Hi there, Excuse the post to multiple lists, but I'm not optimistic about a solution to this Apple catch-22. I'm on digest, so please Cc me or reply directly if you have the answer or a suggestion so I won't miss the answer. (I've been really busy and have been neglecting a lot of my digests, so if this topic has come up before, I'd really appreciate a gentle nudge in the right direction...)
I'm using OS 9 on a 233 MHz G3 PowerBook (Wallstreet). I bought and have been using OS 9.0.4 - International English - and its Japanese Language Kit. I have downloaded and installed the updates, 9.1 and then 9.2.1 (and 9.2 seems to be working great). The problem is that I can no longer install the Language kit that is included on my OS 9 CD (or can I?). According to the Read Me and installation instructions for the updates: > Apple Language Kits and Mac OS 9.2 >Apple's language kits are now included with the Mac OS. If you use language kits, you >must upgrade both your system software and your language kits at the same time using >the Mac OS 9.2 CD. Versions of Apple language kits prior to Mac OS 9.1 (Language Kits >1.1) are not compatible with Mac OS 9.2. To upgrade your system software and language >kits, start up from the Mac OS 9.2 CD by inserting the CD and holding down the C key >as you restart the computer. Continue holding down the C key until you see the CD >background. Open the Mac OS Installer and click Customize in the Install Software >panel. Select both the Mac OS Install and Language Kits, and remember to select the >specific language kits you want to upgrade. Of course since I've downloaded the update, I don't have the CD, and the Language Kit is not included in the download. I'd be willing to pay a bit extra for a CD -- or even buy a new OS package just for the "privilege" of continuing to use the Japanese Language Kit -- if they were available. Well, yesterday I went to the sexy new Apple Store in Ginza (Tokyo) to see if they could help me. The nice Apple service rep there told me, "Well, OS 9.2 is not available any more." Then in the next breath, he said, "There is one solution: If you buy OS X, for an extra 2500 yen, you can order the 9.2.1 CD." When I pointed out the contradiction he laughed and said, "Ahem, aah, ..." Then I asked if he could point me to a place where I might find a solution, he said, "Well, yes, there's the Apple Call Center [Japan]..."; but when I responded, "But they'll give me the same answer you just gave me, right?" he said, "Yes." I'm not ready to upgrade to OS X for a year or two (I've heard contradictory statements about how feasible it is on a 233 MHz PowerBook, and I'm not quite ready for a new computer), and I don't want to buy OS X now just for the "privilege" of buying a CD for a previous [free] update, since there's no guarantee I won't run into a similar catch-22 when I'm ready to use it. So, what are my options? Or do I have any? Incidentally, I have tried installing the Language Kit for 9.0.4 on a backup boot 9.1 system on my expansion-bay hard disk and, although it seems to handle Japanese applications OK, there seem to be some menu problems, etc. I haven't really compared it with the previous (9.0.4) performance, so I don't know exactly what the bugs are (and which are "features" ;-). Prior to OS 9, I had been using KanjiTalk on a separate partition. [That's still an option, but it's a lot of trouble to switch systems between English and Japanese...] I'm not misinterpreting the caution in the ReadMe, am I? I do know for a fact that the updates refuse to install on 9.0.4 with the Language Kit already installed. That comes up in a dialogue box when you try to do the installation. Does anybody know what, exactly, are the incompatibilities I'd encounter if I installed the Language Kit from the 9.0.4 CD after installing the 9.1/9.2.1 updates? Regards, Rodney (in Hayama, Japan) -- G-Books is sponsored by <http://lowendmac.com/> and... Small Dog Electronics http://www.smalldog.com | Refurbished Drives | -- Check our web site for refurbished PowerBooks | & CDRWs on Sale! | Support Low End Mac <http://lowendmac.com/lists/support.html> G-Books list info: <http://lowendmac.com/lists/g-books.html> --> AOL users, remove "mailto:"; Send list messages to: <mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED]> To unsubscribe, email: <mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED]> For digest mode, email: <mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED]> Subscription questions: <mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED]> Archive: <http://www.mail-archive.com/g-books%40mail.maclaunch.com/> --------------------------------------------------------------- >The Think Different Store http://www.ThinkDifferentStore.com ---------------------------------------------------------------
