Keyboard issues

I was hoping to pick your brains for a little bit of info regarding keyboards.

1. When a manufacturer lists the dimensions of a keyboard, does that measurement actually include the height of the keycaps themselves, or are they just measuring to the highest point on the chassis?
2. How much of a headache is it to take a keyboard without a US layout and add those specific accented characters we need? Is it enough to simply swap the layout settings within Windows, or am I going to be hunting down external keymapping software—and if so, how much of a hassle is that really? Also, what’s the deal with stickers? Is there such a thing as a decent sticker that won't peel right off the moment I go to clean my desk, or is there a better way to get those symbols onto the keys?

Having clarity on these two points would be a massive help while I'm narrowing down my options. Thanks a bunch!

Is height really such a dealbreaker when you're picking one out? 😬 If we're talking about hand positioning and ergonomics, I actually keep a firm foam pad right at keyboard level ( 😁 ), which keeps my palms from resting awkwardly against the desk. It came bundled with my keyboard, but honestly, DIYing something similar wouldn't be hard, and you could probably just buy one anyway.

At the end of the day, the layout in Windows is the only thing that truly matters; you could have hieroglyphics, tattoos, or Chinese characters printed on the physical keys for all I care, because as long as you've mapped them correctly in Windows, they’ll function exactly how you want. Personally, my keyboard doesn't have any markings at all since I never bother looking down at it—it actually looks quite sleek this way, though it's a shame to ruin such a beautiful matte black surface. 😁
If you're dead set on having specific US symbols on your board, here's your roadmap:
1. Just buy a keyboard that comes with the standard US layout already printed on it.
2. Order a custom keyboard with whatever wild designs you desire from a specialist site like http://www.wasdkeyboards.com/.
3. If the keyboard uses mechanical switches that allow for easy keycap removal (like the ones in the link above), you can simply pop the old caps off and swap in new ones featuring the symbols you want.
4. Or, you could try the "low effort" route... markers, acrylic paint, or stickers... though they'll inevitably start peeling and fading before you know it.

Height is actually a pretty big deal for me here—I’ve got this specific desk setup with a sliding tray for my keyboard, and space is at a premium. I measured the clearance, and it’s only about 1.75 inches. My big worry is that if those height specs don't account for the actual keycaps, everything is going to be way too cramped once I slide that tray back under the desk.

As for the layout itself, I’m a little lost. If I just switch the language settings to American, will all the symbols stay put—you know, right next to the Enter key—or does the OS decide to scatter them all over the place based on some weird internal logic? If I end up grabbing a keyboard with a standard US layout, would I need to mess around with custom software configurations, or can I just toggle the setting in Windows to American and have everything line up perfectly? I’m honestly not sure if it’s really that straightforward. I mean, if it were that easy, why even bother with all this complex software overhead?

https://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/glo...eyboardlayouts

And man, those keyboard stickers are really bugging me. Honestly, the dream would be to just 3D print my own custom keycaps! I think I’ll probably just stick with an American layout keyboard after all, though it definitely feels like it limits my options quite a bit.

Why limit yourself to just local hardware shops?

I mean, let's be real—it would be pretty much impossible to stumble upon a keyboard with those specific American symbols just sitting there on the shelf at any local shop.

Jonathan Mendoza17 said:Height is a huge factor for me because my desk setup features one of those sliding keyboard trays, and space is at a premium there. I’ve measured the clearance at about 1.7 inches. My concern is that if the height measurement doesn't account for the actual keycaps, the keyboard might end up feeling cramped once I slide the tray back under the desk.

As for the layout, I’m honestly a bit lost—if I just switch the input settings to American, will all the symbols actually land where they belong (like next to the Enter key), or does the OS decide to scatter them across the board based on some internal, chaotic logic? If I opt for a keyboard with a standard US layout, would I need to mess around with custom software configurations, or can I simply toggle the language in Windows and have everything line up perfectly? Is it really that straightforward? If it were that easy, why would they even bother developing such complex software?

https://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/glo...eyboardlayouts

And don't even get me started on the stickers; that's my biggest headache. Honestly, it would be much cleaner to just 3D print custom keycaps. I think I'll ultimately settle on an American layout keyboard, though this whole situation really narrows my options significantly.

It seems you haven't quite grasped the essence of what I was saying. 🙏
The link you provided refers to layouts for languages that Microsoft doesn't even support. Since when does Microsoft fail to support the American language? 😁

What you've shared are just two standard layouts used for full-sized keyboards. You plug them in, and they work—it's really not that deep.

Okay, I don't think you quite caught my drift there. It’s not that I’m looking for some plain, boring keyboard without any flair—not at all! I actually want something with decent backlighting and those extra macro functions, but my options feel incredibly limited when I restrict myself strictly to an American layout.

See, if I pick up a keyboard with a standard US layout and then just switch the input language to my local settings within Windows, the symbol placement becomes a total mess. It isn't just about those specific accented characters we need—it's the symbols too. Things like @, &, /, ?, >,
But, hey, you know what? I've pretty much made up my mind. I'll just hunt down a keyboard with the correct layout from the start. I've decided it's simply not worth the absolute nightmare of trying to hack it together.

Look, I’m not actually suggesting you go out and buy a blank board; I just sent you that link to illustrate the layout differences—specifically the distinction between the 104 and 105 key versions—though if you're into those smaller 80-plus key models, those are an option too. But honestly, I'm a bit baffled by your claim that there isn't much variety available here in the States. If you look at sites like Best Buy or even specialized retailers, I see well over 80 different models listed. Isn't the vast majority of them standard US layouts? The issue is that the product photos on those websites are often misleading, typically displaying the US version regardless of what's actually in stock. You really ought to call ahead to verify, or better yet, just head down to the store and check it out yourself if you haven't already.

He’s mentioning which ones have the US layout. Honestly, I'd say the situation is about fifty-fifty right now. There are plenty of models out there without any specific regional markings—you know how it goes—but it’s always a bit of a bummer when you want to snag an interesting model but hesitate just because of the keycaps. So, I was wondering if there might be some practical way to swap out the keys or tweak the layout entirely... but from what I can tell, it doesn't seem worth the effort.

Google is my best friend...

https://www.google.com/search?client...UTF-8&oe=UTF-8
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/QWERTZ
https://www.getdigital.eu/Blank-Keyboard.html

Cheap enough, I guess...

By the way, layouts are set by standards. You usually see the European style with 102 or 105 keys, or the US style with 101 or 104 keys (depending on if it's a Windows setup or not). The European ones have that oversized Enter key and a tiny left Shift. And that's just talking about the physical layout; once you get into the actual character mapping, it depends on the country or region and whether Microsoft actually decides to support that specific layout or not. As for height, it’s measured the same way as length or width—just the distance between the outermost points when the keyboard is in its working position (feet up). Doesn't matter if you're measuring from the top of a key or the casing itself.

I ended up picking up a CM Suppressor featuring some patriotic American motifs, and honestly? I'm pretty thrilled with it so far. The software interface is solid too—everything is fully customizable if you want to tweak things.