MBA Keyboard Layout?

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Beavcoon

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I want to purchase a keyboard cover for my MBA and I just wanted someone to confirm for me whether the South African Macbooks have either the EU/UK or US keyboard layout.

The EU /UK one has an 'L'-shaped enter key and 79 keys. The US one has a rectangular enter key and 78 keys.

I would have thought that it would be the EU/UK one but someone said that we use the US version, so I'm not sure anymore.

Thanks
 
A keyboard cover? Why would you want anything to come between you and that great keyboard? Unless spilling fluids on it is a common occurrence?
 
bwana said:
A keyboard cover? Why would you want anything to come between you and that great keyboard? Unless spilling fluids on it is a common occurrence?
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No matter how clean your hands are, keyboards always manage to get oily over time and I try to avoid this at all costs! I'm OCD about keyboards..
 
Beavcoon said:
No matter how clean your hands are, keyboards always manage to get oily over time and I try to avoid this at all costs! I'm OCD about keyboards..
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Have you tried using just a damp cloth to wipe them down?
 
bwana said:
Have you tried using just a damp cloth to wipe them down?
Click to expand...

Yes but the keyboards get that inevitable sheen, no matter what you do.

The keyboard cover will also be there for extra protection from freak accidental spills and to give me peace of mind..
 
Beavcoon said:
Yes but the keyboards get that inevitable sheen, no matter what you do.

The keyboard cover will also be there for extra protection from freak accidental spills and to give me peace of mind..
Click to expand...
Sheen? Confused about what this means (picture??)

In all the years I owned Macs and a few PCs, never really had any issue with dis-coloration or fading, and I'm fairly clinical about a clean keyboard, screen, ...


Ps. The chiclet keys can be replaced; personally never had a reason to replace chiclets, but here's a company that allows to purchase the ones you need (very reliable + quick to deliver; used them previously to purchase a mechanical switch keyboard and some replacement key caps)

http://www.thebookyard.com/apple_keycaps.php
 
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[)roi(];11782739 said:
Sheen? Confused about what this means (picture??)

In all the years I owned Macs and a few PCs, never really had any issue with dis-coloration or fading, and I'm fairly clinical about a clean keyboard, screen, ...


Ps. The chiclet keys can be replaced; personally never had a reason to replace chiclets, but here's a company that allows to purchase the ones you need (very reliable + quick to deliver; used them previously to purchase a mechanical switch keyboard and some replacement key caps)

http://www.thebookyard.com/apple_keycaps.php
Click to expand...

With prolonged use the keys wear a little smooth. I'm looking at the two machines in front of me and even with the three year old MBA it's hardly noticeable and then only on a few select keys. I just can't imagine typing through even a thin layer of protection would be a particularly pleasant experience.
 
bwana said:
With prolonged use the keys wear a little smooth. I'm looking at the two machines in front of me and even with the three year old MBA it's hardly noticeable and then only on a few select keys. I just can't imagine typing through even a thin layer of protection would be a particularly pleasant experience.
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Guess for 3 possible reasons I've never noticed this:

I'm a fairly light typist (and I type a lot re coding, consulting reports, ...) + when I'm at my desk I prefer to use a full size keyboard & I tend to replace my Macs every 3rd year at the latest.

Yet even with that my full size white chiclet Apple keyboard shows no particular wear pattern (either smoothing or fading)

I agree re the cover; yuck!
 
Pooky said:
I hate that sheen. But I also don't like the idea of a cover
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I bugs the hell out of me. Since I've never used any Apple keyboards before, it would be easier to get use to it with the cover on. I know a lot of people who started using the laptop with the cover hate the feel of it without!

Can you confirm for me what keyboard you have please?

[)roi(];11782739 said:
Sheen? Confused about what this means (picture??)

In all the years I owned Macs and a few PCs, never really had any issue with dis-coloration or fading, and I'm fairly clinical about a clean keyboard, screen, ...


Ps. The chiclet keys can be replaced; personally never had a reason to replace chiclets, but here's a company that allows to purchase the ones you need (very reliable + quick to deliver; used them previously to purchase a mechanical switch keyboard and some replacement key caps)

http://www.thebookyard.com/apple_keycaps.php
Click to expand...

A light gloss over the keys from use over time.

Nice to know about the key replacement, thanks.

bwana said:
With prolonged use the keys wear a little smooth. I'm looking at the two machines in front of me and even with the three year old MBA it's hardly noticeable and then only on a few select keys. I just can't imagine typing through even a thin layer of protection would be a particularly pleasant experience.
Click to expand...

I guess for those who didn't start typing with one it will be very strange. I will get use to it as I will only type with it on as soon as I receive it.

Can you confirm for me what keyboard you have please?

[)roi(];11783068 said:
Guess for 3 possible reasons I've never noticed this:

I'm a fairly light typist (and I type a lot re coding, consulting reports, ...) + when I'm at my desk I prefer to use a full size keyboard & I tend to replace my Macs every 3rd year at the latest.

Yet even with that my full size white chiclet Apple keyboard shows no particular wear pattern (either smoothing or fading)

I agree re the cover; yuck!
Click to expand...

Yeah if you change your macs that often and the fact that you use the full sized keyboard, you probably would never notice it.
You're lucky then!

DrJohnZoidberg said:
My 13-inch 2013 MBA has a L-shaped enter key.
Click to expand...

Thank you!!!
 
Beavcoon said:
Yeah if you change your macs that often and the fact that you use the full sized keyboard, you probably would never notice it.
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I switch between both, and in the case of the full size Apple keyboard; it's going on 4 years, and I still don't see much if any noticeable wear.

As I said I'm fairly clinical about the state of my keyboards -- I don't let grime build up; it's probable that the grime build up causes the abrasion.
 
Maverick Jester said:
Wait, are you not able to determine this using your own MBA?
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LOL. I'm still waiting for it to arrive. It should be here in the next two weeks. It is a long 8 weeks..

[)roi(];11783138 said:
I switch between both, and in the case of the full size Apple keyboard; it's going on 4 years, and I still don't see much if any noticeable wear.

As I said I'm fairly clinical about the state of my keyboards -- I don't let grime build up; it's probable that the grime build up causes the abrasion.
Click to expand...

I can appreciate how much you car for your products. Most people don't bother.
 
Beavcoon said:
Can you confirm for me what keyboard you have please?
Click to expand...
both have L shaped return keys but both were imports so I'm afraid that info my not be of any use to you.
 
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