Customer Reviews

Seiko VR5000 American Heritage Talking Dictionary & Roget's II Thesaurus

5 star:		(1)
4 star:		(7)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(3)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

The advertized 220,000 words impressed me to buy but every word I don't know, this dictionary doesn't know. The last two words that come to mind are; eponymous and recrudescense. If I had thought to make a list, it would probably recognize one out of five entries. Someone should create a dictionary that eliminates simple words in order to make room for words that someone fluent in English would normally have to look up. For example, this would eliminate words like, chair, house, etc. to make room for a more effective list.

FIRST- it's a neat, powerful, all around Dict., Thesa., Calc, and PDM...but it sucks for helping with misspelled words or searching for roots in the word data base! try spelling connote with one "n" or deny with an "ie"...the machine is mystified. It can not do a search for words in which the word "note" is imbedded. It seems that it can only handle misspelled words with the same number of letters as the correct version. For a word search containing a root word, one must use a "?" for each missing letter. There is no symbol to handle unknown numbers of letters. So close to a terrific machine!!!

If you are like me with a thick southern accent that you just can't help. Well this little handy-dandy gadget works like a charm!! Just type in the word you aren't sure how to pronounce and press "say" and it speaks!!! Now since it is also a dictionary you don't have to worry if you can't spell the word. Just start typing away and Bam it finds your word! Bam just like that.
I got this little device to help me in school. I am an older adult(30)ha!) going to college for my first time. The Seiko Talking Dictionary & Thesaurus has more then once been a life and a grade saver!! I would be so lost without mine!

This dictionary is not worth the pay. I bought this at $[amount] and it broke 1 week later. Don't think about calling Seiko because they just say that they can fix the screen (If it breaks) for $[larger amount]! Buy something that is a little more worth it !And this saying botton on the dictionary is Very stupid! You can Hardly hear the word because the person saying the stuff says it WAY TOO FAST. Dont buy this!

My major concerns to buy this particular product were as follow:
1) View and listen to the pronunciation of words.
2) Read the definitions from the great American Heritage dictionary.
Did I get what I wanted or expected? Yes, to some extent; therefore, I am rating this item four stars. Because this device doesn't define each single word; it takes you to the root word and doesn't explain relationship with the root or which part of speech is the word. Finally, you have to turn back to the traditional paper based dictionary to read the detail usage of the word or different definition. This model lacks another feature which is if you have viewed the definition and now switch to the Thesaurus, you have to retype in the word.

However, this handy portable device is great to find a word's definition in a few seconds (including typing time) while commuting or in the classroom. I am satisfied with my purchase.

I got other features too such as scientific calculator, world time, organizer, etc.

I have been using it for just one day, and found several problems:

1. The dictionary is painfully slow. It takes about 10 seconds to find a word, and, if you spell the word wrong and choose to do the spell check, it takes about at least 40 seconds.

2. It seems that you cannot find some some obvious words, such as Chicago, omnidirectional, cutesy.

3. Sometimes the voice does not match the pronunciation marked in phonetic symbols. For example, for the word traverse, the voice put the intonation on the first syllable while the phonetic symbols put it on the second.

I bought it and used for almost one month. First time I got it, I felt somewhat disappointed because I thought it's too slow.
But I got used to use it, I didn't feel any inconvenience.
I'm using it while I read the novel. It doesn't give me any problem. Yeah, sometimes there isn't some word but more than 95% I found the definitions.
It's really small and cute.. And very useful.. I will highly recommend this dictionary.

I have an American Heritage Talking Dictionary(AHTD) on CD-rom, 3rd edition, based on 92 ed dictionary. I bought it in 1995. It's very good. I can find most of medical terms, except those very specific ones. As a result, I didn't hesitate to buy this electonic dictionary. However, I am disappointed.

I can't find most of medical terms in this products, like ramus, psoas, leukocytosis, adduction etc. All those words I can find in the AHTD CD-rom. I wondered how come the new dictioinary had less words than the old one. Then I checked the information on the back of the dictionary, it said it's based on the CONCISE AHD, 1982 edition. No wonder. Before I bought this electronic dictionary, I couldn't find such information on the web, only saw that dictionary has 220,000 words.

I love my talking dictionary! I've had it for over a year. It is great when reading novels or when double checking pronunciation. Some words I think should be common are not in the dic. Of course, if they were so common then I should know what they mean. lol. I am ready to upgrade to a talking dictionary with more word capacity. One thing not mentioned is the helpful SAT option. There are limited words in this section, but it does help one know how to use unknown words in context. Overall- Well worth the money if you use it as mush as I do! I'd buy it again in a heart-beat if it cost under $100. Oh, and I did I mention it has games too- A little antiquated. But if you're board and it's great.

This dictionary is not worth the pay. I bought this at [cost] and it broke 1 week later. Don't think about calling Seiko because they just say that they can fix the screen (If it breaks) for [higher cost]! Buy something that is a little more worth it !And this saying botton on the dictionary is Very stupid! You can Hardly hear the word because the person saying the stuff says it WAY TOO FAST. Dont buy this worthless peice of doodoo!!