Buy Laptop with US Keyboard & Windows (English) in Brazil?

Where can I buy a laptop with a U.S. keyboard and, hopefully, Windows in English in Brazil?
-@alan279

It might be a better idea (easier to find and less expensive) to just buy the keyboard stickers. You can find them by searching for: adesivos de teclado em inglês

I noticed that they sell them on the amazon.com.br website. Also, this works if you have an english keyboard and want to use it in portuguese.

After applying the stickers you simply change the keyboard language to whatever you want in the software settings.

04/08/23  @alan279.  With mikehunter:  the stickers seem like a practical option. 

It's not hard to change the display language of Windows to anything you want.  The sequence in Win10 (Win11 should be similar, but I haven't upgraded yet) is

Settings >Time & Language > Language > Windows Display Language.  Choose "English (United States). 

Then go immediately below to "Preferred Languages".  If "English (United States) isn't on the list, add it, and move it up to be first.

Finally, go to "Related Settings", click "Administrative Language Settings".  In the box that appears, hit the "Formats" tab, Select "Match Windows Display Language", which you've already set at "English (United States).  That should fix any remaining formats.

Where can I buy a laptop with a U.S. keyboard and, hopefully, Windows in English in Brazil?
-@alan279

As Abthree states, Windows is in English, the setting is modified to run Portuguese and Windows has a Portuguese add-on pack to increase the Portuguese capabilities as they are limited initially within the software pack in the Windows initial installation. If you try to run Brazilian Portuguese software like art programs etc., you will have to install the Windows Portuguese add-on pack and you will get a pop-up note telling you that, it's free, I have had to do this to my computers here, but I think I do more work here by computer than most people. When you buy a computer in Brazil, it is usually, although not always, pre-set to Portuguese, an easy change.

Now they, keyboards...  There are a number of keyboard standards found throughout the world. I also use a keyboard in Icelandic and use key stickers on it. China has about the toughest system as they had to create a language, pinyin, just to create a keyboard they could use. years back, I spent a lot of time, and made a lot of trips to China and never could figure out how they learn this system to use. Here is a Youtube lesson on pinyin, it's short and fun to watch. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PRVnRYoQlXk   Here is a reddit explanation to the system. https://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimf … n_ect_and/

The QWERTY, (note, those are the first letters on your keyboard to the upper left) keyboard layout is commonly found on computers in the United States. This standard dates back to the 1,800s and typewriters. Brazil follows its own standard, now in version two, known as ABNT NBR 10346 variant 2 (alphanumeric portion) and 10347 (numeric portion) standards.  Yes, there was a "Varient 1", and can still be found on new keyboards sold in Brazil.  You can read about their differences here from this link if you like. https://programadoresbrasil.com.br/en/2 … ara-outro/

The problem is keyboards sold in Brazil are mostly, but not all, imported and the imported keyboards do not have to follow this standard.

However, there is very good news for you.

As far as I have seen, Brazilian Portuguese keyboards are virtually identical to US-American keyboards. "The ABNT NBR 10346:1991 standard mandates one extra key in row 4, between the ;: key (placed where the /? key is in an English (USA) keyboard) and RSHIFT; indeed, plenty of keyboards with this extra key do exist. Some implementations, Microsoft’s included, provide a workaround for keyboards that lack it by making extra assignments under the tertiary (AltGr) layer for the three symbols (slash, question mark and degree sign) that would otherwise be inaccessible." You can fid a great comparison side-by-side keyboard layout image here: https://www.farah.cl/Keyboardery/A-Visu … outs/#ptBR

Here is a comparison of Brazilian vs. Portugal Portuguese keyboards: https://www.farah.cl/Keyboardery/Intera … ght=random

I was just in Carrefour and they had computers in both QWERTY and using ABNT NBR 10346 variant 2, just brand dependant I'd guess.

Where can I buy a laptop with a U.S. keyboard and, hopefully, Windows in English in Brazil?
-@alan279

Sao Paulo.

Two destinations, relatively close to each other....

Rua Santa Ifigenia ( protect your valuables, by the way )

Galeria Paje - R. Barão de Duprat, 315 - Centro Histórico de São Paulo,

Guard your valuables, wallet close to vest, shield for Credit Cards. 

If the stall or shop, or storefront is run by an Arab or Chinese, you might be able to get good contraband.

Be discreet.

Have fun, it's a contact sport out there.    You will be emotionally mentally  transported to some Bazaar in Baghdah  or a third world version of Huaqiangbei district

Have fun haggling. 

Almost forgot....

Don't get caught in downtown after dark.

Lately, little rascals have been ganging up on loner bypassers and robbing them as a tag team.

Stay with the crowds, no pouches, dress spartan, and careful with money and cards. 

Hail  a cab once you have your merchandise.

So some companies cant handle the extra keys, options are to order internationally or buy a keyboard usb or wifi or bluetooth to work with your current laptop. from there it will present less issues. however caveat you will need to add the US english keyboard layout to windows on your br notebooks and you can swap between them bottom right on your computer.

Myself. I find ABNT is actually a better format for typing, as my WPM count at work has substantially increased

for followup on that, some citrix deployments have limited language environments that dont support the additional characters that can force close alot of unexpected things lol

04/10/23 Myself. I find ABNT is actually a better format for typing, as my WPM count at work has substantially increased

-@Mikeflanagan

I'm a ten-finger QWERTY touch typist (thanks again, Sister Joseph André!) and found adjusting to ABNT absolutely trivial - no difficulty at all, that I recall.

I have three computers, all QWERTY. And I have used a Brazilian keyboard. I found it difficult to switch from one keyboard to another.

Dell sells only Brazilian keyboard laptops.

MercadoLivre has Dell laptops with American keyboards, gray market, I’d guess.

Maybe gray market is safer than downtown São Paulo? 🤔

04/10/23 MercadoLivre has Dell laptops with American keyboards, gray market, I’d guess.

Maybe gray market is safer than downtown São Paulo? 🤔
-@alan279

That sounds like a viable alternative to me. I've always had good experiences with Mercado Livre, although I've never bought electronics from them.

@sprealestatebroker I visited Bar dos Arcos at midnight a year ago.

@alan279 I am a lifelong Dell fan. I actually met Michael Dell in San Francisco during an entrepreneurs conference decades ago.

I had problems with my XPS 13 laptop before I left the U.S., and they had their contractor fix it when I arrived in Brazil.

As far as your keyboard, I just bought the VOSTRO PC from Dell here, however I called them to place my order (It's already here. It was delivered while I was in Custody at the Passport office). Dell is amazing, I would call them and tell them what you need. As I mentioned they followed me from the US to Brazil to fix my problem, I am sure they can help you.

Roddie in Retirement

@roddiesho Dell told me they sell laptops in Brazil with Portuguese keyboards only. Samsung has some low end Chromebooks with QWERTY keyboards available for purchase online, but my local Samsung store doesn’t sell them, just the expensive models with Brazilian keyboards. Are Brazilian keyboards different from Portuguese keyboards? I was in Europe a few years ago and couldn’t find a US QWERTY keyboard in Portugal, France or Belgium. I didn’t look in London, but the British have a slightly different keyboard layout, as I recall. And they drive on the wrong side of the road. 🤔

. I didn’t look in London, but the British have a slightly different keyboard layout, as I recall. And they drive on the wrong side of the road. 🤔
-@alan279

I am loving this!!! The Brits drive on the wrong side of the road?

About one third of all countries in the world drive on the left, and it is quite logical. Before cars, what side did you mount a horse from, and why? The shit that was in the middle of the road was to be avoided, and from Roman times all swords and weapons were carried predominantly by righthanders, so you would want your right hand to be outwards for self defence.

Just as in the the US the vast majority carry a gun in their right hand, if they do, and so take cover to the left to protect themselves, thus keeping to the left of any potential threat..

What side of a train do you get on from? Consider that? Why is this followed throughout the world - because the Brits created the industrial Revolution, and that lead to mass transport.

Would Brazil be better if the Brits had arrived before the Dutch and Portuguese? Who knows? Maybe language problems solved?

Remember this you non-Brits - over 55% of ALL inventions in the world, EVER, were invented by Brits, including the internet, as well as the vast majority of mainstream sports. And this from a shitty little country not a lot bigger than Florida or Pernambuco.

But the climate in the UK, over which we have no control, can be so bad, that is why some of us want to leave!

@Peter Itamaraca When your standing on a platform waiting for a train, does it arrive from your left or your right?

@alan279 i purchased my Dell XPS 13 in the USA right before I moved to Brazil. I purchased my Dell Vostro Desktop  from Dell Brazil. That one is all Brazilian, however the keyboard it comes with is all in English. The one issue I had was that I wish I had gotten a lighted keyboard. However I bought a Transformable Desk Lamp with Swing Arm that you can put over your display monitors (I have two) That light the desk, including the keyboard and the screens. Best tech I have.

I really wanted it and whenever I make it back to the USA I did not think it would be easy to bring on the plane, so I had it shipped from AMAZON USA. I also had 3 other items for a total of $318. The deposit Amazon had me put down for Customs was an additional $300. I received some deposit refunds in the single digits.

This is to say if you really want it you can get your USA keyboard, but it will cost you. Also when it gets to DHL Brazil, it can be a problem with them understanding that the Customs Fee has already been paid for with Amazon.com..

Good Luck!

Roddie in Retirement

You don't have anyone back in the US that could send you one. They're like 40.00 cad even cheaper.

@Peter Itamaraca When your standing on a platform waiting for a train, does it arrive from your left or your right?
-@alan279

Good question! We, in the UK, have a lot of small rural one-track stations, so they arrive from both directions! In a terminus of course they arrive and depart on the same track, so both directions.

But generally they arrive from the right, thus travelling on the left side - the correct side!

You don't have anyone back in the US that could send you one. They're like 40.00 cad even cheaper.
-@Cserebogar

Rather than send it and face cutoms charges, just get a friend to bring one over when visiting...

@Peter Itamaraca What about the Eurostar from London to Paris? Do you board and disembark on the same side of the train? Or does the train switch tracks when crossing the border? 🤔

@Peter Itamaraca “But generally they arrive from the right, thus travelling on the left side - the correct side!”

So left is right in the UK? 🤔

@roddiesho Logitech K380 QWERTY US English keyboard is R$250 on Mercado Livre. Looks good. I’ll probably try one.

@Cserebogar Brazilian import taxes will cost almost as much as the product price. 🙁

@Peter Itamaraca What about the Eurostar from London to Paris? Do you board and disembark on the same side of the train? Or does the train switch tracks when crossing the border? 🤔
-@alan279

One tries to avoid going to France as much as possible...

@Peter Itamaraca

hope that its a checked bag. most airlines dont allow loose keyboards as carryon

@Peter Itamaraca I preferred the French food over the British fare. 😀

Finding a laptop with a U.S. keyboard and Windows in English in Brazil can be a bit of a challenge. One option is to check out popular online retailers that offer international versions of laptops.

You might also want to explore local electronics stores, as they sometimes carry a limited selection of international models. Don't forget to keep an eye on online marketplaces, too; you never know what hidden gems you might discover there. If you're looking for cost-effective Windows options, the [link moderated] Reddit community is worth checking out. They often share tips on finding affordable Windows licenses.

    Where can I buy a laptop with a U.S. keyboard and, hopefully, Windows in English in Brazil?
   

    -@alan279

Brazilian keyboards are cheap.  There will be a few changes on your stroked keys.  You will get used to.  Save the laptop keyboard by purchasing an attached one.

Honestly, I dont think I can switch from ABNT2 after using it. the layout is more humanized for me ABNT2 ( Portugese BR IBM layout )

10/14/23    Honestly, I dont think I can switch from ABNT2 after using it. the layout is more humanized for me ABNT2 ( Portugese BR IBM layout )
   

    -@Mikeflanagan

Same here.  I'm a ten-fingered typist (thank you, Sister Joseph André! 😂) who learned on the US layout, and it was very easy for me to adjust to ABNT2 without any apparent loss of speed.  And having the diacriticals right on the keyboard is a lot easier than using Character Map when I need them.

    10/14/23... And having the diacriticals right on the keyboard is a lot easier than using Character Map when I need them.

-@abthree

Holy cow! Now there's a thousand dollar college word, "diacriticals"! Totally new one to me and have five degrees! Kkkkkkkkk.

        10/14/23...@abthree
Holy cow! Now there's a thousand dollar college word, "diacriticals"! Totally new one to me and have five degrees! Kkkkkkkkk.
   

    -@rraypo

😂🤣😂

@Peter Itamaraca

Sure just keep telling yourself that, 55% of everything ever invented... including the internet.  OMG I had no idea.

@sushimonger

Well actually it is true - according to a recent Japanese report, 55% of everything was invented by the British, with the US responsible for just 21%!

You may or may not have heard of these British inventions and creations: telescope, toothbrush, seed drill, industrial revolution, agricultural revolution, steam engine, trains and railways, tin cans, torpedo, thermos flask, hovercraft, jet engine, world wide web, pneumatic tyre, steel, stainless steel, mackintosh coat, telegraph, chocolate bar, fire extinguisher, catseye, ATM, guillotine, lawnmower, light bulb, electric motor, cement, automatic kettle, clockwork radio, tarmac, vaccination, hawkeye sports technology, text messaging, graphine... to name just a few.

They say that ignorance is bliss, so please enjoy our inventions and stay happy!

always thought it was ARPANET and DoD ( department of defense ) around 1960 that developed world wide web,  and that it was some weird german dude who made text messaging lol

    @Peter Itamaraca
hope that its a checked bag. most airlines dont allow loose keyboards as carryon
   

    -@Mikeflanagan

Really???? I was just about to bring mine on my next trip. Hmmm, thanks for the heads up

@rraypo

yea on air canada its listed as a *potential weapon* apparently too many office workers went nutso with a keyboard on too many planes hahaha

    @rraypo
yea on air canada its listed as a *potential weapon* apparently too many office workers went nutso with a keyboard on too many planes hahaha
   

    -@Mikeflanagan

Holy cow man, that amazes me, and not much does! I've always heard of going postal, I guess this is the new going office!