I'd like to have a way to practice reading new characters/words I have learned. Even after learning how to write a character, sometimes I still can't recognize it very quickly while reading (probably because of too much 死記硬背）. It would be cool if there was a reading practice mode that prompted you for pinyin and tones, allowing the student to attack character learning from both directions.

On an unrelated topic, Skritter is a million times better with a tablet compared to a mouse or trackpad. I just got the cheapest Wacom tablet I could find, and not only can I practice much faster, but I'm more confident that I am reinforcing my actual handwriting muscle-memory rather than useless mousing memory.

pinyin and definition practice have been underway for a while, and seems like they will be released quite soon as part of the new practice page.

I agree about the tablet. Can't believe I did it for 4 months without it.

muir,

I'm pretty dumb about the tablet. I'm using the mouse now. Why is the tablet better? Is it closer to using paper and pencil?

I used the mouse for a while and then tried the tablet. It was like night and day. Now I use the tablet exclusively and when I use the mouse it feels strange and horrible.

Yes, the idea is that it's closer to using a pen, but when Skrittering I try to think of it as a brush.

James

The pinyin and definition practice are still close. You guys keep finding more bugs with the new practice page, though, and recent spates of business activity have been encroaching on my decrees.

The plan is still to start turning on those practice modes within a couple weeks of finishing the new practice page. Because of the ACTFL conference and Thanksgiving, it's now looking like that'll be a few weeks. I was hoping the dozens of new features released in the new practice page would satiate you guys for a while, but we only ever get more and more requests for pinyin and definition.

Yes, like James said it is much closer to using a pen. Maybe I'm just being superstitious, but I feel that using the pen on the tablet is better practice because your hand is actually going through the motions. I was using my laptop's trackpad before, but that started to hurt my brush finger. The tablet solved that problem, too.

Wacom Tablet with desktop, tablet PC otherwise. Laptop trackpad? Ouch!

I have a question about using tablets. Do they allow you to trace over the image/character on Skritter?

Thanks for the info. about the tablets. I looked at the Wacom tablet. I believe the cheapest one was about $100.

The tablets work the same way as a mouse, lavender108, except they're better for Skritter because a pen is more natural for writing.

Depending on where you are, hkboy, you should be able to get the cheapest Wacom for around $60-$70. Perhaps the $100 one is a slightly better model.

From what I saw, Wacom's inexpensive tablet line (Bamboo) consisted of three models: one that allowed pen or touch input ($100), one that allowed only touch ($70), and one that allowed only pen ($70). Unless you also want a multi-touch input device, you can probably make do with the pen-only one.

And what was that about a discount price on tablets if you get them with a Skritter subscription?? :) Bring it on! I so want one!

Thanks nick & muir. I found the cheapest model for abour $79. Just one more question. Is it easy to to install and start using?

I run a Mac, so I can't speak on Windows' behalf, but it was very easy. It worked out of the box without installing software, but certain features didn't work until I popped the CD in. I was Skrittering away within 5 minutes.

Yeah, wacom works on Windows, Mac, and Linux no problem. Installing drivers is important to get it to work properly, though.

莉絲婷, we are capable of reselling Wacoms. They'll be available at a discount to people who have purchased long-enough subscriptions, probably retroactively.

But we're focusing on building other stuff, so making the billing page ready for taking orders on those is getting pushed back, unfortunately. Probably not for a few months.

Have had a tablet PC(Paceblade) for a couple of years now, and went up the wall when it was temporarily out of commission and I had to revert to conventional PC and mouse. My chinese handwriting is still very much printed rather than 'joined up', but using a pen on a screen certainly helps to train your brain to control pen on paper.

Nick: bummer. I was hoping to ask for one for Christmas... If you guys wanna work something out with me, just let me know (I know you have my e-mail).