RE: [Off-topic] Electronic dictionaries for looking up Japanese(warning v. long)

[<peter@my.email.ne.jp>]

Alexander, I didn't see my post in the digest so wasn't even sure it had got
through.  I agree the newer Pocket PCs are very nice with the newer OS,
displays, software suite etc., but you do pay a premium for them (about
one-third to half the price of a laptop).  That's why I go for the several
generations old Pocket PCs, as they are dirt cheap, and put the same amount
of money into a laptop, which I have a real need for as well.  For just the
function of a very portable, very easy to use, very flexible dictionary the
Pocket PC option is worth its weight several times over in gold.

Other than not having the pen input for kanji, I would say there are no
disadvantages of having another language OS, and particularly if you are
just beginning in Japanese might even be a disadvantage for navigating
around all of the other functions available on your Pocket PC.  That is the
advantage of JWPCe, that it will run in any language OS, and allow you not
just dictionary but all the word processing needs you have for Japanese,
plus the ability to make word lists, glossaries etc. and save them in text
for transferring to other formats.  Yes I would recommend installing the
true type fonts if you are running JWPCe in another language, but if running
on a Japanese OS though there are true type fonts built into the system that
are a bit nicer than the ones available for download from the JWPCe site.

Lastly, all of these wonderful advantages of JWPCe are not just restricted
to Pocket PCs, as JWPCe is available for running on desktops or laptops in a
Windows environment (sorry Mac users), with the only restriction in those
environments of not having pen input like you have on the Japanese Pocket
PCs.  Personally, I have copies of JWPCe on my Pocket PC, Windows laptop and
Windows desktops (if there was a Mac version I would have it on my Macs as
well).  No vested interests, just a very satisfied user in both professional
and personal environments for this freeware product.

Cheers, Pete.
<peter@my.email.ne.jp>

> From: "Alexander Nitschke" <alexander.nitschke@inzpla.de>
> 
> Hello Pete,
> 
> just wanted to say that I'm doing exactly the same. Only two months
> after starting to learn Japanese (18 months ago) I got myself a Pocket
> PC (Compaq IPAQ 3850). This one really has some advantages to the older
> Cassiopeia (I think), namely better display, faster processor and the
> far better operating system Pocket PC 2002 which has much better
> multitasking. I also installed JWPce and JFC as the first thing; this
> really makes dictionaries obsolete...
> 
> Ok, I don't have a Japanese model, so no kanji input with drawing. But
> with my almost non-existing Japanese at the time I wouldn't have been
> able to handle a Japanese OS which is a serious drawback. :-) Other than
> the drawing input I don't see other disadvantages for a German or
> English OS, do you? I've found all kanji anyway with the multitude of
> possibilities within JWPce.
> 
> I just wanted to ask if you also have a True Type font installed and
> running with JWPce and JFC? This makes the display of the kanji so much
> better compared to the pixeled standard of JWPce.