satch@engin.umich.edu (SATYANARAYAN CHADA) (05/01/91)
Greetings -
I think that this is probably a very unusual request but these
are unusual circumstances.
I am graduating this term and I am thinking about taking advantage
of buying a NeXT computer at discounted prices. The problem is that
I will be in Japan for the next few years. So, I have some questions
about using the machine in Japan.
(1) Can I use the machine in Japan? Is it a simple matter of plug-&-play
or will need some special adaptors?
(2) What type of hassles will I need to go through to get this machine
through Japanese customs?
(3) Where can I get support for this machine in Japan (Tokyo)?
(4) Just as an aside, how do the prices compare in Japan vs. the US?
Does Canon offer any special incentives to students as most of the
vendors in the states?
(5) How are the sales of NeXTs in Japan? I am sure that the lack of
kanji support must be an hinderance.
(6) Are there any other questions that I should be asking ?
Thanks in advance.
---Satchseungwoo@cs.umn.edu (Seung-Woo Kim) (05/01/91)
From the article I saw, the NeXT computer is awarded the "G-Mark" Grand Prize as the best product sold in Japan in 1990,which is judged by the Japanese government. But I am not so sure if that means it's widely used in Japan - I am optimistic tho. Seung-Woo Kim -- Seung-Woo Kim
cafe@cbnewse.att.com (richard.dib) (05/06/91)
Canon is the distributer of the NeXT in Japan. Richard
harkcom@spinach.pa.yokogawa.co.jp (Alton Harkcom) (05/09/91)
In article <1991May1.032402.29281@engin.umich.edu> satch@engin.umich.edu (SATYANARAYAN CHADA) writes: =}(1) Can I use the machine in Japan? Is it a simple matter of plug-&-play =} or will need some special adaptors? Should be no problem. I have seen various computers from the states used here in Japan with no special adapters. =}(2) What type of hassles will I need to go through to get this machine =} through Japanese customs? That depends. Usually there is no hassle at all. Just bring it with you... (You like that idea? A CUBE... bring it with you... Ha! Ha!) =}(3) Where can I get support for this machine in Japan (Tokyo)? Since you will buy it in the US, the Japanese service centers will refuse to service it or over-charge you. I am not sure about the NeXT, but Macintoshes get such treatment (or got???). =}(4) Just as an aside, how do the prices compare in Japan vs. the US? =} Does Canon offer any special incentives to students as most of the =} vendors in the states? No special discounts (unless you are a large company and can threaten to wait the half year you are allowed to pay). If the NeXT is like almost all other computer products imported, then it will be several times more expensive here (especially since Canon is handling it). =}(5) How are the sales of NeXTs in Japan? I am sure that the lack of =} kanji support must be an hinderance. Lack of Japanese language support? At a computer show almost a year ago, the were demonstrating Japanese text handling... I would guess that by now there would be no problem. =}(6) Are there any other questions that I should be asking ? If you are planning to buy software in Japan, then you might want to ask how much software for it will cost (that will at least give me a few more chuckles ;-). You might want to ask about getting access to the net (and how much it costs. You might also want to find out about user groups and availability of pds... Sorry I couldn't be of much help. It has been a couple of months since I have taken the time to read anything about the NeXT... Al
mrc@milton.u.washington.edu (Mark Crispin) (05/13/91)
I am a member of NeXus, the Japanese NeXT users' group. As far as I know, the kanji NeXTstep support has not yet been released by Canon. Canon has, however, announced that when released the kanji support will cost Y150,000 (about US $1,100), ostensibly because of licensing costs for the two fonts. NeXus wrote a letter some time ago to Canon asking them to reconsider that exhorbitant pricing. I don't know if there has been any favorable response yet. People have been able to do kanji work on the NeXT for some time now using one of the various X support packages for the NeXT. However, in this form the NeXT is a poor competitor to domestic workstations and so there isn't all that much interest.
izumi@mindseye.berkeley.edu (Izumi Ohzawa) (05/13/91)
In article <HARKCOM.91May9083633@spinach.pa.yokogawa.co.jp> harkcom@spinach.pa.yokogawa.co.jp (Alton Harkcom) writes: >In article <1991May1.032402.29281@engin.umich.edu> satch@engin.umich.edu > (SATYANARAYAN CHADA) writes: > > =}(1) Can I use the machine in Japan? Is it a simple matter of plug-&-play > =} or will need some special adaptors? > > Should be no problem. I have seen various computers from the states used >here in Japan with no special adapters. NeXT has a special power supply which is rated 100-240V 50-60Hz with no manual switching. You can just plug it in anywhere in the world practically. Monochrome display draws power from the main unit, so there is no problem there either. Color display probably require a manual switch flipping. > =}(3) Where can I get support for this machine in Japan (Tokyo)? > > Since you will buy it in the US, the Japanese service centers will >refuse to service it or over-charge you. I am not sure about the NeXT, >but Macintoshes get such treatment (or got???). A newsletter from a Japanese NeXT users group(NeXus) says that they got a response from Canon saying that Canon will support NeXT machines in Japan regardless of their origin. I assume this means that they will honor warranty for machines bought in the US, and will also do support for machines with expired warranty for a fee. > > =}(4) Just as an aside, how do the prices compare in Japan vs. the US? > =} Does Canon offer any special incentives to students as most of the > =} vendors in the states? > > No special discounts (unless you are a large company and can threaten >to wait the half year you are allowed to pay). If the NeXT is like almost >all other computer products imported, then it will be several times more >expensive here (especially since Canon is handling it). > > =}(5) How are the sales of NeXTs in Japan? I am sure that the lack of > =} kanji support must be an hinderance. > > Lack of Japanese language support? At a computer show almost a year >ago, the were demonstrating Japanese text handling... I would guess that >by now there would be no problem. Last I heard, Cannon will be shipping NextStep 2.0/2.1J this June. Hopefully there will be no delays (fingers crossed). Although I haven't seen Kanji NextStep myself, I expect it to be really nice due to Kanji support in Text object and Display PostScript. NeXT laser printer bought in the US will also automatically become Kanji PostScript printer automatically. There is a bit of a problem currently regarding what Canon wants to charge for Kanji PostScript fonts for use with NS2.1J. They want to charge 150,000yen for them, and current users don't like that at all, obviously. > > =}(6) Are there any other questions that I should be asking ? > > If you are planning to buy software in Japan, then you might want >to ask how much software for it will cost (that will at least give me >a few more chuckles ;-). You might want to ask about getting access >to the net (and how much it costs. You might also want to find out about >user groups and availability of pds... With a credit card, you should be able to buy software from the US directly from such places as NeXTConnection. I don't see software pricing that much of a problem. Of course, you probably won't get much discount because there aren't that many competing applications like Mac/PC worlds have at this point. Good collection of PD software is available for NeXT via anonymous FTP from host "etlport.etl.go.jp" You might want to join NeXus, whose address I don't have with me right now (send me mail if you are interested). There also is a newer user's group organized by Arthur Kayle (sp?). I don't know any details about this second group. Izumi Ohzawa [ $@Bg_78^=;(J ] USMail: University of California, 360 Minor Hall, Berkeley, CA 94720 Telephone: (415) 642-6440 Fax: (415) 642-3323 Internet: izumi@violet.berkeley.edu NeXTmail: izumi@pinoko.berkeley.edu