The drive for dictionary support

[TheRealBillc]

Unlike some folks here who know all the words in the English language, there are often a word or two per book that I don't know - and I took 5 years of Latin in school. I suppose it's the lack of a good grounding in Greek, German and Saxon that trips me up! In any case I'd find a dictionary extremely useful in an e-book reader. The integrated light was a tipping point decision maker for me, but the lack of a dictionary makes the 700 less than my ideal device. I want wifi too, because it's free in my building and covers the pool area, gym and community library, but if it's not going to be available by the end of this year (and it looks pretty certain it's not), then adding a dictionary would keep me happy until I can upgrade to the 700X or whatever the next device is called. I'd like to have it to get my RSS feeds updated automatically and to buy another book without having to go back to my apartment.

[HarryT]

Originally Posted by rhadin

Harry, he doesn't want it for any reason other than he has been charmed by the Kindle idea that he can be at the airport and download a book. He and I have discussed this several times in the past few months and I would say that he is simply of the generation that believes everything must include wireless.

I have 170 unread books on my 505. I've asked him how many of those books he thinks he can read while waiting for a flight. The "funny" thing is that he flies once or twice a year, so is rarely at an airport. But at 27, he is part of the "got to have it" generation.

I totally agree with you, Richard. I have something like 300 books on my CyBook Gen3 at the moment, many of them multi-book anthologies. That's at least 5 years reading for me, probably more like 10 years. For anyone with an eBook reader to claim that they might find themselves short of reading matter seems faintly ridiculous to me.

[Alisa]

Originally Posted by HarryT

I totally agree with you, Richard. I have something like 300 books on my CyBook Gen3 at the moment, many of them multi-book anthologies. That's at least 5 years reading for me, probably more like 10 years. For anyone with an eBook reader to claim that they might find themselves short of reading matter seems faintly ridiculous to me.

It's not about lacking a book to read, it's about having the book I want to read right now. When it comes to reading, my moods are very changeable. That's why I don't like to buy ahead. Having the Whispernet connection to the store means I rarely do.

[NatCh]

I agree that Dictionary support would be a huge deal for education purposes. That alone ought to be a pretty strong argument to Sony for adding it, unless they have no interest in that market, of course, and I rather suspect they do.

[Tomek]

I won't consider any ebook device without multiple dictionary support. Taking eInk quality for granted, for me dictionary lookup is the one thing that makes reading an ebook better then reading a traditional book. It is relatively easy to implement once you have a touch screen device like the 700 and I don't understand why it's not already included.

[Be Szpilman]

Multiple dictionary support is a must indeed, you could have any language if it's on a Memory Stick/SD instead of all on it's internal memory (though english-english should definitely be).

It should be complete with etymology, synomnyns and even spelling, since it supports audio (that could be an optional through external memory, since it supports cards of 4GB+)

Also interesting is to be able to jump from word entry to word entry, through 'hyperlinks' in the definitions and synomnyns. And finally to have a history of all words you've looked up.

Please, dictionary, Sony!!

[HarryT]

Originally Posted by bzpilman

Also interesting is to be able to jump from word entry to word entry, through 'hyperlinks' in the definitions and synomnyns.

If, as on the Gen3, you can look up a word on the current page by highlighting it, "hyperlinks" are completely unnecessary, since you can look up words in a dictionary entry just as you can look up words in any other book.

[HarryT]

Originally Posted by Alisa

It's not about lacking a book to read, it's about having the book I want to read right now. When it comes to reading, my moods are very changeable. That's why I don't like to buy ahead. Having the Whispernet connection to the store means I rarely do.

Sure, but do you need wireless for that? I'm generally within a few steps of my PC, which allows me to browse web site, download files, etc.

[Vaporware]

Having dictionary support is important to me and my wife. When I come across a word that I don't know I would really like to be able to look it up. She has said that she would buy a second reader for herself if it had dictionary lookup.

[Be Szpilman]

Originally Posted by HarryT

If, as on the Gen3, you can look up a word on the current page by highlighting it, "hyperlinks" are completely unnecessary, since you can look up words in a dictionary entry just as you can look up words in any other book.

That makes a lot of sense, Harry. Hadn't thought of that.

[HarryT]

I often find myself doing exactly that on my Gen3. I'll look up a word in the book I'm reading, and while reading the definition in the dictionary, something on the page will catch my eye, and I'll look that up, and so on. Luckily the "Back" button on the Gen3 will take you back through the "chain" of lookups until you return to your place in the original book .

[Indigo Ink]

Originally Posted by HarryT

I often find myself doing exactly that on my Gen3. I'll look up a word in the book I'm reading, and while reading the definition in the dictionary, something on the page will catch my eye, and I'll look that up, and so on. Luckily the "Back" button on the Gen3 will take you back through the "chain" of lookups until you return to your place in the original book .

I guess its a Mobipocket thing, I use exactly the same feature on my ebookman...mind you this "ancient device" has touchscreen!!
In fact it has everything I really want the only problem is that it does not have eink!!

[bbusybookworm]

I've been thinking off upgrading my mom's 500 sometime soon, as I feel that its time to get her one with a Vizplex Screen (You really notice the difference when you have both side by side).

I was debating between a Gen3 or Bebook as I felt that the featureset of the 505was not that much of an improvement (Plus I'll then only have to format everything in Mobi, simplifying life for me), but the 700 has really got me interested.

The touch, the Further font sizes, speed and light are really compelling features. If the dictionary support was there and notes are easy to export, Its definitely going to be a buy.

I've got someone travelling to the US in November, so will have to see. If Sony could confirm or give some specifics, it could firm up my decision.

[MSWallack]

I loved the dictionary support on my old REB 1100 and I've missed it on the devices (including my PRS 500 and PRS 505) that I've used in the interim. I'm on the fence about upgrading to a PRS 700; the inclusion of dictionary lookup will be a major factor in pushing me over that fence.

[Alisa]

Originally Posted by HarryT

Sure, but do you need wireless for that? I'm generally within a few steps of my PC, which allows me to browse web site, download files, etc.

I'm a few steps from a dictionary, too. I still find it darned convenient to not have to stop my reading to go get it.