:input Chinese characters If you are using Windows you can use the IME (input method editors) software. If you don't have IME set up already and don't have Office XP may need a little bit of initial setup. The Microsoft help page can take you though the process step by step:
http://www.microsoft.com/windows/ie/ie6/downloads/recommended/ime/default.mspx
Once you have the IME software installed typing is quite easy. The following site provides a great tutorial on typing in Chinese using Microsoft IME:
http://newton.uor.edu/Departments&Programs/AsianStudiesDept/Language/chinese_write.htm
If you have a standard Mac OS installation of anything later than 10.1 you have everything you need for Chinese and a ton of other languages. No need to install anything. Just go to System Preferences > International and activate a Chinese input method. Notice that now you'll have two input methods active, your original one (English or whatever your first language is and Chinese). As soon as more than one input method is active you will see them show up in the menu bar under their respective country flags. You can easily switch between your active input methods through the flag menu or simply with Cmd-Space. (The Command/Cmd key is the one with the little Apple on it.)
: 
:input Chinese characters If you are using Windows you can use the IME (input method editors) software. If you don't have IME set up already and don't have Office XP may need a little bit of initial setup. The Microsoft help page can take you though the process step by step:
http://www.microsoft.com/windows/ie/ie6/downloads/recommended/ime/default.mspx
Once you have the IME software installed typing is quite easy. The following site provides a great tutorial on typing in Chinese using Microsoft IME:
http://newton.uor.edu/Departments&Programs/AsianStudiesDept/Language/chinese_write.htm
If you have a standard Mac OS installation of anything later than 10.1 you have everything you need for Chinese and a ton of other languages. No need to install anything. Just go to System Preferences > International and activate a Chinese input method. Notice that now you'll have two input methods active, your original one (English or whatever your first language is and Chinese). As soon as more than one input method is active you will see them show up in the menu bar under their respective country flags. You can easily switch between your active input methods through the flag menu or simply with Cmd-Space. (The Command/Cmd key is the one with the little Apple on it.)