I guess it depends on what you're looking for.
One of the biggest differences I saw between the top of the line Besta and the top of the line Ectaco was that the Besta would provide both the pinyin and hanyu translations from english (since that's what I'm concerned with). Since I'm trying to learn to speak Mandarin that's pretty important to me.
If that's not important to you, then from the geek standpoint (me being a geek), the Ectaco impressed me more than the Besta.
But, again, it didn't give me the one important non-geek thing that I wanted. So I'm really leaning towards the Besta.
As far a customer service goes, these things are just like toasters. I don't think you're going to find that great of CS with any of the manufacturer's.
Hope this helps.
Regards,
Barry
Has anyone bought an ECTACO translator? They seem pretty good except i heard the customer service is the pits.
The ECTACO looks impressive, but I think it doesn't have Cantonese translations. My girlfriend is from Guangdong and she speaks more Cantonese than anything. I had tried the Besta 9200 mini in Hong Kong and it had a Cantonese sound translation.
I think there are different labeled models in China though so it makes it difficult to compare even between Besta models.
I will probably buy one in China as it at least has a Chinese recharger plug. Oh do these come in dual voltage also?
I found out that there are different versions of Besta models in each country.
The American one has a model more for English speakers learning Chinese.
The Hong Kong models have a different label designation but can also pronounce words in Cantonese.
The mainland Chinese models I believe have yet another designation but in Guangdong province the models can also speak to you in Cantonese.
This is where I get all confused. I need one for an English speaker to learn Mandarin and also Cantonese but I also want to have my girlfriend learn English from it as well.
I am leaning to buy it from Canada which has the North American version same as in the USA.
If I am wrong please correct me.