#Localising Amiga 1200s?
11 messages in this thread
Hi,
I have just been offered a 1200 for a very attractive price. The only draw
back is that it is French and I'm in England. I have been told it is possible
to "localise" the Amiga, by changing the software and possibly moving some of
the keycaps. Is this true and would any one be able to help in pointing out
any pit-falls?
My main worry is that the manual would be in French, which I can not read, and
so I would not be able to make the software changes. Would CBM be willing to
sell me an English version of the manuals?
Many thanks
Martin
Martin,
Yes, You can turn the keyboard into a QWERTY under software control,
but be aware of two drawbacks:
1. If you change the keycaps A for Q, Z for W and M for ; you will
notice that each row of keys is sculpted at a slightly different angle,
so it will be obvious that they have been changed;
2. Even if you can live with 1. the top row of keys presents a problem,
since the punctuation marks are different and/or on different keys (the 2
key has the acute-accented e, for instance, instead of the @ character.
The numbers are also shown as needing the shift key (i.e. on the top half
of the key).
You should be able to buy English manuals from Commodore, although they
might take a dim view of what, to them, is a 'grey' import.
cheers,
Pete Jones, Brussels, Belgium
Flying with AutoPilot
Peter,
What keyboard layout is standard in France? Dvorak?
-Sean
Sean,
AZERTY, where the Q is transposed with the A, the W with the Z, the M with
the ;
You have to use the SHIFT key to access the numbers in the top row, and
the punctuation set varies from the QWERTY keyboard, and those that are
the same are on different keys.
Pete Jones, Brussels, Belgium, flying on Autopilot
Peter,
Thanks for filling me in. That's really interesting. I wonder how
long they've used that layout?
-Sean
Peter,
Thanks for that information about the key shapes, some thing I had not thought
of.
Martin
Martin,
No problem. Let me know if you take the plunge. I can help you initially
with the French until you get English docs.
Pete Jones, Brussels, Belgium, Flying on AutoPilot
Peter,
I have been giving it a lot of thought. It would seem at the moment with the
cost and time of changing the computer, I would be left with very little
saving.
Thank you for your offer.
Martin
Martin,
no prob.
Pete
I do have an A1200, and as far as I know you can change the language of the
thing etc. The manuals are "crap" so if you can use a 1.3/2 machine you'll have
no problem. What about the power supply etc, that maybe a problem. I will look
into the langauge tonight, but I'm certain you can change it with the click of
the mouse. You can also pick up a "third party" book which is alot better than
CBMs manual.
Looking through the manual, the above is correct, also I seem to think the
A1200 comes installed as English/American and it's the French who have to
change the language to use the Amiga 1200.
Charles
* Thirsk – North Yorkshire – United Kingdom *
Charles,
Thanks for the reply. The general feed back is that changing the language is
possible.
Martin