Job Discussion Forums

[LadyK]

Hi all. Well, my laptop has died so I'm looking to buy a new one. One friend told me that I'd have to buy a Mac, since otherwise I'd have to ship it to the states to have it reprogrammed in English, then have it shipped back. True? I'm just looking for advice on how to go about doing this since browsing with my iPhone is quickly getting old. Let me just also mention that I'm pretty computer illiterate. I just need something so I can go online, skype, store pics and docs, etc. Nothing fancy. Also, I'm in the Kansai region, not far from Kobe, if that helps. Thanks ahead!

[Bread]

You can easily install an English version of Windows on a Japanese laptop. There will be two main problems that I can think of:

1. The Japanese keyboard is kind of (okay, REALLY) awful to use for an English OS, with a tiny space bar, tiny backspace, huge enter key, and extra useless keys.

2. If you're calling yourself computer illiterate then I would worry about your ability to find drivers for your components when reformatting and installing a different OS.

There's probably somewhere that you could take an English Windows CD and your laptop and have them do it for you, but I've always done my own PC maintenance so I have no idea, sorry.

The OTHER issue with that is that the price of computer hardware is often so much more expensive in Japan than in the US that you'd might as well just import one for the same price, or maybe even less.

If you get a computer with Windows 7 Ultimate on it, I believe that you can change the system language on the fly. If Macs do the same, then it might be easiest to get one of those. If Apple makes a netbook, that might be ideal for what you want. Though it might still have the terrible Japanese keyboard. Not that it's terrible for Japanese users, but if your primary language is English then it's pretty godawful. You can type in Japanese on an English keyboard easily, too.

[ginjoshu]

Did you look into having a computer sent from the states to Japan?

[Glenski]

You do not have to ship your computer outside Japan to have English OS on it. Just ask the dealer how much more it will cost for him to install it for you. I did that with my school bookstore.

Even if you get a Mac, you will have to deal with this sort of option in a way, I think. Macs are easier to switch over from one language to the other, but you will still have to learn a whole new way of running a computer (Mac vs. Windows). To me, that would be a bigger challenge. Also, you will have some nice options for Macs that are not available on Windows' PCs, and fewer "regular" things that cross over on a Mac than you would find on a Windows unit.

[seklarwia]

Big retailers technology retailers and computer specialists can often install an English OS for you but it doesn't come cheap.
I even picked up a new laptop from the UK this spring to avoid the horrendous price tags and the annoying Japanese keyboard issue.

If you are not going home soon and not confident with importing, then I can think of two other options you should look into.

1. Good ol Amazon.co.jp has a small selection of laptops that not only have an English OS, but also have English keyboards.
http://www.amazon.co.jp/gp/search/ref=sr_st?__mk_ja_JP=%83J%83%5E%83J%83i&keywords=laptop&qid=1284766646&rh=k%3Alaptop%2Cn%3A3210981&sort=-price

2. If you are friends with any JETs you should speak to them. I don't know if the offer is still around, but there was a company offering discounts on buying and servicing English OS computers to JETs.

[Bread]

[jgmodlin]

Just buy one from Dell online. Easy and they will outfit it the way you want.