> But it's not a selection of language, but keyboard > layouts - and those vary > by nation, region, and/or language - Sun really does > sell keyboards in Taiwan > with a different layout than mainland China, and > needs some way to refer to > those differently. > > -- > -Alan Coopersmith- > alan dot coopersmith at sun dot com
(for some reason my original reply was lost in the Jiva-land,? b/c the importance of this matter, I am reposting it below but making it shorter while adding other thoughts) Hi Alan, The "keyboard layout" you have problem finding a name for actually already has a name, and it is called "traditional Chinese keyboard", see, e.g.: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Keyboard_layout#Chinese_.28traditional.29 If the picture there is not big enough, you can take a look at the keyboard that I have: http://picasaweb.google.com/WLiauh/ChineseKeyboard/photo#5176592325922186370 As opposed to the "traditional Chinese" keyboard, there is no "simplified Chinese" keyboard, per se, because the latter "traditionally" uses the so-called (Roman) Pinyin method, and it has exactly the same keyboard layout as an English keyboard. In recently years, however, the methods used in inputting traditional Chinese characters have been adopted for the simplified Chinese characters, and there is really no distinction b/t a traditional Chinese keyboard and a simplified Chinese keyboard. Both now should be referred to as the "Chinese keyboard". Calling a traditional Chinese keyboard a "Taiwanese" keyboard may raise an undue, unwanted, and far-fetched imagination that someone inside Sun is trying to promote a de jure (as opposed to the de facto) Taiwan independence. This was my concern. But I am sure everyone knows that nothing could be further from the truth. However, the more serious problem is technical. Chinese characters (simplified and traditional) are symbol-based as well as stroke-based; each symbol comprises a number of basic building elements and is written according to a well-established sequence. There are several ways to input a Chinese character; e.g., you can construct (i.e., "type in") a Chinese character based on its constituting building elements or using the associated sequence of strokes. Additionally, you can type in a Chinese character phonetically using the so-called bopomofo method or the Roman pinyin method. A Chinese keyboard as shown in the linked picture reflects the several options (typically four options). But the most important point to keep in mind is, a Chinese keyboard cannot be separated from the input method which must have already been running in the background. Eventually we may have a Chinese UI for installation or starting the LiveCD, but, unlike all other languages, I doubt there will ever be a Chinese "keyboard layout" for Indiana or Solaris/OpenSolaris before the OS is loaded. Recently, Sun's acquisition of Innotek makes Solaris available as a VirtualBox host, and this allows me to, for the first time in a long while, pay attention to the SXDE/SXCE installation process (it has become so mechanical). I found out that the problem of the mischaracterization of the "Taiwanese keyboard" is not only limited to Indiana, but is indeed inherent in OpenSolaris. I noticed that is also exists in several OpenSolaris derivatives including at least Schillix and Milax. To those uneducated, it may create an impression that Sun is unleashing its propaganda machine to try to promote the idea of a "Taiwanese keyboard layout". From my own experience, I don't think anyone in China will take this matter seriously, except thinking that we must be a stupid bunch. Actually, it is Sun's potential customers in Taiwan which may feel very uncomfortable. For example, it looks like Mr. Mark Ma (馬英九), my high school classmate and an NYU/Harvard law school graduate, is all but certain to become the next President of Taiwan. Before this silly matter is resolved, there is no way I will be inclined to show the Indiana CD or SX DVD to his people. Again, the issue is probably not political (which I believe can always be explained), but it simply makes me look stupid. BTW, as a side matter, we are looking for a couple of Chinese-speaking volunteers/Solaris enthusiasts who are willing to use Chinese-and-English localized versions of SXDE4 (01/08) as the primary desktop OS on a 24/7 basis. We will provide a laptop (a desktop replacement). I will be working with David Clack to see which laptop is the most suitable (i.e., compatible with SX but also reasonably priced). Mr. Ma is proposing a $100 billion USD economic revitalization plan (three trillion NT$, 三兆台幣活水計劃). How sweet it will be if we can work OpenSolaris into his plan. :-) It's not just money, but the clout of the OEM/ODM conglomerates in Taiwan which can make a big impact. One of my former clients, TSMC, is now making post-45nm ultraSparc CMT (& beyond) processors for Sun. -- This message posted from opensolaris.org _______________________________________________ indiana-discuss mailing list [email protected] http://mail.opensolaris.org/mailman/listinfo/indiana-discuss
