Throwaway Account wrote:
> I'm in the market for a new computer, this time a Windows OS laptop.  I
> have problems with my trusty Mac English OS 9.2 when using Japanese
> print drivers.  The characters come out as gibberish (mojibake) in the
> display.  Input for programs like MS Word, etc. is no problem using
> kotoeri.
> 
> The new computer will be a Windows XP system.  So, the big question is
> whether to get a laptop with English OS (and English keyboard) or
> Japanese OS (and Japanese keyboard).  

Note: I tried replying and somehow my post never showed up so I have to 
retype this....

I use both Windows 2000/XP and Mac OS X and the latter is much better 
for Japanese.  There is a huge difference between OS 9 and OS X.  OS X 
is a completely different operating system based on 15-yr old NeXTSTEP 
technology.  The underlying system uses Unicode and Postscript/PDF 
(Quartz) to achieve superior text editing and printing.  The English 
version of OS X comes with FULL Japanese support built-in including some 
very nice fonts and the kotoeri input manager.

If you are in Tokyo (Ginza) or Osaka (Shinsaibashi), you should visit 
your local Apple store and try it for yourself.  You will not be 
disappointed.

http://www.apple.com/retail/jp/ginza/index.html
http://www.apple.com/jp/retail/ginza/

> I plan to use English 80% of the time and Japanese 20% of the time.

Then you should probably get the English version.

> Are many of you using English OS with Japanese input?  How does this
> work?

There is an input manager that allows you to switch between EN (English) 
and JA (Japanese).  There is an icon on your bottom toolbar that you can 
click or you can use a special key combination.  When in JA mode, you 
can select Hiragana, Katakana, etc...  As you type romaji, it gets 
coverted to hiragana/katakana.  You can then convert to Kanji as 
necessary using the space key.