Hi,

Help. Anyone know Swiss* supplier of laptops where I can get with US keypad (the actual keys, yes I know you can change settings), and without Norton/McAfee pre-installed???

Even Dell don't seem to let you deselect a pre-installed anti-virus....



*Or an international one where I can sort out the tax/currency/shipping etc without worry

www.apple.ch

well, why not "cooking your own" instead of looking for the ready made?

I mean:
Dell... why not formatting the hard drive once you have the laptop?
they all pre-install craps anyway-

Keyboard: its very simple to replace if you can't negotiate with them for a US one, i'm sure you can get one online...Might cost like 30usd (not sure). maybe ask the dell idiot, erm I mean salepersons- about adding a US keyboard on spare part. (because they have standard process, the idi...sale person won't be allowed to think of replacing EU type keyboard by US one, but they will be able to "add" a part).

Just uninstall the anti-spyware...Simples..

Years ago, I was anable to find one for my AOH, who is a writer and journalist. I bought one in the USA for $20.00 or thereabouts, and, errrrr, ahem, well, I smuggled it into Switzerland, just to find out that it came with a stone-age PS-2 connector. The PS-2 to USB adapter cost me far more than the keyboard, but it works.

EDIT: Sorry, I didn't read the OP properly. To make things clear, I tried to find a plain keyboard, not a computer, with US layout and eventually bought it in the USA instead of Switzerland. Computers may be cheap in the USA, but those at $20.00 are pretty rare even there.

__________________

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I know Apple can supply foreign layout keyboards. I friend bought one with a Spanish layout here. Otherwise if they don't do it, ask a friend who knows a bit about this kind of stuff to buy one off eBay or something. Depends on the laptop in terms of how difficult it is to change them.

Hilarious, cheers I needed a laugh

Do they still give you a copy of the OS on a bunch of CDs when you buy a machine?

Keyboard??? I mean keypad, as in on the laptop itself. In the old days you could just swap the keys physically but with the latest models not so sure how easy/wise that is?

You should be able to order a UK keyboard from Dell relatively easily if you can cope with the switch of the @ and the "

Alternatively call them and ask if they can build with a US keyboard shouldn't be a problem.

1) You will have the "serial number" for activation, that's what matters.
The rest download the .ISO!!! it's free and legal.
And you'll remove lot of craps pre-installed

2) Keyboard, keypad. i'm talking about the same. Obviously it depends on the laptop model you want. But you can find instructions for all of them on google and the keyboard/keypad is often very simple to Swap.
Example:
http://support.dell.com/support/edoc....htm#wp1179980

As I said with dell you might be finding an 1diot saying its not possible blabla-
or you dont have the option online- then call them and ask for spare parts US keyboard, its usually cheap. But im sure if you insist they will put US-
They build them for you anyway and all parts are from their stocks.

No normally you get "recovery disks" which load to a seperate partition of the hard disk. Thank M$ for this one, you could always go Linux

I would suggest once you get it right and working with all the software you want, use something similar to Norton Ghost to a external disk.

Next time you have a issue reload the image using Norton Ghost, et voila painless.

norton = painless??????

One of the VERY good tools they have if they only one

regarding US keyboard.
It is very easy and inexpensive to change the keyboard of most laptop (no need for tools or skills).
If you have a laptop you want to buy, check ebay to see you if you can fingd a US keyboard.