Comments on: Independent 7574 / Mordred

By: Scarpia

Scarpia — Fri, 28 Jan 2011 00:03:48 +0000

Thanks Gaufrid.
It is tempting and I know I’m somewhat old fashioned, but I do still like real books,especially reference books.I nearly always find,when looking up one thing that I come across something else of interest.
Speaking of digital vs. paper,I came across this brilliant anagram the other day -
Digital books versus the “dead tree version”? =
I’ve used both. Kindle’s storage is overrated.

By: flashling

flashling — Wed, 26 Jan 2011 20:08:03 +0000

Thanks for the link Gaufrid, very useful.

By: Gaufrid

Gaufrid — Wed, 26 Jan 2011 14:56:39 +0000

Scarpia @19
An alternative, if you are running Windows (XP or later) or a Mac, is to have the full Collins Dictionary on your desktop for only £9.99. I have been using the ‘Pro’ version for quite some time now and can recommend it provided you remember two things.

The first is to have the window full-width otherwise some definitions are not displayed and the second is that, when searching for confirmation of single letter abbreviations, always scroll down to the bottom of the list.

http://www.collinslanguage.com/shop/desktop-pcs.aspx

By: nmsindy

nmsindy — Wed, 26 Jan 2011 14:31:51 +0000

Re #19, Scarpia, it might be as well to check carefully just what edition it is, I’ve the 30th anniv one from 2009 but there are a lot of others about. There was controversy in the past about a WHSmith special offer of their dict if I recall.

By: Scarpia

Scarpia — Wed, 26 Jan 2011 12:42:35 +0000

Thanks again nmsindy.(After last weeks Dac puzzle)
I guess I will have to invest in a copy of Collins now I am tackling the Indy crossword on a regular basis.
I have 4 dictionaries already,so was loath to spend £35 on yet another.I see Amazon are selling it for £11.55(post free)so I think I will take them up on that!

By: nmsindy

nmsindy — Wed, 26 Jan 2011 10:13:24 +0000

Re Scarpia’s comment #13, Otto cycle is perhaps not that familiar but it is in Collins all right.

By: 4across

4across — Wed, 26 Jan 2011 09:51:19 +0000

Thanks sidey

By: Allan_C

Allan_C — Wed, 26 Jan 2011 09:18:18 +0000

Tough, but got there in the end with the help of a word finder and checking back in Chambers. Several “of course!” moments, particularly with SEMICOLON. Punctuation frequently (usually?) has to be ignored in reading clues, but not this time. Failed to spot the nina or possible themes. Nice to see football referred to as the oval ball variety.

By: Wil Ransome

Wil Ransome — Wed, 26 Jan 2011 01:04:36 +0000

It seems that the Beatrix Potter Nina is a bit weak. There must be something more, to excuse the dreadful checking (which is less than 50% in more than half the answers). This, combined with the extraordinarily difficult knowledge required, made it extremely difficult. Otto, peter, Good King Henry, Nembutal, gallery (in a cave), … crikey.

By: smartm

smartm — Wed, 26 Jan 2011 00:17:56 +0000

Found this very hard today but enjoyed the ones I managed to crack. 4across – if you have an iPhone or iPad I highly recommend 2 across, a free app which can download the Indy and others. I have used it for a couple of months on and off, but still much prefer to solve it in the newspaper. Am I the only one who hates to fold the paper vertically when the crossword is down the side of the page rather than horizontally when it is at he bottom?!