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Ordering an Air with norwegian keyboard in the US

T

trondhb

macrumors newbie
Original poster
Jun 27, 2011
27
0
While on a trip to New York in September, I am planning to get a new MacBook Air. A top-spec'ed 13" with i7 that costs $1.699 in the US costs around $2.650 here, so it is quite a lot of money to save on it.

Although it is possible to change the keyboard layout in software, of course I will want to have it equipped with a norwegian keyboard (and power supply, other sockets here). I am aware of that it is not possible online, but does anyone know if it would be possible for me to order one at a Apple Store in New York and pick it up when I get there? I would be happy to get some information on how I can contact a local store in New York, preferrably by e-mail, to explain it to them and if possible, make an order. Or even better, if someone are planning a visit to a store soon maybe you could ask them directly about it. Any help will be greatly appreciated :)

I really can't see why it shouldn't be possible as all of them probably come from the same factory anyway (I also notice that it is possible to order one with spanish keyboard), but I guess the "politics" might be cause problems as they would make more money if I bought it here in Norway... But the fact is I would probably not get one at all at that price.
 
miles01110 said:
You could try, but it's probably not going to happen.
Click to expand...

This. As for the Spanish keyboard, that's because the hispanic population is the fastest growing in the country. Unfortunately, they're much less likely to cater to people who speak other languages. Of course you can try though.
 
You won't be getting a Norwegian keyboard, it would be a logistics nightmare for them if you think about it.

One thing to note about buying in the US is that you lose your 5 year "reklamasjonsrett" (claim/extended warranty) that you would otherwise have. I would also check that you can have it repaired at an authorized repair shop in Norway.
 
From the "Apple Care Protection Plan" option when ordering online:

"The AppleCare Protection Plan provides global repair coverage, both parts and labor, from Apple-authorized technicians around the world — perfect whether you work at a desk or travel with your Mac. "

The 5-year extended warranty could be an issue, though. But my current laptop has been working perfectly with no need for repairs, hopefully the Mac will be as stable as that. But it will be nice to have if something happens, of course.

Might as well get one anyway, I have been using a ThinkPad with a US keyboard and norwegian keyboard layout in software and it really isn't much of a problem.
 
trondhb said:
I have been using a ThinkPad with a US keyboard and norwegian keyboard layout in software and it really isn't much of a problem.
Click to expand...

Except when writing english with the norwegian keyboard layout: The ' key is gone, have to press option and @ (above return) to get it. It's been bothering me for years, until I recently discoverd that you can make a new key mapping with the "Ukelele" program.
 
never gona happen

be lucky that u are able to save money!!! as per the norwegian keyboard, never, ever, ever going to happen:eek:

as per getting ur hands on that sweet keyboard ur going to have to have an after market ingraving done.

i needed this done some time ago for a macbook i had... worked fine... did the job. but was never as sweet as having the real deal. its a shame that a norwegian keyboard cost 1000$ more. i guess ur langauge is worth more than American English:D:D:D
 
Found this on another site, as a reply on the exact same question...

"I've heard rumors that if you call Apple to purchase your MacBook or MacBook Air (the number is 1-800-MY-APPLE), that you can order special keyboards in the US. However, that's unverified, so if you're certain that you want to do this, I'd verify it before you traveled to the US."

And from a thread on here (from 2008 in the MacBook Pro forum):

"I had a friend who got the local apple store here in NYC to replace his brand new US keyboard with a Swedish one when he bought it. They had to order the part, but it was no problem at all. I'd suggest going to a service center and asking them to order the part."

I realise it does look difficult, but haven't totally given up :) Would be nice to get an answer directly from Apple, but who knows how to do that...
 
Would having the Spanish keyboard be that bad, though? AFAIK, apart from language specific characters to the far right (you won't have the three Norwegian umlauts and one or two other differences - check it our here) the layout is the same.

I'm hoping for a friend to pick up an MBA for me while she's visiting her family in the US (I'm Swedish) and while I'll manage having a US layout, getting a Spanish one would be ideal.

Does anyone know how common systems with Spanish layouts are in the brick and mortar stores? Thinking of the "base" 11" 4GB/128GB [EDIT: i.e. i5].
 
Looks like there are quite a few differences on the keys on the line with the numbers as well. But I agree it might be fewer differences compared to the Spanish than the English layouts. Will have a further look at it.

Although I obviously understand that the market is a lot larger because of the population, I still can't see that it should be so much more difficult to have a norwegian one fitted compared to a spanish one... I bet they are lying on the shelf right next to the english ones.

I'm guessing replacing the keyboard afterwards would be astronomically expensive as well...
 
keep this thread updated please!

Trying to figure out the same for a german keyboard in the US.
So far I have found that it's impossible :( But didn't call Apple directly yet (As i'm sitting in France currently).

Cheers, S.
 
Wirelessly posted (Mozilla/5.0 (iPhone; U; CPU iPhone OS 4_3_4 like Mac OS X; fr-fr) AppleWebKit/533.17.9 (KHTML, like Gecko) Version/5.0.2 Mobile/8K2 Safari/6533.18.5)

Hi

Just ordered through an Italian Apple reseller (not an apple store) a CTO MacBook Air with a Belgian keyboard, apart the waiting a bit longer it doesn't seem a problem.
 
trondhb said:
Found this on another site, as a reply on the exact same question...

"I've heard rumors that if you call Apple to purchase your MacBook or MacBook Air (the number is 1-800-MY-APPLE), that you can order special keyboards in the US. However, that's unverified, so if you're certain that you want to do this, I'd verify it before you traveled to the US."

And from a thread on here (from 2008 in the MacBook Pro forum):

"I had a friend who got the local apple store here in NYC to replace his brand new US keyboard with a Swedish one when he bought it. They had to order the part, but it was no problem at all. I'd suggest going to a service center and asking them to order the part."

I realise it does look difficult, but haven't totally given up :) Would be nice to get an answer directly from Apple, but who knows how to do that...
Click to expand...

I called 1-800-MY-APPLE. They said their US order systems don't have Norwegian as an option. Their suggestion was to use a Norwegian USB keyboard.
 
bigp9998 said:
Maybe something like this would do the trick? It's Swedish but that might be better than English. Also saw a German one for the other guy who wanted a German keyboard.

http://www.kbcovers.com/servlet/Detail?no=363

Edit: German one:

http://www.kbcovers.com/servlet/Detail?no=218
Click to expand...

Thx for your hint! Ufortunately the german cover is not available for the 11" MBA :(

It really drives me nuts. in the US the ultimate edition is the same price as the 11" / 128GB base model in Austria :mad:

that's really harsh
 
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Called Apple Store Fifth Avenue tonight. Expected answer; they don't have any with Norwegian keyboard and it doesn't sound like it is possible to order either.

I will probably get one anyway, as it is $750 to save on a base 13" with Apple Care. Keyboard layout/remapping seems like a minor issue.
 
derlockere said:
Thx for your hint! Ufortunately the german cover is not available for the 11" MBA :(

It really drives me nuts. in the US the ultimate edition is the same price as the 11" / 128GB base model in Austria :mad:

that's really harsh
Click to expand...

I know right! I have the same problem, from Austria too. But I figured that the price difference is well worth for me getting used to the English keyboard layout. and I am studying in the US for the next couple years anyways :p
 
My friend is in town from Norway right now and she bought an 11" mba today at the Apple store and asked about getting a Norwegian keyboard. They said that they could order the keyboard and swap it out at no extra charge; just need to make a Genius appointment 2 weeks in advance to give them extra time to ship the part to the store. The store we were at was at Bridgeport in Lake Oswego, Oregon. Since she's leaving in a few days, the guy said that she could schedule it for one in Manhattan in December when she's back in the country.
 
That is really great news :)

I am leaving for NYC in 3 weeks (September 28th). Should be enough time for them to have it ready when I get there if I make a Genius appointment now. That would be just perfect :) I expect you do not have to be physically at a store to make such a "special order", and that I can simply explain it in a comment when I make the appointment? As I will only be in NYC for 4 days it will have to be ready for pick-up when I get there.
 
Just be careful when returning from your trip. If they check you at the Norwegian customs, and find out that you bought it in the USA, they might charge you for tax-fraud.
 
rickolis said:
My friend is in town from Norway right now and she bought an 11" mba today at the Apple store and asked about getting a Norwegian keyboard. They said that they could order the keyboard and swap it out at no extra charge; just need to make a Genius appointment 2 weeks in advance to give them extra time to ship the part to the store. The store we were at was at Bridgeport in Lake Oswego, Oregon. Since she's leaving in a few days, the guy said that she could schedule it for one in Manhattan in December when she's back in the country.
Click to expand...

Has she gotten it confirmed that they will actually cary it out? Im a little in doubt because they will need to change the whole top case on her macbook air. This because the norwegian keyboard has a different return key shape, a us air has the "horisontal" return key shape.
 
No different return key, as I can see

tomaseriksson said:
Has she gotten it confirmed that they will actually cary it out? Im a little in doubt because they will need to change the whole top case on her macbook air. This because the norwegian keyboard has a different return key shape, a us air has the "horisontal" return key shape.
Click to expand...

I quick look at the Norwegian and US Apple web sites shows me that the keyboards are alike regarding the location, size and shape of the return key. But it was done in a hurry: Am I wrong or did I see it correctly?
 
mortenandersen said:
I quick look at the Norwegian and US Apple web sites shows me that the keyboards are alike regarding the location, size and shape of the return key. But it was done in a hurry: Am I wrong or did I see it correctly?
Click to expand...

look closer, the pictures in the norwegian site are the same as the us site. atleast i couldn't find the norwegian keyboard at all on the site :S
 
trondhb said:
While on a trip to New York in September, I am planning to get a new MacBook Air. A top-spec'ed 13" with i7 that costs $1.699 in the US costs around $2.650 here, so it is quite a lot of money to save on it.
Click to expand...

wrong! People that aren't from north america don't realize that all our pricing is listed WITHOUT taxes. Each individual state/province and even cities can have different rates of taxes.

For NYC the rate is 8.875%, which makes the total $1,850. I guess that is still significantly cheaper than $2,650 but you would have to live without a Norwegian keyboard as it is just not possible for them to provide it in a language that they don't sell in the US. I would love to have a Quebec French* keyboard at the US tax rate (I'm from the states and could have it shipped to a family member) but they won't even do that and its on the same continent.

You would also have to add in buying a new power adapter and the loss of your 5 year warranty.



*the Quebec French keyboard is QWERTY based instead of AZERTY like the France French keyboard which makes it inherently more easy to switch back into English as need be. Why they even offer an AZERTY based keyboard in the US is beyond me! /rant.
 
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