Physical keyboard layout change & RAM

I have an Apple Macbook pro late 2011 13 inch

I got this in Germany and have a German keyboard. I still live in Germany but wanted to change the phyiscal keyboard layout to English. I spoke to Apple care and they mentioned they don't do this anymore. Anyone know if this is possible in Germany?

Have another question about RAM. The MBP has 2 x 2GB. I wanted to upgrade and was wondering if if put a 1 x 4GB & 1 x 2GB = 6GB will this work?

 

The layout would be changed by buying a new chassis and swapping everything.

You can use mismatched RAM sizes but you'll get the best DDR3 performance with matched size RAM.

 

I'd go with upgrading to a matched set of 8 GB as sometimes you get timing variations, even with the same specs. OS X is only getting bigger too. You can run it on small memory systems but it's going to page more.

Cheapest way to change the keyboard layout is to get an external keyboard with the layout that you want. I have a Max Blackbird TKL keyboard in the office and for mobile use and a Das Keyboard for home. They don't have the Function key on the left side which is overall simpler for me. Of course the downside is that you have to carry the external keyboard around with you but I'm happy to do that for the better feel and comfort.

 

Ripcord999, 6GB works just OK.

 

In an order to change the keyboard layout, you would most likely have to replace the entire lower portion of the computer. The cost of doing this may be more than it's worth with a three year old computer.

As for the RAM, a 2GB+4GB configuration would work just fine, but for the most desirable performance, you'll want to go with a matched pair.

 

Thanks guys. Looks like Keyboard layout change would be costly look in at the comment from @Datamonger :-/

 

How is that keyboard constructed? Is it all one piece with the top cover or is the keyboard part possible to replace separately?

While US english and DE have different layout, UK english shares same physical layout with DE but different letters on keys.

 

Macs use island style keyboards. The chassis has separate holes in the top for every key. As Macbook Pros are carved out a single piece of aluminum, the keyboard layout is part of the chassis.

The US keyboard physical keys are not the same as European keyboards.

 

Nice try but that's not what I asked...

UK ENGLISH and DE keyboards have same physical layout. So the question was, can the keyboard be replaced separately from the chassis, resulting in english language keyboard (but UK layout, instead of US). It has one key more than US version and some special keys in different places but still pretty much usable.

Oh well... A simple ebay-search later I can answer to myself: yes, keyboard is separate from the chassis: http://www.ebay.com/itm/321509871551

So the answer is that changing from DE to UK English keyboard costs ~28GBP and some elbow grease. If that's the correct one...

Going from even uk english to us english is the expensive route as the top part of the chassis needs has be bought too (about 100GBP apparently).

 

Iv'e replaced a couple keyboards in 2009/2010 MBPs. Basically just involves ALOT of dismantling... removing logic board etc and the keyboard's many tiny little screws. That is the elbow grease you speak of. It's not difficult, it is just shocking as you look at all the guts removed from the MBP as you get to the keyboard. Keep the parts/screws organized as you dismantle so you can confidentaly put it all back together properly. Take photos too as a reference for when you reassemble.

The keyboard ribbon cables were of different lengths between the different size laptops (thats how it was between the old 17" and a same year 15"). Not sure of ribbon cable length differences between a 13" and 15", just be sure to get the keyboard that matches your year and size laptop to be safe. And of course, get the same physical layout (seems you got that)

 

Since the keyboard has a cover over the bottom (leak guard I guess), and this cover can't simply be peeled off and perfectly put back on, the Apple Store won't even bother doing this. If the store gets a laptop with a keyboard problem, they just do the whole chassis.

While you can replace just the keyboard, you will damage this leak protection, which, ya know, might be bad.

I have a 15" Retina that was a "water damage" write-off where the trackpad totally failed. I used IPA to soften the glue of the batteries and get enough of them off I was able to swap out the trackpad. However, we could never consider this "repaired" and I can't give it to a user in the condition it's in now. This is another thing Apple won't fix by doing just the part. Bad trackpad, they swap the whole chassis. (you get new batteries out of the deal so)

 

the bottom cover (that black sheet) is also the keyboard backlighting. It probably does double as a water leak guard as you said. I've replaced those too and I haven't had trouble sticking them back on... not perfectly but good enough I suppose. But I've never spilled liquid on it to test.