A gentleman set out on a full-day quest in Akihabara with a Japanese friend acting as interpreter ("with a patient and flexible persistence which is the hallmark of your column's advice," he adds) looking for an iMac computer with an English-language operating system installed. The end result: a long list of maybes and perhapses.

Another gentleman asks a related question. For him, the years have slipped by -- 43 of them here in Japan -- and he has never gotten around to owning a computer. Now he finds relationships with his friends are becoming strained because he doesn't have e-mail, and he can see how primitive his typewritten memos and manuscripts look when compared to his friends'. He wants to use the Internet for the many new services it provides as well as for information that would be helpful with his research projects. Instruction manuals should be in English and it should not be too difficult to learn to use it. He asks what would be the best computer to buy.

It's chancy to recommend the best of anything because of the differences in individual tastes and requirements even in such nonessential features as color and style. In some cases, space is a factor. This gentleman must work at his only table, which means he must also eat there. Obviously, he needs a laptop or a computer table on wheels for easy mobility. His computer will never become user-friendly if he must continuously move it and his current project with related books and papers somewhere else.

Experts all recommend that he should talk to his friends and choose what most of them use. These are the people he will likely turn to during the first difficult days of learning the system. They will understand his problems and will be much more likely to be interested in his computer well-being. They will likely have him try theirs before he decides; most people like to convert a nonbeliever. Then it won't seem so insurmountable when he finally unpacks his own. Another suggestion: Go to user-group meetings. Listen to what people have to say about their computers, what their complaints are. He could also ask for advice. Most people seem happy to provide it. The Tokyo PC Users Group meets the first Thursday of the month at Tokyo Union Church in Omotesando at 6:30 p.m., information from Tony Whitman at (03) 5420-6541. The Ringo group meeting is on the third Friday at Apple Japan's Opera City Headquarters at Hatsudai, information at [email protected]. MacTokyo meets bimonthly, e-mail information from [email protected]. For others (Okinawa, Filipino) see www. apple.com/usergroups. It seems absurd to provide e-mail and Web addresses when he does not yet have a computer, but that's where the information is.

His choice will likely be either a PC utilizing the Microsoft Windows operating system or Apple with its explosively popular iMac and iBooks, the "I" standing for Internet. Windows is at the moment the most widely used system. Apple's OS system is regarded as being the easiest to learn. Apple has already captured 23 percent of the local market; leader NEC has 24.98 percent. The deciding factor may be one's friends.

Neither of these gentlemen travels abroad, but for those who do, there is the option of buying a computer in your home country. There will be generally helpful salespeople who speak your language, you can get manuals and software in your own language, and perhaps enroll in a few classes to get started. Costs have generally equalized, so don't expect large savings, except on software. Shipping charges are high; bring your computer with you if you can. Computers are not subject to customs charges, but the 5 percent consumer tax must be paid. For all products, save your receipt stating the name and address of the dealer, the date of purchase and the serial number. You should check about the manufacturer's warranty policy when you buy. Quite often it will not apply overseas. Even with assurance a warranty will be honored, some have had trouble finding a local dealer who will accept it, especially if there is a language barrier. If it happens to you, call the manufacturer's head office and ask for help. Don't count on ordering from overseas. Most dealers are not allowed to sell outside their own country.