deskthority

What I really want to know is if the controller in a keyboard knows which layout/language it is.

For example if I buy a German or Nordic ISO board would a Mac or PC auto-detect which layout it is?

Or is this something that is only defined by a computers OS?

spaceburge wrote:What I really want to know is if the controller in a keyboard knows which layout/language it is.

No, it doesn't. All it knows are key codes, and these are just codes that identify the key's position on the keyboard. For example, the seventh key from the left in the qwer.. row has a certain key code. The OS will translate this key code to a Y (QUERTY) or a Z (QWERTZ) or an F (Dvorak) depending on the layout that the user defined his keyboard to have in the OS.

For example if I buy a German or Nordic ISO board would a Mac or PC auto-detect which layout it is?

No, there's no way for the computer to find out. If you put UK ISO keycaps on it, you will have a 100% UK ISO keyboard. That's what manufacturers do.

Or is this something that is only defined by a computers OS?

Exactly.

You are brilliant. Thanks for that. I'm understanding my plate mount vs PCB mount, my Topre from my ALPS but that was the last thing to check!