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View Poll Results: Do I actually need a dictionary on my reader?
Yes, I need a dictionary on my reader 143 53.96%
No, I do not need a dictionary on my reader 122 46.04%
Voters: 265. You may not vote on this poll

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Old 05-20-2009, 06:28 AM   #1
JSWolf
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Do you actually NEED a dictionary on your reader?

The word want has been removed because this is about need and not want. So do you actually need a dictionary on your reader? Just wanting one is a no. You have to actually need one to vote yes.
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Old 05-20-2009, 06:47 AM   #2
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And how strong must a need be to vote yes?

Surely, we've lived tens of years without dictionaries in our readers, so we don't really need them...
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Old 05-20-2009, 06:58 AM   #3
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I probably not have used an English dictionary at all since I was a small child, whether in print or otherwise

Otoh I have often wished that those reading devices I have owned which supported dictionaries where a little more generous about which languages they would permit. The eBookwise had a one-click lookup but it only worked with the Oxford English Dictionary. I would have loved to be able to put a French dictionary on there. I still do need help sometimes when reading in that language, and I think my fluency would improve a lot if I read more in French---which I don't, because I am so slow at it
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Old 05-20-2009, 07:23 AM   #4
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And just in case you are unsure exactly what it stands for - http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/need
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Old 05-20-2009, 07:24 AM   #5
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yes, I need it.

There are still lots of words that are missing from my vocabulary. Before I used an ereader, I had to look those words up in a dictionary. Now, I can just use my internal dictionary.

I should install a translating dictionary once, just to see how that works
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Old 05-20-2009, 07:49 AM   #6
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I havent used a dictionary in years except for one word, "started" for example, jim started when I told him I saw him with my wife. and it was exactly what I thought it ment of course, its just not a defination I ever knew for certain as a child, its not hard to figure out what a word means.
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Old 05-20-2009, 07:56 AM   #7
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No. I do not need dictionary. I do not want dictionary. I would not pay for one.
And bear in mind that English is my fourth language ;-)

I use dictionary as seldom as possible even when I am translating or interpreting to/from English. Translating and interpreting is one of things I do for living.

A good spell checker, well, that is something I would be lost without. Totally lost
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Old 05-20-2009, 07:57 AM   #8
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I voted no. In general I don't need one, but it would be nice to have (a convienent to use) one.
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Old 05-20-2009, 08:15 AM   #9
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I also voted no. I read popular fiction and romance and I've no used for a dictionary. I've used the dictionary on my Kindle only once and that's to see how it work.
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Old 05-20-2009, 08:16 AM   #10
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I do not NEED a dictionary. When reading from paper I generally just read through words that I didn't understand, relying much on the sense to 'guess' the meaning. The alternative of having an often heavy dictionary always to hand was too much trouble!!

OTOH, having the facility on the Cybook has enhanced my reading experience, 'cause I can now investigate words more thoroughly.

I accept that the main area I need a dictionary is when I'm writing - but that is another issue / poll entirely....
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Old 05-20-2009, 08:19 AM   #11
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I don't need a dictionary on my 505, but I'd probably use it if it was there.
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Old 05-20-2009, 08:50 AM   #12
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I NEED A DICTIONARY!!!

I need a dictionary in my reader because I need to learn English better.
It can be very helpful if I can just select one word and get a definition of it in the bottom of the page as Kindle can do. Unfortunately, Kindle is not available anywhere else except US.

Maybe some people (not as "smart" as the ones who don't need a dictionary) are discouraged to buy a book just because it has too many rare words. For example, a farmer might not know English as good as a lawyer but maybe he likes to read too. But if the lawyer wants to feel very smart compared to a farmer he should say "We don't need dictionary, we are enough smart people."

Why should an ebook reader manufacturer limit their target to only those customers who can speak English language very well?
Sony and others, give a chance to all the people that wants to read! They will buy more books.
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Old 05-20-2009, 09:03 AM   #13
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I do not NEED a dictionary in my ebook reader, but on the other hand the ebook reader software I use already has it. The one in eReader is better as it is available at all times, while Stanza needs to be online to do dictionary lookups, but it does work with ePUBs, so until Fictionwise makes good on their promised ePUB conversion I'll continue to use both.

I guess what I am saying is that I don't NEED dictionary lookup in an ebook reader, but since I already have it, why would I consider another reader only to lose some nice features?

The Bandit
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Old 05-20-2009, 09:09 AM   #14
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I managed without a dictionary when I had Sony devices but since getting an iRex I have become hooked on looking up any words I cannot clearly define. I'm not happy with my vocabulary and I think this is a good way to improve it. So now I would be very reluctant to buy an ebook reader without good dictionary support. IMO, instant dictionary lookup is one of the big benefits of ebook reading over paper books.
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Old 05-20-2009, 09:11 AM   #15
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Quote:
Originally Posted by JSWolf View Post
The word want has been removed because this is about need and not want. So do you actually need a dictionary on your reader? Just wanting one is a no. You have to actually need one to vote yes.
I do not get what need means here. Should you answer yes if there is one word in the book you do not know the meaning of? I definitely need a dictionary if I want to exactly understand all words in most books I read.

There are also a lot of words that are very easy to guess wrong what they mean. For me it is adjective like "bemused" and "gingerly" (these two words I read books more than 10 years and not noticing that I had guessed wrong). So it is false that you always can guess from context what the word mean.
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