MacBook Pro Keyboard: ISO vs. U.S.

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Level 1

16 points

MacBook Pro Keyboard: ISO vs. U.S.

Hi All!

I'm planning buying new laptop, namely MacBook Pro 15".

But there is one problem - keyboard. I'm developer and touchtypists and kind of dependent on decent keyboard layout.

As usual on-line Apple Store (and retails) are totally blank on the issue and have no clue that keyboards can be different. There is a choice between "German" and "Intl' English" - without a word what precisely the "Intl' English" is.

Can anybody tell me (or even better show) difference between "Intl' English" as it is sold in Europe (Germany) and normal U.S. keyboard? Is "Intl' English" (as I fear it is) ISO based?

For my old PowerBook I could order a replacement keyboard with normal US layout. Is keyboard replaceable on the MacBook Pros? (Because as I understand it is not replacable on MacBooks and Airs.)

Does anybody have experience buying Apple laptops with U.S. keyboard from Europe?

Thanks in advance.

P.S. In older time, there was a KB support page describing all types of keyboards (on iBooks and PowerBooks) as sold by Apple - now the page is gone. At least I can't find it anymore.

PowerBook G4 12"

Posted on May 2, 2008 6:06 PM

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Answer 1

May 2, 2008 6:15 PM in response to Ihar Filipau

The keyboard is a replaceable item, by an authorized service provider.

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Answer 2

May 2, 2008 7:50 PM in response to Ihar Filipau

the following page on the support site shows the different hardware keyboard layouts available and what they look like: http://docs.info.apple.com/article.html?artnum=304933

more specifically, the US layout is http://a248.e.akamai.net/7/248/51/3049331182291562/www.info.apple.com/images/kba se/304933/304933_19b.gif and the international english layout is http://a248.e.akamai.net/7/248/51/3049331182291562/www.info.apple.com/images/kba se/304933/304933_08b.gif

it does look like the latter is ISO-based.

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Answer 3

Ihar Filipau Author

Level 1

16 points

May 4, 2008 3:17 AM in response to Paul Borokhov

Thanks Paul!

That's the page I was looking for!

The only question now remains is can I order U.S. layout from Europe. Last time I tried it with iBook though order was accepted, they just shipped me notebook with German keyboard. German phone support as well as retail in the times had no clue that there are different kinds of keyboards. I'd love to try that again, but unfortunately I still haven't deducted formula to filter out the always agreeing sales who would accept order for anything.

Re: Intl' English. Useless key was put in place of '~', '~' took some space from left Shift, '\' is where it is on typing machines. Essentially difference is only in five buttons, but four of them are important buttons. My friend from UK when faced with question "what for the button replacing '~' on intl' keyboard" replied that he never used it before. Go figure.

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