This may be, or rather is, as strange place for this kind of question, but it is called general discussion, so I guessed it was ok? Anyhow, I plan on starting at chinese (Mandarin) evening courses at the end of summerholidays next year, since I plan to read to a candidate degree (5 years at uni) in mandarin. If I have the basics I can take Chinese A (High-level preparational starter-language chinese.) in less time after preparational school. So, here comes my question, I need to write mandarin when I start, and if I have to write assignments on 2 pages or more writting them in my hand will make me crazy, so I wanted to know if anyone knows a program that will translate e.g. Pinyin into standard mandarin characters?

I know this is a little strange place to be asking, sorry :/.
Thank you!