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Musouka
Joined: 22 Sep 2006
Posts: 19
Location: Ashikaga, Japan
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 Posted: Sat May 12, 2007 1:48 pm Post subject: Advice on purchasing a computer in Japan |
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Hello there,
I wanted to get some advice before purchasing a new PC. I have been living in Japan for about half a year now. I plan on studying and living in Japan for awhile and was looking into purchasing a PC. I was really looking into getting a Japanese PC with Windows Vista. I was wondering if it is possible to completely change the OS (Operating System) from the Japanese language to English. I don't really want to purchase a PC from America because the yen to dollar currency exchange is pretty bad right now. Do you think this would be a wise choice? If I cannot change the OS to English, is it possible to buy a Japanese computer and install the English version of Windows Vista? Can anyone recommend any brands or special companies that allow complete customization of PCs? Please if you can give any insight on this, I would really appreciate it.
Thanks again. |
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flyingkiwi
Joined: 29 Jan 2007
Posts: 211
Location: In the Golden Gai in Shinjuku, arguing with Mama-san over my tab
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| Posted: Sat May 12, 2007 2:08 pm Post subject: |
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Or you could just use it as it is - with a Japanese operating system. It would be great practice for your Japanese!
I have a Japanese NEC and Fujitsu and I haven't really had a problem understanding my way around them. You can install English Microsoft Office and Internet Explorer after all.
However, I too would be interested if anyone knew if you could change to OS from Japanese to English. |
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canuck
Joined: 11 May 2003
Posts: 1921
Location: Japan
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| Posted: Sat May 12, 2007 2:09 pm Post subject: Re: Advice on purchasing a computer in Japan |
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| Musouka wrote: |
Hello there,
I wanted to get some advice before purchasing a new PC. I have been living in Japan for about half a year now. I plan on studying and living in Japan for awhile and was looking into purchasing a PC. I was really looking into getting a Japanese PC with Windows Vista. I was wondering if it is possible to completely change the OS (Operating System) from the Japanese language to English. I don't really want to purchase a PC from America because the yen to dollar currency exchange is pretty bad right now. Do you think this would be a wise choice? If I cannot change the OS to English, is it possible to buy a Japanese computer and install the English version of Windows Vista? Can anyone recommend any brands or special companies that allow complete customization of PCs? Please if you can give any insight on this, I would really appreciate it.
Thanks again. |
This type of question has been asked many times.
However, here you go.
http://www.primepc.jp/goods_pc/goods_pc.php
Furthermore, you can buy the English OS, OEM version. What you do, and they will do it for you, is ask to also buy English XP and they will charge you for the software, plus another 900 yen for a floppy drive. They do this, to get around the OEM licensing.
Think computer price + another 12,000 approximately for English Windows XP Home. |
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canuck
Joined: 11 May 2003
Posts: 1921
Location: Japan
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Inflames
Joined: 02 Apr 2006
Posts: 486
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| Posted: Sat May 12, 2007 2:23 pm Post subject: |
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If you want a PC with complete customization, I'd just say to build it yourself. I did that with my PC and it was quite easy.
I'd also recommend just buying an English OS and installing it on the PC yourself. If you have relatives back home, they can buy it and post it to you. |
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Musouka
Joined: 22 Sep 2006
Posts: 19
Location: Ashikaga, Japan
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| Posted: Sat May 12, 2007 2:25 pm Post subject: |
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| Quote: |
Or you could just use it as it is - with a Japanese operating system. It would be great practice for your Japanese!
I have a Japanese NEC and Fujitsu and I haven't really had a problem understanding my way around them. You can install English Microsoft Office and Internet Explorer after all. |
Ah.. Ah.. thanks so much for the quick replies. I suppose I could try out the Japanese OS. Will I be able to install English games or software on the OS? I have only been studying for a year, how difficult will it be for me to navigate the computer? What about messing with the region settings? Do you think I won't get the most out of my PC with it being in Japanese? Also, if anyone knows any websites that gear toward more powerful/gaming PCs that would be great. My PC is for work/games. Anyway... Thanks again! |
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Musouka
Joined: 22 Sep 2006
Posts: 19
Location: Ashikaga, Japan
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| Posted: Sat May 12, 2007 2:27 pm Post subject: |
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| Quote: |
If you want a PC with complete customization, I'd just say to build it yourself. I did that with my PC and it was quite easy.
I'd also recommend just buying an English OS and installing it on the PC yourself. If you have relatives back home, they can buy it and post it to you. |
The only problem with that is one day I would like to play Japanese games or use Japanese apps on the computer. I don't think you can install Japanese apps on an English OS. |
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southofreality
Joined: 12 Feb 2007
Posts: 579
Location: Tokyo
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| Posted: Sat May 12, 2007 3:30 pm Post subject: |
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| If you're anywhere near Tokyo, check out LAOX in Akihabara. They sell some high-end models with English operating systems already installed and they have several English-speaking staff members. Also, you can buy English versions of XP and Vista there. |
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codedals
Joined: 27 Feb 2007
Posts: 37
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| Posted: Sat May 12, 2007 3:34 pm Post subject: |
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1.Buy a cheap pc
2. wipe hdd (or partition it...keep the Japanese OS for practice)
3. install linux (ubuntu is all the rage now, but I suggest Gentoo--if you're up for the challenge)
and presto -- an OS in English |
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southofreality
Joined: 12 Feb 2007
Posts: 579
Location: Tokyo
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| Posted: Sat May 12, 2007 3:39 pm Post subject: |
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| Musouka wrote: |
| What about messing with the region settings? Do you think I won't get the most out of my PC with it being in Japanese? |
There isn't anything in the region settings that will allow you to switch back and forth between an English and a Japanese OS. If you buy a computer with a Japanese OS, you can add an English OS to it. Then you can set your PC to boot up either the Japanese version or the English version. I'm not so sure you can boot up multiple operating systems at the same time. |
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Apsara
Joined: 20 Sep 2005
Posts: 2142
Location: Tokyo, Japan
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| Posted: Sat May 12, 2007 10:32 pm Post subject: |
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Unless you can already read a lot of kanji, like close to JLPT 2 level, then having a Japanese OS will probably just make your life more difficult than it needs to be.
I assume you don't want a Mac- that's what I have, and I can just switch the language settings. I bought it here, and chose English when I was asked to select a language- no need to mess around with installing a different OS. |
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Chris21
Joined: 30 Apr 2006
Posts: 366
Location: Japan
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| Posted: Sat May 12, 2007 11:03 pm Post subject: |
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I don't know if this helps, but I bought my desktop computer last November at "SofMap" in Akihabara (there are SofMap stores all over the pace... Shinjuku, Machida, etc). Anyway, at SofMap they sell computers with no OS, with a Japanese OS, with an English OS, etc. They've labelled each of these packages as "the cheeseburger deal", "the pizza deal", "the yaki-niku deal" (perhaps to make it easier for the customers to comparison shop). The no-OS package was "the Yaki-Niku deal", and I thought the price was quite affordable... only 67,000 yen with 250Gb hard-drive and 500Mb of RAM. There are probably better deals out there, but of the places that I went to, this seemed like the biggest bargain. I got a copy of Windows XP from a buddy, and put it on my computer the next day.
If you aren't fluent in Japanese, I'd recommend against a Japanese OS. When error messages pop-up, it might be difficult to understand them without a high level of Japanese proficiency. I think Vista allows users to toggle between a Japanese OS and an English OS (like Mac), but I'm not entirely sure. I have heard that Vista requires a lot more operating power and some of the older computer have had trouble running it (something you might want to consider). I'll be buying a Notebook next month and I don't know if I even want to bother with Vista... I've had no complaints with XP.
Regarding Japanese software, I've had problems with the Japanese version of Yahoo Messenger. But other than that, all of the software on my computer is in English, so it hasn't been an issue. |
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canuck
Joined: 11 May 2003
Posts: 1921
Location: Japan
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| Posted: Sun May 13, 2007 12:13 am Post subject: |
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| codedals wrote: |
1.Buy a cheap pc
2. wipe hdd (or partition it...keep the Japanese OS for practice)
3. install linux (ubuntu is all the rage now, but I suggest Gentoo--if you're up for the challenge)
and presto -- an OS in English |
This is a bad idea if you buy a cheaper computer where the built-in OS is on a recovery disk, not a separate disk (which is most often the case these days.) This is because there is often a hidden partition. If you do format this, and try for a fresh install, would will need to know specific information about your hardware to get it working properly. This isn't easy for most people. |
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Musouka
Joined: 22 Sep 2006
Posts: 19
Location: Ashikaga, Japan
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| Posted: Sun May 13, 2007 5:36 am Post subject: |
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| Quote: |
| I think Vista allows users to toggle between a Japanese OS and an English OS (like Mac), but I'm not entirely sure. I have heard that Vista requires a lot more operating power and some of the older computer have had trouble running it (something you might want to consider). I'll be buying a Notebook next month and I don't know if I even want to bother with Vista... I've had no complaints with XP. |
Is this really true? I have a mac right now and can easily change the whole OS to Japanese. The only thing is it is a Power PC and can't run most applications (aka games). If Vista is like the Mac OS, then that would be great! I'm still looking into the situation but my Japanese reading level is definately not at Level 2. I'll want to buy a high end PC. I will definately be upgrading to Vista too, so if anyone knows any details on this, that would be great. Does anyone know any specific brands too look for? I know all about American brands but I'm rather clueless when it comes to choosing a well made computer in Japan. |
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littleturtle
Joined: 31 Oct 2006
Posts: 24
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| Posted: Sun May 13, 2007 8:22 am Post subject: |
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| Get an intel-based Mac, where you can install both Mac OS AND Win XP. |
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