kgcava88

Hey All -

So, I was wondering if buying an I-touch would be a good investment. I've read there are tons of apps for learning Japanese and navigation apps too. It seems really useful, but I don't have an I-touch. I've been interested in buying one, but I'm not really sure if I would use it that much here (in the U.S.--laptop seems good enough for me).

But, I was thinking that I might want to get one of those electronic dictionary things when I got to Japan. And that runs, what, like $300-$400, right? An I-touch has apps for Japanese dictionary, right. So, would it be more useful to save the money I would have used to buy an electronic dictionary in Japan to buy an I-touch?

Love to get your opinions/thoughts.

Thanks!

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"If you reject the food, ignore the customs, fear the religion and avoid the people, you might better stay home. "
-- James Michener

gingerbread

Wait until you get to Japan. If you want to, you can buy an iTouch here. But if Softbank is a good option in the area you're placed, you can get an iPhone.

The problem with the iTouch is that it requires wifi for a lot of stuff, and wifi isn't as widely available in Japan as it is in America. If you just want to carry the iTouch as an e-dictionary and mp3 player, no problem. But the Maps program is super handy in a country where many streets don't have names, and you need wifi for that. Some Japanese cellphones have GPS and stuff, but it may or may not be in English.

They do sell little portable wifi providers here that you can carry with your iTouch, but of course you have to pay a monthly fee.

I bought an iTouch before I came out here, I wish I hadn't. I ended up giving it to my husband and getting an iPhone.

Ini

what the fuck is an "I-touch"?

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tenderRondo

Im not exactly sure but all I know is that

I dont want want any thing else
When I think about apps
i-touch myself.

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guys, im not playing anymore

matt360

Read this. It'll help you choose which apps to get. Also I wrote it, so, you're welcome! I'd go for an iPhone over an iTouchmyself, but that's just me.

Antonath

Don't forget the iPantyliner. More screen, but less holding-in-the-hand than the iTouchmyself

Mikewise

I got one when i got here. After having it a year i found it useful as little more than an ipod with extra short battery life. There's like no wifi anywhere. I sold it a few months ago and got an iphone. Wish i did that from the get-go.

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AliDimayev

ONe thing I loved back about my home area is there is the wifi so many places

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PappyVanWinkle

If you are staying more than 1 year, get the iphone, if not, get the ipod touch.


I really wanted the iphone however, I was unwilling to pay 80,000 yen for it. I could not get a contract for it as my visa only has a year left and softbank wouldn't let someone with a one year visa sign a two year contract.

After doing more research into it and realizing that the iphone is only good in the country where you buy it, unless you break the warranty and unlock it, i starting thinking about the ipod touch as it has virtually everything but the camera and phone part to it.

After 6 months I broke down and bought the ipod touch. I don't regret it at all! Yes, lack of wifi and internet based apps blows, but they will work anywhere, including other countries, where there is wifi. So I can bring my ipod touch back to the US or when I travel abroad and it will work with no problems. I also use the wifi in my apartment when I need to get maps, then screen shot it and save it as a photo. Ghetto, but works.

Oh and with regards to the dictionary function. I have the "Japanese" dictionary and some various kanji study apps on my ipod touch. The "Japanese" program was around 20USD and had good ratings. I bought it and it's pretty good but the dictionary function is not a replacement for an electronic dictionary if you are serious about studying . It's good for looking up words you don't know quickly and helping you study but not a replacement. If you're commuting, and want to practice your kanji or vocab skills, it's perfect.

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One taste provoked another, and he reiterated his visits to the flagon so often that at length his senses were overpowered, his eyes swam in his head, his head gradually declined, and he fell into a deep sleep.

ten_of_spades

Have you looked into Kotoba yet? It draws its material from a dozen different dictionaries and is pretty thorough.

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"In his heart of hearts, he knows that you're on your own at this level..of big nose monkey snooker"

gingerbread

Just to clarify, you can disable the phone part of the iPhone but still use wifi when you're in other countries.

But yeah, using the phone on a different provider in a different country takes some finagling.