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パソコン

English translation: computer

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13:07 Dec 2, 2008

Japanese to English translations [Non-PRO]
Law/Patents - Law (general)

Japanese term or phrase: パソコン

I know: What a no-brainer. What I'd like is an opinion on whether this can be translated as a "PC" (which to many native speakers of English means only a computer which has a Windows OS), whether it should only be "computer", whether it should be a "personal computer", or all of the above depending on the context (it is used in many different contexts in the document I am translating), or whether there is a better term that disambiguates all of these. Thanks for your help!

David Higbee KudoZ activity Questions: 224 (2 open) (25 closed without grading) Answers: 126 United States
Local time: 21:09

English translation:computer

Explanation:
My opinion:
I would definitely prefer 'computer' 90% of the time.
'PC' definitely suggests a Windows system to me (I use both and refer to my 'Mac' and my 'PC').
Personal computer seems fine when you need to distinguish it from any other kind of computer (i.e. one that doesn't sit on someone's desk in an office).
'Computer' always suggests either a laptop or desktop computer to me, unless the context makes it clear that it means something else.

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Note added at 49 mins (2008-12-02 13:56:40 GMT)
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OK, I think in the first sentence there i would definitely translate it as 'personal computer'.

Selected response from:

Duncan Adam
Local time: 04:09

Grading comment

ありがとうございます！
4 KudoZ points were awarded for this answer

Summary of answers provided

3 +3

personal computer

Yuki Okada

PC/AT-compatible machine (computer)

RieM

computer

Duncan Adam

Discussion entries: 1

Answers

23 mins confidence:

peer agreement (net): +3

personal computer

Explanation:
I also encounter this once in a while. In Japan, PC refers to all personal computers including Macs. So, an expression like the one in the link is possible:

http://japan.cnet.com/news/tech/story/0,2000056025,20358222,...

Becasue PC tends to refer only to Windows-based personal computers in English, this is not good in this case. I think you also need to differentiate this from other computers like super computers, UNIX machines and really tiny ones contorolling home appliances, toys, etc.

Yuki Okada
Local time: 23:09
Native speaker of:

Japanese
PRO pts in category: 12

10 mins confidence:

computer

Duncan Adam
Local time: 04:09
Works in field
Native speaker of:

English
PRO pts in category: 4

Grading comment

ありがとうございます！

3 hrs confidence:

PC/AT-compatible machine (computer)

Explanation:
Technically, and histrically speaking, this is what is called "パソコン", though the current machine is not quite compatible with this very old generation (PC/AT) any longer. What it still shares is the use of BIOS interface.

http://e-words.jp/w/PC2FATE4BA92E68F9BE6A99F.html

Another option might be "intel-architecture (IA-32, IA-64) machine"

http://e-words.jp/w/IA-32.html

but Mac also uses Intel (with EFI, not Bios).

Bill Gates once callled "IBM-compatible" as in
http://www.wired.com/science/discoveries/news/2008/11/dayint...

But this could be misleading because there was another type of "IBM-machines"

http://ja.wikipedia.org/wiki/PC/AT互換機

I hope I don't make you pull your hair out!

RieM
United States
Local time: 23:09
Native speaker of:

Japanese
PRO pts in category: 12

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Changes made by editors

Dec 2, 2008 - Changes made by KathyT:
Level	PRO => Non-PRO

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パソコン

English translation: computer

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パソコン

English translation: computer

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KudoZ™ translation helpThe KudoZ network provides a framework for translators and others to assist each other with translations or explanations of terms and short phrases.

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The KudoZ network provides a framework for translators and others to assist each other with translations or explanations of terms and short phrases.