It’s easy to switch your keyboard to another language setting. If other keyboards are enabled you can press ‘alt-shift’ to toggle through them. If they are not enabled, do the following to add them:
2) Select ‘keyboard settings’
3) Select ‘Change language and input settings’
This keyboard follows the standard 105-key layout used in Latin America for Spanish.
This keyboard follows the standard 105-key "QWERTZ" layout used in Hungary.
This keyboard follows the standard 105-key "QWERTZ" layout used in Croatia and Slovenia.
This keyboard follows the standard 105-key layout used in Italy.
- Setup Windows to use a French Canadian keyboard.
- Setup Collect! to use a unique character set.
5. Confirm that the On field for Code 's' contains "(ON
4. Click on this item to display the Printer Control Code form for this code.
3. Press Add to display the Add Language form. Click the down arrow and scroll through the list. The language French (Canadian) should be listed. If so, choose it and press OK.
1. Sign into Collect! as you would normally.
When Peter Keung bought an Acer laptop for his mother a couple of years ago, it came with a surprise. The machine arrived with a multilingual keyboard instead of the familiar U.S. English layout he expected.
Lenovo approaches things differently. It offers the choice of keyboards on ThinkPad products, as well as French-language equivalents of each model. In the consumer segment, IdeaPads are offered with English-only keyboards as well as bilingual equivalents of each model.
The move stems in part from the 1977 Quebec language law, the Charter of the French Language. Regulations enacted based on it require vendors supplying computers in Quebec to provide keyboards "with inscriptions, command buttons and keyboard keys in French." The multilingual keyboard also makes it easier to type accented characters.
Rather than offering separate products in Quebec and the rest of Canada, some vendors have opted to supply multilingual keyboards across the board, typically on the lower-priced consumer units. They say it reduces costs and the complexity of inventory control.
Then, when he blogged about the experience, dozens of other users who had also been blindsided by the new keyboards chimed in, some with considerable venom.
Multilingual keyboards, which today dominate at big retailers, have led some customers to return their purchases and others to seek keyboard replacements. Some laptop customers have been out of luck trying to find the model they want with the keyboard they need.
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Incidentally, the Cdn Multilingual keyboard (either the ‘layout’ or the physical keyboard) is hugely useful for other languages as well.
Further on the theme of destroying productivity, THE #@^$(*&#ING FUNCTION KEYS NOW REQUIRE AN EXTRA KEYSTROKE! Yes, some genius has decided you’re more likely to change screen brightness than to use a function key, and has moved the F keys to be a secondary function. I press F11 all the time to toggle full-screen browsing; now I have to press Fn-F11. I press ALT-F4 countless times per day to close a program; now it’s Fn-ALT-F4.
This is an outrage!
I have been typing for years on typewriters before computers so I use both hands. I bought my first laptop and when I got it home I had the bilingual keyboard. Drove me nuts. I work on a desktop computer all day long. I then did some research online thinking I got a French computer or something. Anyways I went to Best Buy, even called them first and they have had complaints about this. I returned the HP no problem and they have in store Lenevo, Dell and of course Apple products with the keyboard language as English. People at work thought I was crazy talking about this weird keyboard. Anyways I got a Dell AND most importantly a REAL SHIFT KEY. I looked at picture of computers online also but Best Buy guy indicated the pics on their Online Website are US. So check the keyboard specs if you see Bilingual …run if you see English you are okay.
I purchased an Asus Transformer Tablet with Dock from the Best Buy here in Nanaimo, BC.
Was at a local STAPLES store yesterday complaining about the same thing. They suggested a remapping of the "\" key to a Shift key at a cost of $49 plus HST. It can be done. Since I am past the return policy period, my only solution is an instore credit, which is useless because all their laptops have this "\" between the Shift and "z" keys. I will try this remapping (get an IT to do it for me), and if that doesn’t work, I don’t know what I’ll do. I took typing in grade 9 and 10, so I am a fast typist. This keyboard will create inefficiency and frustration.
i’m bilingual IT guy. but i like US keyboard, because i can find my keys easy in a bilingual keyboard.
I’d like to chime in too. I HATE THE BILINGUAL KEYBOARD on Laptops.
I haven’t bought a laptop since these new keyboards appeared. I cannot for the life of me use the left shift properly since it is now smaller. Dell for sure has not opt for the bilingual crap keyboards but still holding out. PLEASE KEEP THE BILINGUAL STUFF IN QUEBEC and BRING BACK THE REGULAR KEYBOARD FOR THE REST OF THE PROVINCES IN CANADA. Hello….
The only problem I’ve found with switching keyboard layouts on a standard US keyboard is that you lose a couple of characters — I can’t remember which ones off the top of my head (backslash?) internet slots quick, but they were deal-breakers for me, as I needed them for programming. The extra key to the left of Z is where those live on a bilingual/UK keyboard.
I’ve pretty much decided I’ll have to buy my next laptop in the US. I find the ISO layout (which is what the multilingual keyboards use, rather than the US ANSI style layout) is a huge cause of repetitive strain injuries.
Next time I want a laptop, I’m taking a little vacation south of the border. A few days in the sun and I can bring it home under my customs limit. As for Canadian retailers, they can go somewhere even hotter.
This is an absolute mess.
Get with the program people and stop your hatred.
HATE BILINGUAL KEYBOARD! WISH I HAVE AN OPTION TO PICK…
PS LENOVO sales rep said it is his company policy to sell bilingual keyboards in Canada.
I guess I will give my $1000 to HP or ASUS
But US borders are just within 30 mins. Bound to US BestBuy for good laptops with Clean US Keyboard.
\i found this site by searching ‘what idiot decided to change the keyboard layout in canada’. \i took my keyboard back to Bestbuy. They had given me a French keyboard by mistake – obviously…
It’s more than just something that is hard to relearn, it’s HARD TO USE for the typical woman, or for a child, or for someone with simply smaller fingers/hands.
Control Panel -> Hardware and Sound -> Adjust commonly used mobility settings -> Fn Key Behavior
Future Shop and Best Buy only has those keyboards for laptops. I recall they have been like this for the last two years but it is getting worse and worse every year.
I agree with Francis. You are in Canada and accept the fact thay you live in a billingual country with two offical langauges. Stop making Amerians assimilate your minds and be proud to be Canadian for once! Vive le Canada!
I am going through the same problem trying to find a NON bilingual laptop. I don’t agree that we don’t have the choice. I did see today on Apple’s site that you do have the choice which is fantastic but I just can’t afford an of the Apple laptops. I’d like to know who made the choice to change the keyboard and why and why can’t we choose which style we want. If I can pick a colour, the screen size real money blackjack 9 fpv, etc…why can’t we choose if we want bilingual or not.
And this is no offense to anyone out there who does enjoy the bilingual. I just don’t and I am not happy that I know longer have a choice.
apostrophe = Shift Comma
question mark = Shift 6
quotation marks = Shift Period
slash (front and back) = try the key to the left of the 1, with and without a Shift
go online and buy from www.lenovo.com, www.apple.com, or www.dell.com. they all prioduce english keyboard, and you can buy any of them with a us keyboard in canada.
SO – CHANGE THE LAYOUT.
I have been shopping for 17" laptop for a month – comparing power of processors and graphic cards online casino bonus free play, monitors etc, when I noticed that 99% of laptops have bilingual keyboards
This is 100% deal breaker for me, I am buying laptop for work and I don’t want to search for proper keys.
Meanwhile, to those who say it’s just simple to change in the OS. look at these:
Can someone honestly say there’s no difference? The first one is a mess, and a pain to touch-type on.
@ Blondie — drive to the US to buy a US keyboard? Really. Come on, we just want the right to CHOOSE which one we buy! The charter (language rights) is defined as being able to work and speak in the language you choose. I want that same right (and I bet the retailers do too). I love French and have very close French friends. But I really resent law dictating to me what I can purchase especially when it affects my work and life.
Long story short, I ended up going with a MacBook Pro for numerous reasons, mostly that I was *done* with Windows (but that’s another rant), and couldn’t be happier with the computer and the US keyboard layout, now I just have to get a PS/2 to USB adapter so I can use my IBM Model "M" keyboard with it (and if you’re a serious typist I recommend checking them out)
Many computers in Canada come with a bilingual keyboard layout, which is different than a US-style, “English-only” keyboard. If you or the person you’re buying the computer for is used to the US-style keyboard, certain properties might be difficult to adjust to. Here are two of the most obviously differences in those keyboard layouts:
Wow, finding this blog is like finding a support group. I had no idea this was mandated — just frightening. It’s especially refreshing to read the French/bi-lingual posters who ALSO hate these keyboards (as do EVERY SINGLE PERSON I ASK). I almost ordered a laptop on line, and then went to Best Buy and to Future Shop only to find that the keyboards on all the models have this crappy layout (my fingers are also not long enough to reach the Shift key). I wrote in on the online forms to both stores complaining about the lack of choice, and about the ignorance of the staff ("You must have been looking at the US site" — then we looked at his own store’s website and voila! There were the large, normal Shift keys… "Well, that’s why we have a 15-day return policy"… argh. What if I had ordered it and then it shows up with this ridiculous keyboard. ). If anyone knows who to tell/write to/talk to who might change this "legislation" please post it — I’m just dumbfounded by this.
I’m contacting the Government of Canada as I type this to see which department I need to address this concern to.
To anyone who thinks this issue is "silly" I would ask them to think on this for a moment :
Imagine the keyboard you are typing on had the "Shift" and "Enter" keys cut in half.
Irritating isn’t it?
"Is it SO difficult to re-learn two-three keys?"
Just got a Dell Inspiron N5030 for the in-laws. Was surprised to see the keyboard upon unboxing, then when I started using it, I hated it. Later? Still hating. Switching to US layout helps, but putting the pipe/reverse solidus key in-between the z and left shift, and in-between the single quote and enter is a decision beyond all stupidity. But it does fall in-line with the original purpose of the QWERTY design – to slow down typists by making it more complicated.
Totally Agree with John! Well Said.
Frustrating to use this bilingual keyboard in the extreme.
not sure of old stock, but have seen staples offerings with normal keyboard layouts. tiger direct also seems to have new laptops with regular keyboards as well. you may want to deal with a wholesaler to get what you want if this mandated keyboard crap holds up and kills the keyboard.
The layout doesn’t work for those with smaller fingers. It’s quite difficult to reach the Shift key, and also quite a (literal) stretch to get to the enter key — again, for someone with small hands.
Take a look at some of the keyboards being used elsewhere around the world and they have nothing to do with French in Canada but their format is the same as are new keyboards here.
Hey iphone slots monkey in the bank, people, you disappoint me. Come on, you have such big and fatty fingers that you can’t get on a shortened shift key. OMG. It’s not that different from US layout, only the width of shifts and enter (sometimes, not always!), and maybe the apostrophe. Is it SO difficult to re-learn two-three keys? Are you hard-programmed robots? *facepalm*
If you order from Lenovo Canada’s online website, you can still get a US Keyboard. Another option is to order from Walmart USA Online and pay with PayPal. Then you can have the laptop shipped for free to a Walmart Store, and then drive across and pick it up.
I will probably end up getting my laptop in the US, since it seems almost every company here in Canada has switched to the suck of ISO layout.
Futureshop had just one Sony Vaio laptop with English keyboard.
Staples: 0
Best Buy: 0
Costco: 0
Called lenovo.com sales number – just bilingual laptops.
First published on November 20, 2009
Regarding the post above, I don’t think there is anything I can change layout wise to fix that. If there is, please let me know.
Unfortunately for Acer, it means that instead of my office ordering another 15, I’ll be trying to return the one I bought.
Please share the petition site on to as many Canadian emails as you can, and sign it. And don’t forget to call the head office and complain, they won’t know this matters to more people, if they don’t hear it from the buying public.
I, for one, like this new keyboard. Not only does it make it easier to type in French, but also in pretty much any European language not using cyrillic characters. It’s especially practical for those with a notebook or netbook lacking a traditional number pad on the right side of the keyboard. I have written in both French and German with the Canadian Multilingual keyboard, and after the requisite period needed for adjustment, I now find it to be far more accomodating than the old method of using a standard US keyboard with the character map. Most importantly, I note that while it seems to be a keyboard designed exclusively for typing French, it is just as convenient for Spanish, German, Serbo-Croatian or Polish as it is for French, as it includes all characters or "dead-keys" needed for the languages. Just my $0.02.
I agree that the movement of the keys can cause enormous frustration for anyone that is a touch typist. The first thing I check when testing a new laptop is the keyboard. Imagine my surprise when after typing a sentence or two I looked down and saw only gibberish. Typing "I" is the biggest one.
I was thinking of learning DVORAK anyway- so maybe I will go that route.
Just bought a lovely Acer TimelineX however hate the Canadian Bilingual Keyboard. In searching for a ‘hardware hack’ and found this blog… looks like I am not alone. A second thought is this may sound like business opportunity if someone sells U.S laptop keyboards. I am having a trip to China next week and will look there. Since most of the laptops are built over there I might be able to find the keyboards easily.
Change it to "Function key"
The number of keyboard layouts a bilingual Canadian has to remember in order to type in both languages is nuts. I have a laptop that has a US keyboard and a Canadian multilingual keyboard that I plug in when at my desk. When I set to French, a lot of the characters are set to different keys and for some reason the keyboard at work has yet another layout in French. Drives me a little crazy, especially as a couple of mystery characters just don’t seem to exist in some layouts but, still, maybe it’ll help prevent Alzheimer’s one day.
I’VE GOT MANY SOURCES TELLING ME THAT A LOT OF PPL GET THEIR LAPTOPS FROM MANY DIFFERENT SOURCES TO GET THE KEYBOARD THEY’VE USED FOR DECADES. WAY TO LOSE SALES. CONGRATLATIONS, YOU’VE MADE YOUR NATION WORSE OFF…
FYI, I just spoke to a representative at Acer who advised that there is no factory english keyboard available for the Aspire Model 5471-5869. I did give the representative some feedback though and he said he would take it to management…
For those who haven’t seen, if you cannot return your laptop, then get something like KeyTweak to attempt to make the keys laid out somewhat better. I am very disappointed in my purchase.
What committee was responsible for this?
The Canadian multi-lingual keyboard is complete crap.
I wish I saw this post before purchasing my Acer AS3830T notebook computer from a Canadian vendor. The keyboard is so irritating. I used KeyTweak (mentioned 3x above) to remedy the situation for now: the \ key next to the Enter key is also an Enter key, and the \ key next to the left Shift key is also a left Shift key. Of course this means that I no longer have easy access to the \ or the | characters. Hope I can assign those characters using the [Fn] key somehow.
And that is quite apart from the fact that some people use that keyboard layout quite successfully, all the time. What it is, is *new to you*. You could take a few minutes to learn it (it isn’t hard — it’s a keyboard).
Since I really wanted to see and touch the keyboard before purchasing it, I found the following ASUS laptop on www.canadacomputers.ca and drove to the local Canada Computers store to look at it. Everyone who sees it comments on what a nice looking laptop it is, very sleek and stylish, with a beautiful English only chicklet keyboard.
ATTN ALL FIRST TIMERS – IF YOU DON’T LIKE IT TAKE IT BACK AND COMPLAIN. TELL THEM YOU’LL ORDER FROM A BUSINESS WHO WILL GIVE YOU WHAT YOU NEED. YES online slots canadian automobile, TAKE YOUR BUSINESS ELSEWHERE.
And next time you order a computer… look more closely at the product description.
If this was something people could choose that might make sense. I think what pisses people off (me included) is that the retailers are saying that this is the only keyboard layout they are legally permitted to sell in Canada.
Thanks for starting this post!
I think we should start a list of places where you can still get a normal keyboard. I know if you order online from Dell you can still get it, so there you go.
Thank you for this post – I can’t stand these keyboards! When did this mass migration happen? Like Geof I know lots of people who type Chinese (me included) – where’s my keyboard? (FYI computers in Hong Kong are sold proper US keyboards)
I was at Costco today and saw the 14 inch Aspire TimelineX i3. Tried it. The shift key is too small and I kept hitting the extra key. The sales guy suggested I get a wireless keyboard that is US English and hook it up for when I am at home/office and then when I travel "just get used to it." Whhhhaaattt. Really. Is that what I have to do…get a wireless US English keyboard. LMAO.
I haven’t bought a laptop or Tablet PC for my business or personal in Canada for over three years. That is about 8 machines.
I think alot of you missed the point of a Bilingual Keyboard.
I was raised in a French community, French school system and English family (in Ontario). At school we were trained to type with a CANADIAN MULTILINGUAL keyboard. I work in a mostly English workplace, thus we have Standard Canadian English Keyboards. I also know there is a standard Canadian French keyboard setting. AND THEN there is the US English keyboard setting. As long as you have the proper setting, it does not matter what the keys have displayed on them, unless you aren’t a proficient typer; then it isn’t about hate the product, it is about the used needing education. Yeah, once in a while I get pissed off because it changes settings on me (or more aptly, I accidentally, without realising, hit the switch keys – Usually Ctrl + Alt + other).
If you like a US keyboard, go to the US and buy. Canada should not be forced to sell them simply because certain areas of the country pay more attention to the Southern culture than our own.
And a few comments on keep the French in Quebec….well, let me tell you safe online casino paypal accepted, NEW BRUNSWICK is the ONLY bilingual province. Quebec is French, the rest are English, but they all recognise the second non-official language as official because of the Charter.
AND there are MORE THAN half a million FRANCOPHONES living in Ontario…that does not include those like me who self identify either French OR English.
Lets all sign this petition to bring back the regular keyboard!!
I wish I had seen this page before I bought my new Acer Aspire 5741. Changing to Windows 7 was frustrating enough without throwing in a keyboard with flat keys that changed to French when you accidently hit shift and alt together. I am so far behind in my invoicing and correspondence that my boss is quite "unhappy". The extra cost to Canadians to be bilingual is much more than printing everything in 2 languages!
Just got a business class ThinkPad T410 from www.LENOVO.com, one of the best laptop on the market. it’s a US keyboard.
I think only LENOVO and APPLE sell laptops (with US keyboard) in Canada. they are both great notebook manufacturers.
I find this sudden change to bilingual Keyboard Layout Very Silly and Ignorant. I’m not sure how it all started and who approved it, but honestly, it’s dumb enough to approve the Bilingual keyboard as Standard Layout in Canada. The reasons:
for anyone struggling to change the keyboard back to standard english from the french-layout – press and release the left CTRL and left SHIFT key at the same time.
You’re not serious now are you? This is not just about the placement of the keys, it’s about the complete mess of the labels, some keys have 5-6 things on it and most of it is never used, some of it is even redundant, because believe it or not, lots of characters appear twice on different keys, look at this image for example:
Oh – the right ALT key is an ALT CAR key, which doesn’t help as much as you think.
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Last updated: July 13 sdguy recent live play slots 2015 only, 2012
If you’re looking to buy a computer in Canada casino games online ice, or more importantly a laptop, you will probably look at things like brand, screen size, battery life, hard drive space, operating system, CPU speed, RAM, and other even more technical aspects. However, don’t forget to look at the keyboard layout.
My bilingual keyboard looks worse. The right shift key is half the original size and is shared with another | and \ key. I bought mine online so I didn’t know what the keyboard would be like. Because of this layout, I’ll probably be buying my laptops from the States from now on, or at least going in-store to make sure I’m accustomed to the keyboards.
A lot of people do not care because they do not really know how to touch type. That’s why the change means nothing to them. Relearning the keyboard is as much as relearning how to walk or talk. The circuitry in your brain on a repetitious task somewhat becomes hard-wired which is why you gain much speed. Tie your shoe laces enough times, you do not think about it… but you are fast at tying them up.
Needless to say my faster speed, was not faster because of this stupidly designed keyboard. Like a few have already stated who was the numskull who designed this keyboard, and why has Canada now made it mandatory to push these keyboards on the whole buying public. If the MINORITY wants a bilingual keyboard, then let those few order it.
1. You have to stretch your pinkies on both hands to hit keys that are heavily used. This can exacerbate strain. It makes no sense.
2. Why on earth should we be forced to use what is plainly an inferior layout when the physical keyboard layout we’ve been using since time immemorial (digitally speaking) was perfectly good?
For the question mark – try Shift-6
This is ridiculous. The only manufacturers you can guarantee that doesn’t have this French keyboard bullshit is Dell and Lenovo thinkpads but you have to order them online.
The keyboard is specified by the buyer, and I have yet to see a product SKU where the language was not clearly marked.
>>Let me make a suggestion.
>>
>>Look in the mirror. If you don’t know what you are buying, it is your own fault.
>>
>>The keyboard is specified by the buyer, and I have yet to see a product SKU >>where the language was not clearly marked.
I just ordered a laptop from the US to get around the asinine keyboard layout. According to some retailers I’ve talked to, the multi-lingual keyboards are mandated by law. The fact that you can find a few laptops still with US keyboards is because they are either older stock or were imported into Canada from the US. Give it a another year and you won’t be able to find any US keyboard computer for sale in Canada.
Get real you cry baby racist ranters and get use to the ISO keyboards because that is the format most of the planet is going with, except for a few countries like the USA who are reluctant to drop their antiquated ANSI system and move on the reality of ISO which is the worldwide standard.
I hadn’t really realized there was so much hype and distress over this bilingual keyboard thing..
I just recently replaced my laptop, and while I was searching for options online I did notice that there were English/French/Bilingual options, but never really thought too much about it.
I went into FS and bought the hp I did mostly for the cost factor. didn’t notice til I got home the part about it being a bilingual keyboard.
Personally, it wasn’t much of a bother for me at all (the only problem I had at first was that this keyboard has a set of command buttons on the far left side that are where my caps lock, shift, etc buttons used to start. so I kept hitting those until my hands got used to being moved over slightly..)
The small size shift key or oddly shaped Enter key didn’t bother me either..
I’ve had it for about a week now and had absolutely no problems with it until tonight, when I noticed something missing that I obviously took for granted on my Sony Vaio!
I study Portuguese in school and have to use many of the symboled and accented letters when typing my homework. On desktop computers or laptops with keyboards that have the extra number pad, this is no problem, since I could just use alt-codes. (and in Word I can use their symbols) but on my Vaio I had the numlock option and the embedded number pad on the letters on my keyboard. on this bilingual keyboard I don’t have that. and I don’t even know how to make the French symbols work to my advantage!
Can someone help me learn to use this keyboard properly? Or bring back my numlock number pad
But aside from that, Language of today follows wealth. At the moment, the most dominant currencies are English, Chinese, Japanese, and German (the Euro is still based on the Deutsch Mark). There is a reason why India is mandating English as a requirement for the kids.
Cindy. Actually it relieves my blood pressure ranting and raving because it helps release bottled emotion. Some idiot thinks its in my best interest that I now adopt a bilingual keyboard because they think I should, not because I need it. Democracy is speaking out loud my opinion, my desire for choices. I bought into a bilingual laptop and never used it because it took me a while to discover how to remap the key. Not everyone knows or finds programs to do this, nor do they get any help at all from the vendors who sell them. (Plus likely odds they don’t know either). Why? Because they couldn’t care less.
Today, being Monday, the manager from my local Best Buy store, and a nice gal from the head office of Best Buy, which heads over the laptop dept, both called me, as they were concerned of my complaint.
@Dieter: Nuff said Totally agreed. I hate stpd bilingual keyboard. US Layout is the keyboard i’ve been using for years, and I learned keyboarding with it, so it Sticks in my brain. I’ve tried using new keyboard and my productivity is ruined. so many typos, and I returned the laptops. I have to go crossborder to buy laptops now.
People need to stop messing around with what is the MOST IMPORTANT and always the most neglected single component on any computer system: the keyboard.
To Stephen above:
If you want the US keyboard for any specific model feel free to email me with details at [email protected]. Should be able to hand carry a few back to Toronto in early Sept and am not trying to make profits but to see if this actually can turn into a business.
Lol, I hate my multi-lingual keyboards on my new laptops. I’m so glad I can still get good ol Microsoft keyboards for the desktop.
Have to agree that the Lenovo keyboards are ace. I use one at work (US Layout). I recently bought a Sony Vaio, and couldn’t figure out why I was making so many typing errors. I’m typing \ when aiming for the shift key or enter key. I hadn’t even realized there were extra keys in there. Reaching for the enter key with my right pinkie, takes my fingers off the home row and I often end up with my hands returning to the wrong positions. It’s a disaster. I’m trying to write a novel here and I want to throw my Vaio off a building.
I’m very close to turfing it and buying a Thinkpad or Macbook.
I couldn’t agree more with the guy above (Justin – March 4th, 2010). That horrendous multi-lingual keyboard layout that is forced on so many Canadians making a regular retail laptop purchase must be the product of a dysfunctional international committee. Shrinking two of the most commonly used keys on your keyboard in order to squeeze extra keys between in the way that they have done is an ergonomic disaster! If you look at the official layout <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:KB_Canadian_Multilingual_Standard.svg>, you can see the lunacy of it all–if they hadn’t overlaid so many keys with special characters (like fractions roulette online zoology, copyright symbols, etc.) that are all accessible via software in the OS, there would have been no need to add extra physical keys for the language modifiers. They could all have been accommodated as overlays on the existing keys of the standard US layout.
The issue is more about perceptions than it is about keyboard design. Just stop moaning and get on with it. As for me, I was delighted to find a truly international keyboard layout that more or less works with my keyboard and lets me write in several Latin languages, not just French.
I just got bit by this myself. Bought an Acer laptop in Quebec, had a bilingual keyboard. Fine. Returned the laptop and ordered a different model from BC (also Acer though) – same bilingual keyboard.
OK – lots of issues, but let’s drop the anti-French rant – please! We live in Canada, and it is a bilingual COUNTRY… they don’t only speak French in Quebec… did you know that New Brunswick is in fact the ONLY bilingual province in the country? Also online roulette for money zipper, did you know that there are very large and significant French-speaking communities throughout Ontario and Alberta? I would suspect that there are pockets in all of the provinces, but I only know of those two for sure.
I understand that we can’t make everybody happy, but Majority should have the advantage. Not trying to go against the French, but it’s unfair to the Majority. If We have to VOTE slots online canada nepal, Does the Minority Win.
I would love the ability to choose which keyboard I want – ANSI or ISO layout (it’s not about the multilingual factor). Apple’s MacIntosh computers give users a choice of layouts. Unfortunately, I’m a Windows user.
DEAR CANADIAN KEYBOARD STANDARD SETTER: