X just like Sex gained a new meaning with Webster
Written: Jul 29 '01
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Product Rating:
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Pros: Dictionary and Thesaurus with great vocabulary, easy to install and use
Cons: Option "Find" gives too broad results
The Bottom Line: So far it is the most user-friendly dictionary I've ever used in my life.
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| kuuleimomi's Full Review: Macmillan Webster's New World Dictionary & Thesaur... |
So the day has come and I’m here to finally launch my first software review. Disclaimer before we proceed: I never write about anything I’ve never used in my life; I’m not a computer science major and no, I don’t know how to make a computer with one rubber ball and a blanket. What I do know, is that I’m familiar with the software I’m going to write about, I’ve been using it everyday since early February 2001 and I know "a bit" about computers. The things I’m not going to cover because they are not important: I’m not going to talk about company, compare other products because this is the only thing I’ve got: a CD with Webster’s New World Dictionary & Thesaurus Fourth Edition on it.
We’re all familiar with dictionaries, most of us familiar with Webster and we know that’s the name for good quality. Dictionary and Thesaurus are useful to people who write a lot, a lot of anything: reports, term papers, essays, personal journals, epinions… When you have one word repeating itself in five sentences in a row, the best advice would be to substitute it with a synonym. For that matter you use the thesaurus. It’s always nice when you don’t have to search for the word in the book and can just simply type up the word and get a range of synonyms. If you’re messing up with the spelling computer software will always be more useful than a book that is like a dog: understands everything [all your needs] but can’t say anything. Dictionary is a great thing when you’re reading something on your computer, especially for a long amount of time. Spending several hours online every day can qualify.
Webster on my computer is way more convenient than Webster on my shelf; with only one mouse click I access to all the information I need right now: words. To get the book I need to get my butt up and then search for the word in the book. I’m not a fan of that. If you ever did an electronic database, especially from the originally paper written version, then you know all the advantages of computer-stored information. Using symbols “*” and “?” you can search for words when not sure about the spelling. If you feel like you need a synonym to the word that can define general atmosphere of joy but you forgot the word and have no idea what synonym you’re thinking of, then go to the search/quick search. Besides, playing with words never been that much fun.
The dictionary is easy to install. First of all, you need to meet the following system requirements: at least Pentium 486, MS Windows 95, 98, or NT 4.0 and 16 MB RAM [if you’re clueless about what you have, right-click on “My Computer” on your desktop and select “Properties”, there is all the basic info about your computer]. If you’re cool with that, insert the CD in your CD drive. Open your CD drive, double-click on setup.exe and just follow the instructions.
You have two types of installation: full or partial. I have a full installation because I don’t want to insert CD every time I want to run the dictionary; I had the required 100MB free on my c: drive [96.6 MB to be exact]; I thought the program would perform better if it refers to the hard disk instead of the CD every time. Besides my CD drive doesn’t work well and I don’t want to waste precious hours in the brutal fight with my computer. Plus, having the full installation may mean you will never need the CD again and that’s less things to worry about [and to keep on/near your desk, too].
However if you don’t have spare 100 MB to waste, you can find 5MB and proceed with partial installation. That means you will need the disc every single time you want to use the dictionary and now it’s not really a matter of a mouse click anymore unless you are planning on keeping the CD in your CD drive [it’s still not the matter either, because files are not stored on hard disc and reference to the disc takes time, sometimes way too much, depends on your RAM].
Next step is choosing the location; by default it’s C:\Program Files. If you’re experiencing troubles with finding 100 MB always remember that less space you have on a drive slower your computer is in general. That’s another thing to think of while choosing the installation.
And the last thing: do you want to run Webster every time you run Windows? No, don’t answer to me, answer during installation. All depends on personal needs, if you’re using computer mainly for writing, then it may be somewhat helpful; if not, then I don’t think you really need it. Another cute thing, you’ll be asked if you want to update your windows thesaurus with Webster’s, I think you do want that feature.
The dictionary is easy to find. By default it is set in C:\Program Files\Accent\WNW\wnw.exe and you can find it in Start, Programs, WNW Dictionary. When you open it, it has a small head-piece that doesn’t last for the same eternal amount of time as Photoshop’s one. Also there is a Macmillan Publishing movie in WNW folder that eats out almost 3MB and is not essential at all. I deleted it, and everything works as perfect as it used to before.
The dictionary is easy to use. Interface is really nice. It takes less than half of the screen. You can choose “in dictionary”, “in thesaurus”, and “in both” in “Lookup” in the Menu and it will show you dictionary, thesaurus, both respectively. To find a word type it up in find/browse, while you’re typing it shows you the list of appropriate words. Use this only if you know the spelling. If you don’t, then in “Lookup” [or binoculars on the toolbar] choose Find [for a long “find”] and Quick Find [apparently for a quick “find”]. I don’t see a lot of difference, except for some timing problems with normal find. However if you want to look up every word related to what you’ve just been looking up in the dictionary/thesaurus via “browse”, then by clicking on quick find you won’t need to do anything else but look through the words. I usually use Quick one for general search if I have to. Here you can type up the simple “x” and get “X-ray photometry” and “sex chromosome” as the result. That’s where the bad spellers and people who can’t really materialize their thoughts can get their questions answered. However, the results are not always concrete, and I don’t use Find feature a lot, maybe only for fun.
Besides looking up words you can print them out, in File select Print Setup and then Print. The last thing, File - Preferences. You can choose the dictionary to be above all the windows or not and to view the Toolbar or not. First one depends on what you’re doing and how you’re using the dictionary; second is definitely positive, you want to view a Toolbar. Very useful feature is Help. It is very thorough and helpful.
The dictionary is very helpful. It sure is, huge vocabulary, pronunciation for every single word, meaning, synonyms and antonyms. Amazing tool to use when writing. I, lil' funky Russian Finn, use this dictionary to understand the words I don't while reading. That is the primary reason I always get lower grades in translating English into Russian and Russian into English: I have only English vocabulary stuck in my head. Thank you, Webster, how am I going to pass English the next term?
Overall: a great substitution for Webster Dictionary, especially when [A] you’ve got none and [B] if you do most of your reading/writing in front of the computer. Along with the software don’t forget to purchase new eyeglasses.
Recommended:
Yes
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kuuleimomi
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