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Korean Job Discussion Forums
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riley
Joined: 08 Feb 2003
Location: where creditors can find me
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 Posted: Fri Aug 31, 2007 4:58 am Post subject: Buying a UMPC with English software |
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| My friend is coming over in September and is interested in buying a Samsung UMPC. I'm wondering if it's possible for him to get the operating system in English. Can we and if so, where? |
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DCJames
Joined: 27 Jul 2006
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| Posted: Fri Aug 31, 2007 5:27 am Post subject: Re: Buying a UMPC with English software |
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| riley wrote: |
| My friend is coming over in September and is interested in buying a Samsung UMPC. I'm wondering if it's possible for him to get the operating system in English. Can we and if so, where? |
I never understood the attraction to UMPCs.
Why not get a 10 inch or smaller laptop? |
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dreadster
Joined: 08 May 2007
Location: Daegu, South Korea
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| Posted: Sat Sep 01, 2007 3:11 am Post subject: Re: Buying a UMPC with English software |
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| riley wrote: |
| My friend is coming over in September and is interested in buying a Samsung UMPC. I'm wondering if it's possible for him to get the operating system in English. Can we and if so, where? |
When I got my Fujitsu laptop here in Korea, the guys in the shop at Yongsan were quite happy to install English Windows for me; however, it definitely wasn't a legal version, they just pulled out this blank disc that had Windows burned onto it. If your friend is happy with a certain questionable legality, then it might be possible. I'm not sure if it's possible to have it installed legally anywhere in Korea. If it is, the key thing is that they don't only install Windows but all the drivers as well, otherwise your friend's going to have bits of Korean popping up all over the place. The guys who did it on my laptop did a very thorough job.
By the way, I love UMPCs and can see the appeal of them. I would advise your friend AGAINST the Samsung, probably not the cheapest nor the most user-friendly one out there. He might want to check out the Asus R6H (I think that's the number), the Fujitsu U1010, the Raon Everun or one of the Kohjinsha range. With the exception of the Asus, all of these have useable keyboards. |
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superdave
Joined: 20 Aug 2006
Location: over there ----->
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| Posted: Sat Sep 01, 2007 4:39 pm Post subject: Re: Buying a UMPC with English software |
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| DCJames wrote: |
I never understood the attraction to UMPCs.
Why not get a 10 inch or smaller laptop? |
someone with nothing valuable to contribute, but feels so self important that they just have to give their opinion anyways ...
i have a kohjinsha that i bought 2 months ago. it mostly sits idle at the moment cause i'm having trouble getting the vista changed to english. the kohjinsha main office in seoul said they'd do it, but are still getting the english versions of CDs and stuff.
basically, it's been tiring. and i'm not terribly happy about the experience. i speak enough korean to get by, but a new OS that i've never used, in a foreign language, doesn't really make it worth my while.
the reason i haven't done it myself is because most UMPCs have no CD or DVD drive, and everything has to be installed via usb externals, which i don't have and don't want to buy.
having said that, kohjinsha have been very friendly and very helpful. but they're very slow. however, once i get an english OS on it, i'll be happy as hell. it's really light and portable. i can sit in a coffee shop and watch movies or check email.
there's a much bigger difference between a UMPC and a 10 inch notebook than some idiots realise - they're half the weight, have built in wifi, bluetooth, and with origami experience, my umpc is a kick ass multimedia center.
btw, when i bought mine, samsung weren't even willing to talk to me about english software ... at least kohjinsha were. and i don't like the other umpcs (like sony) cause they're too dinky.
my kohjinsha does get a little hot cause of the fan ... but that's not a major issue. once they upgrade the unit, i'll get kohjinsha to fix mine too.
EDIT: having re-read your first post ... i realised i didn't answer your question fully.
if your friend is keen on the samsung, tell him to buy it abroad. like i already said, samsung weren't willing to talk to me about english OS, and unless you spend money on peripherals, then it's just not worth it.
the samsung is expensive here too. and i've heard that it's actually cheaper in foreign markets. this is often the case with local products, because they get tax breaks abroad and prices are more competitive to break into foreign markets. they jack up the prices in korea to support it. this is common practice and i think samsung are especially guilty.
so, if he wants a umpc, buy it abroad. he'll get it for a good price, and the OS will be in english.
if he wants to save money, tell him to look at a few other umpcs. the kohjinsha is really good and much cheaper.
tell him to read the umpc blogs (there's heaps of those) and read their reviews ... these guys buy every umpc available and test them out. there's a whole subculture of this now. and there's some good reading there too ... it was because of the blogs that i chose the kohjinsha over the samsung (they were my two favourites).
... hope that edit helps!  |
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riley
Joined: 08 Feb 2003
Location: where creditors can find me
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| Posted: Sat Sep 01, 2007 10:02 pm Post subject: |
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thanks to both Superdave and Dreadster for your advice and info. I'll be sure to pass it along.
And to DC James for all of your help, I'd like to say .................. |
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