Apple Mac/PC Bilingual computing

[japslapper]

I am still not decided - what is best? Apple or PC?

You know when you go into an internet cafe in, say, Singapore and on the PCs there is a little icon in the bottom right hand corner - and you can change the language that you are typing into your emails/word pro in an instant....

If I am going to buy a new english OS G4 ibook - tommorow what software do I need that will ensure smooth Eng-JP input?

I understand that on a new PC with XP installed a copy of "MS proofing tools" is required - what about with Apple Macs.

I mean the english software - but with Japanese dictionary grammer checker etc..........

anyone know?

Thanx

JS

[Caustic Saint]

I am still not decided - what is best? Apple or PC?

You know when you go into an internet cafe in, say, Singapore and on the PCs there is a little icon in the bottom right hand corner - and you can change the language that you are typing into your emails/word pro in an instant....

Under OSX you can set which languages you want to be able to type in in a control panel. Then, when entering text, just hit "comand-space" to switch between languages.

If I am going to buy a new english OS G4 ibook - tommorow what software do I need that will ensure smooth Eng-JP input?

I understand that on a new PC with XP installed a copy of "MS proofing tools" is required - what about with Apple Macs.

I mean the english software - but with Japanese dictionary grammer checker etc..........

You won't be buying an "English OS" machine. OSX is multilingual, and about 15 langauges are included. When you first boot it up everything wil be in Japanese. You have to get past the registration stuff before you can change it to English. If you're getting it at the Ginza store and aren't too handy with Japanese, take it up to the second floor to the "Genius Bar" and have them help you much through it so you can change it to English.

If you need a Japanese dictionary or grammar checker, you'll probably have to buy that separately. I'm not aware of anything other than the English spellcheckers in OSX. Ask at the store to be sure though.

[japslapper]

You won't be buying an "English OS" machine

...well I am buying it in the UK (where I am at the moment)....its gonna be English!

If you need a Japanese dictionary or grammar checker, you'll probably have to buy that separately. I'm not aware of anything other than the English spellcheckers in OSX. Ask at the store to be sure though.

Thats the problem.....because this is Jolly Olde England, nobody here considers communicating with Jolly foreigner as important .....so whats the name of the software I would need? Can anyone find somewhere I can buy it outside Japan. I am starting to wonder if buying a PC would be better......

[Caustic Saint]

You won't be buying an "English OS" machine

...well I am buying it in the UK (where I am at the moment)....its gonna be English!

No, it won't be.

It'll be multilingual same as if you bought it in America, Japan, Korea, France or anywhere else. It'll just be set to boot in English. All the other languages will still be there.

[japslapper]

No, it won't be.

It'll be multilingual same as if you bought it in America, Japan, Korea, France or anywhere else. It'll just be set to boot in English. All the other languages will still be there.

I know that...but It will have a special bit of software that can cope with irony

In an apple store, here, - I have seen the Japanese fonts etc etc - very good....its the software with dictionary that allows me to email and write word documents etc in JP........when I asked about this the apple people just gave me a "dunno"


Buying a PC in the UK is a bit silly really - the ones in Japan - you get a much more advanced computer for your money.

[DrBru]

It doesn't matter whether you buy your Mac in the UK, Sweden or Japan - it's the same OS, just another language set as default.
I'm not sure what you mean with "the software with dictionary that allows me to email and write word documents etc in JP"...
You're getting the same stuff Japanese users get.

You won't be getting an "advanced" Mac in Japan, Macs are the same everywhere, except for the keyboard layout and power cable.
Try comparing prices on http://www.apple.com/uk/ and http://www.apple.co.jp/ to see if it's worth buying it in the UK.

Anyway, bottom line is, if you want your computer to just work, get a Mac. Plus you get awesome apps like iMovie, iDVD and iPhoto...

[American Oyaji]

JS,
You don't need any special software.

You will be able to send email in Japanese no problem.

I understand your confusion. OSX is multilingual, not only can you set the interface to the language of your choice, but you can also access the other languages and use them from within different applications.

when using japanese if the kana you've entered has multiple kanji choices, it will ask you what kanji you want to use and will give you a list of them. Any reasonably smart person can write a decent letter in Japanese providing you keep decent dictionary at your side to help you.

[japslapper]

OK I am going to get a Mac.....

G4 ibook looks enough for my needs. I am considering the 14" ibook - bigger screen etc - but I notice the 12" is so much more popular ......any reason for this? Either ibook will have maximum added memory

Any of you mac-pros out there can recomend an ibook configuration for reliability etc etc? What do you folks have?

Thanx

JS

[gkanai]

I have a Powerbook but I know a bit about the iBook too. I would say that you'll want as much RAM as you can afford. OS X runs a lot better with more RAM, moreso than WinXP.

I think the 14"er has the same video card as the 12"er, so you are not getting more resolution with the 14", only a bigger screen. I think the 12" is popular because of it's size. You can always plug it into a monitor at home - that's what I do.

[DrBru]

I have a 12" iBook. The size is perfect, since I take it with me all the time, I wouldn't want the extra inches on the 14". The resolution is the same on both the 12" and the 14" (1024x768 pixels).
I don't know why people even get the 14". Maybe when your eyesight isn't the best, you might find the 12" too small...

Definitely max out the RAM, get an extra 512 MB (PC2100 DDR SDRAM) - on kakaku.com, it's listed at less than 200.00.
Another thing to consider is an AirPort (AirMac in Japan) WLAN card, which costs around 11.000
When I was in Tokyo, I could find an access point within a few minutes of pretty much any place I was. Broadband on the street, free. Gotta love it.

[Caustic Saint]

12" G4 iBook here as well. If you're buying direct from Apple, get a bigger drive. The stock 30GB is okay, but I wanted the 60. (Couldn't get it since I was buying it from the Ginza store and not online.)

As mentioned, get the Airport Extreme card. WiFi is a godsend.

Also, there's a firmware hack you can apply that will enable you to use an external monitor as a second display, not just mirrored (which is how Apple has it set up).

If you think you might ever need Bluetooth, get the internal module installed when you order your iBook. You can't get it put in later, and will be stuck with using an external BT module if you skip it when ordering and decide you need it later.

My recommendation: 12" G4 iBook, 60GB drive, 640MB ram, WiFi card. Add the internal Bluetooth if you think you're going to need it. Also, get the AppleCare plan, but if money's tight you can wait on that. You can buy it anytime within the first 12 months of ownership.

[emperor]

if you compared the Japanese to English prices - youll have seen that theyre all cheaper in Japan..

but if youre not coming to Japan to get it
you may consider checking it against the Irish price
you could probably finance a weekend in Dublin (using Ryanair) and still have change leftover - depends on how much you like Guinness

[japslapper]

Thanx for the advice folks

Money is very tight at the moment - but I will get a 14" 933MHz ibook, with 60GBHD and 640RAM. I figured these things heat up and a larger frame will help keep things a bit cooler (southern Wakayama is an oven in summer). For my use (loads of word processing and photo manipulation) I think the larger screen is a bit better - despite the extra weight/size

The airport extreme card is a good idea - but I will get it later (that is assuming I can buy it another time, say in Tokyo and it will still work ).

When my alot richer than me J-chick is also converted to apple computers - I will see if she can buy a his and hers 17" and 12" powerbook

Does anyone know if the protection plan is international or not? - the next 3 years will be 50:50 between the UK and Japan....whats the best thing to do? Any ideas

[japslapper]

if you compared the Japanese to English prices - youll have seen that theyre all cheaper in Japan..

but if youre not coming to Japan to get it
you may consider checking it against the Irish price
you could probably finance a weekend in Dublin (using Ryanair) and still have change leftover - depends on how much you like Guinness

Yes thats true - but the J-prices dont include an extra 5% - where as the UK prices include the 17.%% VAT that poor Brits have to pay ....I have found a way to not pay VAT That considered the prices are very similar

As for going to Ireland to enjoy a proper Guiness that is a good idea. The best Guiness is ofcourse anywhere outside Dublin (Dublin is turning into a London clone - and not as friendly and slow paced as it once was, unfortunately )

For now I have to make do with the pub across the street and its tempermental quality of stout or a very good beer I may suggest to any real ale FGs ( I think there is an Irish/Welsh Bar in Nagoya which does it)

http://www.wychwood.co.uk/

[Caustic Saint]

The airport extreme card is a good idea - but I will get it later (that is assuming I can buy it another time, say in Tokyo and it will still work ).

Does anyone know if the protection plan is international or not? - the next 3 years will be 50:50 between the UK and Japan....whats the best thing to do? Any ideas

Yes, and yes.

You can pick up an Airport Extreme card pretty much anywehre Apple stuff is sold. It's a breeze to install it yourself.

AppleCare is international, so you're covered there as well.

[Mr X]

When you guys are talking about the OS being multilingual, does that mean you can change the tool bars and explorer and error messages and all THAT stuff to English too (I bought my compaq 3500 pos in Japan)??

I know you can change email and word and all that, I do it all the time, but is it possible to change everything else too? If so, how?

I'm wondering, cause I'm in the market for a laptop myself and thought I might have to go to Akihabara or something to get an "American model".

[Taro Toporific]

When you guys are talking about the OS being multilingual, does that mean you can change the tool bars and explorer and error messages and all THAT stuff to English too (I bought my compaq 3500 pos in Japan)??
I know you can change email and word and all that, I do it all the time, but is it possible to change everything else too? If so, how?
I'm wondering, cause I'm in the market for a laptop myself and thought I might have to go to Akihabara or something to get an "American model".

Yes, we're talking about the ENTIRE "OS being multilingual [meaning] you can change the tool bars and explorer and error messages ."

Your problem may be like mine: it's only the OS software sold in some Japanese market computer and it's not the hardware. You do not need "get an 'American model'" except if you hate a Japanese keyboard. The Japanese Windows XP OS sold as an OEM on computers purchased in Japan seem to be farkqued up.

Ultra can switch his English Windows XP OS back and forth between Japanese and English without problem. However, my Japanese-purchased Windows XP OS for Dell will not switch.

When I installed Windows 2000 Pro on the same machine, it was no problem to get a fully English or fully Japanese operating system "being multilingual [that] can change the tool bars and explorer and error messages ." It's just my Japanese-purchased Windows XP OS for Dell that refuses to be bilingual, as confirmed by my Dell Japan service representative on the phone. Arrrrrg.

Buy an English Windows XP OS and reinstall if you cannot get the ENTIRE system to switch back and forth between Japanese and English.

[Mr X]

Cool. Thanks for the info.

[Taro Toporific]

Cool. Thanks for the info.

BUT remember to call the Japanese service rep to make SURE you got ripped off with a English-disabled, Japanese-market only Windows XP. CS and a few others here in Japan are not having this problem while others like me are pulling their non-existent hair out over this. For example, the Windows OS on all Japanese IBM Thinkpads will switch between Japanese and ENglish just like the US version.