One of the real advantages of Macs that Apple fails to plug is the ease with which one can compute in more than one language, even languages that do not use the Roman alphabet. Unfortunately, that failing has led to some slip in a market that they used to rule. The number of PC programs for learning and using languages has outstripped the number of Mac programs. Now, numbers alone never bothered me that much since most people only use one word processor, etc. The problem is that programs that have no Mac equivalent are appearing, such as a Portuguese-English translation program (not that computer translation programs are that good yet).

So, if you're a consumer, let language software developers know that you would be willing to buy software that allows you to learn or use less commonly taught languages. If you are a Mac language software developer or localizer, please work hard to develop good Mac apps in as many languages as possible. If you are dissatisfied with some of the tools that Apple provides as opposed to what Microsoft provides, let Apple know. Let the users know as well so that they can place pressure on Apple to get on the stick.

Multilingual Mac Links

• Multilingual Computing Magazine - not all Mac, but definitely a must-read if you're a serious multi-lingual computer user or developer.
• Jun Da's guide to computing in Chinese
• Russification of the Macintosh
• How to write in Sámi (Lapp) on the Mac. Explore this site! There are lots of great Mac language links and info!
• The Arabic Macintosh
• Arabic Software for the Mac.
• Burmese Fonts for your Mac
• Vietnamese fonts, not Mac-exclusive, but Mac-inclusive.
• Good Overview of WorldScript II
• Aides for using Eudora to handle mail in Irish Gaelic.
• Guide to handling languages other than English in email
• EudoraTables Emporium - plug-ins that allow Eudora to send and receive mail in many languages. Look around. They have Gaelic solutions for ClarisWorks and MacWrite Pro.
• Using Greek on the Mac - a little PC-bigoted.
• Problems in using languages other than English on the Internet
• Internationalizing Your Website - not Mac-specific, but good.

Interesting Commercial Sites

• Japanese on the Mac
• Word Translator for Mac - dictionaries in many European languages.
• Arabic for the Mac without the Arabic Language Kit.

International Mac User Groups and Mac Websites

• The International Mac User Group
• Macworld Sweden
• Macworld Spain - can be an extremely slow to respond site.
• MacIN-PCin Portugal
• Macworld Germany
• Macworld France
• Macinlund, a Swedish Mac User Group
• MacMAS- Mac news with a Swedish twist
• MediaMac Online - a Danish Mac news site
• The Danish Newton User Group - Hosts of the Newton Version Tracker
• Macity - "The First Italian MacHead Site" in Italian, of course.
• MacRules Russia - all Russian-language site
• BMUG Japan BBS - The First Class BBS for Japanese members of BMUG
• Hong Kong Mac User Group This site supports And you?
  

  Yak Back to Spidra Webster: spidra at speakeasy dot net

  Back to the chain gang...

  Last modified on 10/30/2000

  I used to update something on this site about every two weeks. Unfortunately, things are probably going to be mothballed for a while due to a hellacious flareup of Repetitive Strain Injury. I have voice recognition, but it's not too good for me to spend much time on the computer in either case. I still love hearing your feedback about the site, it's just going to take me longer to reply or implement changes. So keep them cards and letters coming!