Ordering a desktop overseas
January 26, 2011 6:03 AM Subscribe
How do I order an English-based Windows desktop in Germany?
Using Dell as an example: Dell.com won't ship outside the US, and at Dell.de when I'm putting the computer together it says "Windows 7 -- Deutsch" and "Microsoft Office -- Deutsch." This makes me concerned that I won't be able to switch the default language to English once I get the computer -- i.e. maybe Microsoft has hardwired the language settings as a crude form of 'region coding' to discourage piracy. Is this the case?
Bonus question: does anyone know how to order a US-formatted keyboard here? I realize that may be too much to hope for :)
Using Dell as an example: Dell.com won't ship outside the US, and at Dell.de when I'm putting the computer together it says "Windows 7 -- Deutsch" and "Microsoft Office -- Deutsch." This makes me concerned that I won't be able to switch the default language to English once I get the computer -- i.e. maybe Microsoft has hardwired the language settings as a crude form of 'region coding' to discourage piracy. Is this the case?
Bonus question: does anyone know how to order a US-formatted keyboard here? I realize that may be too much to hope for :)
Here in NL, the keyboards are mostly US-formatted, with the exception of the Euro being an option on the 5 and also an AltGr key to the right of the space bar. So cross the border & pick a Dutch one up? :)
posted by knile at 6:52 AM on January 26, 2011
posted by knile at 6:52 AM on January 26, 2011
I'm pretty sure that you can change the language when you get the computer. If not, you definitely can when the computer's been set up. As for the keyboard, you can change that to US, so long as you have the english keyboard memorized that shouldn't be a problem.
posted by catwash at 7:23 AM on January 26, 2011
posted by catwash at 7:23 AM on January 26, 2011
I bought an ASUS laptop in Poland with Windows 7 Home Premium installed (it said "Polish version"). I speak some Polish so I kind of accepted the idea of having a Polish operating system. But I was pleasantly surprised on first startup to be given the choice of language. English was in the list. It was also mentioned this language couldn't be changed at a later stage. Maybe Dell is using is similar procedure. Best is to try to confirm that with them directly.
On the keyboard thing: I'm pretty sure most German computer shops will have US keyboards on sale.
posted by rom1 at 7:59 AM on January 26, 2011
On the keyboard thing: I'm pretty sure most German computer shops will have US keyboards on sale.
posted by rom1 at 7:59 AM on January 26, 2011
I've never seen foreign keyboards for sale in a German computer shop, but you can order them online.
posted by snownoid at 8:33 AM on January 26, 2011
posted by snownoid at 8:33 AM on January 26, 2011
I've had something similar to rom1's experience on a PC with Korean Windows, in that it allowed you to choose the interface language on first boot. However, companies like Dell do a lot of customisation (e.g. adding 'craplets') to the PCs that they sell and it might be that in doing that they make the choice of language for you.
I'm pretty sure that you can change the language when you get the computer. If not, you definitely can when the computer's been set up.
You can only officially change the entire language of Windows 7 if you have Ultimate or Enterprise, which are much more expensive. See here for more info. However, there are some ways around this, such as Vistalizator or this DIY version.
If all else fails, you could buy a machine with Linux in Germany and get a copy of Windows sent to you from the US or UK.
If you totally draw a blank on keyboards, I believe you're in Berlin, so see if you can find someone who is nipping over to Poland for the weekend. Most Poles use US or UK keyboards.
posted by Busy Old Fool at 9:15 AM on January 26, 2011
I'm pretty sure that you can change the language when you get the computer. If not, you definitely can when the computer's been set up.
You can only officially change the entire language of Windows 7 if you have Ultimate or Enterprise, which are much more expensive. See here for more info. However, there are some ways around this, such as Vistalizator or this DIY version.
If all else fails, you could buy a machine with Linux in Germany and get a copy of Windows sent to you from the US or UK.
If you totally draw a blank on keyboards, I believe you're in Berlin, so see if you can find someone who is nipping over to Poland for the weekend. Most Poles use US or UK keyboards.
posted by Busy Old Fool at 9:15 AM on January 26, 2011
My sister in law recently bought a computer in London (she's in Berlin) for just this reason.
posted by From Bklyn at 12:10 PM on January 26, 2011
posted by From Bklyn at 12:10 PM on January 26, 2011
www.computeruniverse.net - software -> operating systems, you'll find language as an option. i think you will find keyboards with different layouts there as well
posted by w.fugawe at 2:03 PM on January 26, 2011
posted by w.fugawe at 2:03 PM on January 26, 2011
I know that Apple Japan, at the very least, offers US English keyboards with all of their computers. Of course, that's only if you're down with the Mac thing.
posted by DoctorFedora at 4:09 PM on January 26, 2011
posted by DoctorFedora at 4:09 PM on January 26, 2011
This thread is closed to new comments.
posted by fozzie33 at 6:18 AM on January 26, 2011