Dictionary

[Lector]

Do you think that is possible in the future add a dictionary to Sony PRS 505 like Bookeen Cybook Gen3? If Cybook can do it, Sony Reader too.


I think Sony Reader is and static position. Sony reader must change this posture. PDF format continue wrong. Wrong way for sony....

What's your opinion?

[HarryT]

Originally Posted by Lector

What's your opinion?

Personally I agree with you entirely. Sony are the only "big name" bookreader not to support dictionaries; it's a serious lack.

[godel10]

In the old (japanese) version of the Sony device, Sony Librie, there is support for dictionaries (I use it without any troubles with an English-Spanish dictionary). Thus, I never understood why they decided to throw away this issue in the US version.

[astra]

Originally Posted by godel10

In the old (japanese) version of the Sony device, Sony Librie, there is support for dictionaries (I use it without any troubles with an English-Spanish dictionary). Thus, I never understood why they decided to throw away this issue in the US version.

Because Americans do not need to translate their own language, it is only us, bloody foreigners who need it

[godel10]

Originally Posted by astra_lestat

Because Americans do not need to translate their own language, it is only us, bloody foreigners who need it

Sorry, but some Americans also read (and learn) foreign languages. However, even if this is not the case, an english-english dictionary (i.e., with definitions) is also useful.

[kati42]

Yes, but if I want to brush up on my French or learn Spanish, having a French->English and Spanish->English dictionary would be very helpful as I try to read books in French or Spanish.

[astra]

Hey, guys!
I was just kidding

[igorsk]

Originally Posted by godel10

In the old (japanese) version of the Sony device, Sony Librie, there is support for dictionaries (I use it without any troubles with an English-Spanish dictionary). Thus, I never understood why they decided to throw away this issue in the US version.

The UI part was completely rewritten for the Reader, they didn't use any of the code from Librie.

[kati42]

Originally Posted by astra_lestat

Hey, guys!
I was just kidding

Sorry - it's just that there is a non-zero population of Americans that do not want to make an effort to be a part of the global community. I worry at times that *all* of us are perceived in this manner, when many of us are not like that... So I will plead guilty to being sensitive about the subject.

Plus, I am just frustrated by the lack of dictionary support, and wanted to jump on the thread.

[dhbailey]

There's a non-zero part of EVERY nation's population which doesn't want to learn other languages. It's not just an American thing.

[dhbailey]

I find that with my Palm using a dictionary, while possible and even automated (highlight a word in mobipocket and use the menu to look it up) is a pain. I find that when I use a dictionary, I like to look at the original AND the dictionary at the same time, so to satisfy me, some sort of split-screen capability would be necessary, where the original is shown at the top and the dictionary is shown at the bottom.

In the absence of this capability,I am happy to use the reader to read from and have a small paperback dictionary (gasp, a REAL book!) with me to look up words as I go.

And the Reader's sluggish changing of books would make dictionaries hard to use while reading on the Reader until/unless the improve the processor (increase the speed as well as the capabilities) and use of screen real-estate. But of course, that will bring with it a loss of battery life, since faster processors use more energy as do more complicated screen controllers which would allow for split screens.

[astra]

Originally Posted by kati42

Plus, I am just frustrated by the lack of dictionary support, and wanted to jump on the thread.

I am frustrated that I don't have dictionary support as well, as English is my second language and I read only in English for the last 8 years.

However, to be completely frank, if English was my mother tongue, I would never consider studying another language. Why? Studying a foreign language is an immensely huge task! It is a big commitment, because to study a foreign language to a certain level you must invest incredebile amount of time. Unless it is a necessity, like studying English for me, why bother? There are so many interesting things you can do with your time instead of studying some foreign language that you might never use in your life or use it once or twice when you travel abroad? Instead, you can learn a new subject that might help you in your career, or study something you would like to know, to learn it just for general knowledge. The end result is much more sutisfactory
I envy you guys whos mother tongue is English.

P.S. I live in England for 5 years, I have a lot of problems with English. The worst problem is listening skill. Next comes speaking(I just don't have a talent for languages, I am much better in math or networking ). And I have big advantage over Americans or British, because I actually live in a country where English is an official language. To learn a foreign language when you don't use it in everyday life is much more difficult. (I have a bit more of experience of studying a foreign language because I lived in Israel for 10 years where I had to learn Hebrew, which is a lot easier to learn than English, at least for a Russian speaking person like me.) So, I don't care what people say about Americans, I know that I would not bother with a foreign language if I were an American.

[HarryT]

Originally Posted by dhbailey

There's a non-zero part of EVERY nation's population which doesn't want to learn other languages. It's not just an American thing.

I don't want foreign-language dictionaries; I want (and use) dictionaries which give definitions of English words. I read a lot of 19th century books, and there are huge number of words that have fallen out of use in the language, particularly relating to areas like clothing, horse-drawn transport, sailing ships, etc. Although the approximate meaning of such words can be guessed from context, I find that it greatly enhances my reading experience to be able to look up their actual meaning as I come across them.

[kati42]

Originally Posted by HarryT

I don't want foreign-language dictionaries; I want (and use) dictionaries which give definitions of English words. I read a lot of 19th century books, and there are huge number of words that have fallen out of use in the language, particularly relating to areas like clothing, horse-drawn transport, sailing ships, etc. Although the approximate meaning of such words can be guessed from context, I find that it greatly enhances my reading experience to be able to look up their actual meaning as I come across them.

Of course. I was just trying to explain an apparently overly-defensive tone in my earlier post.

[astra]

Originally Posted by dhbailey

In the absence of this capability,I am happy to use the reader to read from and have a small paperback dictionary (gasp, a REAL book!) with me to look up words as I go.

I use Ectaco. Cannot imagine reading Perdido Street Station without it.