Trouble finding non-US keyboard layout in US

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CWR63

CWR63

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Mar 18, 2014
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I never considered that this might be a problem, but some keyboards are not as advertised, even on the packaging. This all has to do with the size of two keys, the \ and the return key - the non-US layout having a normal sized \ key and a double height and width return key in a reversed or rotated L shape, and the US standard having both keys double width and single height roughly the same size.
Buying my first keyboard in a quarter century, I was unaware of this distinction, and judging from comments I see in product reviews on YouTube, Amazon and elsewhere, I'm not alone. While a few manufacturers have added stickers to their packaging to alleviate this confusion, the vast majority are not clear, as I discovered on a recent visit to Frys. Even brands I was sure would have the non-US layout that was shown on their packaging had the US standard layout.
The reason I mentioned how long it had been since I had last purchased a keyboard is that what now is non-US layout was then standard, and I've grown accustomed to it.
So I bought a quality keyboard online, largely on the basis of the layout, not opening it until my PC build was finished, and unfortunately the 30 day return period had passed. It's the wrong layout.
Without accurate packaging, how do I get the keyboard I want?
 
Solution
ssddx
the trouble is that ansi is marketed in the usa given it is a standard. in europe it would be iso.

you could try searching for 105 keyboard as well.

or, buying a uk or european model and shipping it. some made-in-china specials (well they are all made there.. but i think you know which boards i mean) shipped direct from there also may be iso or baa/asian layout.

wasd is a made to order keyboard. it specifically asks you what keyboard layout so i doubt that its wrong if you ordered from them direct. expensive yes.

you can likely find something but i'm not going to spend time doing the searching for you as i would have to do just as you are on amazon, ebay or other sites. i can however do as i have been and offering up a few ideas.
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ssddx

ssddx

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May 27, 2009
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what is commonly found is standard us layout. big rectangular return key with a smaller rectangular \ key underneath. this is called ANSI layout also.

the L shaped return with small \ is available but would be the minority. it is more often found on cheap budget boards or products you can buy online. this would be an ISO layout

the even larger L shaped enter keys do not seem to have a good name but are common in asian countries. many of your cheap imports from china may be of this layout.

i cant say i've ever come across products that did not match the picture of them or the box in person myself. what products did you buy that did not match? i'm not sure where the confusion would lie in terms of what layout you have since most have large pictures right on the box and most stores would let you check the product (open it) before buying if it was not apparent.
 
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CWR63

CWR63

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Mar 18, 2014
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I purchased a Steelseries Shift: MOH MMO Keyset, w/standard keyset included, for $40USD new from Amazon.com - the packaging and online photos showed the ISO layout on both keysets. When I went to the brick and mortar, the Genius Imperatur (writing on a tablet so I can't check that name) an import of lesser expense but many features, had the ansi inside while having the iso on the box - this was the case for the other 5 boards I checked w/iso on the box, except the 2 that had stickers saying US standard layout inside.

The reason I kept my old Key Tronic for so long was actually it's lack of windows keys, as I never had any use for them and it makes your space bar 3 keys shorter. My new mobo has no PS/2 port, which already needs an adapter from the 5 dimm pin of the old keyboard, which is of the grimy grey/beige variety - and while it still works fine it looks bad, lacks features, and would not work with yet another adapter to plug it into a USB port according to keyboard forums.

So my wishlist is as follows: USB connectivity: ISO layout (thank you for the correct terminology BTW): integrated wrist rest - grimy old keyboard comes with equally grimy old gel rest, a giant gummy worm from a movie theater floor, do not want: professional looking design with high build quality: and yellow backlighting to match my build theme.
USB connectivity is pretty universal, so that's stricken from the list. I knew that backlighting was not included with the Shift, but you can't have everything. But lacking the promised ISO layout, I was getting only 2 of my 4 items...kind of irking.
 
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ssddx

ssddx

Titan
May 27, 2009
17,054
5
74,965
i know many of your botique keyboards like WASD offer iso layouts.

the main trouble is that even though certain keyboard styles come in iso layout, they are not marketed as such over here in most cases. for example the mionix zibal 60 is available in iso but is marketed as ansi over here.

found the adesso AKB-135EB
 
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CWR63

CWR63

Honorable
Mar 18, 2014
38
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10,530
The Adesso is designed a little young for me, and has the light green instead of yellow backlighting, yellow LED is apparently very hard to do. I could live with the Mionix light green LED if I could be sure I would actually get the ISO layout, and it didn't cost $141.00 - a lot of those ANSI in ISO packaging were WASD keyboards.

I tried searching ISO keyboards, but the results were disappointing. So I guess I'll try to buy an ISO layout keyset for my Shift and give up on the backlighting.
 
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ssddx

ssddx

Titan
May 27, 2009
17,054
5
74,965
the trouble is that ansi is marketed in the usa given it is a standard. in europe it would be iso.

you could try searching for 105 keyboard as well.

or, buying a uk or european model and shipping it. some made-in-china specials (well they are all made there.. but i think you know which boards i mean) shipped direct from there also may be iso or baa/asian layout.

wasd is a made to order keyboard. it specifically asks you what keyboard layout so i doubt that its wrong if you ordered from them direct. expensive yes.

you can likely find something but i'm not going to spend time doing the searching for you as i would have to do just as you are on amazon, ebay or other sites. i can however do as i have been and offering up a few ideas.
 
Upvote 0 Downvote
Solution
CWR63

CWR63

Honorable
Mar 18, 2014
38
0
10,530
I'm trying to contact manufacturers directly to find if they can ship me the ISO layout directly, as well as asking friends in the UK. If I can get the Steelseries Apex 350 in ISO that would be close to ideal, although there's an awful lot of extra keys on the the right and left sides of that keyboard that would not be used and just get in the way - I do mostly 2D and 3D art, so access to lefthand shift, ctrl, alt; del, backspace, and return in the middle; numpad enter, +, - are most important.

I wonder if you could get an actual custom keyboard, what would it cost? It's probably not worth KickStarting a fully customizable keyboard, waayyy too complex, too many variables. But...maybe a keyboard that offers what no other manufacturer does, like no Windows or command keys allowing for wider spacebar, alt and ctrl keys, ISO or ANSI layouts, USB and speaker pass-throughs, aluminum case, removable wrist rest, 16.7 million RGB key lighting, optional or deletion of media and/or macro keys, and (although I myself don't care about this part) choice of mechanical or non-mechanical keys. Also a unicorn to ride around on while I wait for this to happen.

The reason nobody makes a fully customizable, modular keyboard is that they are stuck having one keyboard in their product line, and every order becomes a special order. But they'd only cost $1K apiece...
 
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