From: invalid@diespammers.moc   
      
   Miles Bader wrote:   
   > bb  writes:   
   >   
   >>Which dictionary do you use? I was planning to get:   
   >>Kodansha's Furigana Japanese Dictionary   
   >   
   >   
   > I'd say if you're at all serious about studying Japanese, think about   
   > getting an electronic dictionary.  They're a lot more expensive, but   
   > looking up stuff is a zillion times faster and more convenient than with a   
   > paper dictionary.  Also, they are much smaller and lighter than a paper   
   > dictionary, and typically far more comprehensive (to an almost bizarre   
   > degree sometimes).   
   >   
   > Competition is fierce so there are many good models available   
   > (don't confuse these with the lame electronic english dictionaries or   
   > translation aids you sometimes see in travel stores and the like; Japanese   
   > models are almost always vastly superior in just about every way).   
   >   
   > [It's been a while since I shopped but I recall prices being around   
   > $2-300 for a top-end model, down to around $100 for something with a   
   > less comprehensive (but usually still good for a beginner) dictionary.]   
   >   
   > One caveat is that they are usually designed for use by Japanese who have   
   > English as a second language, so may be a bit weird if you're in the   
   > reverse situation; I think there are some companies that specifically   
   > target people learning Japanese (and so have models with e.g. english   
   > labels on the keys etc).   
   >   
   > -Miles   
      
   Thanks for the suggestion. I hadn't really thought about an electronic   
   one but it does sound like a good idea.   
      
   --- SoupGate-Win32 v1.05   
    * Origin: you cannot sedate... all the things you hate (1:229/2)