in my computer(ubuntu9.1+ruby1.9): pt@pt-laptop:~$ irb irb(main):001:0> require 'iconv' => true irb(main):002:0> str = Iconv.iconv('GBK', 'UTF-8', '謌題ッエ').to_s => "[\"鐃緒申傍\"]" in my friend's(ubuntu9.1+ruby1.9): $ irb irb(main):001:0> require 'iconv' => true irb(main):002:0> str = Iconv.iconv('GBK', 'UTF-8', '謌題ッエ').to_s => "\316\322\313\265" irb(main):003:0> puts Iconv.iconv('UTF-8', 'GBK', str).to_s 謌題ッエ => nil what's wrong in my system? -- Posted via http://www.ruby-forum.com/.