If you are a laowai using ubuntu/debian and want pinyin input and simplified chinese output or pinyin output – with accents ;) – you should try the package scim-uim. zh-tonepy and zh-pinyin input methods work as I expect.
I guess the package scim-pinyin is for native chinese because i couldnt figure out their input methods :P
Update: If you are for the ü try typing v. I took some time to find it…
Rounder Wheels 