NZ Keyboards -vs- UK keyboards

[kokopeli]

Does anyone know where I can buy a UK-specification computer keyboard in New Zealand? The one I brought from the UK doesn't want to play anymore and I can't get used to the different key positions on a Kiwi keyboard.

I've tried buying one through Amazon, but they don't ship this far south......

[Taffy]

I would imagine the only place you'd find a UK style keyboard is somewhere like trademe. Maybe someone who brought they PC from the UK is selling one.

I couldnt get used to the kiwi keyboard, but now after getting used to it, I find I cant use my laptop, which has a UK keymap!

[kokopeli]

Hi Taffy,

I could probably get used to the kiwi keyboard if I didn't keep switching to my laptop, which has a UK layout. Unfortunately, I have to use both and it's just too annoying....

I'd love to know why there are different layouts though.

[moggy]

if you are a good keyboard user and touch type, then it doesn't matter to you wher the keys are, just change the keyboard mapping using windows. If necessary, stick a few stickers on the ones you find hard to find.
and yes nz keyboard layout is a pain, particularly with the backspace key being half the size it should be.

[Taffy]

Different keyboard layouts are tuned to different language requirements. There arent many differences between a UK and US (NZ) keyboard, with usually the @ and " symbols switched, and they have simply removed the pound (currency) symbol as it's not required. UK keyboards historically had 1 more key than US keyboards, to accomodate the extra key for the pound symbol. Other languages also had alternative keymaps to account for accents on letters etc. On a UK keyboard, the pound symbol is on the number 3, so the hash (#) had to be moved to another key.

If you're American, you're probably thinking the pound symbol is still on the number 3, as I believe you call a hash (#) a pound!

Anyway, I'm sure I've bored you enough. Moggy is right, just change the keymap settings on your computer and the keyboard will operate like a UK one.

[Dawn]

Originally Posted by kokopeli

I could probably get used to the kiwi keyboard if I didn't keep switching to my laptop, which has a UK layout. Unfortunately, I have to use both and it's just too annoying....

Expand your mind Kokopeli, learn a new skill, add a new string to your bow then you will be ambikeybordrous or bikeyboardrous or somethingrous anyway. You'll be able to type anything anywhere! Think of the liberation

[ebianca]

Are the NZ keyboards the same as the US ones or are they different again. Surely they can't be that different from the UK ones- I presume all the letters will be in the same locations.

Beth

[Taffy]

They are pretty much the same keyboard. When you set them up in Windows, you use the US keyboard settings (there isnt an NZ one).