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From: nmm2@quads.uchicago.edu (nathaniel marinus mccully)
Newsgroups: comp.sys.mac.system
Subject: Re: $400 for KanjiTalk 6.0.7?!? (was Re: KanjiTalk 6.0.7-J available in the U.S. (long))
Message-ID: <1991Apr27.231008.26226@midway.uchicago.edu>
Date: 27 Apr 91 23:10:08 GMT
References: <8766@idunno.Princeton.EDU> <1991Apr27.003950.21853@midway.uchicago.edu> <8804@idunno.Princeton.EDU>
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In article <8804@idunno.Princeton.EDU> miyazaki@wolf.NoSubdomain.NoDomain (Takeshi Miyazaki) writes:
>
>two more questions:
>
>1) Someone says that APDA carries KanjiTalk for $75(?). Is it still on the
>   list?  Does it include manuals?
>
>2) Is $400 a reasonable price for system software? (I know it's a secondary 
>   system software for most of the users. I also know in Japan we must pay 
>   about $500 if you have imported macs)
>

Yes, APDA will still sell the KanjiTalk system 6.0.7-J for $75 to any APDA 
member.  It is also on the Developer CD Vol. VI.

The reason for this is to allow developers access to the software so that
they will be better able to localize their products to other countries'
operating systems.  However, to get the manuals, they must buy the whole kit
($400).

So, why the $400 price tag?  If you buy the upgrade kit from one of the
newly authorized Apple dealers, you get the manuals in Japanese and the
installer information and smaller user manuals in English.  You also get
something you can get nowhere else in America:  user support from a
bi-lingual system engineer that is employed full-time at the dealer.
We all know how important (and expensive) customer support is, especially
for Japanese customers.  In addition, when KanjiTalk 6.1-J comes out, you
get it (and TrueType Kanji fonts) for free.  And the same for 7.0-J (if
you can wait ^_^; that long).  In short, it's a very good deal if you
consider the other solutions available to bi-lingual businesses and
internationally-minded individuals.

One final note:  Apple says the price parity situation between the U.S. and
Japan will be getting much better, and already prices for many Apple products 
in Japan have dropped more than 40% in the last few months (see the latest 
postings in fj.lang.postscript).


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