Question:
1st laptop want to type in Japanese
This will be my first laptop purchase. I'm learning Japanese and really want to be able to type in it easilly, so I'm thinking about a Japanese keyboard, but I'd prefer my OS not to be all in Japanese all the time. I'm planning on moving there next year (2007).
I have a limited budget, and may be giving up the option of scoring some "employee pricing deals" on the laptop and OS + software, as a close relative work for a large US/international software firm (I don't know if he can get such pricing breaks on a Japanese laptop/OS).
General Questions
1) What is your budget?
US $900 tops, feel free to list stuff just outside my price range, as I said I do not know how much of a deal my relative can get so if something sells for $1000-1200 it still might be feasible. Also purchasing w/out OS installed might be an option for me. Will finding drivers be a pain?
2) What size notebook would you prefer?
c. Mainstream; 15" - 16" screen
d. Desktop Replacement; 17"+ screen (I probably can't afford this option)
3) What tasks will you be performing with the notebook?
Word processing in English and Japanese, digital photoediting-storing, scanning, might want to use photoshop.
4) Will you be taking the notebook with you to different places or leaving it on your desk?
Aside from dragging it to Japan when I move there I will not be lugging it everywhere w/ me. 6-10 lbs is ok.
5) Will you be playing games on it; if so, which games?
Ha...Ha... My arcade proficiency ends at Centipede.
6) Are there any brands that you prefer or any you really don't like?
I've been looking at Toshibas for the US market (I'm in the US) Satellite A105.
7) How many hours of battery life do you need?
As much as I can afford. More concerned about power options overseas (Japan).
8) Do you mind buying online without seeing the notebook in person?
I prefer to see in person, but I might have to do this to get a J-keyboard.
9) Please select your country's flag as a post icon and tell us what country are you buying this in?
USA? This is also a "wait or buy" post. My move to Japan will come in late 2007 most likely, but I am currently operating a circa2000 Win98 desktop that has alread exceeded its life expectancy and is completely obs. I don't know if I can take it that long, and the Japanese would be useful for my language class right now.
Screen Specifics
10) Would you prefer standard or widescreen?
maybe wide might want to watch movies but that is not a primary consideration.
11) From the choices below, what screen resolutions would you prefer?
??? don't know, might want to watch DVDS on it.
12) Do you want a glossy/reflective screen or a matte/non-glossy screen?
??? don't know, might want to reduce eye strain, but can't tell in stores which is better long term.
Build Quality and Design
13) Are the notebook's looks and stylishness important to you?
No. I like the sloped fronts on the toshibas they look easy to type at.
14) When are you buying this laptop and how long do you want this laptop to last?
Want to purchase between now and March 2007.
Notebook Components
15) How much hard drive space do you want; 40GB to 160GB?
Don't care, maybe 80-100GB
16) Do you need an optical drive? If yes, a DVD-ROM, DVD-CD/RW or DVD-RW drive?
Like to burn CDs and pics onto disks.
==========
END COPY
Please state any additional features you need. If you don't know how to answer a question or don't care about what it is asking then just say so!
Really want to type in easilly in Japanese! Keyboard and screen to reduce eyestrain and hand cramping as much as possible -I know, I'm shopping for a notebook -laughs...:rolleyes:
Answer:
Re: 1st laptop want to type in Japanese
Windows XP has the option to allow you to add Japanese input.. Depends what style you want, but most people I know use the Romanji style in which the regular QWERTY keyboard is sufficient.
Answer:
Re: 1st laptop want to type in Japanese
You can also get an external Japanese keyboard. There's a few to choose from on jlist.com for around $30 a piece, but since most of them ship from Japan, you gotta figure another $10-15 for shipping. They actually have some stuff for learning Japanese, check it out. If you're a girl, these are the cutest Japanese charts you can find...
Regarding buy now/later: Later, you'll always get better deals or more features for the price. However, nothing breakthrough will happen between now and March (since you'll get Vista when it comes out free with just about any new laptop now). So, if your computer is annoying the hell out of you, might as well do it now.
Malia
Answer:
Re: 1st laptop want to type in Japanese
I saw some auctions in ebay that actually sells japanese stickers for the laptops keyboard!
doing that and like what goren said you should be able to have more choices on laptops that you can buy.
Answer:
Re: 1st laptop want to type in Japanese
Yeah. I was tooling around the other day in XP, and it's pretty easy to configure to type in Japanese, so you can probably rule that out as a consideration when choosing your laptop. Of course, I didn't understand what was going on, but that's because there's three sets of symbols or something, and I don't know Japanese.
Answer:
Re: 1st laptop want to type in Japanese
Take a look at the HP Business Notebook nx7400, and the Lenovo ThinkPad R60. Both are very solid machines and are more durable than a typical consumer machine.