Re: [tlug] Laptops in Tokyo...

[Raymond Regalado <fwgk5942@example.com>]

> Jim Breen <jwb@example.com> wrote:
>>
>> Getting a Japanese keyboard if you are going to use it mainly in 
>> English
>> is a Bad Thing (TM). The space bar is too small, the henkan keys
>> either side get in the way,  and the special characters you can't live
>> without in Unix are in wierd places.

Please allow me to disagree.  The space bar on the Japanese keyboard is 
"wide enough" for the touch-typist, who doesn't have to move the thumb 
too much to the left or right.  I find the Japanese keyboard no less 
useful than an English one, even for typing mainly in English.  But 
then again, as Stephen mentions below, you don't need a Japanese 
keyboard to input Japanese, so it doesn't really matter which one you 
use.  It's just that most computers sold in Japan come standard with a 
Japanese keyboard.

Regards,

Raymond

> And, seeing that no one has mentioned it yet, you don't need a Japanese
> keyboard to input Japanese.  In fact, most Japanese people I know do 
> not
> even use the henkan keys (but are more comfortable with the Japanese
> layout because they're used to its placement of the special 
> characters).
> But then I do know some people who use kana input...
>
> Stephen