Buying a QWERTY laptop in France
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Buying a QWERTY laptop in France
I am an American living in France. I am looking to buy an American style laptop, and I will not be in the US anytime in the near future. Does anyone know if it is possible to buy an American laptop with a Qwerty keyboard in France? I am too old to learn Azerty!
- blackduff
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You can order a Dell with the QWERTY keyboards and all of the Windows and other items in English. You can call Dell direct here in France and it's quick and it doesn't cost anything.
I have three Dell computers (2 laptops and 1 desktop) and all of the system is a QWERTY keyboard.
Blackduff
I have three Dell computers (2 laptops and 1 desktop) and all of the system is a QWERTY keyboard.
Blackduff
FACEBOOK THOUGHTS: Remember that old phrase: if you're not paying for it, you're not the customer; you're the product being sold.
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- blackduff
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Time4Change
Dell gives some reason to buy from them.
First, the Dell shop is found in Montpelier and if you need help, it's only two hours driving. If you have a computer from the UK, check how long it will be to haul the computer over to them.
Second, the plugs (UK) are going to be changed.
Third, Dell allows you to choose which parts you wanted with the new computer. I have always wanted to change the options, since I'm kinda fussy. My desk computer is much different than the two laptops I have now.
You can take the servicing which gives you "next day" servicing of the computer, if it's needed. Find which UK computer will have a guy to your house here in the PO.
Pricewise, Dell is very competitive with similar computers. The Apple computers are more expensive but it's not similar as a Dell.
Dell also has English people on the telephone, if needed.
I bought a Compaq desktop a few years (UK) back. The computer arrived in my house and plugged into the wall. Wow, a big splash screen showing Compaq. But, that is all that happened. I had to haul this clunker down to a dealer to get it fixed. It was a good lesson on this purchase in the UK when you live in France.
Some thoughts!
Blackduff
Dell gives some reason to buy from them.
First, the Dell shop is found in Montpelier and if you need help, it's only two hours driving. If you have a computer from the UK, check how long it will be to haul the computer over to them.
Second, the plugs (UK) are going to be changed.
Third, Dell allows you to choose which parts you wanted with the new computer. I have always wanted to change the options, since I'm kinda fussy. My desk computer is much different than the two laptops I have now.
You can take the servicing which gives you "next day" servicing of the computer, if it's needed. Find which UK computer will have a guy to your house here in the PO.
Pricewise, Dell is very competitive with similar computers. The Apple computers are more expensive but it's not similar as a Dell.
Dell also has English people on the telephone, if needed.
I bought a Compaq desktop a few years (UK) back. The computer arrived in my house and plugged into the wall. Wow, a big splash screen showing Compaq. But, that is all that happened. I had to haul this clunker down to a dealer to get it fixed. It was a good lesson on this purchase in the UK when you live in France.
Some thoughts!
Blackduff
FACEBOOK THOUGHTS: Remember that old phrase: if you're not paying for it, you're not the customer; you're the product being sold.
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- sue and paul
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That's where an ipad, or other touch screen device, scores, at least for short texts - you can gét the äčćęńtèd characters very easily.jethro wrote:It is perfectly possible to write English on a French keyboard. The reverse, however, is impossible. I recommend a Swiss keyboard as it will enable you to use most European languages. Surely you will find the need to use French at least occasionally ?
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If you want to go with Dell, it may be worth looking at the "business" part of their range - where they usually have machines which are essentially the same as their consumer line but with different model names, eg "vostro". The prices are sometimes better, and they have little or none of the superfluous extra software ("crapware" in technical language) which they are paid to put on their products for mug punters.blackduff wrote:Time4Change
Dell gives some reason to buy
Blackduff
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martyn94 wrote:Not so. You just need to have a keyboard with a number pad and learn all the codes for the accented letters (alt+0233 = é, alt + 0251 = û, etc.) once you're used to it, it's fast enough.jethro wrote:It is perfectly possible to write English on a French keyboard. The reverse, however, is impossible. I recommend a Swiss keyboard as it will enable you to use most European languages. Surely you will find the need to use French at least occasionally ?
As for myself, I've gone one step further! As I learnt to touch type on a qwerty keyboard, I found that I was incapable to type on a azerty. I bought a French computer, set it up so that the azerty keyboard becomes a qwerty and if I type in French, I use the method given above. It works well for me as I do not need to look at the letters on the keyboard (which do not correspond of course)... no one else can use my computer!
French born but British expat
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I had forgotten that you can use essentially the same procedure on the keyboard of a "proper" apple computer: holding down the key for the unaccented letter gives you a choice (on the screen) of all the possible accented versions . You then choose, or navigate to, the one you want. Much easier than learning the Microsoft codes. Details are eg here http://support.apple.com/kb/PH11264martyn94 wrote:That's where an ipad, or other touch screen device, scores, at least for short texts - you can gét the äčćęńtèd characters very easily.jethro wrote:It is perfectly possible to write English on a French keyboard. The reverse, however, is impossible. I recommend a Swiss keyboard as it will enable you to use most European languages. Surely you will find the need to use French at least occasionally ?
- russell
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I think it depends on the operating system you use but, if I remember correctly, some of the accented characters can be typed on a UK qwerty keyboard by holding down the "alt gr" key while typing "e" for example.
Of course, if you only type in French while at home, you can always plug an Azerty keyboard into a USB socket and use that when necessary.
Russell
Of course, if you only type in French while at home, you can always plug an Azerty keyboard into a USB socket and use that when necessary.
Russell
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ebay
hi you can buy on ebay stickers which cover the keys and transforms a azerty to a qwerty with no problems about 5 euro's,,then just change default keyboard to english QED G