"Throwaway Account" <throwaway.account@gmail.com> wrote in message 
news:1gm7bjg.xc4f0m94g8ywN@yahoobb219000172007.bbtec.net...
> 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).

So like - get the English keyboard.  The tiny space bar on a Japanese 
keyboard does get on your tits when typing English - and at 80% to 20% the 
usefulness of the extra keys is negated.

>
> I plan to use English 80% of the time and Japanese 20% of the time.
>
> Are many of you using English OS with Japanese input?  How does this
> work?

I'm assuming that you mean either just typing Japanese text in Word and 
e-mail messages - then it's a breeze, or you're thinking that all menus can 
be switched to Japanese - which they can't with a regular copy of XPee. 
There IS a Micro$oft utility for doing that - which several members of the 
group deploy primarily so their kids and spouses can use an English XPee 
installed machine totally in Japanese...now where did they get that from I 
wonder...!?

For just plain old text input and displaying Japanese-only software the IME 
and other utilities included in XPee work fine.

>
> How do Japanese dialog boxes appear?
>

So now I'm thinking you're talking about Japanese software installed on an 
English XPee OS.  Yeah - works fine after a little tweaking in the Control 
Panel.  If you're asking about the menus on the Japanese IME - then these 
will appear in English if the aforementioned tweaking is not enabled - 
otherwise they appear in Japanese.

And now I've just realized that you're a Machead and so none of the jargon 
I've used in this message will make any sense!  I'll still summarize - buy 
an English XP Pro installed machine with an English keyboard and a nice 
English warranty.  It can be made to sing and dance in Japanese as much or 
as little as you want.

--
jonathan