On Fri, 04 Nov 2005 05:35:14 -0800, <john@rarebooksinjapan.com> wrote:
<snip>
>> Specifically, how  was it for english speaker learning japanese?
>
> Invaluable. The handwriting input system is fantastic, and for more
> complicated kanji you can input just one *part* of the kanji and search
> for that, then refine the search by adding more parts or specifying the
> stroke count, etc..

Quite possibly the coolest part. I can't tell you how impressed I was when  
I scribbled 語 as a verticle sprawl with a circlish thing at the bottom,  
then sort-of-an-S plus circle. And low-and-behold it figured it out. The  
machine can actually do something I can't do at all -- read  
non-block-style kanji. :)


>
> Monkeyboy says he's "not really impressed with the applications that
> come with the unit itself (except for the Japanese/English
> dictionary)". I agree, except that the J/J dictionaries (kokugo and
> kanji readings) are just as good as the J/E dictionary (sometimes
> better). I don't bother with the other features. I don't even hook the
> Zaurus up with the computer any more. But as a kanji-deciphering tool
> it's great. That and a 五體字鑒 (also written as 五体字鑒,
> Gotai Jikan - a listing of variant kanji forms) will crack all but the
> most obscure kanji.

Yet another book to get. Good thing I like them. ;)

It sounds like you are probably past using flashcards and/or studying  
intently everyday, but I gather then you never loaded such a thing on your  
Zaurus?

<snip>
> While we're on the subject of useful resources, if you don't already
> know it, check out Jim Breen's online dictionary:
> http://www.csse.monash.edu.au/%7Ejwb/wwwjdic.html (thanks, Jim; that's
> been a great help!).

Use it all the time (well, dictionaries that use edict anyway...) The  
online version is useful more often since it has links to other  
dictionaries, plus SOD, etc.

Rachael