xilios

Hi, thinking about getting one for a gift but I really haven't a clue as to which one and if they are any good. The ones I looked up (like this one) have bad reviews, I just wonder if there all like this.
Has anyone here ever try one and what do they think about it.

Allen

Do you have an iPhone or iPod? There is an app that does the same thing for 1/10th--1/20th the price.

acantor

Why would you need something like this? My understanding is that everybody in the Netherlands speaks at least 52 languages, dialects, patois, plus any specialized vocabularies and discourses they may have learned at University!

xilios

After more research I will be looking for some other gift these gadgets seem to be very limited and unreliable.
Thanks for the replies.

nodachi

I've lived in Japan for 2 years and had some experience with electronic translators. First, you pay for what you get so expect a good translator to cost a lot. Cheap out and get disappointed. Secondly, there are so many different functions on the good ones that it takes some learning on the functions so they can be optimally useful.

HOWEVER, they are really only effective if you have some foundation in the language you are trying to use it with. My wife is close to fluent and I am only conversational in the language. She is able to really make the translator worth her while. She can piece together long complicated thoughts with it when she is at a loss for words. I, on the other hand, don't know enough of the language on my own to really have it help beyond a direct word to word translation. I wouldn't recommend these devices for most people because they lack the language knowledge on their own and you can do a lot of stuff with limited language skills and charades anyway.

xilios

Thanks for the reply nodachi, I have made my decision, I'm not going to dish out so much for one of these gadgets, I'll look for another gift.
cheers