PlecoDict 1.0 for Palm OS

The previous version of our Chinese dictionary software, originally released in 2005, now available on Palm OS only at a significant discount.

(the newest version of our software, Pleco 2.0, is available on both Palm OS and Windows Mobile)

What is it?

PlecoDict is an all-in-one Chinese dictionary and study aid for handheld computers and smartphones, featuring five world-class dictionaries, integrated Chinese handwriting recognition and a highly customizable flashcard system.

What can I do with it?

You can:

• Get the Pinyin/definition for a word by writing its characters on the screen
• Keep a list of words you look up for later review
• Find a character using a radical index (as in a printed Chinese dictionary)
• Review vocabulary with an onscreen flashcard system, focusing on the words you need the most help with
• Create your own flashcard lists from dictionary entries, or import ready-made vocabulary lists for several popular textbooks and the HSK
• Look up words using Pinyin, or a mix of Pinyin and characters
• Look up words in other programs (like document readers) by highlighting them and launching PlecoDict
• Cross-reference words between dictionary entries – highlight a word and tap on a button to jump to its definition
• Create your own custom dictionary entries (and make flashcards out of them)
• Look up the Chinese translations of English words
• Enter words in both simplified and traditional characters, and switch between traditional/simplified display with a single button tap
• Use it on an English-language device without needing to install any other software

What do I need to use it?

A handheld computer or smartphone running Palm OS 4.0 or later. If you’re buying a new system, we’ve prepared a page with recommendations about which model to buy here. You can write characters anywhere on the screen, so the handwriting recognizer is fully usable even on compatible keyboard-equipped handhelds like the Treo.

You’ll probably also need an add-on memory card in order to have enough free space on your handheld to store PlecoDict’s (rather large) data files. A 1 GB SD (Secure Digital) card should be more than enough, and those can be had for around US $10 in many electronics stores.

Feel free to contact us if you have any questions about hardware compatibility.

How do I get it?

Our products are available exclusively at our online store. We deliver our software as a download (and not as a physical CD), so you can retrieve and install your software immediately after you place your order. If you ever lose your software due to a hard drive crash or other computer mishap, you can re-download it through our My Orders system. See the Ordering page for more information on how to order PlecoDict.

How much does it cost?

We currently offer PlecoDict 1.0 in three different bundle packages. The software in all three is identical; the only difference is the dictionary databases they include.

Basic (US $39.95) - includes the Oxford Concise English & Chinese Dictionary only. This is best for people new to learning Chinese, or whose primary exposure to Chinese is in a classroom setting (textbooks and worksheets and the like) as opposed to real-world newspapers / conversations / TV shows.

Professional (US $64.95) - includes the ABC Chinese-English and NWP English-Chinese Dictionaries. The much larger Chinese-English dictionary in this bundle (approximately 8x as many entries as in the Basic) makes it more useful for people actually living / working / studying in China, as you're less likely to encounter vocabulary that isn't covered.

Complete (US $79.95) - includes the ABC Chinese-English, NWP English-Chinese, and Oxford Concise English & Chinese dictionaries. This is similar to the Professional bundle, but with the added Oxford dictionary providing extra examples and alternative explanations which may be useful for some difficult words.

Can I upgrade to Pleco 2.0 later on?

Yes; you can upgrade your discounted copy of PlecoDict 1.0 to Pleco 2.0 (with the same dictionaries) for just the difference in price: currently this is US $30.00 for the Basic bundle, US $35.00 for the Professional bundle, and US $40.00 for the Complete bundle (equivalent to the 2.0 Professional bundle plus the $20 Oxford E&C add-on for it). Once you've upgraded to 2.0, you can switch platforms between Palm OS and Windows Mobile. Log on to My Orders to order the 2.0 upgrade.

IF YOU PURCHASED PLECODDICT 1.0 BEFORE THE RELEASE OF PLECO 2.0, you should have received a free upgrade to 2.0; see the upgrade guide for details on how to retrieve/install it.

What am I gaining by buying this instead of 2.0?

Aside from the lower price, PlecoDict 1.0 can also run on older / cheaper Palm OS hardware, like the popular Palm m500/m505/m515 series (often available used for under US $40) - see the used models section of the 1.0 hardware recommendation guide for more on those. So if you're buying a handheld specifically to run Pleco and aren't too picky about how new it is, you could end up saving a lot more than just the price difference between 1.0 and 2.0.

What am I losing by buying this instead of 2.0?

See the 2.0 new feature guide for details on the improvements in Pleco 2.0. The biggest ones are the overhauled flashcard system, audio pronunciation, stroke order diagrams, full-text searches, the built-in document reader, and the new add-on dictionaries.

Also, and this is important, we are not planning to release any more updates for PlecoDict 1.0 - if there's a bug / incompatibility with some new model of Palm OS handheld, it's likely that the only way to fix it will be to pay to upgrade to 2.0 (or whatever the latest version of Pleco is).