating. The battery life on the Axim is fair but I just throw an extra battery in my backpack. It is small enough to put into your pocket (a bit larger than a mobile phone).

***FREE - For the Iphone I also have the free imiwa? program. That is great, includes the readings, and a great conjugation system. The dictionaries are free and I don't think one can add better ones unfortunately. The iPhone kanji input is only fair as I noted above. All I phone users should have this free program.