Subject: ETEN's Simplified sys uses GB

From: Chris Delucia <[email-masked]>
Date: Fri, 6 Aug 1993 20:59:51 +0800

> On Thu, 5 Aug 1993 [email-masked] wrote:
>
> > > > Now both KuoChiao and ETEN supports both Big5 and Guobiao.

> > > What versions of ETEN and KC are you referring to? I am aware that both
> > > support jian3ti3zi4, but coded in big-5, not GB...

etc...

I can not speak for KuoChiao, but I called ETEN today about their newest
version of Flying Saucer #5 (ver. 3.5), and also asked about their simplified
character chinese system (Yitian jianti zhongwen xitong). The latter _DOES_
use Guobiao, and it contains a utility for changing Big5 encoded traditional
characters into GB simplified, and vice versa. Note that it is a separate
system, so there is no way to enter traditional characters while in this system.
It lists for $2500 NT - I haven't compared prices elsewhere though.

Apparently the main feature of the new traditional character system (ver 3.5)
is that it had two new fonts, of the "outline" (miao3 bian1 zi4 xing2) variety.
I gathered that the upgrade from ver 3.1 was free (provided one turned in their
old disks) w/o the fonts, and these two fonts could be had for $800 NT.

                                Chris DeLucia
                                U. of Washington
                                via Taiwan U., Taipei