Franklin SCD-2100 Speaking Merriam-Webster Collegiate Dictionary 11th Edition

I've worked with 3 different Franklin electronic dictionaries over the last 15 years including an older Language Master and a Bookman unit that supports book cards. Compared to these units, the SCD-2100 was quite a departure in terms of form factor but the basic interface remains familiar and intuitive. The first thing that jumps out at me is just how tiny it is! The pictures don't do a good job representing the size...the unit is only about 4 inches wide. Despite the small size, however, the keys don't really feel any smaller and the screen is actually much larger and higher-resolution than the old 3-line display models. Also, compared to the old versions, the SCD-2100 is also very speedy when it comes to spelling corrections and normal operations.

Unfortunately, the fit and finish feels cheap and it takes considerable effort to even put the battery cover on properly. (If you don't put in on just right, it will interfere with the opening and closing of the screen past vertical.) I also noticed that the plastic casing doesn't feel very rigid, so I wonder how long it will survive in a backpack. Considering how much this thing costs, it's disappointing that the old units appear to be better in this respect. My final complaint is that the speaker isn't particularly loud, though there is a headphone jack.

The SCD-2100 has a very long feature-list and a few surprises that I did not expect. The main reason I bought this was for the Collegiate Dictionary and Thesaurus, which in my opinion, provides vastly richer definitions for many more words compared to lesser models. (Instead of generic single-word definitions, the Collegiate version enables me to appreciate the nuances between similar words.)

It appears that in an effort to slap on as many features as possible, this device has now become pretty travel friendly. In addition to its small size and basic 5-language translator (English/Spanish/Italian/French/German), the unit also performs basic unit conversions (temperature/weight/liquid volume/lengths) and has calculator that can do currency conversions. (There's also functionality for inverses and square roots...) The only annoyance with so many operating modes is that more button presses are required to get to where you want to be. For example, to look up a word, you need to first power up the unit and then select the dictionary from the menu (which is thankfully at the top). Franklin has made an effort to alleviate this however, with the use of 5 function keys that allow you to switch between modes without going to the menu, though you cannot program the keys.

Overall, I'm pretty happy with the device. Performance is much improved compared to previous models and is several times faster than using the Collegiate Dictionary on a book-card. Also, the new small form factor doesn't really compromise on screen-size or quality.

Notes:
No Book-man Card Slot
Won't dictate bad words, but they're in the dictionary
No speech support for 5-language translator
Organizer appears to be able to hold about 300 entries. Entries were retained during a battery change (~30 seconds).
Keys are rubber and make distinct clicks when pressed
Uses 2x AAA

I've owned a Franklin LM-6000 when it first came out, and it was a great tool. I recently got a Franklin SCD-2100 for my kids, and it is so much smaller and lighter.

Features that I think would improve the product are: backlighting, simple definition mode for children to use, and higher resolution LCD screen. I'd give a 5-star rating, if the device has these features.

This device has 2-zone clocks, calculator, 5-language translator, games, guide to punctuation and style, signs, symbols and tables, thesaurus, concise English Usage guide, and more. The font size can be adjusted in 3 different sizes. Pretty useful features, in my opinion.

This device is a keeper. Hopefully it won't get lost/misplaced too easily due to its very small size.

Pros:
Compact, light, attractive looking, feature rich electronic device. Games, exercises, and productivity tools such as currency and unit converter, calendar, sceduler, stop watch, etc. can be very useful. Depending on the purpose, you may be satisfied with the product.

Cons:
- No accents are displayed to show the pronunciation.
- Sound is muffled and can't really make out what the word is. It is not the speaker problem; sound wasn't clear through earphones either. I tried it on two other people, and they couldn't decipher the word either. So, the "speaking" part is pretty useless.
- The device is supposed to have "Definition" button, but it is missing.

We bought this product to help our child with preparing for the spelling bee. I read the PDF manual on Franklin's Web site to make sure it has spelling bee function before placing the order. Because of the cons listed above, it is not useful for the purpose we bought it.

For the spelling bee functionality, I was hoping it would present random words. No, you have to input a word list. I was OK with this problem - I can probably update the word list easily using computer interface. I haven't tested that, though. The biggest problem is that it will only speak the word - no other clues like origin, meaning, used in a sentance, etc. According to the manual, we are supposed to push "Definition" and the device will show the definition of the word. We couldn't find out where that button is.

I called their support immediately after they opened (8 AM Eastern) and was promptly attended to by a human. The lady confirmed that the device won't display accents for pronunciation. (She said english language doesn't have accents!) Then I moved on to the "Definition" button issue and she said she doesn't know where that button is either. She is reading the manual and looking at the device (just like we did) and she was as lost as we were.

We are returning the product.