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geekhack Community => Keyboards => Topic started by: mrmola on Mon, 30 December 2019, 21:13:34

Title: Why are a lot of model ms missing their alt gr key?
Post by: mrmola on Mon, 30 December 2019, 21:13:34: After a quick search on ebay and looking at my own model m, i have noticed that a number of them are missing their alt gr key, and it seems like it is a difficult key to find a replacement for. Why?
Title: Re: Why are a lot of model ms missing their alt gr key?
Post by: Findecanor on Tue, 31 December 2019, 06:42:49: On the PC platform, the right Alt key has the print "Alt Gr" (Alt Graph) in European layouts and in "US International" layout, but "Alt" in US-English layout. It is the same key.

The key is interpreted differently in the host computer's operating system depending on which layout you set there in its settings. For German, for instance, it is "Alt Gr" and is used as a second-level shift key to get graphical characters. If you have your computer set for US-English, then it will work the same as the left Alt.
This stupidity is something that we got with the IBM PC platform, because the Alt key had been used as a command-key in MS-DOS programs for the English-speaking market.
On other platforms (such as Apple Mac, Amiga, Atari ST, RiscOS etc.), there was no need to split it up into two because the Alt (or "Option") key always produced graphical characters.
Title: Re: Why are a lot of model ms missing their alt gr key?
Post by: mrmola on Tue, 31 December 2019, 16:32:08: Oh I don't mean that there is a alt key there, it is actually missing the key. And it seems pretty standard for some reason to move the far right - key to the alt gr spot for some reason. I don't actually care as i have never used the alt gr key in my life, but could this let dust and other gunk into my keyboard?
Title: Re: Why are a lot of model ms missing their alt gr key?
Post by: Findecanor on Tue, 31 December 2019, 17:35:52: Ah. OK. Then I misunderstood you. Sorry.

Well, it is one of those keys that stick out the most, and is closest to an edge, so I suppose that makes it one that is more easily bumped off if you'd stack keyboards in a pile ...
They might also be more desirable when putting a keyboard together. Terminal Model Ms also don't have them.
Title: Re: Why are a lot of model ms missing their alt gr key?
Post by: fohat.digs on Tue, 31 December 2019, 18:02:19: And of course colored key caps are always more desirable than ordinary ones, even if you are in the US and have no reason to need one printed in green.
Title: Re: Why are a lot of model ms missing their alt gr key?
Post by: jacethesaltsculptor on Tue, 31 December 2019, 18:10:44: This has been very informative, I've seen those Green alt caps and wondered why it was.