where do i get a japanese keyboard?

[lover_of_all]

where is the best place to get a japanese keyboard from?

sorry, i posted this in the wrong place.

sorry, i posted this in the wrong place.

 

[yukio_michael]

Are you running a Japanese operating system? Because that's the only reason I can see wanting a Japanese Keyboard... I had a Japanese keyboard with an English OS and wound up (with the help of forum member Mr.Sumo ) just setting the keys back to a standard en-UK, because my brain was so set to where the keys were (I can blind type), it affected my speed in writing/coding etc...

One nice thing about a Japanese keyboard & OS is that you can switch between hiragana / katakana & direct input easily... anyone know how to do that w/ a non Japanese keyboard?

 

[kenasto]

@yukio_michael
Sorry, I don't get your point. If you can blind type why do you get confused with a Japanese keyboard? You can just blind type on it like you would on any other keyboard, English, Chinese or whatsoever. The physical location of the keys is almost the same, only a few keys are different.

I have been always using an English OS and Japanese keyboard and never had any problems. Don't want to miss it. Like you wrote, especially the key to switch between Hiragana/Romaji Input is very useful, don't want to miss that.

When I switch the operating system to EN input I just blind type in English, no problem. But in JP input, I don't know the location of minor characters so it would be tiring to use a English keyboard for that.

>where is the best place to get a japanese keyboard from?
Assuming you are in the UK, don't know what is easiest, but for sure you could order it online from Japan.

 

[JimmySeal]

One nice thing about a Japanese keyboard & OS is that you can switch between hiragana / katakana & direct input easily... anyone know how to do that w/ a non Japanese keyboard?

Alt+` (located where the 窶敖ｼﾅ?pﾂ／窶牢ﾅ?p key is on a Japanese keyboard)

To the OP: you don't need a Japanese keyboard to type in Japanese, in case that's what you're thinking, and it doesn't make sense to have a Japanese keyboard unless you have a Japanese OS.

 

[kenasto]

> it doesn't make sense to have a Japanese keyboard unless you have a Japanese OS.

Sorry, still don't get it. I use 2 PC's, one with an English OS and the other one with a Japanese OS. On both I use a Japanese keyboard and type English with it as well as Japanese. One example, why it does indeed make sense for me is that pushing one key to switch between Hiragana/Romaji is easier than pushing Alt+`. Another reason is that I can look at the keyboard to find characters used only or more often in Japanese, like ・\。「」~. Why do you say it doesn't make sense?

 

[JimmySeal]

~ and \ keys both appear on a standard US keyboard, and for 。・「」, one need only know that they are found on the ./[] keys on a US keyboard (which is perfectly logical). The Japanese IME for English Windows is designed so that if (for example) you press Shift+2, you will get an @, just like the keyboard shows, but if you try to type in English using a Japanese keyboard on an English OS, all of the keys will be in the wrong place.

 

[kenasto]

Oh, I see. Didn't notice that the keys are in the wrong place but I will try it. Thanks.

 

[mr.sumo.snr]

but if you try to type in English using a Japanese keyboard on an English OS, all of the keys will be in the wrong place.

That's only the case for touch typists who've learning to type using the English keyboard layout. If, when you hit the '@' key on your Japanese keyboard using English Windows XP, you don't get an '@' sign in your document then it means that your keyboard isn't correctly installed. It's not related to the Japanese IME.

Even under Windows ME and 98 it was possible to correctly install a Japanese keyboard, though it first involved undertaking a complete Japanese Windows installation, copying several files form the System directory, re-installing English Windows and then transferring and renaming the files. It was long-winded and I would always forget where I put the floppy disk with the sys files. Fortunately, Yamada denki was only a short drive so I would head off to the store, with floppy disk in hand, to do a little covert copying.

USB keyboards are still difficult because they don't allow you access to the extended XP keyboard install files that PS/2 keyboard and notebook users can access. There's a way round this, but if the keyboard is moved to another USB port the settings will be lost. The trick is to spend 20 minutes installing the USB keyboard on every USB port - front and rear.

Vista takes away all the fun - it's too simple to configure. Macs?...well who cares about them anyway...

--

 

[yukio_michael]

Vista takes away all the fun - it's too simple to configure. Macs?...well who cares about them anyway...

Pretentious trust-fund kids?

 

[mr.sumo.snr]

Indeed. Yet I still keep promising myself to buy a Mac notebook...one day.

What do you think Apple will have to do to make the iPhone marketable here in 2008?

 

[JimmySeal]

It seems to me that Japanese people are already excited about the iPhone. Despite what the news articles say, it is making a stir because it does a lot more than the phones they have here. That still doesn't mean I have any interest in it whatsoever.

 

[Ewok85]

What do you think Apple will have to do to make the iPhone marketable here in 2008?

Very little. Apple has brand-power in Japan.

(Excluding the obvious - localise for Japanese and make it compatible with Japanese phone carriers - neither incredibly difficult)

I want an iPhone sans phone. I just want a decent video/music player.

It seems to me that Japanese people are already excited about the iPhone. Despite what the news articles say, it is making a stir because it does a lot more than the phones they have here. That still doesn't mean I have any interest in it whatsoever.

Technically it does far less - just it is packaged/marketed better.

 

[yukio_michael]

What do you think Apple will have to do to make the iPhone marketable here in 2008?

I'd like to get a Macbook, but maybe when I have the cash to throw away for it... The possibility of running Vista back to back w/ whatever newest iteration of OSX is enticing.

Very little. Apple has brand-power in Japan.

Very true, I know many people who had no Idea Apple was previously so underrepresented in the United States as they were in Japan.

Technically it does far less - just it is packaged/marketed better.

Quite right, I read today a list of features that seem oddly lacking in a "next-gen" phone... It doesn't even record video... If anything Apple does know how to market their product as an object of desire.

 

[JimmySeal]

Technically it does far less - just it is packaged/marketed better.

Well I'm just impressed with the full-featured browser with WiFi. It's miles and miles ahead of what I've got on my phone.

 

[Ewok85]

I have a full featured browser on my phone that is usable almost anywhere - wifi is only in limited areas I use my phone to check/update my blog, check forums, use mixi (granted, thats got a mobile website...).

My phone plays music. It takes photos. It does video. It has a decent calendar (not near as cool as my wife's which synchronises with the internet and adds stuff like weather into the calendar automatically!). The list of "cannot do" is fairly long, and rather bizarre - First impressions? Disappointing...

Same thing, just better packaged/marketed

 

[yukio_michael]

I heard that the a) it can take up to 3-6 steps just to make a call, and b) that the phone if not configured correctly can hang up on you by your face pressing on the touch screen.

But boy does it look good... Oh yes, someone I forget, somewhere, I think in PC Mag USA, calculated that you COUL'D pay up to five grand in service for this phone in a year, were you to get the most expensive contract....

Just activating the thing costs 36 dollars.

 

[Ewok85]

a) is correct - there is no "speeddial" at present so you have to unlock the phone, select the phone option, select the address book, select who you want to call, and call. That is 5 steps

b) I think that by default that is OK, but I haven't got one to confirm for you

 

[JimmySeal]

What kinda phone you got, Ewok? Does the browser support Ajax?
The iPhone browser can be used anywhere too, but WiFi means you don't have to pay for transmission fees where WiFi is available, and those fees can really add up.
Still, the iPhone is far too much money for what it is and that is one of the reasons why I will never own one.

 

[Ewok85]

I'm on a flatrate plan already I've got an older AU phone, I'll get the number tomorrow for you.

I'll give AJAX a spin tomorrow, dunno if that would work tho...