Customer Reviews

Franklin SCD-1890 Speaking Merriam-Webster's Collegiate Dictionary, 11th Edition

5 star:		(9)
4 star:		(14)
3 star:		(9)
2 star:		(3)
1 star:		(5)

 

 

There's no backlight neither any bookman slot. The picture gives the illusion of two speakers. This is not so, the speaker is the left one and the right is a dummy. To make matters worst, I simply cannot understand why there is no protective cover nor an included case for such a large lcd. I can see this device becoming quite dusty in time. I would have returned this item but this is nearly impossible for me since I had it shipped to my home in the Caribbean.

The blue font used is also difficult to read. You get a sort of shadow effect below each letter. Likewise when you initially press the speak button, you get a sort of crackling noise as the pronunciation of the word is started. This crackling noise however disappears when the speak button is repressed for the same word.

UPDATE: This product has now MALFUNCTIONED. A continuous deep blue screen is now visible. Pressing the reset button has no effect. The item was not subjected to any abuse, never dropped and stored in a well padded pouch.

I had purchased a Franklin electronic dictionary back when I was in University and I had loved it. I used it to build my vocabulary by playing the word games. I took it everywhere with me, even while traveling. It was easy to use, and most importantly, was backlit. I was really distressed when I had forgotten it aboard a Qantas Airlines flight from Los Angeles to Honolulu. I quickly purchased another one. It was really a very important, necessary, and useful item during my University days.

Unfortunately, though Franklin has shrunk the electronic dictionary in size and added more features, it has removed the backlight feature. What a mistake. For this reason alone I give this item two stars (I really meant to give it a 1 star).

It is really very hard to read the screen, especially in poor light, such as in your bed at night (which is the best place to build your vocabulary), in a car, a library, or aboard an aircraft. The absence of a backlight also makes this electronic device look primitive, as if it came out of the 70's. What went through the minds of the engineers and designers to produce such a gaffe? Was it monetary consideration? I am ready to pay more for a backlight!

There are other Franklin electronic dictionaries (and many by other manufacturers) with a backlight. Take my word, purchase a backlit unit, and you'll thank me for it.

Other than this major weakness, this electronic dictionary has many features if your eyes allow. It has a Merriam-Webster dictionary, English usage, guide to punctuation and style, signs, symbols, tables, quotations, thesaurus, and a 5-language translator (English, Spanish, French, German, and Italian). This last can come handy when traveling.

This electronic dictionary is also small, which will be easy for you to carry around.

This is a talking dictionary; however, the speakers give less than adequate sound. By putting on the headphones, which are supplied, the sound becomes much clearer.

If a backlight was included, I would not have hesitated giving this product five stars!

If I could put negative number of starts, I'd gladly do so.

Either it was bad choice of manufacturing partner or prematurely released product or both.

Device locks up dead when you try playing built-in Letrix game.

The thing cannot be turned off when it happens. You have either to take out batteries or find a pin and push it into a small hole in the bottom to reset it.

As another reviewer indicated before, the right speaker is a hoax (either there is nothing there or it doesn't work). Sound out of the remaining left speaker is horrendous. Sound in the headphones is no better, which suggests that sound processor is a chip dirt poor quality piece of silicon.

All the built-it games have only one level of difficulty - beginner.

Random word generator is a joke. It can generate the same word many times in a row.

I tried two of them (though the first one was defective). But the second one behaved absolutely the same.

So, either Franklin has some serious issues with product quality, or Amazon is selling "dumpster" batch of SCD-1890's.

And yes, don't be fooled by the picture of the item. What appears to be black on gray text is a decal. In reality text is blue on gray, which indeed in not as readable as black on gray would be.

I bought this electronic dictionary for the purpose of improving my vocabulary and for the convenience of looking up words while reading without having to walk over to the computer. This goal is realized effectively in the SCD-1890.

The Franklin SCD-1890 has a very user-friendly interface, is small enough to carry in ones backpack without problems (it's about the size of a small book) and its vocabulary, though not by any means exhaustive (the forbidding size of the English vocabulary makes this impractical) it contains almost all of the words I've looked up. The definitions are clear, and I like the fact that the etymologies of the words are included.

The games and flashcard functions, though not particularly interresting, are useful for educational time-killing. I have used them, for example, when I've found myself sitting in a waiting room, or in a long line.

The 5-language translator is, as are most products of the kind I have seen, almost useless. If you are interrested in an electronic dictionary for translation purposes, look elsewhere.

As for the grammar guide, I have found it useful as a quick reference while on the go, but it does not replace a good grammar book.

The only real complaint I have about this product is the fact that there is no screen cover, nor any protective sleeve. I can easily see the screen accidentally getting dropped and cracked in the normal course of use (judging by the amount of times I've dropped my TI-89 and probably been saved by the fact that it has a very sturdy cover).

The light was very poor when I received the unit. Contrast is adjustable which solved this issue. My unit did not come with a headphone but I have numerous ones from other electronics. Be sure to turn down the volume before using them. I purchased a padded cosmetic case which is cheaper and easier to find in this size than one in the electronics departments.

Pros: Compact, Lightweight, Good internal library, Excellent display

Cons: Poor speaking feature, Mooshy keys

Combines all the English references anybody needs in a compact, useful, handy design (I just grabbed it to check whether useful had two Ls.). I don't know what battery life is like, but experience with other Franklin products leads me to believe it will be more than adequate, especially considering there is no backlight. And, speaking of backlight, the screen is good, even when using the smallest type in dim light. The only downsides are a soft keyboard and garbled/slurred speaker. I don't use the speaking function, but, still, it's there and I might. I have to listen a couple of times and, even then, I'm not sure unless I look at the word on the screen. And the keyboard is soft. The keys themselves are rubber and, though of a good size, don't always register unless I take time to double check. The lack of hard keys with a nice, crisp click prevent this from being a 5-star recommendation.

i've had many franklin dictionaries in the past that worked great but this one leaves a funny feeling; unsatisfied. the soft keys are more difficult to use than the harder ones on other older models. there's no cover, the right speaker is a fake covered up by a sticker now but i don't really need it to speak. it's electronic voice is awful and the volume has to be turned up for you to hear. if it wasn't for the fact that it had the most word definitions for electronic dictionaries, i wouldn't have bought it. the thing that irks me the most is when i turn it on, i have to select dictionary or one of the other books which i'll never use. there's no setting for it to turn on only to the dictionary which is why we buy these things in the first place. i could've spent 50 bucks for a palm unabridged version but i didn't like the interface and it's not as accessible often when i want. i don't have much of a problem with the lack of the backlight since i always have a lamp on. for 100 bucks this is way overpriced for its shortcomings. however for the convenience of not have the book around, it's almost tolerable to purchase. the size is a bit big in comparisons to the older compact models. my old one was like a blackberry size and style. this square block although thin looks exactly like the one i have from 20 years ago. they should really have put in some thought on user ergonomics and style.

This device has the potential to be great. That being said it needs some help. The backlight on the LCD is very poor and makes it hard to read. This coupled with a small font really creates problems unless you're using it outside. The speaker isn't very good and has too much static. It is an awesome reference tool. It has so many books and translators and that almost makes it worth the money. If it just didn't look, feel and sound so "cheap" it would be great. For the price it should have a carrying case at least.

Purchased for my adult child who has gone back to college; she says it so useful and helpful; I'm sorry I did not find this sooner. She's improved 100% not only in her spelling and word translation, but in pronounciation.

It has many words- So So definitions (compared to cambridge adnvanced learner's dictionary)- A little slow in operation