CompuServe Thread

#Amiga in Japan?

8 messages in this thread
#61774From: Laurie CarrollAug 11, 1993 6:48 AM
Yasushi, Just a querious question, is the Amiga sold in Japan?? Laurie Carroll AKL NZ Longdistance Autopilot
#62000From: Yasushi MisawaAug 14, 1993 7:32 AM
Yes Yes ! It is not so popular because it can not handle japanese characters enough. But Amiga is getting popular within Video-enthusiast & Gamers.
#62069From: Laurie CarrollAug 15, 1993 4:15 AM
Well that's a surprise, good to hear though. Are they being sold by CBM or are they being imported by some-one else?? What do you use your Amiga for?? By Japanese characters do you mean the traditional ones (?), in case you dont know the Amiga's keyboard does have different keyboard "maps" which are used for the different keyboards – mainly in Europe/UK/USA…..perhaps someone could develop a Japanese one….(the manual shows the "maps" in the back pages)…… 🙂 Another question, are you accessing CIS via the Japan/CIS….??
#62083From: Yasushi MisawaAug 15, 1993 10:20 AM
Japanese amigas are sold by authorized dealer of CBM. But numbers of dealers are quite a few. 20-30 shops in Japan, I guess. Some of them are also Mac dealer. As for Japanese character, we have 6000 characters for just one typeface. So, traditional key board is not enough for us. In all kind of computer, we use special INPUT proguram, which use SOUND or pronounciation and convert it to Japanese words. In Macs, PCs, Nexts, Suns..every machine has such input-program running with other application. Amiga has it now, but it is too poor in comparison with Macs. It is just a small program by Japanese amiga enthusiast. He works well , but in the view point of business, it is not enough. Mac is working with FONT-company to convert new font for their machine, but CBM Japan can not. They are poor enocomically. PS. I am accessing special line developed by KDD. KDD is something like ATT.
#62565From: tim buddAug 21, 1993 2:25 AM
Misawa san, I think we spoke before and I am also accessing CIS from Japan. What special KDD line are you referring to? I use an AT&T calling card and have the required digits loaded into AP (with pauses for the recorded messages to play) for auto dialing. The calls are then billed directly to my Visa card. I am assuming (and I plan to do some comparisons) that AT&T is cheaper than KDD. You can get an AT&T card without a North American number unlike the long distance carriers in say Canada. Tim Budd An Amigan in Tokyo
#62236From: Ron LegroAug 17, 1993 4:30 PM
There is a kanji-reading utility in the public domain software collections. It is not a system-level utility, so it will not transform your Amiga into a kanji-capable computer. That's all I know about it. I don't even recall its name. — Ron Legro, Milwaukee
#62299From: Yasushi MisawaAug 18, 1993 1:14 AM
I know something like that…but , Todays amiga-user in Japan have no passion for using Japanese-language on Amiga. Because we have a lot of Japanese DOS & MAC with Amiga. Everyone who needs Japanese logo use Mac & convert graphic images to Amiga. And, I think it is very important that IF we communicate by multimedia, we do not need language. Animation & Sound is just enough.
#62461From: Ron LegroAug 19, 1993 6:02 PM
Well said. Also, when it comes to sound on the Amiga, language is no barrier. Just digitize your voice and the Amiga will play it back out loud. — Ron Legro from Milwaukee via AUTOPILOT (The only way to fly)