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Rating: 
Summary: Best Learner's American Dictionary, Crazy CD copy protection
Review: - The Good
Very good dictionary with easy to understand definitions and examples. I have done extensive research and found no comparable American dictionary for foreign speakers. The Longman linguists have done remarkable job.
The software is very good in function - automatically translates words in Internet Explorer as your mouse pointer hovers over them. Surprisingly well identifies phrasal verbs even when separated by other words.
- The Bad
1. You can Not make a copy of the CD for your own backup (C-Dilla copy protection)
And
2. You are asked to insert the CD in the drive at least once a month to verify your ownership of the original CD (a surprise check). I do not want to carry the only copy of the CD with me on the road waiting for the software to ask for it any moment. In fact I am unable to use it right now because the CD is at home.
3. You have to buy the Paper + CD bundle. This is how I ended up with two paper dictionaries.
4. Last but not least - the software visual interface is unintuitive. For example the minimize button is on the bottom of the window. All Longman Dictionaries have weird window layouts. Hey, software guys working for Longman, irritating me every time I search for common buttons is not the way to show how innovative you are.
The other good American English PC dictionary is the Random House Unabridged Dictionary. It is a shame that their 2003 CD is actually a re-release of the 1999 edition.
Rating:
Summary: The Best Dictionary for learning American English!
Review: I bought this dictionary in 2002. I had to choose an English-English dictionary among English dictionaries: Longman, Oxford, Cambridge, Macmillan, Collins Cobuild... etc. I chose a dictionary, Longman Advanced Dictionary(CD-ROM included, Paperback). As I opened the dictionary, I was surprised! The layout was clear and systematic! And Usage Notes are most useful for me! And meanings of words are so easy to understand because Longman editors tried to explain meanings within 2000 common words. Although it is edited for ESL learners, but it might be good for upper-intermediate or higher-level EFL learners.
The dictionary faithfully reflects American English(spelling, pronunciation, spoken phrase) than other dictionaries. CD-ROM pronunces words nearly typical American English.
...) and this dictionary is for advanced learners, this dictionary is not difficult for me to understand meanings of words. Perhaps, Longman dictionaries explain meanings of word more easily.
I highly recommend it...
Anyway, Longman dictionaries are the best for me!
Rating:
Summary: Do not buy it with CD
Review: I love this dictionary.It's a masterpiece. Highly recommend it.
However, having to insert your CD in the drive once a month is UTTERLY RIDICULOUS.
Very,very helpful dictionary though. Go out and buy it.Forget the CD.
Rating: 
Summary: The CD sucks big time!!!
Review: The CD program is extremely ANNOYING: it force you to insert the CD every month to "re-authenticate". This is utterly RIDICULOUS. The publisher treats everyone, including every single legitimate owner of the CD, as pirates. It's absolutely NONSENSE and very INSULTING. Don't ever buy the CD! Consider yourself warned! Unless you like to be driven crazy trying to find the stupid CD every month.
Rating:
Summary: Great dictionary!
Review: This is one of the best dictionaries I've ever had. The explanations are easy to understand, and the usage notes are very helpful. I especially like the phrases and example sentences. In some dictionaries, examples of usage are just few words. So it's often difficult to learn how to use those words. But with full sentences as examples, using the new words you just learnt is made much easier.However I don't think it's necessary to include TOEFL and TOEIC exam information in this dictionary. There are lots of tests out there, why just these 2? Well this is a useful book for TOEFL, but people who are not taking TOEFL should not pay the extra. If you are taking GRE, buy Merriam-Webster's Collegiate Dictionary or the smaller Merriam-Webster dictionary. Some GRE vocabulary tests come exactly from those words used in their explanations. But if GRE is not the target, I think this dictionary is more useful.
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