alanfromnorthallerton

Q: What's difference between American and English keyboards

I am looking to buy a new MacBook Pro 15" and would like to know the difference between a us keyboard and an English keyboard as some sights say American and others say English

MacBook Pro (13-inch Mid 2010), iOS 7.0.3

Posted on Sep 30, 2015 4:09 AM

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Q: What's difference between American and English keyboards

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  • by Tom Gewecke,

    Tom Gewecke Tom Gewecke Sep 30, 2015 11:39 AM in response to alanfromnorthallerton
    Level 9 (79,385 points)
    Sep 30, 2015 11:39 AM in response to alanfromnorthallerton

    An Apple machine can have one of 3 different "English" keyboards -- US, British, and International.  To see the difference, consult

     

    How to identify keyboard localizations - Apple Support

  • by Phil0124,

    Phil0124 Phil0124 Sep 30, 2015 11:45 AM in response to alanfromnorthallerton
    Level 7 (27,681 points)
    iPhone
    Sep 30, 2015 11:45 AM in response to alanfromnorthallerton

    Basically some keys will have different characters depending on region.

     

    i.e a British keyboard will have  the pound symbol, rather than the hash tag above the 3 for instance.

     

    However, this ends up being mostly cosmetic. As if you set the keyboard input to English U.S inside the OS, then the keyboard will behave like a US keyboard regardless of the characters printed on them.

  • by Tom Gewecke,

    Tom Gewecke Tom Gewecke Sep 30, 2015 11:55 AM in response to Phil0124
    Level 9 (79,385 points)
    Sep 30, 2015 11:55 AM in response to Phil0124

    Phil0124 wrote:

     

    However, this ends up being mostly cosmetic. As if you set the keyboard input to English U.S inside the OS, then the keyboard will behave like a US keyboard regardless of the characters printed on them.

     

    Except that the US keyboard has one less character key than the British or International versions, so that behavior cannot be totally the same.

  • by Phil0124,

    Phil0124 Phil0124 Sep 30, 2015 12:07 PM in response to Tom Gewecke
    Level 7 (27,681 points)
    iPhone
    Sep 30, 2015 12:07 PM in response to Tom Gewecke

    Tom Gewecke wrote:

     

    Phil0124 wrote:

     

    However, this ends up being mostly cosmetic. As if you set the keyboard input to English U.S inside the OS, then the keyboard will behave like a US keyboard regardless of the characters printed on them.

     

    Except that the US keyboard has one less character key than the British or International versions, so that behavior cannot be totally the same.

    I did say "mostly"  not "completely", but i'm curious, which key is that?

     

    From the link above, the only noticeable difference I see, Is the return key shape. which moves the [| \] key up or down one row and is the same shape for The British and International keyboards.

    English

     

    International

     

    British

  • by Tom Gewecke,

    Tom Gewecke Tom Gewecke Sep 30, 2015 1:02 PM in response to Phil0124
    Level 9 (79,385 points)
    Sep 30, 2015 1:02 PM in response to Phil0124

    Phil0124 wrote:

     

    which key is that?

     

     

    US  keyboards are of the ANSI type and do not have the extra key to the left of the Z which you find on European (ISO) keyboards.

  • by Phil0124,

    Phil0124 Phil0124 Sep 30, 2015 3:51 PM in response to Tom Gewecke
    Level 7 (27,681 points)
    iPhone
    Sep 30, 2015 3:51 PM in response to Tom Gewecke

    Tom Gewecke wrote:

     

    Phil0124 wrote:

     

    which key is that?

     

     

    US  keyboards are of the ANSI type and do not have the extra key to the left of the Z which you find on European (ISO) keyboards.

    Actually that key does exist on the Is keyboard.  Its placed to the left of the #1 key at the top.

     

    On international and British keyboards the key to the left of the 1 has other characters.  Which are not available on any other key on the Us English keyboard as far as I can see.

  • by Tom Gewecke,

    Tom Gewecke Tom Gewecke Sep 30, 2015 4:17 PM in response to Phil0124
    Level 9 (79,385 points)
    Sep 30, 2015 4:17 PM in response to Phil0124

    Phil0124 wrote:

    On international and British keyboards the key to the left of the 1 has other characters.  Which are not available on any other key on the Us English keyboard as far as I can see.

     

    You can find them on the US keyboard at option 6 and option shift =.  The extra physical key available on the international keyboards lets you access these extra characters without resort to the option level.