changing interface language

[Guest]

I recently purchased a Notebook that came with Vista Home Premium
pre-installed in United States English.

I'd like to know how I can change ALL interfaces to "Simplified Chinese" for
a Chinese user who does not know a word of English.

I searched the LIP website by Microsoft, but Simplified Chinese isn't one of
the language packs that available for download. Please kindly let me know
where I can find the language pack or is there one. Thank you in advance. : )

 

[xfile]

Hi,

My 2 cents,

Bad news for you, MUI is available for Ultimate edition only (and Enterprise
for business customers).

You could upgrade to Ultimate edition if you wish to use additional
languages for interface.

Ask around and find the least expensive upgrade method and I won't rule out
the possibility of buying OEM version.

Hope this helps and good luck.

 

[Guest]

Thanks for your reply, xfile.

I think I'll do a downgrade to xp and apply the language pack then.. sigh..
i thought vista would be a lot like osx in terms of switching languages for
interfaces...

 

[xfile]

Hi,

I am not a big fan of Vista and I just made the final conclusion after the
third and final test on it, but I guess that's not the point.

In any case, if you are thinking about using language packs, Vista does give
you one more option that is not available for XP. For XP, you must have
volume license as an enterprise customer or you can't get the language
packs.

For Vista, consumers can purchase Ultimate edition to have language packs.
So if one is living and/or working in a multilanguage environment, it seems
the upgrade/OEM price is justifiable to certain degree.

Anyway, it's your call, just to share with you based on my limited
knowledge.

Good luck.

 

[huwyngr]

I don't fully understand the VISTA language system any more!

I know about MUI's and Ultimate only but then there are LIP's that the
VISTA website says can be applied to any version of VISTA ....... but
what you can apply depends on what you start with eg whether it is
en-US or some other language version.

Have a look at this:

http://technet2.microsoft.com/WindowsVista/en/library/d1bc6d15-0ecc-4c1
2-bdae-83e41303e6f61033.mspx?mfr=true

You may have to copy that URL into your address box if the second line
doesn't work automatically.

And also less technical have a look at this and don't be surprised
where you end up if you follow all the links! It's a Microsoft web page
for Governement use!

http://windowshelp.microsoft.com/Windows/en-US/Help/35a1b021-d96c-49a5-
8d8f-5e9d64ab5ecc1033.mspx

The net for you seems to be that you can't install Chinese using a LIP
but need at least a PLP and it is those I presume that only install on
Ultimate.

Perhaps one of the Gurus would clarify this PLP / MUI difference.

 

[Guest]

Purchase the Vista Ultimate upgrade package. You will then have the 32 bit
and 64 bit editions of Ultimate, which contain many language packs, including
Chinese Simplified.

My wife is Chinese. She speaks English very well but she also communicates
over the internet with many of her Chinese friends in China, who don't speak
English. The Chinese Simplified interface is much easier for her to use. The
cost of the upgrade is a very small price to pay in exchange for making your
friend's life much easier.

It wasn't a hard decision for me to make. Have a nice day.

C.B.

 

[Guest]

Again, thanks xfile..

I am not a big fin of vista either. After stealing everything from osx, I
really thought at least vista support multi-language interfaces just like osx
(tiger? i think). I had a chance checked out one of the designers at work
switching interfaces language on osx. Honestly, I was truly impressed. We are
heading to be a "connected" global community. In addition to the unicode
movement. This simple change between languages should not be a difficult
thing to do. Apple has done it. I don't think Microsoft didn't do it because
they are incompetent, it must have been a business decision. They think like
hardware seller, by offering small hardware one at a time, they'd make more
money.

Honestly, that's pure crap! I've already paid for an edition. Why should I
spend more on a copycat that didn't even do half of the job that OSX does?

Personally, I'm waiting on the day OSX is fully compatible across all pc
hardware. I'm pretty sure that day is coming soon. When that day arrives, I'd
definately switch all my clients to OSX.

 

[huwyngr]

I already have the Full Ultimate, thanks, and know what I can do.

It does not alter what I was saying about the confusing nature of the
MS website where you have MUI's PLP's and LIP's .....

I'm trying to establish what others without Ultimate can and cannot do,
and how they do it, when MS says LIPs are "for all versions of VISTA".