Acer Travelmate P645-SG UK US keyboard change

Hello,

I wrote this in the Acer section of this forum to no avail so perhaps someone here knows...

Have finally decided on the Travelmate P645-SG

http://www.notebookcheck.net/Acer-TravelMate-P645-Notebook-Review.140765.0.html

The best price I can find is in the states by a large margin.

It will obviously come with a US keyboard. I'd like to swap it for a UK keyboard.

Could anyone tell me if this would require the whole palm rest changing, just the keyboard or whether or not I could swap individual keys? Would be appreciated, many thanks.

 

A European keyboard has one more key compared to a US keyboard plus, to add to the confusion, shift and enter keys are different between the two types. You can see this if you compare the keyboard photo at notebookcheck with the photo here (the big left shift key on the US keyboard is prominent). So you won't be able to get a bare UK keyboard (similar to this) and expect it to line up with the holes in the keyboard surround.

I would also note that if you import a notebook from the US to UK, you will have to pay 20% VAT. This will shrink the price difference.

John

 

Thanks for this, that really sucks. I'm aware of the 20% tax in the states except for I do come to the states quite often so no issue there.

On another note it appears the "UK" models I was looking at appear to be US models sold in the UK.

I have to date not found an actual P645-SG that I can buy in the UK, however I have found the keyboards available from acer which are of the UK spec and they appear like you say to be different.

I can find European models such as german and italian, perhaps I would be better off buying a euro model and then doing the key swap?

On that same note if I bought a US model could I not just get a spare UK keyboard and swap individual keys?

Thanks for the help.

 

No, because the total number and physical shapes of several of the keys are different.

 

Another European keyboard will have the same number / shape of keys as a UK keyboard so would be a better base for doing a conversion. One option is to use stickers on the keys but this won't be satisfactory for a backlit keyboard.

John

 

Thanks everyone.

I suppose the last question then would be where this laptop can be found in the UK?

 

Anyone any ideas about a UK source?

 

1. Find the version you want listed on the Acer UK website.

2. Search the internet. Here is one version on sale at an attractive price. Here is a bigger selection and there is another source here.

John

 

Thanks for this, unfortunately it is as I've feared the SG 840m graphics card version is not available in the UK.

So will have to purchase probably from Germany and then attempt a keyboard change.

 

Hi again everyone, I had another idea which hopefully you will all find realistic.

That is to buy the US model and stick UK stickers on the appropriate keys, then change to a UK keyboard layout.

Do you think I'd get away with this?

Reason I'm suggesting this is I can't seem to find a replacement UK keyboard for a German keyboard for the P645-SG.

Also it may be stuck to the palmrest like on the Asus UX303?

 

The potential problem is that the the US keyboard has one fewer key (so you will have one sticker left over) and some keys have different sizes eg left and right shift keys and the enter key. However, the key immediately above the tab key is one that may be rarely used and could be foregone. If your fingers are young then they should quickly adapt to the layout (I have used US keyboards at several times in the past).

John

 

Hi John,
Thanks for being so helpful.

I can find a UK P645-M keyboard and I presume that should be the same as a German P645-SG keyboard in which case I'd buy a german P645.

Trouble now is finding an instruction manual to do the replacement which I also can't seem to find, I'm hoping it's not sonic welded like the UX303.

What's your opinion of the P645-SG vs for example an ASUS UX303LB?

 

Notebookcheck has a comprehensive review of the P645-SG.

If you are still thinking about what to buy then take a look at the stock at Dell Outlet. The Latitude E7450 (particularly if equipped with the Nvidia GPU and better fan as mine has) is a nice machine and a few of the newer E7470 are appearing. Alternatively, look at the new E5470 which is not quite as thin but has better pricing. One great advantage of the Latitudes is that they are designed for serviceability and you can download the Owner's Manual for each model which includes detailed instructions for removing and replacing parts.

John

 

John thanks again, that's certainly a nice example the E7450.

Only thing is it doesn't have a VGA port and no Win7 yea I know old tech but I like to have it.

Also the chiclet keys, although the p645 has that as well, the keyboard is definitely better on the Dell.

 

Mini displayport to VGA adaptors are cheap and work fine but I see that the P645 has a column of navigation keys on the right side and is an improvement on the Dell keyboard layout, which has lost Home and End. However, the action of the Dell chiclet keyboards is very good.

John

 

I'm still leaning to the P645 over even the E7470, since the price difference is considerable for little extra power + Win 7 is winning it for me. Also I do like having more keys on the P645.

I'm not afraid to open laptops up without a manual, the two things I want to do is swap the additional HDD for an SDD in the german model and swap the german keyboard for a UK one, is there a general guide somewhere for the P645 like there is for the UX303?

 

Bought the P645-SG from the US.

It's the best laptop I've ever owned literally ticks all my boxes, so pleased with it.

I find the keyboard to be great, some people mentioned shallow but I find it perfect. The mouse is a relief after the UX303, clicks are a little spongy but nothing major, actually beginning to like it. Battery life is incredible. US keys I'm going to put tiny stickers of the equivalent UK pound sign etc. so I know where to find them.

So happy I decided on it.