One more question:
Does it matter if I install the English or the Japanese version of WORD / OFFICE ?
When you buy a computer with a foreign layout, how do you get your countrie’s specific characters?
i’m considering buying one but i fear the lack of all the accents/specific chars
linguarum said... Typing in Japanese is basically the same whether you have a Japanese keyboard or an English keyboard. The only thing that's different on a Japanese keyboard is the placement of symbols. (e.g. Shift+2 produces " on a Japanese keyboard instead of @).I have an English keyboard on my PC and a German keyboard on my Mac, but have and use frequently 4 different locales (was five when I was working in Arabia) with these keyboards (DE, EN, TR, JP). The thing is there is quite a quick learning curve so you remember what key means what. And a few weeks later you type normally.
So I hate to tell you this now, but you're better off just changing your Windows keyboard settings rather than buying a laptop in Japan.
The only real advantage of getting a laptop in Japan, as far as learning Japanese is concerned, is if you have a Japanese OS and Japanese software. But if you don't want that, you might as well get your laptop in your home country.
Pro's don't look on the keys: http://www.daskeyboard.com/product/model-s-ultimate/
EDIT: Thanks about the Google IME, will try it out.
Werner said... Thanks for all the suggestions.They a considered separate layouts and do not conflict. You can just delete Microsoft IME from Japanese language settings in Windows Control Panel language settings. Here:
Since my (Japanee) laptop is "empty" now, I will install the English WIN 7 and see how it goes. My Japanese is not good enough to understand (cryptic anyway) error messages, prompts from the OS.
That Google IME must be also a good idea.
When I install that, how do I make sure it does not mess with the IME provided by Windows ?
mousouchop said... @Mordoc Good to know the shortcomings of a Japanese keyboard. I have been thinking when I finally buy a Macbook Air I would order one with the Japanese keyboard. I'm waiting for my Macbook Pro to die, or to become very non-portable-- it currently has to be plugged in, as the battery is dead, and the trackpad only works intermittently. But it's still very functional... I'm getting closer though. May just plant the MBP on a desk as a "desktop" computer, and get the MBA for on the go. I think that expense will wait til AFTER my first trip to Japan. hahaDon't do it! Get the English keyboard. It's really easy to type in Japanese on a US keyboard layout. It's NOT as easy to type in English on a Japanese layout. Unless you want to try and look cool by having all the kana on your keys (which no one in Japan even uses, everyone types using romaji on a qwerty layout) You're just making life difficult for yourself. There's a button where the right side of the space bar should be that switches between kana and romaji (which never properly switches back to romaji) and the enter key is much narrower. It's so not worth the hassle. On a mac you can just as easily switch you system language to whatever you want. Since ⌘-space is the default for spotlight and switching languages and I use both of these with keyboard shortcuts, I switched my keyboard shortcut for switch language to ⌥-space.
I also use Google IME instead of Kotoeri, and turn off everything except for hiragana, because really that's all you need. You can still type full and half width katakana and kanji with the hiragana keyboard, but you don't have to cycle through so many keyboard layouts.
mousouchop said...@Werner Why not install Windows in Japanese? I have had my iPhone, iPad, Macbook, Apple TV, etc. (not to look like an Apple Fanboy) in Japanese for over a year now and it has really helped with reading speed/comprehension. I've learned new words, verb tenses, and other grammar points just from looking up things that I didn't understand in system messages. It's nice when my Google Maps app gives me directions in Japanese also. ^_^ Now, I am confident I could use just about any device in Japanese should I need to.Unlike mac, installations of windows are language specific, you'd have to buy separate versions of windows to do this, or get the ultimate (waste of money) version. On a mac it's really easy to switch the system language, on windows it's a pain in the ass.
Edit: I guess I should also note that I am an IT person by trade, so perhaps operating an electronic in general is more intuitive for me... but I'd still say give it a shot! You could always revert to English should you need to.
I'm also an ex IT person/ex Apple employee :-) Yay for techies!
Mordoc said...Not really true, while it Isn't as intuitive as a MAC you do can install different languages on other versions of win 7 other than Ultimate. I have Pro version with Spanish/Korean/Japanese installed on it and I can change the language easily. It is just matter of learning how to do it and googling a bit.mousouchop said...@Werner Why not install Windows in Japanese? I have had my iPhone, iPad, Macbook, Apple TV, etc. (not to look like an Apple Fanboy) in Japanese for over a year now and it has really helped with reading speed/comprehension. I've learned new words, verb tenses, and other grammar points just from looking up things that I didn't understand in system messages. It's nice when my Google Maps app gives me directions in Japanese also. ^_^ Now, I am confident I could use just about any device in Japanese should I need to.you'd have to buy separate versions of windows to do this, or get the ultimate (waste of money) version. On a mac it's really easy to switch the system language, on windows it's a pain in the ass.
Edit: I guess I should also note that I am an IT person by trade, so perhaps operating an electronic in general is more intuitive for me... but I'd still say give it a shot! You could always revert to English should you need to.
Apraxas said...Not really true, while it Isn't as intuitive as a MAC you do can install different languages on other versions of win 7 other than Ultimate. I have Pro version with Spanish/Korean/Japanese installed on it and I can change the language easily. It is just matter of learning how to do it and googling a bit.Seconding this.
you just have to go into the language settings and add whatever language you want. for example i use korean/spanish/french/english/japanese switching em with ALT GR + SHIFT
works on 7 pro/home/etc.... (and every windows i've used since creation of the language bar
johnDoe said...I'm not referring to the language bar. Setting up the computer to type in different languages is fairly easy. And you can switch without much trouble.Apraxas said...Not really true, while it Isn't as intuitive as a MAC you do can install different languages on other versions of win 7 other than Ultimate. I have Pro version with Spanish/Korean/Japanese installed on it and I can change the language easily. It is just matter of learning how to do it and googling a bit.Seconding this.
you just have to go into the language settings and add whatever language you want. for example i use korean/spanish/french/english/japanese switching em with ALT GR + SHIFT
works on 7 pro/home/etc.... (and every windows i've used since creation of the language bar
I'm referring to the system language. For example, what language is your control panel in, what language do your menus use, etc?
Edit: Well, it looks like Windows 8 has this feature which was only available in Windows 7 Ultimate. So I guess it is possible now if you are using Windows 8. Windows 7 and earlier can't do it though.
Mordoc said...Did you read my post? >:IWindows 7 and earlier can't do it though.
Apraxas said...From what I had read it was not possible. I just read about how you can do it but requires you to go in and edit the registry to accept a different language. Sounds like conflicting viewpoints, but I didn't find any info on the reg edit stuff last time I looked, so I guess I'm wrong. I was also reading it can leave remnants of the original language behind, have you noticed this?Mordoc said...Did you read my post? >:IWindows 7 and earlier can't do it though.
Mordoc said...Didn't notice any issues at all. My OS is default Spanish and I've changed it to english and korean without troubles.Apraxas said...From what I had read it was not possible. I just read about how you can do it but requires you to go in and edit the registry to accept a different language. Sounds like conflicting viewpoints, but I didn't find any info on the reg edit stuff last time I looked, so I guess I'm wrong. I was also reading it can leave remnants of the original language behind, have you noticed this?Mordoc said...Did you read my post? >:IWindows 7 and earlier can't do it though.
Apraxas said...Like Mordoc, I did some google searches on changing W7 Pro's default language and all I found was something about editing the registry. The instructions were confusing and I didn't feel confident with them. If you have a different, simpler way of changing the default language, please let us know!Mordoc said...From what I had read it was not possible. I just read about how you can do it but requires you to go in and edit the registry to accept a different language.
Didn't notice any issues at all. My OS is default Spanish and I've changed it to english and korean without troubles.
After I install the English WIN 7, does it matter (for writing Japanese) if I install the English WORD or the Japanese WORD ?
Werner said... After I install the English WIN 7, does it matter (for writing Japanese) if I install the English WORD or the Japanese WORD ?I dont think it matters, you write using the IME after all.
I don’t change the default language I just use IMEs. Same langauges as apraxas + greek.
Apraxas said... Yes, Typing in a language is not tied to the language of the operating system.If you're going to purchase a new license key (which this entails) you might as well upgrade to Windows 8 and then run the Beta of 8.1 which is basically Windows 7 but with up-to-date support. The key difference is that display language is no longer locked to OS region. The key flaw is that they've cocked the whole thing up in terms of ease of setting up your workspace. But with some very careful custom settings, its quite possible to set up Windows 8 in any manner which you please, language-wise (you will have to keep at least one English-based keyboard preference installed for inexplicable reasons though).
Just install windows 7 English as normal and then install Google Japanese IME (recommended) or just activate the windows Japanese IME
Just to clear up the above, people seem to be talking two different things here:
- Output language is the language the OS displays in. That's the language the word "File" in your File Menu is displayed it for instance.
- Input language is the language(s) the OS accepts input in. That's the IME setting. The stuff you press Alt+Shift to toggle between.
Windows 7 and earlier does allow output language customisation, but only on the prohibitively expensive Ultimate edition. All other versions are locked to a single output language (the US manufacturer pre-load edition of Home and Pro Windows actually installs Spanish and English, but then irreversibly deletes one based on your setup choices to comply with the single language rule). Output language switching is a regular feature from 8 onwards, if frustratingly difficult to work with.
All versions of Windows allow for input language customisation.
Snave said...Idk if people are not reading my posts or something.but only on the prohibitively expensive Ultimate edition.
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Apraxas said...Help us. You keep saying you got it down easy peasy, but you don't tell us how and clearly some of us want to know.Snave said...Idk if people are not reading my posts or something.but only on the prohibitively expensive Ultimate edition.