Lenovo Desktop - Does Localization Matter?

[allanc]

Here in Canada, many of the Lenovo ThinkCentre models have two model numbers that end either in 'US' (English keyboard and localization) or 'CA' (French keyboard and localization).
The 'US' version of a particular model is out of stock and probably discontinued whereas the 'CA' version in in stock at a distributor.
My plan is to swap the actual keyboard for an English model, check the BIOS for any settings related to language and then N&P with an English Win 10 PRO.
I am worried that somehow I am not considering all of the factors and that I am going to regret this decision in the future.
On the other hand, it seems logical to me that this should be OK now and in the future.

All input is appreciated.

 

[seashore]

Can't see any problem. Just this week I took delivery of a refurb Thinkpad with a French keyboard and no OS. Swapped the keyboard for a US one from Ebay (no UK one was available), installed Win10, and am now happily using it as my daily driver.

 

[Mainstay]

I am concerned that you are trying to get a discontinued model... is there a reason for this?

I wouldn't do it as the probability of me owning some whacked out issue that is totally unforeseeable will be exactly what happens. Maybe there will be some mapped key that doesn't have a US equivalent and wouldn't ya know it, with the US keyboard it toggles WiFi or some bs like that.

And while I might be able to deal with this (as seashore has), do you want to field odd-ball calls on this unit that you will always suspect may have something to do with the keyboard?

I am also a bit jaded as I just received a nasty message from a client whose system we fixed up 6 months ago and the client is freaking out that the trackpad is jumping all around as they type. 10 minutes to get them to double tap the touchpad's top left hand corner so that it turns off. But of course, this must be something we did to that system.

I am also reminded of the residential customer that bought a computer from a direct competitor but had me set it up. After I left he called in an absolute outrage that I had saddled him with a Spanish keyboard. How is that my fault? I even pointed it out to you while I was working on it but you wanted to impress me with the fact that you speak Spanish and it slipped your mind. Right up until you had to type on the damn thing and then it was my fault.

 

[allanc]

I am concerned that you are trying to get a discontinued model... is there a reason for this?

I wouldn't do it as the probability of me owning some whacked out issue that is totally unforeseeable will be exactly what happens. Maybe there will be some mapped key that doesn't have a US equivalent and wouldn't ya know it, with the US keyboard it toggles WiFi or some bs like that.

And while I might be able to deal with this (as seashore has), do you want to field odd-ball calls on this unit that you will always suspect may have something to do with the keyboard?

I am also a bit jaded as I just received a nasty message from a client whose system we fixed up 6 months ago and the client is freaking out that the trackpad is jumping all around as they type. 10 minutes to get them to double tap the touchpad's top left hand corner so that it turns off. But of course, this must be something we did to that system.

I am also reminded of the residential customer that bought a computer from a direct competitor but had me set it up. After I left he called in an absolute outrage that I had saddled him with a Spanish keyboard. How is that my fault? I even pointed it out to you while I was working on it but you wanted to impress me with the fact that you speak Spanish and it slipped your mind. Right up until you had to type on the damn thing and then it was my fault.

Basically ....
I quoted an active Lenovo ThinkCentre a couple of months ago.
The client just approved it today (literally) and now the US version is out of stock and the e.t.a. gets bumped by a week at a time.
I also know better than to trust certain manufacturers' e.t.a. to the distributors.
The next US model up in price is another $110 (CDN) and the client is not keen on spending the extra $.
The CA version is in stock.
So, that is my problem.

 

[Mainstay]

They delayed and now the model / unit you quoted is no longer available.

Do NOT take on liability because the client wants to drag his feet on a decision and then is price adverse to a small price increase. As a Canadian, he should know all about the fluctuation in prices for items coming from the States.

Don't make his dilemma your dilemma.

(that's why you have disclaimer on your estimates that prices are valid for 7 days and are subject to availability at the time of approval)

 

[allanc]

They delayed and now the model / unit you quoted is no longer available.

Do NOT take on liability because the client wants to drag his feet on a decision and then is price adverse to a small price increase. As a Canadian, he should know all about the fluctuation in prices for items coming from the States.

Don't make his dilemma your dilemma.

(that's why you have disclaimer on your estimates that prices are valid for 7 days and are subject to availability at the time of approval)

I have been trained (conditioned) by my B.H. to feel guilt .
Yes, we have a the 'valid for 5 days' statement.

 

[fencepost]

I wouldn't expect any problems as long as you connect a US keyboard to it, but there's going to be a cost for a good US model keyboard. The ones that are included with new ThinkCentres seem to be pretty decent, unlike what gets shipped with the Lenovo consumer models.

 

[allanc]

I wouldn't expect any problems as long as you connect a US keyboard to it, but there's going to be a cost for a good US model keyboard. The ones that are included with new ThinkCentres seem to be pretty decent, unlike what gets shipped with the Lenovo consumer models.

We only sell the 'Think' model lines ... not consumer.

Some of our clients opt for the wireless keyboard/mouse combo and do not want to store the original wired versions
As a result, we have some spare new Lenovo US keyboards.

 

[geranium]

I have never seen there to be any hidden issue here. The only issue is when someone accidentally switches Windows to use the Canadian Multilingual keyboard map and they start wigging out because they can't write properly.

 

[johnrobert]

will not be a problem done it many times

 

[allanc]

Thanks to all.
I will speak to the client and offer them the 'CA' model

 

[HCHTech]

Swapped the keyboard for a US one from Ebay (no UK one was available),

This just sent me to wikipedia to see what the differences between a UK and a US keyboard were.

I expected that they would simply replace the $ key with a £. Turns out there are several differences, but that isn't one of them. to my surprise, the "#" key is the one replaced with a £. That seems......wrong somehow. I wonder what the standards committee or whoever was thinking there?

 

[fencepost]

Probably that the $ symbol is a lot more widely used than the # symbol, both in programming and references to currencies even in countries where it's not used as the local currency indicator. Also, that was all standardized long before hashtags when the # was actually very little used.