My new bestfriend!

I bought the Franklin MWD-1490 Dictionary/ Translator a couple years ago directly from the Franklin website. I don't remember how much I paid, but I do know it wasn't too much.

I chose this model, because I was looking for an electronic dictionary and the fact that it had a language translator too really sold me.
I chose Franklin, because I had a Franklin Electronic Thesaurus, that I really loved, I got as a gift many years ago that took their Bookman discs. I went looking for new Bookman cartridges to add. But, the Bookman cartridges changed and are now a lot smaller and no longer fit in my old model.
The price and the many books in one little device made it cheaper to buy this new instead of one Bookman disc, even if they were still compatible.

This Franklin Dictionary/Translator is really a library of useful books. The dictionary it uses is Merriam-Webster.

The list of books in the Main Menu are:

Dictionary
Thesaurus
Punctuation & Style
Geographical Dictionary
Biographical Dictionary
5-language Translator

I love the dictionary and Thesaurus part and use them about everyday. Even if you don't know how to spell the word, the dictionary can recognize and give a list of possible words. If you type it in misspelled or if you type it as the word sounds it can recognize it and is very accurate.

The one thing I wish the dictionary had is a sentence with each word. I really would have liked for it to give an example sentence with the words.
I also would like to be able to start in the dictionary mode. It starts in the Book Menu Mode. But, you can set it to give you a Word of the Day, which will give you a new word each day and allow you to just start typing a word in dictionary mode.

The 5- language Translator is great. It translates from and to English, Spanish, French, Dutch and Italian.
If you are student of a language I wouldn't buy this for the purpose of the translator.
There have been many words that I have typed in and it did not have in its database. Also, with the many books in this device it is not the easiest to get to the translator if you want to use it fast or if you use it often. You have to scroll down to the bottom of the menu everytime you turn it on to get to the translator book.

Though, it is a great basic translator that even has translated phrases and even recognizes a word if you type it in conjugated.

In addition to all the books you can add words to a vocabulary list and take test on them. There is also grammar lessons and different exercises.
There is also 7 different fun little games:

Anagrams
Hangman
Jumble
Word Builder
Link Four
Tic Tac Toe

I don't like that it takes 2 button cell batteries and the lid to the battery compartment is screwed on with one of those little tiny screws and even sometimes when I unscrew it it doesn't easily open.

There is so much to this little portable device, I have probably forgotten something.
All in all it is a great very useful device that is priced low for all it does.