Any recommendations for a Chinese software dictionery with writing pad?

[makofate]

Im sure many of you read books on chinese metaphysics, but sometimes the characters in the book seems too profound or they are in " fang di zhi" (meaning complex chinese form). Currently, I think Singapore,Malaysia and maybe Taiwan is using simplified chinese characters.However books from Hongkong may be in complex chinese form, and  I have problems deciphering it.
I checked the dictionary, but sometimes I cannot find the character and therefore I do not understand what the author is saying.

How do you all overcome this problems?
Do you all get a chinese software dictionary with writing pad? You write whatever character on the pad and the PC just display the nearest form of character and explains to you the meaning.

I think i saw this before somewhere, anyone knows where to get a good software and not too expensive ?
If there is any better method in resolving this problem, please share with me =)
Thank you.

[Ken]

Hi makofate,

You can try some yahoo or google website for translation.  But I think it is not difficult to guess and get used to the Traditional Chinese form of the words.  Initial part will be more challenging, however there is a consistent logic followed when Traditional Chinese characters were converted to Simplified Chinese characters.  Once you get used to the logic you will be able to figure out.  For example 談 vs 谈 & 輛 vs 辆

[makofate]

Hi Ken,
thanks. I guess it takes time and the intial start indeed is harder.I just try to get use to it then.