This review describes the 5th edition of theCollins COBUILD Advanced Learner’s English Dictionary CD-ROM (published in 2006). This edition has phonetic transcriptions and works better than the 4th edition (2003). As of January 2009, the 5th edition is still available online (scroll down for links).
Warning: The latest, 6th edition of this dictionary (published in 2008) is completely different software: in fact, the slowest and buggiest PC dictionary on the market. It also has no phonetic transcriptions and no Wordbank. Do not buy under any circumstances!
PRO
CON
friendly, easy-to-understand definitions (see book review)
definitions show you how to use a word naturally, not just what it means
plenty of example sentences (especially if you consider the integrated Wordbank)
pleasant to use with a fast, light-weight interface
few American recordings
occasionally gives incomplete or incorrect information on American English
some of the phonetic transcriptions can be misleading
The fifth edition of the Collins COBUILD Advanced Learner’s English Dictionary CD-ROM is highly recommended. However, learners interested in American English should also consult a more trustworthy source of information, such as the free Merriam-Webster Online dictionary.