Product Description

The Merriam-Webster's Collegiate® Talking Dictionary lets you quickly and conveniently expands your vocabulary and word usage with one easy-to-use, hand-held reference suite that's perfect for people on the go. Using the new easy-view 12-line display, move with ease through dictionary and thesaurus definitions, world-renowned source materials, ebooks, games and more.

State-of-the-art database search technology provides instant access to over 200,000 dictionary definitions and 500,000 thesaurus synonyms. Quickly find dynamic definitions and ideal word alternates. Smart spell-correction software allows you to "sound out" and find the words you're looking for. All definitions are clearly voiced with Franklin's ClariSpeech® technology, ensuring pronunciation accuracy.

This portable information base is much more than a dictionary, it's equipped with a built-in ROLODEX® Databank and is expandable with a PC for downloads of other reference and eBook titles as well as eNews from around the world. Have fun expanding your word-stock while playing one of 12 new interactive learning games that test vocabulary and syntax. The all-one-one reference suite also includes the Concise Columbia Encyclopedia and Bartlett's Familiar Quotations.

A built-in headphone jack allows private usage. Runs on two AAA batteries (included). Measures a compact 3 1/2 " x 3/4" x 5 1/4" and weighs 5 3/4 oz. 90-day warranty. ... Read more

Features

• 260,000 words, 500,000 definitions
• 500,000 word Thesaurus
• ClariSpeech pronounces every word and definition
• Large Screen, portrait & landscape
• Compatible with eBooks, and eNews

Product Description

For any professional on the go. Franklins Ultimate Portable Reference Suite is the all-in-one reference solution for professionals on the go! Get smarter faster with instant access to a word of knowledge: the new 11th edition of Merriam-Websters Collegiate Dictionary Franklins Advanced Thesaurus Concise Columbia Encyclopedia Great Documents of American History and much more. Plus our PC connectivity kit that allows for downloads of other reference and eBook titles as well as eNews from around the world. * Merriam-Websters Collegiate Dictionary 11th Ed. Completely updated and redesigned the new Eleventh Edition of theMerriam-Websters Collegiate Dictionary sets a new standard inelectronic dictionaries with dynamic new content a striking new lookand a fresh platform for easy viewing and accessibility.Designed to help you communicate effectively it combines high-qualitylanguage reference with state-of-the-art search technology providinginstant access to over 200000 words and 500000 synonyms. * Easy to Understand Definitions Immediate access to clear and concise definitions for over 200000words which includes inflected words. Usage paragraphs provideguidelines for words with confused or disputed usage. * Accurate Pronunciation Headwords and definitions spoken with Franklins ClariSpeech technology. * Authoritative Spelling Discover the correct spelling for a word based on phonetically-enteredwords and Franklins quick search and retrieval technology. * Interactive Learning with Word Games Build your vocabulary while playing Letris Word Dozer and otherinteractive games. * Comprehensive Grammar Guide and more Grammar Guide (with Grammar quizzes) and over 20 tables of usefulinformation at your fingertips. The Confusables feature provides youwith instant access to homonyms and homophones. * Franklins Advanced Thesaurus Expand your vocabulary. Use alternate word choices with a completethesaurus containing 500000 synonym returns (including Classmates... ... Read more

Features

• Download other references and eBook titles or use the Book Card expansion slot to access more Franklin software
• All-in-one reference solution featuring Merriam-Webster's Collegiate Dictionary
• Instant access to over 200,000 words and 500,000 synonyms with clear definitions and spoken pronunciatons
• Grammar Guide, grammar quizzes, and word games for fun, interactive learning
• Comes with the Concise Columbia Encyclopedia and Great Documents of American History

Features

• Complete Speaking Childrens Dictionary with 46,000 words
• Animated guide models print & cursive, repeats with the touch of a button
• Phonetic spelling correction
• Reads the words and definitions out loud
• Works with Headphones for privacy

Amazon.com Product Description

The Franklin BES-1850 Speaking Spanish/English Dictionary provides you with instant access to 5,000,000 total translations to and from Spanish and English. It also speaks words and phrases, and includes new Touch Panel technology with active keys for easy use. This dictionary is specially designed for all levels of language skill from beginner to advanced, with extra attention given to the Spanish of Central and South America.

The Franklin BES-1850 is more than a dictionary. It also features a built-in Rolodex organizer with telephone book and world clock, and a calculator and metric/currency converter for quick math. You can download e-books and e-news from the Internet with the included PC connectivity kit, and the book card slot lets you access a library of additional Franklin titles. ... Read more

Features

• Clear, concise full definitions from Merriam-Webster, give you the meanings to communicate effectively
• Hear words spoken clearly and pronounced accurately
• Write and speak accurately with the advanced verb conjugation feature, conjugating and translating both English and Spanish verbs
• Grammar guide includes all essential information on Spanish grammar rules, to help you construct sentences
• Hear 600 travelers' phrases in recorded human voice, useful for business and leisure travelers

Reviews (9)

Sound barely audible
I puchased this unit for my 7th grade daughter. The voice speaking the phrases was so soft, especially on the Spanish side, that we figured we got a broken one right out of the box. Franklin customer service promptly sent me a replacement, and I was shocked to see it has exactly the same problem -- even when the volume is turned up full you can barely hear the voice you are supposed to learn from. I called Customer Service again, thinking they must have heard about this problem before, but they said that must just be how the unit works, and they denied having had a lot of complaints about it. If that's true, I'm really surprised. The speaking function is a big disappointment, from the volume standpoint. I can't really comment on the unit otherwise, but I am quite disappointed by this Franklin product.

Good source dictionary
After using this device for a year, I did get my money's worth. It is true that the display is sometimes difficult to see in indoor light, but the backlight does work well. The voice is not the most elegant sounding thing I have heard, but it is functional.

What makes this product great is that the dictionary is comprehensive and well written. I find the Spanish verb conjugator extremely useful.

What makes this product bad is its slow speed. If you misspell a word or want to look at the third page of a conjugation list, it can take over 5 seconds to get your results.

The screen is bigger than previous Franklin models, but it is still too small for comfort

I use my Franklin with the Webster Dictionary card. I find it useful having two dictionaries in a small package.

The serial cable that hooks up to a computer is not particularly useful, and seems more like a gimmick to me.

The product is a lot faster and more convenient that a hard copy dictionary, but it still needs a lot of improvement to fulfill its digital potential.

I'm Satisfied
I've used this dictionary for a couple of weeks and it suits my needs just fine. It's certainly not without some faults but overall it does okay. The pronunciation function could be better - some of the spanish words sound as if they have been recorded by someone reading "at speed" - but I don't believe they have led me astray. Where else can I get fairly good portable pronunciation help (carry around a spanish dwarf)?

Screen could be brighter but then the battery life would become a problem. A bit of a bother but it doesn't aggravite me very much. I like the conjugation function particularly well - it helps quite a bit.

All in all I think this device is very good. Don't know when the next version with better pronunciation comes out, but I won't be buying it. This one suits me just fine.

I'd buy it again!
I purchased the Franklin BES-1850 Speaking Spanish/English Dictionary over a year ago and have carried it across 3 continents in my briefcase, backpack, or purse -- a lot of wear and tear and it still works great! The dimensions/weight are similar to a lot of printed travel dictionaries, but the BES-1850 carries much, much more content.

As a student of the Spanish language, I have found the BES-1850 to be extremely helpful for quickly looking up translations. Unlike printed dictionaries that require you to know the infinitive version of a verb in order to find it in the dictionary, you can just type in any conjugated verb form and immediately get to the infinitive and its definition. This is extremely helpful when watching Spanish television/movies or when reading books and newspapers in Spanish. If you misspell a word in English or Spanish, the dictionary displays a list of suggested words so that you can pick out the correct spelling. Many word definitions also include a list of idiomatic phrases/expressions that incorporate the word -- very handy and a delightful surprise to me when I first started using the BES-1850. And the dictionary contains an extensive list of words, too. It has been on very rare occasion that the dictionary has not come back with a translation.

As for the pronounciation feature, I must admit that I debated whether to spend the extra $ on this version in order to have this feature. I'm glad I did -- the pronunciations are reasonably accurate. What's especially helpful is to be able to hear where the accents on words are placed. The pronounciation feature is reasonably clear, but not great. I were purchasing an electronic dictionary just to take on a week-long vacation, the extra $ for this feature may not be worth it.

The screen display is definitely readable but the contrast could be improved. The backlight feature is a big help in dark environments. Don't expect the BES-1850 to have the slick features of the new, high-end hand PDA devices that go for $400-$500 - the BES-1850 only costs $100! I do not use the game or address book features of the BES-1850 and cannot comment.

I'm very happy with the BES-1850 and would buy it again.

Great concept, poor functionality
I love the possibilities an electronic dictionary offers but the mechanics of this one has a lot of problems. The screen does not have enought contrast no matter how you adjust it. If you use the backlight it shuts off, in fact it shuts off on its own all the time. Very frustrating. Whenever it shuts off unexpectedly you also loose all of your preferences (like large type). The voice part is really not worth the extra money. The pronunciations are so digitized it does not help much. It is extremely convenient to have an electronic translator in your pocket, just not this one. ... Read more

Product Description

Franklin Electronic (SAT-2400) Franklin Pocket Prep for SAT ... Read more

Features

• 12 languages: Translations to and from Czech, Dutch, English, French, German, Hungarian, Italian, Polish, Portuguese, Russian, Spanish and Turkish
• Large, 3-line display
• Instantly access more than 400,000 words and phrases including 317,000 inflections
• Currency/Metric Converter and Local/World Clock
• Advanced spell correction

Reviews (5)

bad, can't find simple words
Even the most basic functions range from difficult to impossible. The translator can't find basic words. Seems like a great idea, but is pretty much a waste of money.

broke in 2 hrs!
While it worked, it seemed pretty good, I started playing hangman and after that it went crazy- letters wouldn't delete and would keep adding more instead of deleting. I found many useful phrases-that is why I am giving it 2 stars, I will try another one for this reason, so let's see if this one works.

Will Use in Hungary and the Czech Republic
As Diane and I are about to visit Austria, Hungary and Czech Republic, this translater should be just the ticket. If only it pronounced the translations! I would have appreciated a better-written set of instructions - once I figured out on my own just how to work the Currency Converter, it was fine and very simple, but the instructions seemed to make it more difficult that it really was. Also, a very handsomely designed translator at a great price.

Franklin TG 450-insufficient
Unfortunately, you can't find even some easy words though you can find some advanced words sometimes.It's interesting. I entered 10 normal words and unfortunately it couldn't find all of them but half of it.The possibility to find the word is around 50%.So, it's not so useful for a researcher.You have to look up half of the words again sometimes.
But, for travel purposes and some daily phrases it's ok.and 12 language feature is great. I wish this product contained more words.

insufficient
Unfortunately, you can't find even some easy words though you can find some advanced words sometimes.It's interesting. I entered 10 normal words and unfortunately it couldn't find all of them but half of them.The possibility to find the word is around 60%.So, it's not so useful for a researcher.You have to look up half of the words again sometimes.
But, for travel purposes and some daily phrases it's ok.and 12 language feature is great. I wish this product contained more words. ... Read more

Features

• Easily search through over 250,000 words and phrases from Merriam-Webster
• Solves Scrabble and Jumble puzzles too
• Large, high-contrast display screen for comfortable lookup

Reviews (2)

LOL
In response to marilyn..... I mean come on, did you honestly expect that little computer to be able to answer every possible question that could ever come up in a crossword puzzle? I haven't purchased one, but i'm very sure it does exactly what it has stated it does.

not what i thought
got this for christmas.
it is not as good as i thought it would be in helping to solve crossword puzzles. Since I don't play Scrabble, guess it might help those with words but finding an answer to, "What is the name of Zeus's wife?" is what I thought it would do. Guess I should read more of the description before I purchased it. It is also NOT a dictionary.
maril ... Read more

Features

• English to Japanese/Japanese to English dictionary (Romanized)
• Integrated thesaurus and spell checker
• Large 5 line by 30 character display
• Search for phrases; idiom/example sentence search
• Displays keyword, part of speech, English or Japanese equivalent, stress and accent marks, example sentences and idioms

Reviews (12)

Good for Beginers, but overpriced
When I first bought this dictionary in Japan, it really helped me a lot because I couldn't read chinese characters. I would carry it with me wherever I went as it was really small and light. It helped me a lot in conversation because I could search for a word fairly quickly and it also was a big help in learning Kanji. But it didn't take long for me to realise that the vocabulary of the dictionary is VERY limited. This became much more apparent as I became better at Japanese. I wouldn't really recommend this dictionary to anyone simply because it's overpriced. I would recommend a dictionary for Japanese people (without Roman characters) because for the same price you can get a really good one especially the Casio Dictionaries.

good for a first shot
I'm an exchange student in Nagoya right now and I bought the RM2000 to help me get around. As a student of the Japanese language, I was dissappointed. It couldn't really help me converse with my friends. But it has proven useful at such places as the bank ("Hmm... how do I say, 'I'd like to open an account'?") and other various stores and shops. It is a good dictionary for a traveler or a beginning student. For a more advanced person, I recommend the Canon Wordtank IDF-4000. It has a jump feature that allows you to look up a word in English, select the kanji, and then jump to the pronunciation. That way, you don't have to search all around just to say the word. It too has an English interface.
I'm really happy the RM2000 was made though. I hope it will lead the way for other dictionaries focused on the foreign user.

Cheaply Made
This should sell for $30.00 tops. That's the price of the other Seiko electronic translators. Because it's so expensive I was really upset when it stopped working after a few months. It didn't just break all at once it went out one key at a time. The problem is it uses a rubber pad with a magnetic strip to activate the chipset, but the metallic material was too thin and wore off quickly. Don't waste your money.

On the other hand a Japanese friend has another seiko model and it's awesome, built much better.

okay, but seiko SR950 much better
I had the choice of several japanese translators, and though this one looked nice because it's meant "for english students" I decided on the seiko SR950 for several reasons:
1. has VERY large (230,000) japanese-japanese dictionary
2. has Katakana dictionary (borrowed words)
3. Kanji dictionary (VERY IMPORTANT if you ever want to actually try to figure out what a sign or something says, and the paperback ones are too big to manage)

On the other models they say "for native japanese" becuase the instruction manual is in japanese, but I did not find this to be an issue at all. There are buttons in black on the top row (same setup as this RM2000) and Frankly, if trial and error isn't simple enough (there's only 8 of em) it's pretty easy to ask someone who knows any of the language for a basic rundown and make a note of it on paper. Plus, assuming you do learn japanese, the features of this RM unit become rather obsolete, whereas the japanese-japanese and kanji dictionaries of the sr950 make it a favorite even among the japanese (it's the same price, may have to check the japanese link in amazon to get it though)

Great for Learning Students/People
I had actually wanted this for several years. However, since the vocabulary word number is so small compared to the other keyboards, I was a bit hesitant. The other so highly recommended one, the Casio IDF-3000, I actually purchased from Japan! It is a great one, but is way too hard for me to use yet, without Romanji. It is made for Japanese-fluent-speaking people to use. One day hopefully for me!

But that's what's so great about this RM2000. You type in an English word, then it tells you exactly how to SAY it in Japanese, then how to write it in HIRAGANA, and then how to write it more advanced in KANJI/+hiragana.

And it is the only existing one available that is for us learners who can't speak very well. But I can't wait to start writing some more letters to Japan. Have fun! ... Read more

Features

• Provides definitions based on The Official Scrabble Players Dictionary 3rd edition from Merriam-Webster
• Validates, builds and spell corrects Scrabble words instantly.
• Enhances Scrabble skills with included word games.
• 5.25x3.5x1

Reviews (1)

Great item for the non-conformist Scrabble player
First- let me say; I have to give this a 4, I'm afraid the quality of the item is not the highest standard. It is beginning to have trouble pressing buttons, and giving all word possibilites. I think this is because we use it so much. I have used this item for about 5 months, anywhere from 2-3 hours a day! It is great for entering letters, and having the item (we call it "the brain") tell you all the available words. Can't play scrabble without it! ... Read more

Amazon.com Product Description

Listen and learn with the Franklin Speaking Language Master dictionary.The Language Master gives you access to 130,000 words, 300,000 definitions, and500,000 thesaurus entries from Webster's English dictionary. Highlight a word,and ClariSpeech technology will speak aloud the word and definition.

Definitions include parts of speech, inflected forms, multiple meanings, andword etymologies. ClariSpeech repetition allows for better pronunciation andmakes the Language Master perfect for visually impaired, learning disabled, anddyslexic students.

Dictionary features include phonetic spell correction, a grammar guide, andcrossword solver. The Language Master comes with 12 word games, includinganagrams, jumble, flash cards, spelling bee, and Letris. It also featurescontext-sensitive help text, a dynamic phonics guide, and reverse search.

View word information on the eight-line LCD screen with contrast control andadjustable font size. The Language Master is powered by four AA batteries. The Language Master comes with automatic shutoff, volumecontrol, a carrying case, and a battery-low indicator.

It is covered by a one-yearwarranty. ... Read more

Features

• English dictionary with 130,000 words, 300,000 definitions, 500,000 thesaurus entries, and a grammar guide
• Perfect for students
• Large-format keyboard for easy typing
• Eight-line LCD screen with contrast control and adjustable font size
• ClariSpeech repetition feature aids pronunciation skills

Reviews (10)

unwieldy. database lacks.
Pros:
Acceptable dictionary service. (Quick, short definitions to a large number of everyday words)
Useful pronunciation service.

Cons:
Perceptible delay in appearance of definition after word has been typed in(though you get used to it)

SLOW word correction (if you type in a word/spelling not in the dictionary, the wait is excruciating while it comes up with alternatives. To be fair, this search can be canceled promptly if you typed in a wrong word by mistake)

Not quite portable. Dictionary could have been more comprehensive, used AAA batteries. Top heavy (literally), unwieldy in the hand due to 4 AAs.

Would have preferred more comprehensive definitions and lesser games. More comprehensive meaning better definitions and more etymologies. I would not agree with the term "Language Master" because of the perceived deficiencies in the number of words and length of definitions.
I would NOT call it a good reference either.
Compared to the the excellent free service at www.m-w.com and my own idea of a portable dictionary.

Keys go clackety clack - could have used softer keys.

I would not recommend this buy.

P.S.
Why don't we have more competition in the electronic dictionary sector?

Good but need to improve some key things
I might bought this e-dict (LM-6000) 13-15 years ago in HK; at that time they have no official seller and I have to take the risk that no one can repair it if the e-dict has problem. Luckily it never breaks down, so far. Frankline is easy to use and I like the detailed explanation and some other fuctions such as thesaurus and class (for example if you look up thesaurus you will get almanac, encyclopedia, etc.) Although it contains grammer and word games, I seldom use these add-in.
I do not blame its size since it is obviously for desktop use. But I soon found that its display should be allowed to tilting; it reflects too much light. Further, the operation speed is significantly associated with the battery power. The newest model is equipped with low battery indication; I hope it helps.
Further, it would be good if the dictionary can include more examples of word usage. It may be that the paper copy of the dictionary does not contain sufficent examples.
Last, it may be good or not, Frankline does not support downloading new words. There should be a function that allows you to input the new word manually; I have never used it. But if it can accept download, it would be great. Nowadays, the technology should enable this dictinoary do this easily.
While there are some shortcomings of Franklin e-dict, I will recommend this to anyone who are looking for a real e-dict that is put on the desktop use and do not want a lot of games or irrelevant add-in.

Good Ergonomics, Poor Screen
I've had mine for at least 5 years. I'd say that it was useful, but later on I encountered some LCD problems. It is not well protected by a lid so it caused the digital feautures to blur or disappear.

If its something that you'd like to put in one place, then I'd suggest you buy this. If you have plans to bringing it everywhere, then I'd suggest one with a protection lid.

This is enough for all student
Hi ..

I'm a user for franklin translator since 1999 , which is my frist year in my unversity , so it helped me alot really alot. And I`m considering to buy a new one that's why I searched in amazom .

it is a language master!
it is a good investment. the upside of it, convenient, quick, handy, and you can use in your entire life...however, the downside of it, i don't enjoy the digital pronunciation very much, it is not scaleable at all, which normally palm and other ebook gadget offer, and it is pretty big in term of size, you cannot put it in your pocket. ... Read more

Features

• Merriam-Webster Dictionary with 100,000 words
• Thesaurus with 500,000 synonyms
• SAT Words, Plus spell correction
• My word list, games, clock, databank
• 8-line display

Features

• Contains over 240,000 words, phrases, and definitions, including 1,700 new words
• 130,000 word phonetic spellchecker, 7 solvers to help with crosswords, anagrams, abbreviations, etc., 11 word games, calculator and converters
• Contains over 9,000 literary and historical quotations from more than 2,500 influential literary and cultural authors
• Over 333,000 alternative words providing over 4,000,000 synonyms links covering everyday vocabulary as well as unusual and specialist words
• Provides an authoritative, up to the minute description of the English language

Amazon.com Product Description

Anyone in business, writers, travelers, and students will value the Franklin MWS-1840 Speaking Merriam-Webster handheld electronic dictionary. Never again face the embarrassing moment when you realize you have mispronounced a word in conversation. For finding words instantly, Franklin offers the MWS-1840 speaking electronic dictionary and thesaurus with an eight-line display, 120,000 words, 300,000 definitions, and a phenomenal 500,000 thesaurus entries. At the press of a few buttons, you can peruse definitions, synonyms, and antonyms and explore related words and hear them pronounced.

Efficient and accurate, at a light 0.8 pounds the MWS-1840 is easy to carry around and incredibly convenient to use. The touch of a few buttons reveals just the right word, plus several practical options accompanied by proper pronunciation. The eight-line display expands clarity of each entry. While the MWS-1840 is a spell checker comparable with more complicated electronic dictionaries, it also offers unique features to facilitate finding a word you aren't sure of how to spell and to improve your spelling and vocabulary by using Franklin's LEARNables.

The Franklin MWS-1840 Speaking Merriam-Webster is a dictionary that everyone can use as a reference tool, to expand vocabulary, as an academic or business tool, and, remarkably, for fun. Of particular benefit to students are the Scholastic Assessment Test word list and tools to create a personalized study list of words. Anyone who writes will benefit from the grammar guide with its reliable compendium and comprehensive outline of English grammar. Enjoy playing one of 10 amusing and diverting games while improving your spelling and vocabulary.

In school and in business, precise spelling and appropriate word usage reflect favorably on your preparation and presentation. With the MWS-1840 your command of English and the breadth of your lexicon will be noticeably enlarged. For common English usage, you can hardly find a better portable resource. ... Read more

Features

• Defines words and pronounces them out loud
• 274,000 comprehensive and contemporary definitions
• 496,000 synonyms to expand writing vocabulary
• 83,000-word spelling verification and correction list
• Slot for one Book Card

Reviews (35)

Franklin MWS-1840 is a great product!
The Franklin MWS-1840 is a great product! I'm an avid reader and I love looking up new words whenever I see them. So when my old electronic dictionary didn't know the definition of unusual words, I succumbed to looking them up words on-line. This dictionary holds an insurmountable amount of definitions and pronounces them for you! To give you an idea of how the definition sounds, go to yahoo's dictionary reference where they do .wav pronunciations of words. Voice isn't bad at all and it will definitely help you with pronunciations. There is also a headphone jack, which is perfect when you are in class or at the library. The games are simply fabulous and word list is going to be crucial for my SATs. With the pronunciations, games, and the word list's it is already worth the money. It also has a grammar guide, which is great for fledglings in English grammar like myself. With an eclectic selection of book cards, translators, encyclopedias, games, and dictionary expansions, this gadget becomes nothing less then remarkable. Was this product worth the price? Yes, and I would have paid even more for it.

great on-the-go
This dictionary has the same definitions and words as my Merriam Webster, Home and Office Edition which I think is useful for those who are looking for a small, compact electronic dictionary. Some disadvantages- You can't upgrade it and you can't count on it replacing a large hardback dictionary.
Its small enough to take anywhere and convenient on-the-go. No need to stop, figure out spelling, and turn to the right page. The vocabulary is sufficient and the pronunciation is okay. Although I have little use for the speaker, I found the pronunction a bit censored. It will not pronouced words such as anal, boob, or anything like that. Thats fine with me, I was checking to verify another reviewer's complaint. Overall everything else is satisfactory.

Disappointing...
My dad bought me this dictionary for my schoolwork last year. I didn't know how he paid then. But I totally freaked out when saw its price. This does NOT worth $75! The screen is very small, and I always pressed the 2 letters at a time because the button were SO TINY! It's about a size of my pinky's nail! also it is BIG. It's not good for caring around. If you really need a electronic dictionary, i recommend Franklin MWD-1440 Dictionary. It might look kinda small and lame but it knows how to do its thing! I say it's way better than this one.

Definitely a handy tool for the word curious!
I've had mine for at least 1 1/2 years and have had to change the batteries only once so far. Granted, I don't use it constantly, but when I do, the word I'm looking for is stored 80% of the time. That said, I have to add that I'm often looking for words in more specialized fields that I can then only find in big and bulky dictionaries. I love this gadget because whenever I come across a word I haven't heard or read before I can quickly type it in and usually get an explanation. I give it only 4 stars because a) sometimes the explanation contains more words I have to look up, and not enough examples to understand it easier, and b) because it is not backlit. I understand that a backlight uses more power, but maybe an added lithium battery for just such a purpose (preferably rechargeable) would do the trick so it doesn't get too heavy. Either way, while a clear plastic flipcover would be a good idea to protect the keys, I have not had a problem with keys getting stuck or any other issues. I am overall very happy with this product and recommend it to anyone who likes to expand his vocabulary or who simply has fun with words.

Satisfactory unit.
Very happy with this 1840. Just what I wanted especially since the text and contrast are adjustable. SJ ... Read more

Reviews (1)

Great Product
I searched for this product all over and found it at my local Christian Book store. It contains the entire NIV. You can do searches and leave book marks so you may go back later. It also fits nicely into a pocket. There is also a rolodex. It is easiest and best to read on the smallest setting, displaying only 4 lines at a time but very clear. I keep it with me all the time so I may read it at any time. ... Read more

Features

• 210,000 translations to and from English, French, German, Italian, and Spanish
• 5,000 categorized conversational phrases
• Spell checking
• Hangman and Quiz games
• Also a calculator, clock, and contact information databank

Reviews (2)

Good Value for the Money
This handy little translator is worth the price. It's not the best in the world, but it will handle the basics. I found the dictionary to be somewhat limited, so you may need to familiarize yourself with the language of the country you are visiting. I would recommend you do that anyway, though.

Note: Cannot withstand being dropped with the weight of a backpack full of books on top of it. I'm buying my second one.

cheap is as cheap does
I picked this up before heading to Europe. I chose it because it was inexpensive and I figured 'what the hell'. English is my only fluent language. This thing works, but you will go hungry if you try to understand/decode a restaurant menu. The display is small so that one must scroll character by character to see long words or phrases. Don't expect anything but textbook words. There is no phonetic help with pronunciation. I didn't use the address book, currency exchange, or functions other than word translations. After minimal use, the battery (included) started to fade.
Bottom line: if you want to look up an occasional word, fine, go for it. If you think this will allow you to solve your language ignorance problems, move along. ... Read more

Amazon.com Product Description

Students, travelers, and anyone who needs to use Spanish in ordinary circumstances will appreciate the Franklin DBE-1440 Pocket Spanish Master with a Larousse Dictionary for easy and instant word translations. As a dictionary, this exceedingly compact and extensive guide includes 2 million translations with advanced verb conjugation to help improve your Spanish vocabulary and spelling through Franklin's LEARNables. As a traveler's aide-de-camp, the grammar guide and foreign language phrases make the DBE-1440 an essential tool for nonfluent Spanish speakers.

Haven't mastered your language tapes yet? You may discover that the DBE-1440 is your newest travel necessity. With the grammar guide and a variety of useful traveler's phrases and cultural notes, you can translate words instantly to negotiate menus, shopping, and navigation. Or you can plan ahead and use the grammar guide to learn parts of speech and verb tenses, conjugating verbs at the press of a button.

Whether Spanish is your first or second language, the DBE-1440 is perfect for those who want to explore and immerse themselves in the lexicon. You can create your own list of words to study, or select a word and instantaneously find its translation. The DBE-1440 also contains Spanish culture notes for reference, and its five-line display improves readability.

As with all the Franklin handheld dictionaries, the DBE-1440 Pocket Spanish Master allows you to learn a new word in Spanish every time you turn the device on, find a word you don't know how to spell, and enjoy the process of learning Spanish through crossword puzzles or seven other language games. Whether you're in school, a student of foreign language, or traveling the world, this dictionary is the perfect companion. ... Read more

Features

• Translations for English and Spanish words
• Spelling correction
• Variety of word games
• Space for 1 book card
• Includes the Larousse Dictionary

Reviews (30)

Great Product...watch the version
I have the translator with the LaRousse dictionary. I found it to be PARTICULARLY GOOD, especially in Spain. It not only contained almost every unfamiliar word I came across, it also had a TON of cultural references, which it displayed in italics.

It is an outstanding size. It has a cover for when it's not in use. The keyboard isn't exatly a PLEASURE to use, but it doesn't suck to use it. It has some neat games that help learning the various tenses. The tense translator is worth the cost of admission. It has a slot for bookman cards (not that I've used that or anything...but it could be handy). It took a four foot fall and continues to work well to now.

So why the four stars with the five star review I just wrote above? A couple of my American friends also in Spain bought this product, and that version, my friends, deserves a three star rating. Theirs shipped with the Webster's Spanish-English dictionary. Alas! the cultural references, soooo important for learning a language - Gone! Also, many common words - just not there! Often, one of my friends and I would read CNN Spanish articles and check our dictionaries against the less common words...and the Larousse beat the Webster's EVERY TIME.

So...words to the wise should be sufficient. Franklin, are you listening?

Useful Little Tool
I've bought two of this gizmos for Spanish and one for French. They're a great way to carry the equivalent of a medium-sized dictionary around while travelling. Also, once you get used to it, it's a much faster way to look up words while reading than a regular dictionary, and recognizes many misspellings. Overall, a good product, and since (as far as I know) there's nothing quite like them available, in terms of size, ease of use, and number of words. I wouldn't have bought the spanish one twice otherwise (first one freaked out after about a year and a half of use) Of course the "2 million translations" number is a little misleading, probably including all 75 or however many forms there are for each spanish verb, etc., but whatever.

They do tend to have glitches every once and a while, particularly when the batteries are starting to run low, and sometimes you have to remove the batteries and reinsert them to get the thing working again. Also, while the dictionary does store a complete set of verb conjugations for all tenses, access to the conjugation tables is a little slow and awkward. The dictionary does have the nice feature of recognizing a verb by any of its conjugated forms, which can be a big help for the beginning Spanish student, but then it jumps to the definition with infinitive. A student who's not sure of the tenses then has to press the "Conj" key repeatedly and wait to get to the desired tense. Also, when the verb in question corresponds to more than one word in the translation language, the dictionary forces you to perform an additional and unnecessary step before viewing the conjugation tables. Doesn't sound like a big deal, but if you use the thing heavily, as some students will, those little details can slow you down, and I'm sure they could be fixed.

Also, key stiffness seems to vary between units... my French dictionary has a real problem with this, and it takes a bit of attention to key a word correctly, but the Spanish ones have both made it fairly easy to type rapidly.

...I had some problems with the bookman system.... I bought a french/spanish card and it caused both my french and spanish dictionaries to crash frequently. Too bad, cause it could be such a great feature, two dictionaries in one, and the ability to carry more in such a compact form.

One tip -- if you think the unit is broken, just replace the batteries. Rather than displaying a message like "low battery", it does all kinds of other crazy stuff that makes it seem like it's broken.

Amazon customer
If you are planning on buying this because of the Larousse dictionary - don't, it's a Merriam-Webster dictionary! I bought this from one of the sellers that Amazon uses and they sent me the DBE-1440A. I don't have a problem with it per se or the Merriam-Webster dictionary, but wanted the DBE-1440 specifically because of the Larousse dictionary. I guess my problem is with the way this was advertised on Amazon.com and that the seller said they had this particular one in stock. Otherwise you can buy this at your local stores. Also, I ordered this second day air delivery and did not receive it for a week! As far as the device itself, just as advertised with many ways to help you with your Spanish either for traveling or classes. Nice size too. I give the device itself 4 stars (because it does not have my perferred dictionary), but the advertising/shipping gets 3 stars.

great
item is perfect I love this dictionary. the only problem is that even when it is off it eats the batteries so I suggest you take them out when you aren't using it.

Franklin Larousse dbe-1440 Spanish-English Dictionary
I literally never leave home without it. Its best features are the complete conjugations of Spanish verbs. An often overlooked feature is that it also conjugates English verbs and nouns (in case you forget exactly how to form the past particible of some verb or the plural or some noun). Unlike most other electronic English Spanish dictionaries this one lists many uses of words including idioms. The Spanish verb conjugations are superb. You can find any Spanish verb by entering any form of the verb which is great when reading Spanish literature.
On the down side, I wish Franklin had done a better job on the mechanical design. The keys are notorious for wearing out. I am on my second one and I will soon need to buy a third one. I would gladely pay double the price for the same dictionary with high quality keys that don't wear out after a year of heavy use. ... Read more

Reviews (9)

Fancy interface for the DBE-1440, more spendy
Functionally (dictionary size, games, etc.),
they are the same. This one has a different
interface, costs more.
See my review of the Franklin DBE-1440 for
more details

Somewhat dissapointed
I found the translator to be very easy to use, and everything was fairly intuitive. It seems to know most (but not all) of the words I give it, but has a bit of trouble when it comes to translating phrases (it has built-in traveling phrases, but if you type in "que pasa", it won't find it). Like other reviewers have mentioned, the device is kind of slow when looking up words, flippping through pages, or scrolling. It isn't disastrously bad, but you'd think with today's technology you'd at least be able to scroll smoothly.

Finally, here's something that noone else mentioned, that made me upset that Franklin did not state: THE DICTIONARY IS CENSORED--even though it claims to have 5 million words, anything that remotely resembles slang or swearing is not included. Not that one would buy a dictionary for the swear-words, but if you're buying a 50 dollar dictionary, that claims to have 5,000,000 translations, you'd expect that it would have a complete listing of the language. Censoring in this manner (it won't even translate "poop") is entirely unprofessional, unnecessary, and misleading, especially when it comes from well-respected Merriam-Webster.

enjoyable little gadget
This has so many features: dictionary, word list, grammar guide, spellchecker, flashcards, conjugations, phrase list, games, clock, address book, calculator, and converter. Unlike what a previous review said, this DOES have flashcards.

You can buy a computer connection kit for an extra $20, so you can download e-books (that cost money) from the web to read on the 5-line screen. You can also buy book cards, each with a book to read.

My favorite features: it is easier and faster to use than a book for translating, it keeps my interest up with the many games, and I can use my custom word list for flashcards and games.

It's not perfect, and these are some things I don't like: It is slow in changing screens. It has many animations that take time. Verb conjugations are awkward and poorly laid out so it can be hard and slow to find what you're looking for. I agree with the other review that critizised this feature.

Excellent for Mexican Spanish
I have to admit, I was very hesitant to order this product after reading some of the reviews. I was seriously considering finding the older 1440 model, because one of it's reviews was so positive. But I called Franklin and talked to one of their techs, who convinced me to buy this. I'm so glad he did. My husband and I are serious Spanish students (study several hours per day),and are planning to move to Mexico. We also have several Mexican employees. The 1450 is ideal for us. It is really meant for Mexico, and South America, not Spain. It tells you when a word is appropriate for a certain country. What I love about it is that nearly all the words I have ever looked up for translation have been available, with very good definitions. Also it corrects spelling errors. More importantly, with many words that have variable meanings, it gives examples of sentences to show how variable the meaning can be. This has been invaluable for us, since the tendency in learning a language is to try to translate quite literally, which is often inappropriate.

(Example: Caer;
1:to fall, to drop
2:to collapse
3:to hang down
4:caer bien - to be pleasant, to be likable
5:caer mal or caer gordo: to be unpleasant, to be unlikable
6:caerse:to fall down)

In the past, I would have been tempted to use 'me gusta' to say I liked someone; however, this would have implied I had amorous feeling for them (oops!) Who would have guessed?
This info can also be found in the book, 'Breaking out of Beginner's Spanish', which is also highly recommended, but the electronic translator keeps it right at your finger tips.

My husband was a dedicated hard copy dictionary user, who thought I was wasting my money, until he realized how fast, easy, and on-the-mark the Franklin is. He "borrowed" my 1450 so often that I finally ordered another one for him, and another one for my 13-y.o.
Verb conjugations do take a little time,(not long enough to irritate me,still a useful function), but this is not primarily what I use it for. There are so many other good products on the market for that, such as the Warren Hardy flashcards (www.warrenhardy.com), the Real Spanish Path (www.speakspanish.com), etc. I hardly ever use any of the other functions, just the translator. It's very quick to switch from English to Spanish (how do you say?) to Spanish to English (what's that word mean?) If you forget and type in an English word in the Spanish function, one button will automatically switch you over, so you don't have to re-type it. By the way, don't forget to follow the arrows on your display pad. There is always much more info than what you can originally see, so you need to keep scrolling down to read it. Also, be clear about this, the translator does not translate phrases, only single words. Bien viaje!

Useful, but not very well designed
I am currently a 3rd year Spanish student and bought this item to help me in my more advanced studies. I think the main reason I bought it was because of its ease of use and ability to look up verb conjugations. However I was disappointed because it was slow and it takes many, many slow page flips to find the correct form of a verb in the correct tense. The easiest way to to it is to guess what you think the word is spelled and let the spell checker correct you.

PROS:
*Good for looking up words fairly quickly
*Large number of words and definitions
*Gives example sentences in the definitions
*Has calculator, measurement conversions, games, and money converter
*Many other features
*Ability to add expansion cards
*Small size
*Good as a spell checker
*Games can be fun/educational

CONS:
*Verb conjugation features takes too long to use
*Not very durable, its easy to break
*Keypad keys are too small
*Fairly slow response ... Read more

Features

• Features 10,000 words and over 6400 commonly used phrases
• Organized by category: Medical emergency, hotel, restaurant, airport, shopping, etc.
• One-Touch jog dial to provide quick, efficient communication
• Home & world clock with alarm
• Easy-to-use interface

Features

• Merriam-Webster Spanish-English & English-Spanish Dictionary
• Phrase book
• TOEFL words plus spell correction
• Conjugations & grammar guide
• My word list, games, clock, databank

Amazon.com Review

One of the main complaints about the first few generations of electronic book readers is their cost--who wants to pay several hundred dollars for the equivalent of a few $3 paperbacks? Enter Franklin's new line of eBookMan devices, available in three different models. We got an early peek at the top level eBookMan, which features 16 MB of memory, a sharp 200 x 240 16-level gray scale display, and excellent versatility.

In addition to being an e-book reader, the eBookMan also plays audio files (both audiobooks and MP3s), records voice messages, and functions as a respectable PDA. A flip-up cover and hard rubber outer coating afford protection for the device. With a USB-connected cradle, transfers between desktop and the eBookMan proceed quickly.

While the eBookMan offers a date book, address book, memo application (using natural handwriting recognition), and voice memo recorder, its main angle is still as a book reader. The large screen and powerful backlight makes reading literature in the Franklin Reader format clear, though the backlight did seem to drain the batteries rather quickly in our demo unit.

Ironically, the eBookMan's versatility also draws attention to its limitations. While the unit will play MP3 files, it can only store four to six songs at once with its 16 MB of memory. However, if you pick up an optional MultiMediaCard with up to 64 MB of memory, it is possible to adapt the eBookMan into a more respectable MP3 player.

While you'll need to spend a little extra to money to get your eBookMan to reach its full potential, the unit's low original cost and variety of applications make it an excellent gateway into the world of electronic literature. --J. Curtis

Pros:

• Very versatile--PDA, e-books, audiobooks, and MP3s in one device
• USB connection
• Large display

• Not currently compatible with Microsoft Reader
• Short battery life
• Gray scale only

Features

• 16 MB handheld multimedia reader and content player with large, backlit display
• Download and read thousands of electronic books or documents, or listen to audio books
• Listen to your favorite music in MP3 format
• Write notes in your own handwriting, and record messages in your own voice
• Keep track of your important contacts, dates, and appointments

Reviews (72)

A Terrific Bargain
I've been using the eBookMan for almost 2 weeks now. This is the Swiss army knife of PDAs, and it is much better for some purposes than others.

Pros - Nice looking item at a great price; Downloading and reading books and magazines (many free!) works very smoothly. Understanding how to manage files using the Desktop Manager takes a little study, and it is a little confusing to have two separate eBook programs to deal with, but the instruction booklet is very good; The handwriting recognition is surprisngly good, and there is also an optional on-screen keyboard; The various included software (plus the free downloads upon registration, including dictionaries) are worth the purchase price by themselves.

Cons - The built in speaker is barely audible at full volume, although earphones (optional) will help with this; To record a voice memo you almost have to shout to have it loud enough to hear on playback; I originally rated the MP3 quality as poor, based on the sample included with the device. After loading in an MP3 of my own, I would rate the MP3 quality as acceptable. The volume is low even with headphones and set to the highest level, but it was not nearly as distorted as the awful sample they provided. I would still not recommend this unit if the primary reason for purchase is listening to music or taking voice memos; The only way to input adresses, to-do lists, etc. from your computer is from MS Outlook, unless you are willing to shell out nearly [dollar amount] for a utility program which expands this capability to a few more existing programs (such as Lotus Organizer). I would love to see a free or cheap dedicated PIM program for the PC end to allow input of contact info without having to shell out for Outlook (does not work with Outlook Express).

Other points - Unit did lock up twice, but responded to a soft reset without loss of info; You should consider rechargable batteries to save money in the long run; Screen is fairly reflective, so angle of light source is important; Backlight is weak and is only useful in completely dark room; Keep in mind that unit must be activated online and is not functional without a PC and internet access.

After some initial problems, a decent ebook reader
If I had reviewed this product 7 months ago when I first got it, I would have given it a big fat 0 because all those thousands of free titles offered by Franklin Publishing's website did not download complete books using the Franklin Viewer. Also I had a great deal of trouble getting the OS to load. Eventually I solved the problem, something to do with a driver, but I gave up on it as a book reader because I wanted all those out of print titles that Franklin promised me! So it gathered dust for a few months until I decided to give it another try. This time when I downloaded the OS, MobiReader was included and I could get ALL of the book on my device. So I am now satisfied with my purchase.

I don't have any use for those PDA features like address book, memo, to do book, so I just retired them to desktop manager's Library instead of Contents folder so I have more memory for books.

The only negative thing I can say about it is there is a glare problem with the screen and I thought it came with backlight feature but that is my fault for picking the cheapest model. Otherwise I am very happy with it.

My EBM-911 overheated.
Why Franklin built this device to run on regular batteries, I'll never know. About six months into ownership, I was reading an ebook when my hand began to feel heat coming from the unit. I shut it off and removed the batteries-- they were so hot, I dropped them. I tried another set of batteries and they overheated. I now read ebooks on my Compaq Aero pocket pc, which I've had for 3 years. The screen is smaller, but the device is dependable, with a rechargeable lithium battery.

One star for the bigger screen
I was so excited when I bought this. Smaller and lighter than a real book, it fits in my bag, ebooks are cheaper and dpn't waste natural resources. Now I realise that I made a mistake. Firstly, the batteries can die without notice so I needed to keep a file backup with me at all times, secondly I had to go to the net to register the operating system when the batteries failed (which they did quite often). Thirdly, although the screen is larger the text can be quite difficult to read in certain light. Lastly, the machine uses it's own operating system which will not read pdf files or microsoft reader (lit)files. Most importantly, technical support is really bad. I lost my operating system six days ago and could not contact the server, I contacted technical support that day and they have just gotten back to me today to say that the server is down and they don't know when it will be back. My advice? Don't waste your money.

I love this thing
I love the ebookman 911. The screen is wider than my pda, it's also thinner and less bulky. Plus as an added bonus, it has a nice scroller on the side which makes it a lot easier to turn the page. I also like that you can change the batteries instead of having to wait forever to recharge the darn thing like my pda.

My only problem and the reason I didn't give it 5 stars is b/c of the gray screen. It might not bother anyone else but the lack of color bothers me enormously and is the reason I bought my pda in the first place. So while I think the eBookman is great, I wish they would come out with a color version and I would get rid of everything else. ... Read more