Just looking for some quick ideas to update my computer to make it more friendly for my fiance and her son once they arrive. When I went to the internet cafe in Vladivostok and in Odessa, Ukraine I noticed the computers were able to be switched to russian language and English language rather easilly by double clicking an icon on the bottom of the screen. Also, The key boards had Russian and English charectors on them. If the there is any computer genius that might be familr with any of this software, I would appreciate any tips. It would save from scatching my bald scalp as I surfed the web wondering if I could identify what I needed. While my Olya nows English reasonably well, I was thinking that making this conversion would aid both of them emailing back home where the parents and grandparents could get the email without having to have it translated .

Any thoughts?

You can get stickers for your keyboard off ebay--here. As far as switching between languages, if you have windows all you have to do is go into the control panel and turn on Russian input. Russian should already be installed.

Here is a link for adding a language to your computer:

http://support.microsoft.com/kb/177561

THANKS ! My computer was already set up for this I guess I just assumed that it was not...Should have looked first. ! I appreciate your help everyone !

My wife and I both use a "phonetic" transliteration for typing in Russian. Macs do this by default. For Windows,

http://ourworld.compuserve.com/homepages/paulgor/kbd_e.htm

Personally, I think this way is easier to learn, and you don't need stickers.

it's bad. keys are placed inconveniently, and you still need to memorize where certain letters are--ш щ ъ ё ю ь э ж я й. you can get stickers for three dollars including shipping from ebay. plus if your wife has ever used a computer in russia she'll be familiar with the layout.

My wife bought a keyboard in Ukraine and just brought it with her.