Quick translation on the desktop | Bangkok Post: tech

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There are plenty of applications around that give on the desktop what Google Translate gives on its web page (translate.google.com). But the programmers at busy Athtek have built in a lot of extra value to their translation front end, Google Translate Desktop.

As always, computer translation is never perfect but it is almost always better than nothing.

So far, this is the best translation utility, with the most features. It requires no installation, and at a minuscule 250KB, runs like a rabbit. You can configure it to start with your computer if you find yourself consulting translations fairly often.

It goes without saying that computer translators, including Google Translate, are not perfect. No kidding. But this really can be where "better than nothing" applies. If you run across a website, or get an email or want to know what that strange looking comment on your Facebook wall means, computer translators will give you a very good sense of the meaning.

Google Translate handles almost 60 languages now, including Thai. Therefore, that is how many that Google Translate Desktop can do for you.

The Desktop program monitors the clipboard. All you have to do is copy and mark an article, or part of one, and it will be instantly translated for you, probably before you can even switch to the Desktop program to look at it.

You can import files to translate, save the translated text to a file, or have the Desktop read the results for you in a perfectly decent human-type voice.

Google Translate Desktop is so small and portable that it is worth getting, even if you think will only use it occasionally.

The program is described and available for (fast) download through the site of its programmer, http://www.athtek.com.