Microsoft in Welsh
People often criticise Microsoft but it’s often unfair - they do make great software, you can’t deny them that.
Microsoft acknowledges the large user base in Wales by producing Windows XP and MS Office 2003 with Welsh Language packs. The packs are free to download from Microsoft’s website.
February 9th, 2006 at 4:08 pm
Well, without wanting to sound ungreatfull, I think they only did this after the Welsh Language Board ‘begged’ them and maybe more importantly because most OpenSource software like OpenOffice and Firefox has been available in Welsh (and Breton and Irish) for a long time.
Granted Microsoft’s share of the market is so big (although it’s getting smaller all the time), so more users are likely to switch there MS software to Welsh before switching over to OpenSource.
For a comlete list of (free) software that’s available in Welsh, check out:
http://www.meddal.com/index_files/Page487.htm
Some problems with the Welsh version also:
Dell computers sold in the UK as of late 2005 ship with a new Windows XP SP2 OEM version, which has the language set to Welsh by default. This setting causes Photoshop and the Editor of Photoshop Elements to freeze.
http://photoshopnews.com/2006/01/20/photoshop-cs2-or-the-editor-of-photoshop-elements-40-freezes-immediately-after-you-start-on-windows/