No you don't need a Chinese keyboard or Chinese computer or Chinese Operating System to type Chinese. (assuming you use Windows) 1. Start Menu 2. Control Panel 3. Regional and Language Options 4. Click on the middle tab "Languages" 5. Make sure "Install files for East Asian Languages" has a check next to it. If it wasn't checked it might ask you for your Windows CD Click OK if you have a check next to it. Repeat steps 1-5 6. Click "Details" on the top. 7. Click "Add". 8. Under Input Language select "Chinese (PRC)" Microsoft Pinyin IME 3.0 will be automatically selected. You may select other IMEs if you installed it previously like Sogou or Google's IME. 9. Click OK 10. Click OK again. 11. Hopefully your language bar is showing 12. Left ALT + SHIFT will change your languages. Make sure you see CH for chinese. 13. The SHIFT key will toggle English or Chinese. I hope this helps and if there's anymore questions please ask.

as I known, there is no extra chinese keyboard, we use normal english keyboard. so it is important to learn pingyin, couz it not only helps to pronounce the word, also helps you to type chinese in caomputer. but most of the chinese software don t use the four tones. there are some attached software by mikrosoft self, you dont have to download it from internet, otherwise ziguang pingyin should be a good choice.

to install a chinese typing software! that's enough! i think!

no....... you can download some chinese input methods. herein i am recommend you two common methods: if your alphabetic is good,you can download SOGOU INPUT,this can practice your spelling; if you are good at how to write chinese,you can use Wubi input method,this can practice your writing,but it's difficult to learn.

I think the Niney Chan's answer is best.