Miscellaneous Laptop Keyboard Question: How Much Of A Pain

You can separate the concepts of OS and language.  Any laptop you get will be able to be set up for any locale, language and region preferences you wish.  So you can get it and set it up to be as English as you like, save for whatever differences there might be printed on the keyboard (£ and # signs for starters, though there are a couple of other idiosyncracies).  ie If you select UK English keyboard and press Shift-3, you'll get a pound sign, even though it has # printed on it.  Disconcerting if you look at te keyboard (as I do) but not if you touch type.

I'd be more worried about how a warranty might travel and getting the right power supply.

Good points there that I hadn't thought of. The guy I may buy from is in Wales so I guess he's had no problems with power, but I can't comment on the warranty thing, I know nothing.

So what would I do with the OS? And presumably if I make the keyboard English English (hoho) then I'd be moving things like the @ wouldn't I? So counterintuitively pressing something that does not have @ on it, when there's a button with it on, which I think is the 2.

I'd be more worried about how a warranty might travel and getting the right power supply.

Definitely. The keyboad can effectively be changed in the settings of the OS, so no problem with operation.

OK. I might have to gently, politely pull out. No money has changed hands or anything. Nor have i clicked anything that binds me to anything on any well known auction sites or anything.

EDIT - looking for sometign with laptop specs but closer to netbook size, and this one is quite sexy too. Heyho.

Most laptops can have their keys pulled off and replaced in the right place (thought that doesn't fix £/#)...

Or you can get stickers - might look a bit naff but you'd only need it on a couple of keys.  Is it on the bay?  Have you got a link with a pic?

A poor pic:

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Acer-Aspire-V5-171-6616-IVY-BRIDGE-HD-4000-11-6-i5-3317U-1-7-GHz-6GB-500GB-Win7-/200825326618?_trksid=p5197.m1992&_trkparms=aid%3D111000%26algo%3DREC.CURRENT%26ao%3D1%26asc%3D14%26meid%3D2341525137113467079%26pid%3D100015%26prg%3D1017%26rk%3D1%26sd%3D200825326618%26

Slightly better pics:

http://www.computeruniverse.net/en/products/90471012/acer-aspire-v5-171-53314g50ass.asp

Ah ok - no real indication of the exact layout of the US keyboard so not much help.  Without comparing detailed specs and stuff, that doesn't strike me as particularly cheap btw.

The eBay one I got down to £450.

My instincts are saying leave it though.

Personally I wouldn't worry about the keyboard (I have to swap between Mac and Windows keyboards daily and you get used to what they do fairly quickly), though also personally I'd hang around until the absolute right one came along, unless you're really desperate.

I've got an HP DM1 which is very simalar in spec to that Acer, paid £250 (refurb with 12 month warranty)

OK thankyou all. He's getting testy so I'm going to try let him down gently.

He keeps sending me his number. Lucky I haven't done likewise.

EDIT I'll have a  look at that Dave, thanks.

He's unamused. Wants to send me photos so I'll let him.

Just seen an HP though that's a laptop/tablet hybrid, even though I have a tablet...And it's under £400...

EDIT He says teh warranty is international and the power thingy is UK.

John, is it OK to email you th epics he's sent? Actually I think it's just one pic.

Not sure that would achieve owt tho, what with you telling me not to worry about it.

Send it anyway (the gmail address), will take a look - just wanted to see how different it might be to a normal UK keyboard, and see if it would annoy me.