Re: Three questions

["Stephen Carter" <carter@example.com>]

Gateway definitely has laptops with American English keyboards, and can get
others in a couple of weeks--Sometimes they do have to order the English
models, but it's usually within two weeks.

Has anyone set up Linux on a recent Gateway laptop?

I've heard some complaints about the "Western" Toshibas--several people
bought them last year after a presentation at Tokyo PC, and it seems they
were less than satisfied, and the price for things like the CDROM drives
really annoyed people.

I admire those people who can easily use different keyboards; although I
switch between three different systems, Sun, Mac, and PC, I really have
trouble with the Japanese keyboard layout, the placement of some of the keys
is just enough different that it's really annoying to me. I suppose if
that's all I had, I'd get used to it and forget it was ever a problem.

Steve Carter

----- Original Message -----
From: "Stephen Lee" <sl@example.com>
To: <tlug@example.com>
Sent: Wednesday, February 07, 2001 4:04 AM
Subject: Re: Three questions


> Hello Dr. Breen,
>
> On Tue, 6 Feb 2001 19:52:49 +0900 (JST)
> jwb@example.com (Jim Breen) wrote:
> > (a) I have decided to bite the bullet and get a new notebook here. I've
> > been checking out the ones at Akihabara, and Laox's place that
> > specializes in stuff for foreigners has "Western" Toshibas, etc. at
> > bearable prices, albeit higher that I'd pay in Australia for the same
> > gear.
> >
> > Q: Does anyone have any suggestions of better places to try?
> >    I really want a non-Japanese keyboard.
>
> T-Zone Minami store used to sell non-japanese keyboards for desktops,
> but I am not sure if they do anymore.
>
> Anyway, japanese keyboards are not that hard to use.  I use the US
> mapping on them anyway, if I can, and except for the (sometimes much)
> shorter space bar, they're not too different...
>
> I've also read in magazines that most makers offer English/US keyboard
> as option for their notebooks.  You can try calling up IBM or Gateway or
> Dell and ask.  I expect they are not going to be cheap though.
>
> Stephen
>
> -----------------------------------------------------------------------
> Next Nomikai Meeting:    Fri, February 16 19:30- Tengu Tokyo Eki Mae
> Next Technical Meeting:  Prof. Jim Breem  Sat, March 10 13:30-
> -----------------------------------------------------------------------
> more info: http://www.tlug.gr.jp           Sponsor: Global Online Japan
>