French to English dictionaries Շարքի հրապարակողը: Silvia Brandon-Pérez
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I have an Oxford Hachette that is falling apart, and have been considering getting an altogether different dictionary. I have been looking at the Collins, Larousse... any suggestions for a print copy that will not fall apart when you use it? The binding on the Oxford's I have bought is awful!
Sorry if this topic has been covered previously.
| | | | Neil Coffey 
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| Paper mainstream dictionaries are disposible | Nov 16, 2008 |
A mainstream paper dictionary like the Oxford-Hachette isn't supposed to be a family heirloom treasured across generations. As soon as it's printed, it's out of date. It's a disposible product whose valid lifetime is maybe a couple of years, especially if you're a translator.
So who cares if the binding wears out?-- even if the binding is made of solid titanium, you're going to be replacing it every couple of years anyway, aren't you?
| | | | Tony M
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SITE LOCALIZER | Robert + Collins | Nov 16, 2008 |
I originally bought the big R+C, but did find that starting to go home, about the time it was due for replacement anyway, as Neil says!
For my next copy, I went for the edition in 2 volumes — each individual volume is lighter and less unwieldy, and so far, this one seems to be holding up better.
That said, I have now gone over to the CD-ROM version. Much as I miss the ergonomics of a 'proper' paper dictionary, this one is so much more portable, it can go with me and ... See more I originally bought the big R+C, but did find that starting to go home, about the time it was due for replacement anyway, as Neil says!
For my next copy, I went for the edition in 2 volumes — each individual volume is lighter and less unwieldy, and so far, this one seems to be holding up better.
That said, I have now gone over to the CD-ROM version. Much as I miss the ergonomics of a 'proper' paper dictionary, this one is so much more portable, it can go with me and my laptop everyhere, and for that alone it is well worth the change. Takes a bit of getting used to, but some of the extra features of the electronic version justify the loss of 'thumb-ability'.
But linguistically, R+C is by far and away my favourite. ▲ Collapse
| | | | Silvia Brandon-Pérez
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TOPIC STARTER | Thanks to you both! | Nov 16, 2008 |
I had a CD version of a couple of dictionaries but my old house in Pennsylvania was basically flooded and my music collection and all CD's developed mold... it was quite nasty. I came home from a short vacation and entered through the only carpeted room (the rest of the house had wood or tile flooring) and as usual, I was wearing my glasses on top of my head, instead of on my face, so I saw what looked like small white things on the carpet, and when I moved closer I saw that I was growing mushr... See more I had a CD version of a couple of dictionaries but my old house in Pennsylvania was basically flooded and my music collection and all CD's developed mold... it was quite nasty. I came home from a short vacation and entered through the only carpeted room (the rest of the house had wood or tile flooring) and as usual, I was wearing my glasses on top of my head, instead of on my face, so I saw what looked like small white things on the carpet, and when I moved closer I saw that I was growing mushrooms on my living floor! Quite exciting except one is not sure if they are edible or not...
I know, Neil, these are not supposed to last forever, but this particular dictionary was broken in two by week 3, and now all the pages between 317 and 351 are loose... not quite what I expected.
I will look at the 2 volume Collins. I have the Alcaraz Varó for Spanish/English legal, but I need some good financial dictionaries in both languages, as these days that is what everyone wants to translate.
Thank you both again! ▲ Collapse
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Nicolette Scholte (X)
Local time: 02:54
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| Go back to the shop! | Nov 16, 2008 |
silviantonia wrote:
I know, Neil, these are not supposed to last forever, but this particular dictionary was broken in two by week 3, and now all the pages between 317 and 351 are loose... not quite what I expected.
Surely if the dictionary falls apart 3 weeks after purchase, then you can go back to the shop where you bought it and ask for a refund, or even contact the publisher?
I am pretty sure that you can demand a refund, because every product should have a reasonable time to use it (i.e. a couple of years) before it falls apart?
[Bijgewerkt op 2008-11-16 21:42 GMT]
| | | | Silvia Brandon-Pérez
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TOPIC STARTER | You are correct, Nicolette... | Nov 17, 2008 |
I will contact the store and the publisher as well.
Thanks!
| | | | Mark Nathan
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| Another recommendation for the Grand R&C | Nov 18, 2008 |
Like Tony I am a happy convert to the CD.
And my old paper copy has not fallen to bits - so perhaps R&C use stronger glue.
Or could it be the humidity in your house that is causing more rapid deterioration?
| | | | Silvia Brandon-Pérez
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TOPIC STARTER | No humidity here, just a bad copy | Nov 18, 2008 |
When I lived in the Poconos in Pennsylvania, the humidity was terrible, but I am now in a semi-arid part of the country, in the Bay area near San Francisco, and there is no humidity to speak of; apparently I just bought a very bad copy. And I have called the store, and am bringing it in; hopefully they will provide me with a new copy.
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John Fossey
Կանադա
Local time: 20:54
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| Another vote for Grand Robert & Collins DVD-ROM | Jan 1, 2009 |
As far as I can tell, its the best. The interface is a little quirky, but the DVD-ROM installed on your computer is far faster than looking up references in the print version. Also, every word is hyperlinked, which is a big help.
| | | | Silvia Brandon-Pérez
Միացյալ Նահանգներ
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TOPIC STARTER | If the economy picks up... | Jan 1, 2009 |
I will certainly convert. I have been using CD versions, even for legal research, before they became the thing to use, so I am well aware of how much easier it is to use them. I actually bought RAM for my baby (my computer, I mean) and once I install it, it will stop telling me how much I need more memory...
| | | | | Basic question about CD-ROM dictionaries | Jan 27, 2009 |
Please forgive me for asking such a basic question, but can a CD-ROM dicitonary be installed on just 1 pc, or on more than 1?
Also, does it use lots of memory and slow the pc down? My main pc is recent and fast, but I have a backup which is somewhat less so and I'm a bit concerned whether it'll cope!
Many thanks in advance for your help.
| | | | Tony M
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SITE LOCALIZER | CD-ROM dictionaries | Jan 27, 2009 |
In general, there is nothing inherently to prevent your installing from CD-ROM onto several computers, except for software that requires subsequent registration and activation over the Internet. I did not find this was the case with the Robert + Collins dico. Of course, it would be dishonest to install it on other people's computers, but I don't have any moral qualms about installing it on both my own machines (portable + office). However, do note that there is a security check that periodically... See more In general, there is nothing inherently to prevent your installing from CD-ROM onto several computers, except for software that requires subsequent registration and activation over the Internet. I did not find this was the case with the Robert + Collins dico. Of course, it would be dishonest to install it on other people's computers, but I don't have any moral qualms about installing it on both my own machines (portable + office). However, do note that there is a security check that periodically asks you to insert the original disk, so I always have to remember to carry it with me when I go a-roamin'. 
In the case of the R+C, you have 3 installation options:
1) install bare minimum program, and always run from CD-ROM
This uses up minimum disk space, but I found the constant accessing of the CD-ROM was unbearably slow!
2) install all text files, but run audio files (i.e. pronunciation guide) from the CD-ROM
This is a pretty good compromise, I think the text files take up about 120 M of disk space, if my memory serves me correctly.
3) Full installation (text + audio)
This is what I went for, it uses up about 640 M of disk space, but I use the pronunciation guide often enough to make it worthwhile for me (and disk space is not an issue)
I don't believe the presence of the dico program running in the background will slow your PC down (the progam itself is very small); if your PC is a bit sluggish, it may slow down the actual operation of the dico, but I don't generally find speed to be a huge issue, even though I'm the impatient type!
[Edited at 2009-01-27 09:36 GMT] ▲ Collapse
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| Thanks for the clarification | Jan 27, 2009 |
Thanks for your help, Tony. It's good to hear that there are various options - I could install the full version on my office pc and the middle version on the back-up one for example.
| | | | Tony M
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SITE LOCALIZER | R+C — make sure you buy the latest version! | Jan 27, 2009 |
If you are looking to buy the R+C over here in France, watch out for which version you are offered; I bought mine a while ago now, but one of the on-line suppliers was still offering ONLY the older version (1.1, I think...), and I ended up buying from a different supplier, who explicitly stated it was the latest version (at that time, I think that was version 1.2, though I imagine it may well have been upgraded since).
As I think there may have been some issues with the earli... See more If you are looking to buy the R+C over here in France, watch out for which version you are offered; I bought mine a while ago now, but one of the on-line suppliers was still offering ONLY the older version (1.1, I think...), and I ended up buying from a different supplier, who explicitly stated it was the latest version (at that time, I think that was version 1.2, though I imagine it may well have been upgraded since).
As I think there may have been some issues with the earlier version, I'd advise you to check the version no. carefully before purchase. 
[Edited at 2009-01-27 09:43 GMT] ▲ Collapse
| | | | | Thanks for the tip! | Jan 27, 2009 |
I'll certainly watch out for that, many thanks.
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