. . . [ De facto standard Hangul environment for Mac ] . . . |
/ introduction / version / fonts / installation / price & info / final thought /
Introduction |
HangulTalk is the localized version of MacOS from Elex Computer which is the sole official
distributor of Apple Macintosh and PowerMac in South Korea so far.
Therefore, it is installed on every Mac purchased from Elex and used to come
with HangulKey, a dangling small box hardware protector connected to ADB port of the Mac. Without HangulKey, you couldn't use advanced input method
and many TrueType fonts. However, with the advent of HangulTalk v7.5.1, Elex decided to remove HangulKey, and this weird limitation does not exist any more.
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Version |
HangulTalk v7.1.x and v7.5s ( This is nothing but modified version of 7.1.x ) consist of Basic Hangul System from Apple and Extended Hangul System from Elex. Basic Hangul System includes localized MacOS, basic input method called Hangul YpRyokKi and two TrueType Hangul fonts and Seoul bitmap font. Extended Hangul System provides more advanced input method called ChamYpRyok and several TrueType Hangul fonts. Unfortunately, you need HangulKey to use Extended Hangul System.
HangulTalk, v7.5.1 ( v7.5.2 for PCI PowerMac ) or later which is true System 7.5 localized for Korean has new single input method called PowerYpRyok which doesn't require HangulKey. It means you can use more superior Hangul Input method and all TrueType Hangul fonts bundled with HangulTalk regardless of HangulKey.
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Fonts |
HangulTalk v7.5.1 comes with 11 TrueType Hangul fonts including TrueType Seoul font and these fonts include symbols, hanja characters and hiragana and katakana. That is the reason why these TrueType fonts are so big ( mostly 3MB to over 5MB for each ) compared to the fonts in HKK or EH.
Besides these fonts, Elex has distributed other Hangul TrueType fonts on CD-ROM to its customers. As far as I know, you can buy the CD-ROM from Softimes (Elex's software subsidiary) for around 300,000 won. There are also several third party companies such as HanYang, Sandol, Yoon, SinMyung, etc. which provide commercial Hangul TrueType fonts and PostScript fonts, though most PostScript fonts are usually expensive. According to Elex, these third party Hangul fonts can be used without HangulKey under HangulTalk v7.5.1. For more info about fonts, see Hangul fonts page. On the other hand, with HangulTalk v7.1.x, you can use only two TrueType Hangul fonts, AppleGothic and AppleMyungjo and few bitmap fonts such as Seoul, xComm font (fixed-width font for telecommunication) etc. unless you have HangulKey.
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Installation |
Installation of HangulTalk is almost same as US version of MacOS. Make sure you have enough hard disk space because Hangul TrueType fonts will take huge amount of your valuable disk space.
However, in the case of HangulTalk v7.1.x without HangulKey, don't borther yourself by trying to install Extended Hangul System. You would spend time, hard disk space, and all you can get is annoying dialog searching for HangulKey everytime you start your Mac. All this limitations related to HangulKey do not exist on PowerBook.
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Price & Contact Info | ||
Elex or its dealer |
HangulTalk comes with every Mac purchased from Elex or is available separately
from Elex or its US dealer, Global Tech Alliances, for the price of $450 ( HangulTalk7.5.1 ). It has hefty price tag, and I think nobody is willing to pay that bunch of money unless you need HangulTalk for your business. As I know, Elex used to sell HangulTalk software from time to time for those who purchased their Mac abroad for a considerably discounted price. One last words, Korean Language Kit (KLK) is available for around $140 and it provides most of features of HangulTalk.
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Developer CD from Apple Computer |
Developer CD was one of the main sources in which Hangul WorldScript componets could be obtained and HangulTalk7.5.1 and 7.5.2 were included on past issue. This Apple Developer Mailing costs $149 for 12 mailing. Each month's issue consists of Apple Directions, monthly report which includes new Apple technologies, business
informations etc. and one of 3 CD archives (worldwide Macintosh system
software, developer utilities Tool Chest, and technical documentation
Reference Library).
It is much cheaper than the price of Global Tech Alliances, and comes with many other useful stuff if you are interested in Mac programming seriously. Contents of CD are changing every month, so contact APDA first.
Apple Computer, Inc.
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Elex Forum in Chollian |
In Elex Forum on Chollian, you
can find HangulTalk7.1. After you logged in, type GO MAC. Of course, you
need Chollian ID and password and have to join as a member of Elex Forum.
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Final Thoughts |
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Are you disappointed with HangulTalk for so many flaws? However, here is real final word : it is a de facto standard Hangul System on Mac now whether it is bad or not. We can't always take the best. See the Microsoft Word 6 for Mac. | ||
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