Add Japanese Support to US SL-5x00

[Anonymous]

I am considering purchasing a Zaurus SL-5x00 because of the recent price drop.  However, like many on these forums, I would like the 6000 features in the SL-7x0/860 format.  Since I do not have suficient funds to import any of those from Japan (I have already doulbled my budget just considering the SL-5600), but would still like the J-E dictionary, translation and Japanese input and viewing, I was wonering how to add these features to a SL-5600.  The RAM and ROM may or may not be big enough to add this support, but after two years of study and a desire to learn more of the language, these features are indispensible.  A previous topic, Convverting US SL-5600 -] JP spec, never really resolved the issue in the manner I needed.  I cannot afford $400-$800 US Dollars to obtain a SL-7x0/860 as much as I would love to have one.  Or are there other software programs that will provide the same functionality (view/write Japanese, dictionary lookup of Kanji/words) on the SL-5x00 platform?

Thank you for any help you can provide.

  - Kerril

[Stubear]

There are ipks available for adding Japanese support back to Roms that have it removed.
However the big question would be whether they work on the 320x240 size screen - I\'d try it but don\'t have a 5X00 model.

There are a lot of apps that were originally designed for 5X00 and B500 (Jaapnese version of same I think) that allow you to read Japanese, there are a number of dictionary options and pobox will allow you to enter Japanese.

[Anonymous]

I just sucessfully installed japanese dictionary package into my SL5500. It is amazing,  it can single-pass search through multiple e-dictionary, search by Head, Tail, Exact and Word of your dictionary list. Currently, I installed EDICT(J-E), FOLDOC(E), WEB1913(E) and WordNet(E) books, It eat-out a lot of my SD storage space. You might consider to purchase additional SD/CF as well.
If you can read japanese language, this url link http://openlab.ring.gr.jp/edict/fpw/ lead you to the free booklist. I intend to try-out Roget\'s Thesaurus and Easton\'s 1897 Bible Dictionary at the later state. At this moment,  I have not summarize what are the steps to make it work. It requires some tweaks in font directory, some additional fonts download to make it readable.  I will back again after I get things ready, probably a mini howto. In all,  It shows that some degree of japanese conversion (not full) is working on SL5500, and I think SL5600 should be no problem as well. Just my two cents.

John Bull

[Kerril]

Thank you Mr. Bull, that is encouraging.  I will keep it under advisement.  

I cannot fully understand the language without the aid of dictionaries and references at this point.  I do however grasp enough of the basic structure and grammer to use those tools to figure it out.  It does take a while though.  My basic concerns are the input methods (input Japanese characters/Kanji into documents, etc.) and the ability to reference an electronic Japanese <-> English dictionary and an electronic Kanji Dictionary.  The addition of a electronic Japanese dictionary would be nice, but it would probably be a few months before I could use it.   I am assuming that the moment I have input support, I automatically have viewing support (characters display correctly) as well.  

Since the Zaurus is originally a Japanese product, I was hoping that I could place a SL-5x00 into the hybrid mode that many C-7x0/860s outside of Japan are in - view and edit Japanese while the majority of the system is in English.  I also wanted to add some of the software available for learning vocabulary and Kanji (several open source projects from which to choose).

I had a PDA a few years ago, but the usefullness was insufficient to justify $350 after accessories.  If is is a full PDA with a full J-E dictionary (similar to stand-alone units), then the $350 price tag is reasonable.  A good J-E electronic dictionary costs about $150-$250 depending on the features and model.  I expect to pay around $150 for a good basic PDA.  Put them together in one unit and I can justify $300-$400 for a PDA/J-E dictionary with accessories (case, screen protectors, maybe a memory card, maybe an extra battery).  

Like others, I would really prefer the SL-6000\'s features in the C-7x0/860 format, but unfortunately even the C-700 is way past my budgeted amount for this \'stand-in\' PDA.  I plan on purchasing a C-760/860 or its successor (hopefully with all of the SL-6000\'s features) late this year.  I am pending my purchase until I can determine if this conversion can be done.  This unit will stay with me even after I purchase that dreamed-of C-860 (or its successor) late this year.  I may even delay that \'upgrade\' if I am happy with the unit I finally purchase.  

Thank you again for the information.

[Stubear]

From Mr Bull\'s explanation it looks liek he has installed Zten rather than the original CXX0 dictionary (called sljisho) as sljisho doesn\'t support the EB/EPWING format.

For Japanese input, I suggest you try pobox (http://takahr.dhis.portside.net/cgi-bin/rwiki.cgi?cmd=view;name=QPOBox), it relatively simple to use and a very fast Japanese input method.

You will need Uniode fonts that support Japanese of course along with the dictionary and ime.
I also suggest that you download KanjiNirvana - a great kanji lookup program that allows you to draw kanji - great when you don\'t know the pronunciation of a new kanji.

Most of what you need can be found at ZSI (http://www.killefiz.de/zaurus/) by doing a search for Japanese.

good luck
Stu

[Anonymous]

Yes, It is Zten, a good piece of dictionary navigator. I have not try out any japanese input  method yet, while searching for my dictionary information, I got these url link: http://www.geocities.com/jsgotangco/jpnIM.htm
http://www.geocities.com/jsgotangco/nunome.htm
It seen likes meet your requirements, you may look into it and make your decision.

John Bull