As a student of the Spanish language, I have found the BES-1850 to be extremely helpful for quickly looking up translations. Unlike printed dictionaries that require you to know the infinitive version of a verb in order to find it in the dictionary, you can just type in any conjugated verb form and immediately get to the infinitive and its definition. This is extremely helpful when watching Spanish television/movies or when reading books and newspapers in Spanish. If you misspell a word in English or Spanish, the dictionary displays a list of suggested words so that you can pick out the correct spelling. Many word definitions also include a list of idiomatic phrases/expressions that incorporate the word -- very handy and a delightful surprise to me when I first started using the BES-1850. And the dictionary contains an extensive list of words, too. It has been on very rare occasion that the dictionary has not come back with a translation.

As for the pronounciation feature, I must admit that I debated whether to spend the extra $ on this version in order to have this feature. I'm glad I did -- the pronunciations are reasonably accurate. What's especially helpful is to be able to hear where the accents on words are placed. The pronounciation feature is reasonably clear, but not great. I were purchasing an electronic dictionary just to take on a week-long vacation, the extra $ for this feature may not be worth it.

The screen display is definitely readable but the contrast could be improved. The backlight feature is a big help in dark environments. Don't expect the BES-1850 to have the slick features of the new, high-end hand PDA devices that go for $400-$500 - the BES-1850 only costs $100! I do not use the game or address book features of the BES-1850 and cannot comment.

I'm very happy with the BES-1850 and would buy it again.


Well done! Don't spend more than $100   April 3, 2005
 44 out of 45 found this review helpful

The Franklin BES-1850 is fantastic! I did an EXHAUSTING amount of research before purchasing an electronic dictionary/translator device. I became so overwhelmed at times trying to figure out what to buy that I scrapped the idea all together a few times. However, I eventually purchased the Franklin BES-1850 and could not be more satisfied.

1.) I am attempting to learn Spanish all on my own. This can be quite a task. I wanted something easily portable that could be used to look up words on-the-fly and was lighter and less bulky than the huge, heavy paper dictionary that I was porting around.

2.) I was completely willing to spend upwards of $600 if the device was something fantastical. However, I did exhaustive research and there is nothing out there that serves a function better than this Franklin device. And the Franklin BES-1850 cost less than $100. It's $100 well spent.

3.) I do agree with some of the comments that the latch sticks and can be a bit hard to open. However, it's a strong latch that protects the device when you throw it in your bag. It's not that great of a concern. However, it is true that the latch can be hard to open.

4.) I don't have much trouble at all in seeing the screen. However, I can see how that comment also is valid. I would imagine that if you're trying to use the device on a park bench in the direct sunshine, that you're going to have trouble (and I'm all for having a device that I *can* use on a park bench in the sunshine). However, the thing costs under $100! The screen is perfectly easy to see in most common circumstances. I really love this device!

5.) My main use of the device so far is to find vocabulary words when I'm attempting to work an assignment in one of my workbooks (BTW: The series "Practice Makes Perfect" Spanish is THE BEST in terms of written grammar). In addition, I commute by public transportation and use the device to look up words when I'm attempting to "read" a Spanish periodical on the train. The device is perfect for this!

6.) One drawback is the fact that you cannot type in an entire phrase and have that phrase translated. (Actually, this *might* be possible. However, if it is possible, I haven't figured out how to do it.) Instead, you have to look up your ideas in the form of single words. I was going to complain about this. However, I have to say that I'm actually impressed. I could not remember the reflexive verb "to put oneself to bed". I assumed that if I typed in "bed" the only option that would be returned was the Spanish word "cama". However, to my delight and surprise it returned both "cama" and "acostarse" (the latter is the verb that I wanted). Good going, Franklin!

7.) IT CONJUGATES VERBS IN ALL TENSES!!!! Oh my gosh is that wonderful. Truly, this thing rocks!

I actually bought two of these. I'm using mine to go from English to Spanish. However the second one that I purchased was for a Spanish-speaking friend trying to learn English. I will attempt to report in with another review once I hear how well the device works in the other direction. My impression is that it is well done in both directions. Thus, if you are a Spanish speaker looking for an English translator, I'd go with this device as well.

Well done, Franklin!

Do not spend more than $100 for this or any of these devices. There is nothing that those other devices can do that warrants the price jump. Buy this Frankling BES-1850 model.



Great concept, poor functionality   July 22, 2003
 39 out of 43 found this review helpful

I love the possibilities an electronic dictionary offers but the mechanics of this one has a lot of problems. The screen does not have enought contrast no matter how you adjust it. If you use the backlight it shuts off, in fact it shuts off on its own all the time. Very frustrating. Whenever it shuts off unexpectedly you also loose all of your preferences (like large type). The voice part is really not worth the extra money. The pronunciations are so digitized it does not help much. It is extremely convenient to have an electronic translator in your pocket, just not this one.


Too high a premium for poor speach synthesis   March 10, 2003
 36 out of 42 found this review helpful

I returned this device almost immediately after trying it out. So I imagine that there were lots of features that are great but here is what I didn't like:

The speech synthesis was terrible and adds $... to the price of the same device without the speech capability. Remember the earliest devices with speech synthesis and that is what you are getting here. I thought that I would be able to use it to get the correct pronunciation of Spanish words I was unsure about. But forget that. There are recorded real voice phrases that are supposed to sound true to life but I can't see how that would be useful unless you aren't interested in learning Spanish. And then, why buy a $... electronic dictionary?

There is a feature that gives you a list of possible words if, for example, you type in an English word with multiple meanings and translations in Spanish. So, maybe you'll get a list of three or four choices for the Spanish equivalent. There does not seem to be any way to select the one you want and jump to the dictionary entry for that word. Instead you have to scroll down through all of the definitions of all the words until you get to the translation of interest. A real pain.

This device is HEAVY and will not fit in you pocket, at least not comfortably. I found the keyboard an awkward size. Too small to use like a typewriter but large enough that it took a lot of hand/finger movement to enter words. The large keyboard is possibly an advantage for someone with very large fingers or poor hand-eye coordination but I found it unpleasant to use.

There were other features that appeared to me to be awkward in one way or another. It may be that I just didn't figure out the best ways to do things. I just didn't spend a lot of time figuring out all the features once I decided that the devices speech synthesis was lousy and that it was just too big and heavy to satisfy my needs for a pocket electronic dictionary.

If what you want is a device that will speak some standard travelers phrases for you, I believe you can spend much less and get a device designed to just do that and do it well.

If really want all of the features that the Franklin BES-1850 offers, I think that you may as well save yourself $... and get the Franklin model without the speech synthesis or buy one of the other electronic dictionaries out there.