[tlug] OpenOffice.org & Japanese Windows

[<tim@example.com>]

Dear TLUG,

I know we had an OpenOffice.org discussion here recently, but I need
advice on a somewhat related issue.

On the OpenOffice.org site, I notice that on their download website,
there is no Japanese version available, though it is listed:
  http://www.openoffice.org/dev_docs/source/1.0.1/index.html#ja
(under localisation project -
http://l10n.openoffice.org/localization_responsibilities.html -
it says 'Fully localized - Sun internal')

I having to distribute documents around a University project here, and
want to be able to just ship them off in the OpenOffice.org format
they were written (I use OOo under both linux and Win98).  However, I
cannot recommend the installation and use of OpenOffice.org if I can
not be sure the text input and such will work smoothly for my Japanese
colleagues under their Japanese WinXP & Win2000 systems.  I want them
to realise that the Open SOurce alternatives do offer the same
usability, and will wait if OpenOffice.org needs more time.

I know very little about using Japanese text input on a PC, but I did
install the default version of OpenOffice.org on a Japanese Win2000
here and then enable "Asian Language Support".  While I can get
Japanese input if I manually change the font face, just using the
keyboard to toggle does not work as it does in MS-Word.

Does anyone have any experience with OpenOffice.org on a Windows PC?
Any known references I can go over or present to my colleagues before
doing such a switch?

Thanks!
Tim