Customer Reviews

Zelco Electronic Bookmark Dictionary II

5 star:		(2)
4 star:		(3)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(4)
1 star:		(8)

 

 

I received this as a gift for Christmas and I have two main complaints. First, and more important, I would say 1/3 of the words I look up are not in this product. I have a decent vocabulary, but I'm no lexicographer, and it's frustrating not to find so many words. The second complaint is that the buttons are difficult to push and I wish the product would default to "dictionary mode" when I turn it on, rather than always have to push an extra button to get there. It is a dictionary after all--why would I buy this if I really wanted a calculator? It's a nice feature, but bury that somewhere else and make it easy for me to look up my word without having to push extra buttons (which are hard to push!) I'm sure there's something better out there...now I'm off to find it.

I received this bookmark dictionary 2 weeks ago, and it's already broken! The upper left portion of the key pad has stopped working, and the buttons that actually do work need to be pressed hard in order for the letter to register! I definitely DO NOT recommend this item.

I bought this because it sounded like such a great idea.
Unfortunately, every other word that I needed to look up wasn't in it.
This is a good BASIC dictionary, which will probably be useful to students and light readers, but if you are an AVID READER like me, and read everything from history to science fiction, this device may not serve you well.

This is a very useful device for the avid reader! It is thin, easy to use, and by far the most convenient dictionary around. It fits on a book jacket and is ready for any new words that pop up while reading. Range of words is extensive - only a few words looked up that not in it so far in use for over a two months.

It has been well received by my teenagers - saves having to jump up to fetch yet a another book. Particularly useful in travel situations like an airplane or a car trip where toting around a standard dictionary is impractical.

Only draw back (and reason for a one-star deduction) is that it requires reflected light, which makes the text a tad it difficult to read when in low light situations. Could be enhanced with a small backlight feature - maybe in version III.

Definitely recommended. No problem with functionality mentioned by another reviewer.

This product worked for about five minutes but then failed. After 4 resets, it has remained stuck on the date. I'll be returning it.

I seldom find a word I look up included; about 90% of the time I have to go to another, more complete dictionary. That is disappointing. I also find it hard to enter the letters, they often don't register as the touch board is too flexible. For reading on the fly it doesn't work, a hard surface is needed. So I mostly don't bother. Shame, as it's a good idea - it really bugs me to read a word and not be able to know its meaning!

This product is better used as a bookmark only. As a dictionary the overall design and content leave a lot to be desired. As noted by other reviewers, the keyboard is too flexible where it needs to be rigid. The keys are not user friendly; very often duplicating a letter when it was touched but once. I, like others, have found the dictionary seriously flawed; not enough content, very frustrating considering the time it takes to input an entry. Further, I don't need a calculator or clock either. I suggest consideration of a different product, e.g., the SHARP E550.

Note: product did not help me correct spelling errors in this review. So don't dis me.

Good:
Light weight, easy to hold. Battery lasts a long time
Only good for looking up words as you're reading

Bad:
* Too few display rows...letter height is small and gray on gray. I don't see color well..difficult to read

Ugly:
* Clock. Why? Designers needed to stay on task...give a good dictionary
* Dictionary. Missing, spelling lookup, pronounciation, limited vocab
* Calculator. Light Blue small text key pad numbers. If you're color blind or need reading glasses...good luck!
* Convert. Product noticably unfinished. Unusable. Convert Acres? Hectares?? who cooks up this stuff. MISSING Oz <--> ML, Mi<-->K, LB<-->kGMs

I first ordered a bookmark calculator and it malfunctioned (some buttons stopped working). I called the company and a nice gentleman told me to just send it back and he sent me a new one. The new one used up batteries unreasonably quickly and the same gentleman told me a whole shipment went out with that same malfunction and to send it back for a replacement. I received a call from a supervisor, who said I would not receive a replacement without sending her $5 for shipping. I refused (and, frankly, should not have even had to pay the shipping to get it to them...twice, but did not request a refund). Now, she is in possession of the product I purchased and refuses to send a replacement without shipping, even though it is a manufacturer defect. She also refused to let me speak to her supervisor. This is very disappointing customer service.

Where to begin . . . I originally got this product as a Mother's Day gift in 2010. Within the month it was taken back to the store and exchanged for another. That one worked about a month (rarely used) before I called Zelco Industries and I sent it in to be repaired (had to do with the battery compartment). It worked when it was sent back to me (again rarely used it) but this winter I take it out of my nightstand drawer and it doesn't work. I called Zelco again and he said to send it back and he would personally pull one off the shelf and get it out to me. Well, it came the week after Christmas and did not work when I took it out of the box. Since they weren't in the office during the holidays I called on 1-6 to tell the guy in customer service the replacement did not work. He said that he tested it before he sent it out. He said to send it back (which I did on 1-7) and another would be sent to me. It will be 3 weeks tomorrow and I haven't received a replacement yet. I called today again and spoke with the secretary who blamed me not receiving it yet possibly due to all the snow in New York. The man in customer service who I'd been dealing with was not in today and wouldn't be tomorrow either but she took down my name and number. I am not happy with this product or this company.