On Wed, Oct 26, 2022 at 12:51:35PM -0400, D. Hugh Redelmeier via talk wrote:
Looking at one of these notebooks, I see: - a US-style left shift, adjacent to z. - an enter key that is wide but not tall - left of enter is a key with 5 inscribed symbols but works as ' and " So I think that you'd be happy with the layout.
Looking at one in real life or on the webpage? The webpage almost always uses images of a US model that is different than whey they actually sell. Every Asus (and most other brands) I have ever seen in person with a Canadian Bilingual keyboard layout (so most of the ones sold in Canada in the last number of years) looks like this one: https://laptopparts.ca/products/new-asus-ca-canadian-bilingual-keyboard-0knb0-112bcb00-ae0c8k00010?variant=39933652729943&dfw_tracker=124191-shopify_CA_6802837471319_39933652729943&gclid=Cj0KCQjwteOaBhDuARIsADBqRegQj8Sewv50k4bpLm_0jjp5HMBlRNsKC8oKEiNlhB9h-2OqbD-k898aAovlEALw_wcB Not sure how they could claim it is canadian bilingual if it is any other way although it sure would be nice if they had figured out a better layout to make. Do you have a picture?
To the right of the touchpad is a sticker saying why you should buy this model (like every other laptop). It is in french, with no english except for words that work in both languages ("ASUS Laptop", "SuperBattery").
BTW, I would like to be able to tell Linux about the keyboard layout matching the extra key inscriptions, but not enough to figure it out. I'm happy with telling linux that I have US layout for all practical purposes.
Hmm, I would think there is an option for that layout available. Of course it doesn't help that there exists both Canadian Multilingual and Canadian French layouts and they are not the same thing.
Some of the extra inscriptions are just translations. For example the up key has an arrow and a small "PgUp / P Prec" (with an accute accent on the e).
Function Shift:
There is a "Fn" key, as on many notebooks. It is between the left "Ctrl" key and the left Windows key. It functions as another kind of shift key, as is usual. For example, the F1 key generates an F1 keystroke normally, but if the Fn key is held down, F1 mutes/unmutes the speaker.
Most keyboards have inscriptions for the Fn-shifted function in a distinct colour. Often distinct french interpretations are in yet another colour. In this keyboard, all inscriptions are white.
The Fn function can be locked by typing Fn + Esc. It can be unlocked by the same sequence. On Linux, while it is unlocked, a little LED shines through the Fn keycap. I think that this lock only affects the F1-F12 keys. I almost never use F1-F12 so I'm fairly indifferent to the default state, but having the light on is a little distracting at first.
I use alt+F2 to launch programs in X, so working function keys have always been important.
Come to think of it, the light is an easy way to see that the computer is on: the normal power lights are on the right side of the computer.
The Caps Lock / Verr.Maj. key also has a light in the keycap. I never use caps lock so I only discovered this while composing this message.
Function keys (top row):
I'm a touch typist. The F1-F12 keys are not touch-typable so I rarely use them.
Yes laptop function keys have always been too small and too close to work for touch typing.
The one exception: in the GNOME "Files" program (used to be called Nautilus), I use F2 frequently to rename files. (A keystroke is better than a menu item if you use it enough to remember. But discovery remains a problem.)
I used to use Ctrl-Alt-F_ to switch virtual consoles but that doesn't seem to be needed and I'm not sure it works these days. Certainly Ctrl-Alt-Backspace is no longer useful.
Do you use F1-F12?
I think F2 is the only one I use much anymore. Well in windows alt+F4 is handy for closing a program. -- Len Sorensen