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install the latest version of the Macromedia Flash Player. the Z should go here, between the A and the S This is where the X should sit, not the Z - between the S and D On most other UK keyboards this shift key is smaller so that the |\ key and itself fit into the same space this single key is taking up, meaning the Z can go where the |\ is... Alternatively, the shift is this big and the |\ key is someone completely different See the number '0' on this key? Look at ANY numberpad and you'll see the 0 is below the 1 and 2 not the 2 and 3 Brand new model. If anyone with even remote touch typing skills or basic memory of where to put fingers to find keys used this, they'd figure it out in about...
But try actually typing on this and it all becomes far too apparent. The Z should be below and between A and S, not S and D You're looking at a brand new Dell Vostro 1310, ordered the day after its released, and delivered on 30th April 2008 in the UK. its just that the left shift is too big, forcing everything over too far. This is not a US/UK layout issue, just a general monumental flaw. UPDATE 1st May 2008 5pm: I phoned Dell for 20 minutes and they have confirmed that this affects all new Vostro 1310s in the UK. They're hoping they can just replace the keyboards, though the guy on the phone said it was a 'motherboard' problem... UPDATE: 2nd May 2008 1:30pm - Kerry from Dell has informed me that Dell are working on a resolution for the issue. The official statement is as follows: ------ A limited number of Vostro 1310 and 1510 in Europe have been sent out with the wrong keyboard layout. We are working diligently to offer a solution to impacted customers and correct the error. Once a solution is in place, we will be contacting impacted customers directly to both apologise and instruct them on next steps. We are still investigating this issue and will come back with more detailed information as soon as possible. We have made a mistake here and will be acting as quickly as possible to find a satisfactory solution for our customers.
ou've gone and kept the large left shift key and moved the \| key to the right of the row, rather than making the left shift key smaller... I will have to take your word for that, but all 6 keyboards I can see in front of me right now have a small left shift key and the \| key to the left of the z Why reinvent the wheel? If there's a good ergonomic reason for this choice then that's great, but I can just sense that I'm going to fit this new keyboard into my laptop and be (a lot less, but still a little) frustrated with it. Here's the logic for why the |\ should be on the left not the right: * Look at where a touch typists fingers little fingers sit * Note the distance the little fingers have to travel to reach a shift key * when we have a small left shift, the 'A' is only half a regular sized key away from the shift key. A nice small distance to travel * again with the small left left key, the big left shift key is only half a regular sized key from the colon/semi-colon on which the right little finger sits. but the left shift key is now one and a half keys away from the semi-colon. The right little finger has a long distance to travel, making reaching for it take longer and be more of a pain. So there's a very convincing argument to go for the standard UK layout with small left shift and \| on the left. What's the convincing counter argument that lead you to your chosen design? I'm presuming that what you've applied here is the cost-effective quick-fix and that there is no other argument for your choice. I can completely understand this choice given the circumstances, but I don't think its going to work for me I'm afraid. and whilst we're on that, where's the delete key on a Mac? And why are " and @ in the wrong places on UK mac keyboards? Not as bad a design flaw as this, but utterly frustrating none the less. DEAR murilo A, dgua, korobeiniki, jorgepinto, cliph, mentor972, ramobjesus, raphy, zolinovat and every other MAC FANBOY out there, Thank you sooooo much for your kind advice in telling me to 'get a mac'. My wife has a mac which I bought her, my dad also has a mac which I bought him. It has one mouse button and forces me to press a key with the button rather than having a right mouse button. We have to cover it up at night as its glow 'throbs' and doesn't let me get any sleep. A similarly spec'd mac would have cost 949 (and that's still not as good spec as this). Lots of love, Jake PS: I've deleted a lot of your helpful 'buy a mac' comments from this page. If you want to advertise, go do it in your own space, not mine PPS: If you fancy trying to convert me you can of course send me a Mac for free. Just don't be surprised if a video of me smashing it to bits appears on the Internet soon after.
That's like me saying I don't like the handling on the SL500, another reason to buy a Prius. Wouldn't it be a reason to, oh I don't know, just buy another computer? As much a reason to buy a different model Dell, or a Lenovo, or an EeePC, as to buy an Apple?
They must not have anyone on staff who tests international layouts, or they would have found this immediately. Someone simply had a brain fart while designing the layout, and their testing process completely failed.
No, this ranks way up there since it's completely non-touchtypeable. As a frequent computer user, I depend on the keys being where they have been for the last decade whenever I type. Shifting the bottom row one key over is simply inexcusable.
tracerbulletnpi says: While I won't say that it isn't a screwup on dells part, I think they just installed the wrong keyboard. They probably ordered x amount of keyboards from some korean or whatever company, and they sent x amount of the wrong keyboard to dell.. Then the laptop gets put together with this awkward keyboard, and before anyone notices that it's not a standard keyboard, a few get shipped out. There is often something lost in translation when buying low cost components from overseas.. As far as apple is concerned, no one but apple would ever use their keyboards so it'd be impossible to screw that up...
jakegordon says: tracerbulletnpi: no, you're missing the point here. EVERY SINGLE QWERTY keyboard has Z between AS not SD, and so on for the bottom row. The |\ key to the left of Z is common on UK keyboards, but when it is there, the left shift key is made smaller so it fits in to the left of the A, not the right of it.
davidcraig5 says: You should be able to remap the keys to whatever you want using either windows or another program. They letters on the keys wont match, but if you are a touch typist, who cares?
Lepidus Wept says: This is a silly error but NOT a big deal if you're otherwise pleased with the computer. Your touch-typing will rapidly adjust if you soldier on, in exactly the same way a guitarist can play in multiple tunings. Really, this seems like more of a point of interest than a colossal screwup.
jamesbar2 says: Hate to rain on your parade but that's just a standard UK/Ireland keyboard layout. Keyboards in other parts of the world are different (notice the EUR and keys).
Pro User says: i'm assuming the mac comments above are only there because jake removed ottovelos comment. if you're serious, throw your macs out - you shouldn't be using computers Posted 2 weeks ago.
Pro User says: mac delete key on a laptop = fn + backspace. space saving on a laptop keyboard by combining the functions of two similar keys into one and using a standard modifier key seems like a good idea to me. I can see why some would disagree, but I would much prefer a big delete key that requires a simple modifier key to work than a small tacked on one that you find on most windows laptops.
Pro User says: At first, I thought it was simply a matter of getting a European keyboard by mistake. But after checking, there's no valid layout in which the "Z" key is positioned below the "S" and "D" keys this way.
It comes from nobody giving a shit about design during their testing process. This is why I've seen USB ports too close together to be used at the same time, built-in speakers that sound terrible, and fans that get ridiculou...
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