I wanted an English dictionary for my Cybook Gen3, so as a good mobilereader I searched the forums and ended up with

http://www.mobileread.com/forums/showthread.php?t=24924

and the threads mentioned in there.

As usual, the mix of features I wanted does not exist, e.g. I like illustrations, etymology, learner's aid. After doubting between Chambers and Oxford, I went for the Oxford Advanced Learner 7th ed, because I have a 6th ed paperback copy, I like it and was quite happy to get rid of the brick. However


Illustrations are disabled on the Cybook, only work on PC
Even on PC illustrations have been cut down. It does have the small ones, but it's missing the nicer, big ones, see e.g. boats, body. Maybe a real change 6th->7th ed, but I think it's the electronic edition
On Cybook I cannot lookup words directly in the dictionary, I get "Indexes not supported in this version". Obviously due to the Cybook version of mobipocket reader.


So basically I get the best of those $36 only on my laptop, where I already have the Internet helping me.

Also, Cybook already comes with a demo of Pocket Oxford English Dictionary, only letter L available. When I look up say "large" I am presented with two choices, corresponding to the two dictionaries installed. Never remember which is which though, so is there a way to select a default dictionary?

Illustrations are disabled on the Cybook, only work on PC
Even on PC illustrations have been cut down. It does have the small ones, but it's missing the nicer, big ones, see e.g. boats, body. Maybe a real change 6th->7th ed, but I think it's the electronic edition
The large images are there. For example AXE comes with two images: the one you see initially is 106x67 but (on a Windows PC) if you click on the small image you get the "full size" one - which is 480x320.

I think this is a case of the dictionary using too many of the advanced features of the MobiPopcket format. If they had just included the large image as a standard image almost everyone would be happier.

yes, I noticed that resizable pic feature, but I was referring to other illustrations. The paperback edition I have has very nice tables covering half or whole pages, they just left those out the eBook edition :(

The way you'd use a dictionary on a Cybook is different than the way you'd use it on your computer or the way you'd use a paper dictionary. You won't be able to browse through the dictionary very well, there is no search function on the Cybook to facilitate this type of use. The Cybook uses the dictionary to look up words in text you are reading. I think it would be a waste of space (and money) to purchase a nice pictorial dictionary just to install it to a Cybook. A pure text dictionary would work better.

I'm not sure that I agree, Julie. If you use a Windows PC, you can install the dictionary on that, too, and use that for searches.

I think it would be a waste of space (and money) to purchase a nice pictorial dictionary just to install it to a Cybook. A pure text dictionary would work better.

The dictionary works fine on a computer, but I qualified my comment above in regards to the Cybook. If someone buys a dictionary and plans to use it in the same way on the Cybook that they might on a computer, they will be disappointed because the Cybook is not designed to provide easy browsing access to a dictionary.

Sure, I agree that if you're going to use it only on a Gen3 then it would be waste. Dictionaries are, though, "normal" MobiPocket books, and hence can be used on the usual 4 different devices. I use my Chambers dictionary a lot on the Windows Mobi Reader precisely because that has a very nice "search" interface.

Sure, I agree that if you're going to use it only on a Gen3 then it would be waste. Dictionaries are, though, "normal" MobiPocket books, and hence can be used on the usual 4 different devices. I use my Chambers dictionary a lot on the Windows Mobi Reader precisely because that has a very nice "search" interface.

Searching dictionaries work very well on the Mobipocket Pocket pc version too.

Hey guys, thanks for the feedback! Basically you are saying that since the Cybook has limited user input capabilities, I should just not ask for too much interaction, as I was used to with the paper edition.

A pity though :(