Why you should use a Mac to study Japanese

June 9, 2009 by Koichi

japan-mac Mmm. Macs. I’m about the biggest fanboy you’ll see, which probably means a totally biased review. This morning, on the way to work, I made the trek to my version of Mecca and walked past ground zero for Apple’s Worldwide Developer’s Conference. I’ve been thinking about how macs make it easier for me to study Japanese, but the announcement of one particular feature on Snow Leopard (the new OS, which will cost a mere $29) has motivated me to finish this article. Here’s Mac versus PC, blow by blow, when it comes to Japanese study. Let the flame wars begin.

Writing Japanese Characters (Kanji). Mac 1 – PC 0 (Mac wins)

Snow Leopard has announced a new feature that lets you write “Chinese Characters” via the trackpad. This negates the need to have a tablet, and it gives you just one more way to practice your kanji. I know it says “Chinese characters,” but if it’s anything like the iPhone, it’s the same thing.

leopard-mac-kanji

One of the huge disadvantages about learning Japanese on a computer is that you never have the opportunity to write (well, you could get away from your screen, but we both know that’s not going to happen). With this feature, which looks like it even features stroke pressure, you’ll be able to practice your kanji and see how it looks on the screen. If it doesn’t come up correctly, then you’ll know you write like a clown; if it does, well then, good for you.

Built-in Mic and Webcam. Mac 2 – PC 0 (Mac wins)

One of the nice things about Macs (and one of the crappy things, as well), is that hardware is standard, and there’s very little room for customization. This also means that you’ll see features across the board that you won’t see when you get a PC. Now, that’s not to say you can’t get these features on a PC, because you can, but with Macs, it’s actually really hard to get one that doesn’t have a built in Mic or Webcam.

xboxfail

The world is changing, and the way we are able to learn is changing as well. With a mic and webcam, there is plenty of opportunity to take live online Japanese classes, practice speaking with a language partner, and so on, which you can’t do if you don’t have one. Want to learn Japanese, you can now do so from someone who’s in Japan. Now that’s really cool.

Japanese Learning Applications. Mac 3 – PC 1 (tie)

Most learning applications are either browser-based or work on both systems. Things like smart.fm, Lang-8, NihongoUp (which I just reviewed), Anki, Rikaichan, etc., are available across all platforms.

tour_screens_05jpg

I think that things like this are heading to the Internet and will be browser based. Now, I think I’m being nice here – we wouldn’t want to have to compare Internet Explorer and Safari. At least both have Firefox to use, though PC wins in terms of Chrome. Good job PC-folk, good job.

Language Support. Mac 4 – PC 1 (Mac wins)

Both Mac and PC have good language support for Japanese. On Windows, however, you have to go out of your way to install Japanese compatibility when installing the OS, but on Mac it’s added via the default installation. You’ll have Japanese support out of the box.

japanese-language-mac

Another thing I like a little more on the Mac is the language bar. The Windows language bar kind of gets in the way, and does funny things sometimes. The Mac one is always tucked away in the top menu bar, nice and compact. I also like how the shortcut keys only take one step. On a PC, you have to activate Japanese first, then you have to switch to the correct input. One less step makes me a happy typer.

Japanese Text Rendering. Mac 5 – Windows 2 (tie)

Can’t really complain about either. I personally like the Mac’s version of Japanese default text rendering, but they’re both acceptable. Mac makes things more smooth, and I think more natural, while Windows is a little more choppy.

mac-pc-text We’ve got a tie here, folks. It’s just text we’re talking about.

Watching Japanese TV. Mac 5 – PC 3 (PC Wins, for once)

There are a few ways to watch Japanese television via your computer, and PC’s have more options, which are often better. There’s KeyHoleTV and Gya0 for PC only. Then, there’s some other alternatives that work on both like TVU, Livestation, and Freshverse. I suppose there’s also Japanese television on Hulu for both platforms as well.

japanesetv

More (and better) options when you’re running a PC box. That’s all there is to it.

Final Score. Mac 5 – PC 3 (Mac Wins)

Yep, you can accuse me of bias. You can accuse me of being a mactard. Both are probably true, but I still think Macs are better for Japanese study (not to mention almost everything else… I’ll give PC’s gaming though).

So, with that, let the age-old debate begin. Macs versus PCs. Go! …and do your best to pull Japanese related stuff into the convo, if you can.

apple-mecca2

APPPLLLLEEE FANNNBOYYYY

About Koichi

Tries too hard to be a hoopy frood who knows where his towel's at. Wants to change the way people think about learning. Makes: Tofugu, TextFugu, and WaniKani. Follow him: @Twitter, Facebook, Instagram.

MZLweasel

Wine never worked for me. NEVER.
MZLweasel

No, in OS X when you capitalize the first letter it turns it to katakana.
MZLweasel

COUNTER INTUITIVE!?!?!?

*Nods head* Crazy people…

The point of the changing menu bar is that the menus are ALWAYS relevant to the program you are using.

You are supposed to launch and switch apps with the dock.

I find it very convenient, but it is a matter of opinion…
http://www.myspace.com/redbrainmatter YoyoKirby

I prefer having both menu options available .
http://weblogaru.wordpress.com/ WeblogAru

When I said “You can't mix both in there,” I meant that you can't mix English with Japanese without switching to romaji beforehand.
MZLweasel

I'd say go with the Touchbook. (GOOGLE IT.)

A netbook tablet for $299!

Cool AND cheap!!!
MZLweasel

That's what you Windows people don't get about Macs…

While they may seem “underpowered” and you can get a Windows PC for less with better specs, Mac OS X runs fine on older hardware.

Example: I have a 1998 iMac running OS X 10.3 just fine.
MZLweasel

Koichi-san,

You should also write an article about Japanese learning with the Nintendo DS. (Oops, I just checked and you did. But check out the games I list here)

I have several games imported from Play-Asia.com that help. You can even buy “My Japanese Coach” at a Best Buy/Frys/Future Shop/Whatever in the US and Canada.

Most of the games I have for learning Japanese are IN Japanese.

Examples of Jap learning games:
http://www.play-asia.com/paOS-13-71-9g-49-jp-70…
http://www.play-asia.com/paOS-13-71-9g-49-jp-70…
http://www.play-asia.com/paOS-13-71-9g-49-jp-70…
http://www.play-asia.com/paOS-13-71-9g-49-jp-70…

Zelda: Mugen no Sunadokei (Zelda: Phantom Hourglass) even gives you furigana if you tap and hold on the kanji!
MZLweasel

Bet nobidy uses Vista. And don;t kid yourself, it's still a hell of a lot harder to ENABLE support in Vista than is OS X.

You can do it, for sure, and it displays the text right out of the box, but enabling INPUT cn be complicated (though not as much as XP) and CHANGING ALL THE MENUS to Japanese involves leaving your computer on overnight to download a language pack.

It just all comes with OS X and you turn it on by marking a very easy to find checkbox.
MZLweasel

*sigh*

You just stick with what you like, then.
http://www.dumbotaku.com/ Dumb Otaku

Sorry I am about to be rude, but you are a dumbass if you actually believe no one uses Vista, sorry. Vista has sold more units than XP has. I can walk through any college in america and I will see more Vista than ANY other OS by a long shot. I will also see more Mac than XP. I don't understand this notion that people actually think people don't use Vista its ridiculous. Apple spreads good fud about Vista, but they too are dumbasses in half the stuff they talk about in their commercials.

As for your points of enableing Japanese. It is easier to enable it in mac, but not by a lot. I have a friend that is mac user and it took him about 10 minutes to figure it out. Check this out for enabling japanese langauge support for writing in Japanese.

http://www.buddylindsey.com/Blog/post/Writing-S…

As for switching to japanese language that is a matter of a checkbox, at least on the 5 vista computers I have done it on and all it required was a log off and log back in no downloading anything ever to do it. XP is the only one I have had to download stuff for.
MZLweasel

I don't get it, but… um….

Okay?
MZLweasel

Sorry, I'm about to get rude, but if your friend took 10 minutes figure out how to enable Japanese on OS X, then HE IS AN IDIOT.

Sorry.

And you can have your opinion on which one is easier, that's fine. I just think about 90% of people would say it is MUCH easier on a Mac.

BTW, seen Windows Mojave? Yeah, people are afraid of Vista.

As for your “college OS” speech:

http://www.jacobpierce.com/blog/2008/06/07/stan…

Or mabye that's cause college people are not as computer smart as university people. (Okay, that was just mean.)

As for market share in general:

http://media.photobucket.com/image/os%20market%…

And me, I had Vista and I hated it. I had new hardware and the support (though generally not MS's fault) was complete crap and I was running on half-working buggy crashing drivers for a year. It was hell. And then, I hackintoshed it and it worked PERFECTLY the whole time. Gee, wierd, huh? The OS meant for my hardware worked like SHIT, but the community supported not-EVER-intended-for-my-hardware OS worked PERFECTLY.

Most people would respond “if you had an OEM PC, Vista would work fine”.

Point 1) My sister recently bought an OEM PC with Vista and the support STILL stinks.

Point 2) Why should I pay $500 more for a worse computer? (AND NO, DON'T EVEN TRY TO SAY “THEN WHY WOULD YOU GET A MAC?”! The reason I would pay $500 more for a Mac is that it is GUARANTEED TO WORK PERFECTLY because THE SOFTWARE and HARDWARE were MADE FOR EACH OTHER. Plus, a PC might last me 3 years and a mac will last me 5 or 6 years.)

So you use WIndows PCs all you want, but DON'T TELL ME HOW MUCH MAC SUCKS OR MAKE MISTAKES COMPARING THE TWO.

Whew.

*Rant ended, explosives in brain disarmed*

Sorry.
http://www.dumbotaku.com/ Dumb Otaku

I think you are missing me completely on this on this. I never said mac sucks at all. It is a fine OS the comparisons on this post aren't honest though, same with some of the comments. If it was a 1 to 1 comparison he should use the current latest version of windows with the current latest version of OSX. Not a 9 year old version of Windows and the next version of OSX.

I too have run into the same problems you have with windows, but generally mine are all hardware compatibility problems at a hardware level. The problem with windows is also its greatest problem to much available hardware, same with linux. I commend apple for only sticking with one hardware configuration that way they can have a streamlined kernel that only needs to support ppc and intel x64 procs. Plus as I understand they get the center of the proc plates too so they get the higher quality processors over most other PC's too.

My biggest beef is this notion that no one uses Vista or that it is the worst thing to ever have. I personally, and those around me, have never had problems with Vista. however the few that have had problems are are always the loudest and most vocal therefore consensus reigns that it sucks. Once I was able to switch to Vista I have avoided Xp as much as possible and once i could use Windows 7, which I am on now, I haven't looked back at Vista.

And yes somethings are easier to do on Mac once you know how to do them just like any other computer. I have had to teach people at the college (I use college and university interchangeably) I go to how to install a program on a Mac because they couldn't figure it out. No offense to them is meant, but it is pretty easy even if you don't know how to do it. However, they are like many people when they start scared to touch stuff or do something until they are shown how to do it, but once shown they will do it forever that exact way.

As for the windows Mojave vs Vista. Apple did a damn good job on there FUD commercials it did scare people. Nvidia and ATI did a wonderful job too of putting out horrible drivers for the first year of Vista's release causing a TON of odd problems, some of that could be MS's fault to a degree since they completely change rendering of windows causing NVidia and ATI to rewrite the drivers from scratch. With both of those of course people are scared. However, once ATI and Nvidia fixed their driver problems Vista has become a very stable OS for most people. Windows 7 I have a feeling is going to be a huge hit because the video drivers aren't a problem anymore so and with the new development structure and VP over windows team windows 7 doesn't have as many hurdles to jump over. Vista did suck for the first year, for most people.

I will continue to use a windows based PC because I do like it and develop on the MS stack so it makes me money.
MZLweasel

I know, 7 (the RC at least, the beta had video card driver issues for me) has been problem-free for me as well, but I still prefer OS X.

You like Vista/7, you use Vista/7.

I like OS X, I'll use OS X.

Agree to disagree.

I'm not disagreeing with whether or not you should use Vista/7/Windows in general, I disagree with your viewpoint on the subject.

Being a dev on OS X is great for me. Easy! Visual Basic/Csharp/C++/Whatever have always confused me, but Xcode is like heaven for me.

You like developing for MS, I like developing for Mac. Agree to disagree.

I still think that Snow Leopard and XP should be compared, because Snow Leopard will be out in 3 months with a few improvements, not any MAJOR ones (there are some big ones, but compared to the overhaul Leopard was (Like Vista was over XP! The difference being that Leopard still worked right off the bat), the SL update is puny).

Here's my story:

I was using 2000 until Vista came out, so I had no eXPerience (haha) with XP. I was really exited with Vista, it looked great, it had a bunch of new features. I thought initially that it would be up to par with OS X by my standards (!) .

So, When Vista came out, I used my connections through MS and a friend got me a copy of Vista from the US. (mind you, it took 4 months getting here).

Long story short: It took four days to install because it would not recognize my SATA drives.

When it was working, it took me 4 hours longer to find and install the appropriate drivers.

After that ordeal, I was quite happy with it. It was pretty awesome. It had (some of the) the features I had longed for from OS X (I would not have been able to afford a Mac then), even if they were harder to use.

Then the driver issues came. I upgraded my video card from a 6X00 series Nvidia to an ATI Radeon 3850. I got my new video card drivers, and then about every 30 minutes it would go blank for a minute then the monitor would come back on saying “there was an error, but the driver has recovered”. I had to live like that for about 3 more driver updates over the period of about 6 months. Then it was fine, but some of my older programs never worked in Vista, even with the damned “compatibility mode”. So I experimented with Linux (which at that point worked better than Vista) for a while and used that every day instead of Vista. Then I got sick of the driver issues I was having in Linux.

Then, I tried XP. I STILL had issues with programs not working, dispite all I had heard about XP being infintely more usable and compatible than Vista. I also had mabye 1 or 2 driver issues in total, but they were not huge like the ones in Vista – the ones in XP were merely annoyances compared to the ones I had with Vista.

So, I hackintoshed my computer (I bought an official copy of OS X to make up for it). And it JUST WORKED (gasp xD)!!!! I was thrilled and I instantly fell in love with the simplicity and beauty that is OS X. And I've been an Apple fanboi ever since. I bought an iPod touch. I bought some nice apps. I got iWork and iLife (Which I love).

Every app I have ever downloaded for OS X has been SUPERB, something I can't say about Windows (can you say Softpedia?) OR Linux (Can you say absolutely positively NO proprietary (AKA working) drivers allowed?). I am thrilled with OS X, my iPod and my wonderful apps on OS X.

And I'm hooked.

I do dual-boot OS X Leopard with the 7 RC, but the 7 RC still doesn't run my older programs. I prefer OS X for this reason.

The only thing about OS X is that there is little (official) gaming support. I avoid Darwine (because Wine never worked for me in Linux), and usually the official ports are buggy. But I manage. There are lots of community ports called “cider ports”, which I get. I only get the ones of the games I own for Windows, though, otherwise it would be unethical. The cider and crossover ports work very well. So well that I can game entirely on OS X now – even my old games (yay for Baldur's Gate 2)!

So now, hopefully you understand why I scream bloody murder when people say how Windows is better than OS X or Linux is better than both – especially when the MISCOMPARE (I'm looking at you). After all the crap Windows/M$ has put me through. It would seem Apple is a love-it-or-hate-it kind of thing.

If I ever have to go back, it'll be to good ol' WIndows 2000. Never let me down when I had it.

Like I said in the beginning:

Agree to disagree.

You can like and use Windows.

I'll like and use OS X.

Let's stop arguing and resume learning Japanese, regardless of platform preference.

Jeez, I get pretty fired up when I argue about things that don't really matter at all. xD

Have a nice day,

MZLweasel
http://www.dumbotaku.com/ Dumb Otaku

I agree on the agree to disagree agreement. Yeah windows unfortunately is plagued with bad, no horrible, 3rd party software and softpedia scares the hell out of me it just looks like a virus waiting to happen.

I will say when i use 2000 way back in the dayi was rock solid and I never messed with SATA either, never could afford it. Heck i can barely afford the dell desktop i just got, i hate being a intern developer still in college, no money.

honestly i'd probably use linux more if i didn't stop messing with nit picking configurations and i could play visual novels on it. For some reason cedega and wine refuse to play visual novels. Even doing them in windows VM Ware they suck.

ok back to smart.fm need to get back to studying for JLPT.
MZLweasel

Good.

Have a nice day, good luck on your JLP test!
http://www.myspace.com/redbrainmatter YoyoKirby

Will do!
MZLweasel

lol. :)
Misty

I have a PC and, while I would love to own a Mac, I am happy with it. And when I was shopping for one, I actually couldn't find one without a mic and webcam. I love my PC and it gets everything I need done. And besides, my best friend has a Mac and she actually says that my computer is nicer than hers. *cough*traitor*cough*
Rikugi

I'm not sure if anyone has posted about this before me, but Keyholetv does work for Macs. It's on their site; although the app itself is called “MacKeyholeTv”. The app itself doesn't deliver amazing hd quality (well far from) but it's pretty compact and hassle free.

Good post though :D
Tanya

If you have vista and are using MS Word, you can press shift + the character you want and it will write the character using the latin alphabet (so you can type in romaji). I just kind of stumbled in here lol… No real opinions about Mac or PC.
masterman300

I wish i had a mac I want to learn japanese ) >,:
Literati

Even if very few people *have* them, that doesn't mean that you should use a Mac over one. My HP Tx2500 was 800 bucks with 4GB of RAM, a 320GB HDD, and it's a tablet PC. Tablet Macs *are* available, but for two or three times that much, and sometimes not quite as generously spec'd.

If you were to re-do this article as a comparison between Macs and tablet PCs, it'd come out to a tie if you judged on all the same criteria. But when you throw in the concept that tablet PCs are far cheaper than Macs, they come out on top. :P

P.S.: I'm writing this on a unibody Macbook, and I love it. I was lucky enough to get one for free, and I use it just as much as my HP, but I use the HP for other things that the Mac just can't do, and vice-versa.
Amigo

You don't need a Mac to learn Japanese…
Rochella

This will seem sorta left wall, but frankly i don't care what OS/hardware might have writing recognition by mouse, pad, or tablet when it comes to a computer or phone. :D I personally like my DS over anything these things can do any day for practicing writing. There are three “games” for the ds that specifically regard this last time i checked (maybe more now) 1 Japanese for English speakers written by English speakers, and 3 Japanese ones written for Japanese by the Japanese.

The reason I prefer it over the others is when i use the game i have its simple, fast, exactly feels like writing, doesn't kill trees, doesn't cost me money in pencils and paper, and the system for the game that I have is so good that it tells me what to change: if my strokes are in the wrong order, if the intersections are wrong and by how much, ect., covers all kana, and over 3k standard kanji. Not to mention this one is completely in Japanese, meant for the Japanese, and has kanji exercises everywhere. Its the best thing I've ever seen for the writing and practicing of kanji. :D okay okay, left wall ending :P

I think that rather than trying to push one outlet for studying over another we should all embrace the thousands of tools out there to get us where we're going! If it gets you there, then by god, lets have a party! Of course, buying a ds just for a game for learning isn't practical lol, but just wanted to put that out there since we're talking about hardware for our language software needs lol
Rochella

oops, I just posted about this too hahahahah! I got mine from play asia as well :D I love it as a tool not just for their games meant for learning, but just playing games period. You get a lot of reading!
Julie

One thing that I didn't see mentioned is that when you order your Mac through the Apple Store _online_, you can order a Japanese keyboard. That's right, a real Japanese keyboard that has kana on the keys and has the button to switch between katakana and hiragana. Take that, PC/Micro$oft lovers! :P
ladyjack

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ladyjack

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jordanomeara

Macs are cool
Pingback: O Mac OS X e as suas ferramentas para o aprendizado do japonês/chinês | MacMagazine
spyke180

I've found Ubuntu to be superior to windows in every way. When installing it, it only asks like five simple questions, unlike Vista's hourlong interrogation. I'm running 64-bit KeyholeTV for Linux right now and it plays perfectly. On Windows XP with the same internet connection it's hella glitchy. It only takes a couple clicks to download japanese language support and I can easily switch all the menus back and forth with three clicks and a reboot.
Fabian

“And Desktops are a dying breed – everyone else I know has a laptop.”

That's why he said that it's unfair, this guy it's comparing apple LAPTOPS with pc DESKTOPS, every pc laptop has mic and webcam… but hey!, since when mac user has a fair view of the world… it's just a matter of the “jobs distorsion field”. :-p

Also, the xp has kanji handwritting recognition since ages ago… not like the crappy mac:
http://singularity.agronesia.net/2007/03/31/jap…
Fabian

It would be even better if you compare an XT 8088 PC from the 90 with the new mac pro quadcore, that would make it even a more fair comparison… sure….
You should compare “the best pc for japanese” with “the best mac for japanese”, that would be fair, and in that case, the tablet pcs are FAR better than the macs.
Fabian

And of course… no one, i mean NO ONE could afford a 5 bucks webcam for the desktop pc… I mean, everybody knows that pcs are so much more expensive than macs that you can't afford expending any more money, do they?.
Fabian

Like if a fanboy would even care for facts… :-)
Fabian

Sure… and you just need a PHD for installing a non standard webcam…
Fabian

Japanese Windows Mobile had that since the ages of times… but hey!, who cares!, it doesn't exist until Mr.Jobs say so….
MZLweasel

Hello, Fabian.

Unfortunately, many PC laptops I have looked at require you pay extra for built-in webcams and microphones. In comparison, webcams and microphones come standard on every new Mac (Laptop or Desktop), and there is no build to order option to remove it.

In addition, your resorting to personally attacking Mac users just helps me to invalidate your points. If you really had an unbiased perspective (and half-brain), you would provide actual points and evidence to back them up instead of using Steve Job's cult of personality as an excuse to label all Mac user's points invalid. If you continue using this excuse, you could be labeled as an internet troll.

While Windows XP has handwriting Kanji recognition, I doubt many people use it when there are easier and faster ways of converting hiragana to kanji using an IME. While IMEs are available on both Mac and Windows personal computers, many prefer the Mac's Kotoeri IME over Microsoft's IME for Windows for many reasons. One of these reasons may be that Windows switches back and forth from US keyboard layout to IME mode to romaji based on what you input last in that field, potentially frustrating the end user by making them go through the input bar menu system to change the keyboard layout to what they would like to use. On the other hand, Mac OS X's input stays static until you manually change it, and you can easily change the keyboard layout with some quick hotkeys.

If you would like to argue that many people use the Kanji handwriting recognition software, Mac now has that support in the $29 upgrade to Mac OS X 10.6.0 Snow Leopard.

Windows may have had this functionality built-in first, but:

1) It does not rival the ease of use that the mac handwriting recognition has, maybe it was worth the wait for Mac users – especially when easy to use alternatives were available.
2) In this day and age of Web 2.0 there were many online interfaces that could be used for handwritten kanji recognition online, which could then be copied and pasted into native Apps.
and
3) I'm sure a 3rd party developed kanji handwriting recognition software for the Mac that runs natively. If I am mistaken, please excuse this third point. I believe the two above should suffice to support my point.

I hope this information helps you. Have a nice day,

MZLweasel

P.S.
If you go on ranting the next reply won't be so formal.
http://www.dumbotaku.com/ Dumb Otaku

I think i'll point it out again. You CAN use shortcut keys to switch to Japanese writing mode. Once you have the keyboard installed it is a simple alt+shift and poof you are in japanese keyboard. From there you are in what ever mode last, yes, but with a simple alt+~ (without shift) you cycle back and forth from hirigana to romaji. If you want type in romaji without that shortcut simple start the word with the shift key held down. If you want katakana simply type out what you have to say and hit shift+i and it converts it to katakana. All of these shortcuts are easy to find if you actually look.

As for handwriting recognition for kanji we could go round and round on this issue at the end of they day it is personal preference. All i know is Vista is awesome when it comes to this and Windows 7 got even better. Plus there is always the ime pad which you can use if you want to draw out the kanji with your mouse or pen, without tablet input on.

I will throwdown that the IME pad in XP sucks, but that was fixed in Vista and Windows 7 and if you use either of those DON'T use IME pad unless you are hunting down a specific kanji.
Fabian

Well, if you want so, I'll answer point by point…

[Unfortunately, many PC laptops I have looked at require you pay extra for built-in webcams and microphon.....]

I mean, if you were in Nigeria ( nothing against that country though ), what you said would be true, in “here” and nowadays, 1 in every 100 PC laptops doesn't have a webcam. If I go downstairs to the walmart-like shop near my office, I wouldn't be able to buy a laptop without a webcam. So I don't know where you live, but in the real world and the first world, 99% of the PC laptops has a camera.

[ In addition, your resorting to personally attacking Mac users just helps me to invalidate your points. If you really had an unbiased perspective (and half-brain), you would provide actual points and ....]

My bad here, I generalized, and I meant the Mac User FANBOYS, that must be the 78% of the Mac users… and remember that 83% of the stats are made up… :-p
I got a Laptop PC ( Dell XPS M1330 ) but also an ( old ) Mac Book Pro and an Iphone, and what I mean with this is that it's not a matter of this one it's bad or this one it's good, it's a matter of been non-biased, and this guy ( and it seems you too ) are highly biased.

[ While Windows XP has handwriting Kanji recognition, I doubt many people use it when there are easier and faster ways of converting hiragana to kanji using an IME. While IMEs are availa .... ]

I think I don't have to waste my time answering this one, “Dumb Otaku” answered perfectly for me in the next post. But again, your point of view about how easy is to use the windows IME it's totally subjective.

[ If you would like to argue that many people use the Kanji handwriting recognition software, Mac now has that support in the $29 upgrade to Mac OS X 10.6.0 Snow Leopard. ]

That's a smart remark… I mean, three paragraphs before you were saying that you don't want to spend any extra money to include a webcam ( maybe a second webcam, because.. again.. most of the PC laptops has them ) on a PC laptop, and now, you're saying someone should spend 29$ on a OS upgrade… that's… mmm… funny?.

[ Windows may have had this functionality built-in first, but:

1) It does not rival the ease of use that the mac handwriting recognition has, maybe it was worth the wait for Mac users - especially when easy to use alternatives were available.
2) In this day and age of Web 2.0 there were many online interfaces that could be used for handwritten kanji recognition online, which could then be copied and pasted into native Apps.
and
3) I'm sure a 3rd party developed kanji handwriting recognition software for the Mac that runs natively. If I am mistaken, please excuse this third point. I believe the two above should suffice to support my point.]

Point 1 —- It does not rival!?!?!??, and that sentence it's not biased????. It rivals, and it's been rivaling for the last eight years, that's for how long have been able the windows users to handwrite a kanji….

Point 2 —- So, if you want to handwrite anything you better add another 50$ for the internet connection on a Mac… Did I say that the PC has one built in since 2000?.

Point 3 —- I'm sure that for every 3rd party app for Mac, there's sixty for PC.

[ P.S.
If you go on ranting the next reply won't be so formal. ]

Sir, I may sound like a Troll, but you DO sound like a bully. If I want I'll answer any post I want in here ( as long as I don't insult anyone ) , and I don't really give a crap about your possible lack of formality.

Thank you
Fabian

of course.. in this sentence …
[ in "here" and nowadays, 1 in every 100 PC laptops doesn't have a webcam. If I go downstairs to the walmart-like shop ]

I meant

[in "here" and nowadays, 1 in every 100 PC laptops does have a webcam. If I go downstairs to the walmart-like shop]
Fabian

And just to answer point by point the main post of the blog.

- Built-in Mic and Webcam. Mac 2 – PC 0 (Mac wins)
Every laptop PC has a webcam, and if it doesn't it cost 15$. ( tie )

- Japanese Learning Applications. Mac 3 – PC 1 (tie)
That's just simply bullshit, I mean, for every mac app there's ten for pc. ( pc wins )

- Language Support. Mac 4 – PC 1 (Mac wins)
As a few pointed out, this is simply not true ( tie )

- Japanese Text Rendering. Mac 5 – Windows 2 (tie)
This is as subjective as it gets. ( tie )

- Watching Japanese TV. Mac 5 – PC 3 (PC Wins, for once)
I wouldn't even include this one as an advantage for a computer ( install bootcamp ) ( tie )

His score 5 – 3 for the mac
Mine 5 – 4 for the pc
MZLweasel

1) Sorry, did you point that out before as well? I forgot.

Anyhow, I never knew of that feature in Windows and in Mac OS X it is clearly pointed out in the Language menu when you switch keyboard layout from the File Menu bar.

Again, it's less of a “the features don't exist in WIndows” thing and more of a “I can't find them in Windows” thing. It's just more convienient on a Mac. Of coruse, that's my opinion – there are people who prefer Windows (though I don't know why).

2) I personally have not used Vista/7's KANJI Handwriting, though I can say the english handwriting recognition was great. I have however used the Kanji handwriting pad in XP and it didn't work as well as the online one I use.

Again, I /personally/ prefer the IME because I just suck at remembering stroke order. I can see people liking handwriting more (obviously), as it would be MUCH faster for someone with practice.
http://www.dumbotaku.com/ Dumb Otaku

yeah in mac it is easier to figure out the shortcuts for the keyboard switching. It is findable when you go looking but is a bit wonkier to find than it should be.

The kanji/kana recognition in vista/7 is similar to the english in easy and recognition. Though stroke order does help to make it easier. My tablet pc died due to a HP hardware problem :( and i picked up the bamboo wacom tablet for 70 bucks. And am back into writing on my computer again it works awesome.

Am looking at getting a dell mini 9 sometime in the future if I do i'll put osx on it and play around with some of the foreign language stuffs.
MZLweasel

[I mean, if you were in Nigeria ( nothing against that country though ), what you said would be true, in "here" and nowadays, 1 in every 100 PC laptops doesn't have a webcam. If I go downstairs to the walmart-like shop near my office, I wouldn't be able to buy a laptop without a webcam. So I don't know where you live, but in the real world and the first world, 99% of the PC laptops has a camera.]

Apparently Canada is one the same level with Nigeria when it comes to having webcams in laptops. Who knew.

[My bad here, I generalized, and I meant the Mac User FANBOYS, that must be the 78% of the Mac users... and remember that 83% of the stats are made up... :-p
I got a Laptop PC ( Dell XPS M1330 ) but also an ( old ) Mac Book Pro and an Iphone, and what I mean with this is that it's not a matter of this one it's bad or this one it's good, it's a matter of been non-biased, and this guy ( and it seems you too ) are highly biased.]

I admit I'm probably biased, but not as much as you may think. Before Tiger came out, I was a Microsoft fanboy (believe it or not).

I use what works, and right now for me it's a Mac. OS X 10.1, 10.2 were a mess. 10.3 was okay, but 10.4 Tiger just blew me away.

Also, you need to stop pulling random data out of your @$$ and give me a reputable site which has the data on it, thanks. While MANY, MANY Mac users may be “fanboys”, you are insulting us again. Please stop the name-calling nonsense.

[That's a smart remark... I mean, three paragraphs before you were saying that you don't want to spend any extra money to include a webcam ( maybe a second webcam, because.. again.. most of the PC laptops has them) on a PC laptop, and now, you're saying someone should spend 29$ on a OS upgrade... that's... mmm... funny?.]

Really? More insults?

For one, I'm not poor. Second, I was not complaining about spending “the extra money” on a webcam (which you even denied before, so I don't know why you're not telling me that I should have a webcam already), I was just pointing out that while you may have to pay extra for a webcam on a Wintel PC, Macs come with the Webcam (built in to the higher cost, presumably) WITH NO OPTION TO NOT HAVE ONE. Like Koichi said, it's hard to have a Mac that DOESN'T have a webcam. (Desktops Mac Pro and Mac Mini have a webcam built-in to the new Apple Cinema Display, which you buy separately.)

Also, new Macs will now come with Snow Leopard by default.

Moreover, Windows users like yourself should know that having the latest build of your OS is important for maintaining heightened security, not just for adding new features. Of course, Mac isn't secure right now (at all), but then again Macs don't really need to be because virus writers target PCs. And chances are Apple could easily keep Mac OS X secure as it is based on Unix.

[Point 1 ---- It does not rival!?!?!??, and that sentence it's not biased????. It rivals, and it's been rivaling for the last eight years, that's for how long have been able the windows users to handwrite a kanji....]

Yes, that sentence is not biased. Like I have stated time and time again, I use what works. And at this point the Handwriting recognition in Windows XP does not rival the ease of use of Mac OS X's offerings. Again, I cannot speak for Vista or 7's handwriting.

Please don't try to pull the “maybe we should compare OS X 10.1 to XP and see how it does”. It's not our fault Microsoft kept XP around alone for all those years while Apple pushed out what I would consider 2 major updates (10.5 and 10.4) and 3 (10.1, 10.2 and 10.3) minor updates to Mac OS X. And to add insult to injury, Microsoft pushed out a flawed and not-at-all-ready operating system to unsuspecting Windows users (yes, I'm talking Vista). Yes, Vista was fine after a year or so for /most/ (not all, the hardware manufacturers did not do a great job supporting Vista with its low market penetration) people, but it was wrong of them to release Vista before it was ready.

Apple OS releases are /always/ high quality, polished and ready for prime-time when they are released, much to the delight of Apple enthusiasts like myself.

[Point 2 ---- So, if you want to handwrite anything you better add another 50$ for the internet connection on a Mac... Did I say that the PC has one built in since 2000?.]

This makes absolutely no sense.

If you are trying to tell me that Apple still charges $49 for an airport card, you are really behind the times. They come built into the (higher) price now, thank you very much. Your point here is invalid.

[Point 3 ---- I'm sure that for every 3rd party app for Mac, there's sixty for PC.]

Yes, but out of those Sixty PC apps, one or two might be okay while the rest are crapware. Every app I have ever downloaded for Mac OS X has been a polished work of art that works exactly as advertised and looks great doing so.

And that's beside the point – my original point was that there /are/ third party solutions available.

What would you rather have, quality or quantity? I don't know about you, but I don't need any more crapware on my self-built beige box PC. It's quality all the way for me. Which is why I use a Mac.

[Sir, I may sound like a Troll, but you DO sound like a bully. If I want I'll answer any post I want in here ( as long as I don't insult anyone ) , and I don't really give a crap about your possible lack of formality.]

Why yes. You DO sound like a troll. I hardly believe I sound like a bully (other than my holier-than-thou attitude right now), I am merely pointing out all the flaws in your “points”.

And for a few seconds here I WILL be a bully:

Please go back to grade school and learn your grammar and spelling. Thanks!

MZLweasel
http://www.japanesewords.net Japanese Words

Of the three computers I have in the house (linux, mac, and windows). I must say I prefer the first two. Linux setup for language input is easy and has some cool options for dictionaries. Mac has great fonts and easy input. Windows works most of the time, but input can get frustrating when it keeps switching back to romaji.

The input for characters is a really cool feature.
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anon-tipster

yo just to let you know macs and pc's are the same, they use exactly the same hardware, im serious EXACTLY THE SAME. The commercials outlining the difference between a mac and a pc are false advertising. I dual boot xp, windows 7 and osx on my pc. Im not trying to flame you but congrats on being sucked into a fad, macs are just a fashion statement. If you want more info on this search osX86.