China Romance
General Discussion and Useful Links => Ask An Experienced Member => Topic started by: Jimmy on November 30, 2009, 10:32:34 pm
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I have had 2 different vendors from Microsoft tell me I did not need to have a Chinese version of windows. It is very expensive here. I was told the language pack is enough for windows, just remember to select Chinese when installing software.
Now the lady her English is very bad she will have a hard time with having to read much English at all.
Any of you guys have experience with this. If I need the Chinese version anyone of the brothers able to pick one up for me. I am sure it would be much cheaper in China, than to order one from an American vendor.
Thanks Guys
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No, you do not need the Chinese Version of Windows. All you need is the language pack (you have the original. I can help you with this. Do you have IM? I will be home in about an hour or two. You can reach me as follows:
AIM: superwacky
MSN: singerw@hotmail.com
Yahoo: singer_wang
ICQ: 201253
You know what? When I get home I'm going to do a step by step tutorial on how to get Chinese on Windows XP.
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I had a question about this that I don't recall getting an answer? or I forgot it? :blush:
First let me say I use Mac, but the question was about XP. Could you have one login (on XP) in english (as admin?) and another log in, in chinese? Or would picking the language be for the whole computer regardless of login?
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I had a question about this that I don't recall getting an answer? or I forgot it? :blush:
First let me say I use Mac, but the question was about XP. Could you have one login (on XP) in english (as admin?) and another log in, in chinese? Or would picking the language be for the whole computer regardless of login?
Hey Vince G, I'm a Mac user too! But I have a Windows laptop for the few apps I have that don't work on Mac. Let me finish dinner and I'll do a writeup.
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I had a question about this that I don't recall getting an answer? or I forgot it? :blush:
First let me say I use Mac, but the question was about XP. Could you have one login (on XP) in english (as admin?) and another log in, in chinese? Or would picking the language be for the whole computer regardless of login?
As I understand it (never tried it), it's one language for the whole computer, but if you virtualize the thing, I don't see why you can't use both. One of these days I'll have to try it...
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Here's what i got from our company's MS licensing guy.
First let me clarify, there is two different components: IME and MUI. IME is the Input Method Editor which allows you to input Chinese character (or any other language). MUI is multi-lingual user interface which provides a localized (in our case Chinese) user interface which includes the start menu, menu bars, dialogue boxes. If you use the English version of Windows and just want to type Chinese then all you need is the IME. If you want the whole Windows to be in Chinese, then you need the IME (for input) and the MUI.
The IME is available for any version of Windows XP, Vista, and 7 and can be easily installed. However the MUI is another story, and here is the MUI situation for each operating system:
Windows XP: MUI is available for Windows XP Professional only. It cannot be purchased retail but available only by Volume License. This of course doesn't mean its not available *cough* but you still need Windows XP Professional.
Windows Vista: MUI is available for download but only works for Windows Vista Enterprise and Ultimate Editions. There are "hacks' that allow you to install MUI on the other editions, but YMMV.
Windows 7: same as Vista pretty much
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In the hotel when I was there mate, it was window xp that was on their computer, I logged in in English...
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I am a geek by trade. From what I know if you just want to read and type Chinese you can use the English version of Windows. Don't use the Windows IME for typing Chinese, it's rubbish. My lady installed a 3rd party thing, but I'm not sure what it is. She is geeky enough to use something much faster than pinyin for inputting characters. I may be wrong, but I don't think you can assume that a Chinese person will know pinyin.
Google also an IME apparently, but I've not tried it.
If you're building a PC for your lady to use exclusively then you probably need the Chinese version of Windows (so all the application menus are in Chinese). I guess it's easy to source this in China or one of their auction sites.
Virtualisation is also a neat solution if you could find Chinese Windows.
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My version of it came about with the idea of bringing a laptop with me to China and leaving it for her to use for us to communicate with when I leave. As I would use this same laptop when I make trips there. That was the reason for the english / chinese logins. If she wanted to improve her english she could login in that instead?
Sorry windows guys there are reasons I'm on a Mac. Every time I use windows, I want to throw it out the window. Like my last encounter with windows (hard drive had died since). It asked if I wanted to do something? I clicked NO, but it started it anyway? I'm sitting there yelling at the computer "I said NO you &*#)#)$&?"
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Actually Brett, I hate to say it but you're wrong. There are two major methods of typing Chinese PingYin and Wubi. There are a few others but those two are the most popular. Pingyin is more common and easier to use but slower. Wubi is fast but harder to use but really fast. I've seen someone in Shanghai do over 140 characters a minute with Wubi.
Pingyin is based on the phonetic pronunciation of the word. In Chinese all characters (pictograms) have communication in roman letters with accent characters. My Chinese last name is Wang in English. In Pinyin, if you type in wang3 (each character can have up to 1 accent character and in Pingyin its represented by a number) it will show you a list of characters with that pronunciation and you chose the one you want. . Wubi is based on the strokes of the character itself, so you can write it even if you don't know how its pronounced. However the system requires a fair bit of memorization as it divides the keyboard into zones and you have to use the zones properly. Also if you don't know how the character is written (the specific stroke order), then its useless. This is a hard one as some people can write a character but not with the proper stroke order.
The Microsoft IME defaults to Pingyin which is easier (I guess it thinks of Lao Wai's eh?) but it also supports Wubi.
Vince G. you can try Vista and the 'hack' to install the MUI..
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My version of it came about with the idea of bringing a laptop with me to China and leaving it for her to use for us to communicate with when I leave. As I would use this same laptop when I make trips there. That was the reason for the english / chinese logins. If she wanted to improve her english she could login in that instead?
Sorry windows guys there are reasons I'm on a Mac. Every time I use windows, I want to throw it out the window. Like my last encounter with windows (hard drive had died since). It asked if I wanted to do something? I clicked NO, but it started it anyway? I'm sitting there yelling at the computer "I said NO you &*#)#)$&?"
Having worked on both sides, I must say that I prefer windows... that said, a quick way to annoy me is to give me a vista box...
But in your case, I'd use virtualization like realpc or virtualpc. Then you can have both languages on there.
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Mmmm just gave me an idea? I wonder if a second (or external) hard drive with virtualpc and windows on it would be able to use something like skype on it? It doesn't work on a Mac. And if a webcam would work out better too?
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I find the problem is usually the usb translation. Even though all these companies have been at it for a long time, I haven't found one that has gotten usb devices (or other external devices) to work properly with a virtualized environment.
Although tonight I was at a Citrix presentation and some of their stuff looked like it would work...will have to test it though. But for general use, I think a virtualized box might work better. Or possibly just buy a cheap machine in China...
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I find the problem is usually the usb translation. Even though all these companies have been at it for a long time, I haven't found one that has gotten usb devices (or other external devices) to work properly with a virtualized environment.
Although tonight I was at a Citrix presentation and some of their stuff looked like it would work...will have to test it though. But for general use, I think a virtualized box might work better. Or possibly just buy a cheap machine in China...
Try VirtualBox..
And another thing, I just adked a good source of mine about Chinese Windows and purchasing.
In China, unless you get a brand name system (eg. Lenovo or Dell or HP) it will come with a pirated copy of Windows. Most local computer stores will install the pirated copy as its cheaper.
One thing though is that you can easily buy pirated local Windows (Chinese) at stores, but beware of virus and spyware built in.
If you are using Vista, I'd try the MUI hack.
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Guys I think your talking over my head.So if this is not what your talking about just ignore it.My computor runs Vista.I can change the laungage to Chinese.It will write in pinyon or Chinese charactors.I didn't buy this program it came with the computer.This computor will display web pages in Chinese.If my wife has ben playing with the computor settings and has changed the home page to a Chinese site.It does block things like you tube.
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maxx: we're talking about a MUI change. What you did is an IME which lets you input and display Chinese. The best way to explain is this:
Take a look at the top of your Window. There is a menu with the labels 'File Edit View ...'. With the Chinese MUI, those would be replaced with the Chinese words. The entire UI will be in Chinese.
Here's a screenshot I found to demostrate. The left is Windows Vista (normal) and the right is Vista with the Chinese MUI. Notice the menus are in Chinese.
(http://singerwang.com/chnlove.info/MUI_Vista.PNG)
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Yes I'll also add that if you let your lady put Chinese software on your PC be sure that it has a firewall/antivirus and anti-malware as their software is often full of unwanted junk:@. Even QQ and the IME thing my lady installed are to be treated with suspicion.
The other day I got a malware infection after visiting a website, and the bloody thing stole my FTP password and started uploading crap on my website :huh:!
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Brett man, you lose your techie card for using FTP. SCP FTW!
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Well the new Computer I am giving her is suppose to arrive today. I am not sure which OS is coming with it. I beleive it is XP Pro Sp2. So if not I can put it on after it gets here. I will just use my Systems builder version.
My only problem is I need all of it to be as bullet proof as possible. She knows nothing about using a computer. And I am only staying 2 weeks.
Mmmm just gave me an idea? I wonder if a second (or external) hard drive with virtualpc and windows on it would be able to use something like skype on it? It doesn't work on a Mac. And if a webcam would work out better too?
I have already built a system for when she gets here. It is a dual boot system. I have built several of these. They work just fine. I am going to pickup a Chinese version of windows while I am in CHina to put on it as the 2nd OS after I get back. I will be happy to let you know how that works out.
The laptop I am going to take with me and leave with her. I need it ready before I leave so I am going to try the Language packs. As far as using an external harddrive to dual boot with. The older Cmos's won't pick up the external until after windows had started. But if the system is pretty new you shouldnt have a problem.
You wont need virtual PC or anything like that just restart when you want to change OS's
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Well the new Computer I am giving her is suppose to arrive today. I am not sure which OS is coming with it. I beleive it is XP Pro Sp2. So if not I can put it on after it gets here. I will just use my Systems builder version.
My only problem is I need all of it to be as bullet proof as possible. She knows nothing about using a computer. And I am only staying 2 weeks.
The laptop I am going to take with me and leave with her. I need it ready before I leave so I am going to try the Language packs. As far as using an external harddrive to dual boot with. The older Cmos's won't pick up the external until after windows had started. But if the system is pretty new you shouldnt have a problem.
You wont need virtual PC or anything like that just restart when you want to change OS's
Hey Vince, why not just bring her laptop back with you. My lady already has one, can't type, but that is a whole other issue. She is used to the operating system and it should boot up here in the USA. Much like me signing on to Google and hitting the english button. Or am I missing somthing. Not a computer guy, but it seems that 0's and 1's should be the same in Chinese and English. Not sure about Australian or Canadian. LOL, buzz
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Buzz: Read earlier, the MUI vs Language Packs. He wants the MUI.
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I downloaded the MUI Windows torrent and installed it. This gives you the option to have multilingual versions of windows for different users. Unfortunately it doesn't list Chinese, so it's a non starter really :@. Maybe there's a different MUI for Asian languages.
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Brett man, you lose your techie card for using FTP. SCP FTW!
Ok you lost me there Regnis ... what is SCP FTW? I still use FTP :angel:
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Brett man, you lose your techie card for using FTP. SCP FTW!
Ok you lost me there Regnis ... what is SCP FTW? I still use FTP :angel:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Secure_copy
FTW - For The Win (nerd talk)
FTP is fine for me, scp seems like too much hassle to use and I doubt has much support in the home user space.
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Actually it is PinYin, no "G", and Chinese people seem to hate Microsoft's IME. Google's is ok, but Sogou is what most Chinese people seem to prefer, and it is skinable, making it more fun too.
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In my newbie opinion the Microsoft IME does indeed suck. My lady installed something - it might be called chenhu2 but it has no English with it so I don't know what its real name is. It's a replacement IME and sits in the bottom centre of your screen. It supports the pinyin I've been learning, and also some more efficient input method that my lady knows. My virus checker didn't like the look of it but I've rescanned my PC back in England and nothing odd has been found :icon_cheesygrin:.
As to FTP, I have to use what my ISP supports, that is the rule.
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Brett man, you lose your techie card for using FTP. SCP FTW!
Ok you lost me there Regnis ... what is SCP FTW? I still use FTP :angel:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Secure_copy
FTW - For The Win (nerd talk)
FTP is fine for me, scp seems like too much hassle to use and I doubt has much support in the home user space.
Hehe cheers! Well my pro website doesn't support SCP ...
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You know, I have a degree in computer's and your talking so far above my head, I have no idea what your talking about except lots and lots of memory... no wonder your lady's can't understand you, I can't. LOL
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You know, I have a degree in computer's and your talking so far above my head, I have no idea what your talking about except lots and lots of memory... no wonder your lady's can't understand you, I can't. LOL
Wait until they start on the virtualization bit. Then your head will start to swim...Although I will say...if you're worried about viruses and trojans and stuff from chinese sites, XenDesktop is a great way to make sure you can protect your computer. :)
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yeah, I work with Xen and VMware as part of my job.
Lets keep this on focus. I'm going to write a guide on IME vs MUI and etc.
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When you write the guide will you tell us what it is? I used to think I was computer savvy then I tried to get Rebtel set up. Shoot, I got left in the dust a long time ago so I will have to catch up some day. I am still trying to wrap my brain around grep.
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I'm trying to find the XP MUI for Chinese. Its not available as a download (VLK only).
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When you write the guide will you tell us what it is? I used to think I was computer savvy then I tried to get Rebtel set up. Shoot, I got left in the dust a long time ago so I will have to catch up some day. I am still trying to wrap my brain around grep.
Let me know if you need help, its pretty easy once you understand it and sign up for 10 free minutes at https://www.rebtel.com/en/Utility-Pages/Join-flow/Join/?uid=0104970961 (https://www.rebtel.com/en/Utility-Pages/Join-flow/Join/?uid=0104970961)