2.) Prepare to enter a world where the average consumer who is shopping there cares a lot about things you don't care at all about. Like Anime, plastic figurines and Nintendo Wii games.
3.) Any cool software or hardware that requires software will probably not be localized to english. Windows rules here and Microsoft makes a special version of windows for the japanese market. Maybe it's gotten better with windows vista or 7, I really don't know. That sweet netbook will be awesome for a Japanese person but you're about to enter a world of pain. Here's an example:
I had a friend visiting last week and he really wanted to buy a cool USB microscope that we saw there. I had to warn him that it might be impossible to get the drivers installed properly.
Another friend wanted to buy the new Jumbo sized Nintendo DS before it was released in the US but we asked the sales rep and he said there was no way to switch the UI to english. No sale.
4.) The main reason to visit Akihabara is if you are interested in Japanese otaku culture and want to understand it more. It's a trip. I recommend it. But don't go expecting to get a bunch of shit to bring home with you.
> Windows rules here and Microsoft makes a special version of windows for the japanese market. Maybe it's gotten better with windows vista or 7, I really don't know.
I don't know about XP, but with 7 (Ultimate, at least) there definitely isn't a "special version of Windows for the Japanese market". Japanese Windows is the same old Windows with a Japanese localization pack installed and enabled. You can go into the settings and change it. This is why when you install Windows 7 Ultimate, you get a ton of optional updates that are a bunch of language packs (there are ~25-30).
I haven't tried installing very many things, but from the instructions I've read, there appear to be many that won't work properly unless the locale is set to Japanese when installing and running the software.
Yes, I went to Akihabra to "buy a bunch of shit to bring home with me". That's exactly why I went. Well, and to just take in the spectacle. And yes, I'm not really into Anime and plastic figurines but capacitors and old oscilloscopes do fascinate me.
> That Apple has a store in Ginza but not Akihabara says a lot I think
Actually that Mac Store is in Akihabara (here's a video I found randomly on the net of it http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bmmmaR5lAxY) - perhaps there is another one or it moved (that photo is from a few years ago).
> That sweet netbook will be awesome for a Japanese person but you're about to enter a world of pain
Yup, I used to own a sony vaio netbook that I bought in japan way ahead of the netbook craze, and yes all the keys were in Japanese. I managed to get it working though, but I've since moved off of Windows completely.
Anyway, I've been taking friends from the US who visit me to Akiba for a while now and I have always given these disclaimers before going:
1.) In general, things will not be cheaper. This isn't Hong Kong. Here's the main reason why: http://www.x-rates.com/d/JPY/USD/graph120.html
2.) Prepare to enter a world where the average consumer who is shopping there cares a lot about things you don't care at all about. Like Anime, plastic figurines and Nintendo Wii games.
3.) Any cool software or hardware that requires software will probably not be localized to english. Windows rules here and Microsoft makes a special version of windows for the japanese market. Maybe it's gotten better with windows vista or 7, I really don't know. That sweet netbook will be awesome for a Japanese person but you're about to enter a world of pain. Here's an example:
http://www.tomshardware.com/forum/234200-45-convert-japanese...
I had a friend visiting last week and he really wanted to buy a cool USB microscope that we saw there. I had to warn him that it might be impossible to get the drivers installed properly.
Another friend wanted to buy the new Jumbo sized Nintendo DS before it was released in the US but we asked the sales rep and he said there was no way to switch the UI to english. No sale.
4.) The main reason to visit Akihabara is if you are interested in Japanese otaku culture and want to understand it more. It's a trip. I recommend it. But don't go expecting to get a bunch of shit to bring home with you.