electronic Translator

[Joey and Yan]

Can anyone recommend a good chinese - english , english-chinese handheld electronic translator?

Would like one that pinyin can be entered with a pen onto the screen or english. Want it to help my wife learn english and to help with daily situations that arise for her. Something not too large she can carry in her purse.

I see allot of these for sale , but thought getting recommendations would be good before spending money on one that is worthless.

She is getting tired of me translating everything for her whereever we go , wants to stand on her own feet, good for her!

Thanks in advance.

[dnoblett]

I bought my Yu a Besta 627 in Toronto last summer, it is EXCELLENT!

 

Several different translating dicts, displays in 5 languages, hand writing rec on the display, it recognizes Chinese script, what looks like scribble drawn on it by Yu results in accurate Chinese characters.

 

http://www.bestausa.com/dictionary/besta_cd_627/

 

http://www.bestausa.com//images/dictionary/cd627/cd627.jpg

 

It is worth every penny of it's $340 price.

 

It also includes 2 full DVDs of learning materials that can be loaded on to SD cards and used on it.

 

The HK Version is called 9900-Mini http://www.besta.com.hk/dict/9900mini.asp

Edited December 3, 2008 by dnoblett (see edit history)

[pkfops]

Might find something here:

 

http://www.chinesemall.com/eldic.html

 

But be sure to shop around.

 

We use a Longman.

[Randy W]

Might find something here:

 

http://www.chinesemall.com/eldic.html

 

But be sure to shop around.

 

We use a Longman.

 

 

The Longman 8688 is sold as the Yishin 888 in the US, a top-rated translator. Does very well with hand writing recognition and sentences.

 

For a dictionary, I like the Plecodict, sold for PDA's. It shows Chinese and English definitions together, so it bails us out fairly regularly.

[mikepellicore]

We have a Besta CD-826, it is 2 years old, has the slots for the cards, you can get many different cards, for Med. school, Law school, etc. I got it from Tiawan, only $239 including shipping to Chicago. I don't have the seller info today, but I can get it for you when I return home tomorrow if you would like. It has a writing pad for Chinese input, and I type English. very small, just like the one above. Mike & Yizhen

[michaelt]

I think what others have suggested may be better than what I have, but I purchased something from BBK Educational Electronics Corp for my wife and I before we first met. Each was something like $99 and helped us through the beginning. As a paper back dictionary (which my wife loves and carries every where) is the Langenscheidt Yellow Chinese-American and reverse, and is excellent and durable. (BooksAMillion)

Edited December 4, 2008 by michaelt (see edit history)

[hopelives]

The Besta is fantastic. I tried two others and they were not even close. I know their is a US distributor in the Bay Area. I think I have an email address somewhere if you need it-jk3

[Guest jin979]

i think you have to teach her english in your home, then help her outside of house. translator box will not help her out of house much.

 

teach her simple english "crazy english" free on web is good to help.

[dnoblett]

The Besta is fantastic. I tried two others and they were not even close. I know their is a US distributor in the Bay Area. I think I have an email address somewhere if you need it-jk3

Yep, we have a friend who immigrated from Taiwan 40 years ago, had him try ours, he was amazed with the handwriting, he wrote in a very sloppy looking script on the unit's display, he was amazed how accurately it recognized the words he was writing.

 

The unit is loaded with over a gigabyte of apps and lessons, and the built in references are extensive.

 

The included windows software for installing software and backing it up has no problems running on North American Windows XP.

[Clement & Emily]

My wife and son use the Besta CD-829, available at ebay for around $240.00 include shipping. Here's the product link at ebay