Customer Reviews

SELECTSOFT USA Oxford Pop-Up Spanish/English Dictionary (Windows)

5 star:		(3)
4 star:		(2)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(4)

 

 

I was initially impressed with the Oxford Spanish dictionary and it's TSR-based "i-finger" software, it has a hefty dictionary and lot's of regional variations of the use of Spanish. The big downer was that it bombed on me after a year of use, I bought the 2002 Oxford Spanish CD sometime ago, and apparently it has some kind of automatic time-bomb built into its code, it will no longer install after a pre-determined amount of time has expired on the computer, i.e., the registration code will not work anymore and it won't install. I used it on WindowsXP and found this out. It's their trick to get you to "upgrade" to the new version.

I have an old but excellent Spanish-English dictionary at home, in book form, and there is no reason why a CD can't remain the same after years of use. Obviously the greed factor has deterred the authors of this software from making this work for the rest of us. Buy it for cheap, but be forewarned!

I wanted some Spanish software and I stumbled across this in a local used bookstore. It was a risky purchase, but it turned out to be one of the most useful purchases I've made for my Spanish studies. I found it so helpful to my study of the Spanish language that I put it on my Spanish Listmania list. Today as I was browsing Amazon I was surprised to see that the only review of this product was so negative! I'll try to present another viewpoint and address what the previous review mentions.

1.) Lack of translations -- I'm not quite sure what this means...This isn't translation software. It's a dictionary. You can enter either the Spanish word or the English word...or simply highlight and click a word on the screen. I used it for reading emails from Spanish friends, reading Spanish articles and books and for writing Spanish letters and essays. I have encountered very few words that this dictionary couldn't define.

2.) Incorrect translations -- I've found the dictionary to be exceptionally accurate. It is also exceptionally detailed and the patient and observant are rewarded. Most entries are very long (but still very accessible) -- listing many different usages and idiomatic expressions. It also lists different regional usages and meanings within the Spanish speaking world. Each word and usage is typically accompanied by an illustrative sentence using the word. Again, as I stated above this is not translation software and really can't be used as such. It's a dictionary. Dictionaries are not infallible and care must be used with any dictionary. Language is ever-changing, enigmatic, fluid and organic. To blindly use the first definition that pops up would be foolish. I use this software in a practical sense, reading Spanish documents and writing to and for actual Spanish speaking people, and have never encountered any misunderstandings.

3.) Annoying pop-up window -- I never had this problem. The window only popped up when I was actually using the software. However, if this did happen I'm sure you could just turn the application off while you aren't using it.

4.) Inconvenient -- I found this program to work well with all of my programs. It was easy to install and use.

5.) Retarded liscense management -- I'm not even sure how to respond to this one...

If you are a serious student of the Spanish language then I think this software is excellent. It probably isn't the best product for someone temporarily or casually interested in Spanish. A simple paperback dictionary is best for that scenario.

...along with my favorite text, *501 Spanish Verbs,* I'm set! I'm a reasonably fluent Spanish speaker. My University of Chicago Spanish Dictionary travels with me, but this Oxford Pop-Up Spanish/English Dictionary CD is by far the best of any computer versions I've tried over the years. It is always exceedingly useful in sending online communications and composing texts in Spanish at the computer! Highly recommended.

I have iFinger 3.0 which I downloaded after purchase. But when I downloaded the vista 64 version of ifinger, my dictionary now says expired when I tried to re-install it on the new computer. They have refused to comment on this and I am not going to buy another dictionary from them.

This English-Spanish dictionary is very useful, efficient, specific and quite complete.
I am now definitely an enthusiast of the Oxford pop-up dictionaries as I have installed the English dictionary, the Thesaurus and the Hachette-Oxford French-English dictionary as well and use them effortlessly, on a daily basis, as much for work than for pleasure.

This program worked fine for me, for a while. It is neat in that the pop-up is handy when trying to use it, say when you come across a word you don't understand in Spanish. However, it did interfere with some of my other programs which caused me to disable it until needed. My main issue with this program is when you need to install it second time. I reformat my hard drives every six month or so. The program is nearly impossible to install the second time. The help desk is not very helpful with this. It takes me almost 4 weeks to get any help. I am currently on another wait period for them to 'unlock' my access to their dictionaries. I will be looking for another dictionary with a much easier installation feature.

It works great with most programs giving, not only the meaning, but also the translation of the word into English or Spanish depending on your needs.

I've had this product for a number of years and I still can't get over how cheap it was and yet there's nothing out there to compare with it. It's hands down the best tool for reading documents on your computer in Spanish. It's a dictionary - not translation software. But with the iFinger pop-up software you can click on a word and get a definition so quickly and easily that it permits you to read more difficult Spanish literature that would take too long with other computer dictionaries not to mention with a conventional paper dictionary. I have the German version also. I can't recommend it enough.

The product is fuctionary awkward, not very good. But worse yet, if you try to download it a second time, it won't work. It did not work when I tried to re-install it after my computer crashed. Also, somehow, the CD stops functioning after you have it a while, which appears to be planned by the company.

THis dictionary is horrible for everything. THis is why:
1) Lack of translations
2) Incorrect translations - especially legal
3) Annoying pop up window that loves to bother you when writting e-mails
4) Inconvient- no application with Office or even the hot keys
5) Retarded license management - like anyone would like to pirate their dumb program

Even free this product isn't worth it