Customer Reviews

Franklin MWD-450 Merriam-Web Dictionary w/Calculator & Databank

5 star:		(1)
4 star:		(4)
3 star:		(2)
2 star:		(4)
1 star:		(3)

 

 

Review of Franklin/Merriam-Webster's MWD-450 and MWD-1440 electronic dictionaries

1. Lookups are slow on the MWD-450 (4-8 seconds is typical); response times are much better on the MWD-1440.

2. Definitions are shorter and simpler (often over simplified) on the MWD-450. The MWD-450 is probably better for a younger child (under 12), while the MWD-1440 should be better for teenagers.

3. The MWD-450 is missing many literary words and also some words that are important for understanding current events (e.g., "anti-Semitism" and "globalism"). The MWD-1440's dictionary, which is somewhat larger, contains "anti-Semitism" but not "globalism".

4. Displays on the two models have the same physical size, but the MWD-1440 displays more lines (5 lines instead of 3) using smaller and somewhat harder-to-read text.

5. Related word forms are not always shown. Here are two examples:

(A) If one looks up the word "naive", the noun form is shown as "naiveness". "Naivete", which is preferrable to "naiveness", is not listed as an alternative noun form. (One can, however, look up "naivete" separately).

(B) The MWD-450 recognizes "auspices" as a plural noun, but does not recognize the singular form "auspice".

6. The MWD-1440 has a slightly better keyboard; keys are squishy and badly shaped on the MWD-450.

7. Given that the MWD-1440 is aimed at college students, the calculator mode should include a more complete set of calculator functions. In particular, x^y (exponentiation), base-10 and base-e logarithms, and the sine and cosine functions should be provided.

8. On both models, the calculator mode would be easier to use if there were parentheses.

9. "Connect 4", which was one of the more interesting games on the MWD-400, is not available on the newer MWD-450 and MWD-1440.

I decided to try one of these little handheld dictionaries to help me at home and work when I got stuck on a word or, had a question about the meaning. At first I was some what pleased with the unit except for the slowness of it. Half the words would have been looked up quicker in a regular dictionary! Then, I started to become annoyed with the briefness of the definitions. A lot of the definitions are only a word or two and, leave you still wondering what the word means. My third and, final strike against it was the insufficent number of words it contains. It claims to have 80,000 words and, that may seem like a lot but, when the word you're looking up isn't listed, it's really not. Did I mention it was slow too? It's bad enough when you enter a word it knows but, if it's unsure of the word, it takes literally forever before it comes up with a list of possible words!
It shocks me that Merriam Webster would put there name on something like this! If this unit was in the ten to fifteen dollar range, I would be able to overlook some of its flaws but, they average going price is around thirty dollars and for what you get, it's just not worth it. Merriam Webster ought to take their name off this and, Franklin ought to go back to making sporting goods!

I have had the franklin dictionary for 3 years and its still running. it has been running on the same battery. The only thing that i hate about it is that its slow when it searches for the word. The good things are that u can put in personal information and it can spell check your search.It gives you short and understanble definitions for your search. Also the calculator it has, is easy to use.

Since I received the Flanklin MWD 450, I can't stop using it. It has a "learn option" for broadening your vocabulary and a databank which is very helpful for saving new words. It also presents you options for misspelled words. However, the keys are not big enough and the response is not that fast.

i thought this would be awesome when i got it but it is actually retty cheap and after about a month the screen cracked for no reason adn the cover didnt help at all it takes a long time to search and commonnwords didnt exist the 1450 is much better

I bought the Franklin MWD-450 for my 13 year old daughter to use at school for Language class vocabulary. She loves it. No need to wait for a dictionary or for a computer station to open up. With 5 computer stations in the class, it is time comsuming and most students wind up with homework. A couple of her friends have now purchased the Franklin MWD-450 as well to use in class.

Personally, I find this item is very useful. Though some words might not be in it but on the other side it has many advantages. It has short and brieft meanings which are very understandle. Second a calculator and games that you can increase your vocabularies. Third, small and light weigh. Overall, It's pretty good for a cheap price like this.

I'm in seventh grade and I bought this because i thought it might help me with my vocabulary and it had cool features. None of the definitions are good unless you look up a small word, as another person said. And the features ar cool but a lot of times the whole thing freezes. And then you lose all your information and settings. For example, It has place where you can put in people's phone numbers. I had aout 20 and then it froze. I had to reset it and I lost all the numbers. I also lost all my settings (Time, Date, etc.). For he most part, the games suck(the best ones are tic-tac-toe and hangman. Yeah, pretty sad.) Only decent thing is the calculator. It really only deserves 1 1/2 stars, but I'll be nice and give two.

The Franklin Dictionary is frankly a piece of junk! My daughter received this item as a gift for Christmas and four months later, not working, even with new batteries.

I read earlier reviews and tehy said it had problems with taking too much time to load a word but this dumb piece of junk had a cracked screen after having it a month. dont buy it it is a waste of $30