New Casio electronic dictionaries: XD-GF9800 & XD-GF10000

[maiku71]

I was about to order the Casio XD-GP9700 from Amazon Japan when I stumbled upon a link about the release of 3 new Casio dictionaries:

• XD-GF9800
• XD-GF10000
• XD-GF6900 (due to the lack of Kenkyusha's dictionaries, this one is not interesting for me)

A feature comparison of the 3 new dictionaries can be found here (PDF file).
All those 3 dictionaries claim to have 100 content items, but it seems that more than 60-70% out of that it's useless for me (at least so far).

Prices
Well, as one can imagine, the XD-GP9700 is the cheapest one (37,463￥ on Amazon Jp). GF9800 costs 46,800￥, whereas the GF10000 costs 59,800￥. Of course, as those are the start prices they are quite high, but as the GP9700 dropped 20,000￥ in one year, the same thing will probably happen with the GF10000 and GF9800.

Which one should I buy?
Now, what I want is an electronic dictionary that fulfills the criteria summarized by Clay in the topic The Ideal Electronic Dictionary. From the content point of view, the GP9700, GF9800 and GF10000 match most of these criteria.

The only extra features of these 2 new dictionaries compared to the GP9700 are (from what I could figure out with my very basic Japanese):

• a slightly bigger display (5.7" compared to the 5.5" of the GP9700) and
• relatively more content; this can be tricky though, because although the GF9800 has 100 contents, it doesn't have the big Random House En-Jp dictionary (which has 345.000 entries and 2.300 images and can be interesting form me as a non-native English speaker) - integrated in the GP9700.

So far, I decided to wait till I'll get more information about the GF9800 and GF10000. Even though I might decide to go for the GP9700, waiting a while might be a good idea as its price might drop.

If any of you have new information about these 2 new dictionaries, I will appreciate if you will post it in this topic.
Thank you.

[clay]

Of course, as those are the start prices they are quite high, but as the GP9700 dropped 20,000￥ in one year, the same thing will probably happen with the GF10000 and GF9800.

Definitely. In a year, the prices will drop.

The two dictionaries I use more than any other are:
the Kenkyusha J-E　新和英辞典
and the Oxford Dictionary of English オックスフォード新英英辞典

Like you mentioned, the XD-GF6900 has neither. I wouldn't waste my money on that one.

The other two models have 新漢語林 (kanji dictionary) which appears to have stroke order graphics. I don't think the GP9700 has that kanji dictionary, but I don't use the kanji dictionary (almost at all), so I could be wrong.

You lose 広辞苑 (the J-J) by going with the cheaper GF9800, but that may be a sacrifice you can live with if the price is right. And as you mentioned, you won't get the Random House E-J, but usually English speakers use the J-E much more often than the E-J.

Other than that, I see no reason to buy the more expensive GF10000 over the GF9800.

Now the question is, is the GF9800 worth the extra expense over the GP9700? Looking at the specs, I'd say 'no' (for me), but maybe someone in Japan can compare the two models and see if there are some physical or usability benefits to the upgrade.

Let us know which you decide. Sounds like you know what you want and you know what to look for.

[maiku71]

Thank you very much Clay.
Your post helped me to decide that it makes no sense to buy the GF9800. And the GP10000 it's far to expensive for what it can offer to me compared to the GF9700.

That's why I decided to go for the GF9700, which from your review and other reviews I read seems to be more than enough for what I need. I will wait though 1-2 month, so that till the price will drop a bit. I consider that a 33-35.000 Yen it's a very fair price for this great dictionary.

I have one more question, if you don't mind. Do you think this leather cover would be good a good choice? It looks quite fancy and I like it, but my concern is about the leather quality (if it's a bad quality, the case will start to worn down relatively fast).

[clay]

Thank you very much Clay.
I have one more question, if you don't mind. Do you think this leather cover would be good a good choice? It looks quite fancy and I like it, but my concern is about the leather quality (if it's a bad quality, the case will start to worn down relatively fast).

I'm not sure. Looks fine. I don't use a case with my GP9700, but I also don't carry it with me on the go.

[Infidel]

I was going to refer you to clay's store, but apparently he doesn't carry electronic dictionaries anymore. Couldn't find anything in search.

you might want to check out whiterabbitpress.com, the prices there are reasonable too and I've had good service and you will get your dictionary faster than if you order from amazon.jp. Even if you do get a cheaper sell price, shipping from Japan will probably eliminate your savings.

[maiku71]

you might want to check out whiterabbitpress.com, the prices there are reasonable too and I've had good service and you will get your dictionary faster than if you order from amazon.jp. Even if you do get a cheaper sell price, shipping from Japan will probably eliminate your savings.

Thank you Infidel for your advise. I know WhiteRabbitPress. I ordered from them their Kanji flashcards (which I like a lot), plus a couple of other things. Unfortunately, their price ($476) for the GP9700 is to high. I can get it for $408 (which means almost $70 difference) from Amazon (but this price can drop in the near future due to the arrival of the new Casio dictionaries). In order to reduce the shipping cost I have a very kind friend in Japan which will help me get the lowest shipping price (and I'm sure that WhiteRabbitPress won't ship it for less than $20).

[Infidel]

oh wow, the dollar has really fallen to the yen, I could swear I paid Clay 300 something for mine. Too bad Clay doesn't seem to carry electronic dictionaries anymore.

[clay]

Well, the weak dollar is a factor. I'm about to have to raise my textbook rates which I really don't want to do. But with the government on a spending spree, I don't see how the dollar will get stronger any time soon...

But the main reason for stopping the dictionaries is fraud. We didn't make a whole lot after paying shippers in Tokyo to begin with but a single fraudulent order would take a dozen or so dictionary orders to make up. 99% of the fraud (attempted and successful) were for the dictionaries.

I would recommend White Rabbit Press to anyone outside Japan looking for a dictionary (for anyone looking for a book, well, I have a different recommendation )

In order to reduce the shipping cost I have a very kind friend in Japan which will help me get the lowest shipping price (and I'm sure that WhiteRabbitPress won't ship it for less than $20).

Ship it by EMS (Express Mail). It isn't worth taking the risk.

[richvh]

(for anyone looking for a book, well, I have a different recommendation )

Do you accept special orders? I really want to get a reference to Japanese creatures of myth and legend, as I intend to use a wider variety of 妖怪 in ゆきの子供達.

[maiku71]

...
Ship it by EMS (Express Mail). It isn't worth taking the risk.

Thank you Clay. Definitely, that is what I was thinking to use for shipping.

[maiku71]

I have good news.
The price for the GP9700 dropped already by 3,000￥. On the other hand, the XD-GF10000 sells already for 48,437￥, which is 11,000￥ under the MSRP.

[two_heads_talking]

I have good news.
The price for the GP9700 dropped already by 3,000￥. On the other hand, the XD-GF10000 sells already for 48,437￥, which is 11,000￥ under the MSRP.

wow, those are two huge price drops..

What does that work out to in US dollars now? $450?

[fielle]

You're grossly underestimating the exchange rate as of late, two_heads. It's more like $515 right now.

[two_heads_talking]

You're grossly underestimating the exchange rate as of late, two_heads. It's more like $515 right now.

Gah, it seems to change so frequently that it's hard to keep it straight.. thanks for straightening it out.. I still remember the good ol' days.. of 1$=330 yen.. While I lived in Japan, it was 1$=185 yen

so that puts the dollar to yen at about 1$= 94 yen? sheesh..

[fielle]

Yeah, it's ridiculously low right now--When I was visiting in December it got so low as to be about 88 yen to the dollar. The news programs were all complaining about the 円高, and I wouldn't be surprised if they still were . . .

It's been below 100 yen to the dollar for a little while now, since late October, looks like.