Way to Russia Talk Lounge

bernhard_riemann · Frequent Guest Joined: 15 Sep 2004 Posts: 40

Can anyone please recommend a Cyrillic Keypad/Keboard application, preferably a Java applet. I do not want any spyware/adware/malware. Thank you for your assistance.

cook · Posted: Fri Apr 08, 2005 3:45 am Post subject:

I might be misunderstanding your question but if you have windows xp, you can type in cyrillic characters. Click "Start", then "Control Panel," then "Date, Time, Language, and Regional Options." A list entitled "Pick a Task" will come up, click "add other languages." A separate window will then open, click the tab entitled "languages," then click the "details" button. You will then see a window showing the language and dialect that you are currently using, next to the window there will be several buttons, among them, "add." Click on it, and pick the alphabet that you want to type in. Another, smaller window will pop up w/ two option fields one on top of the other, pick the language that you desire from the top field's drop-down list, and then click the keyboard layout that you want from the bottom. In some cases, you will have only one keyboard layout option. Once you have done this, you will notice a small, blue icon on the start-up bar next to your clock. Clicking it will bring up a list of your installed languages. This list can also be accessed by pressing shift+alt.

Unfortunately, I still have not found a sensible keyboard layout for cyrillic lettering, and have had to write out a key which I use when I type in Russian. The explanation for this difficulty, according to a class text of mine- while someone has carefully planned out an English keyboard, placing the most used letters in home row, the same has yet to be done for cyrillic lettering. I, however, think that that explanation is a load of shit. In any event, if you wouldn't mind parting with some of your dough, you can always buy a Russian cyrillic/ whatever language keyboard and just hook it up. That's what I'm going to do anyway. Smile

Sorry I couldn't be of more help...

bernhard_riemann · Frequent Guest Joined: 15 Sep 2004 Posts: 40

Thanks, you have been a great help. That last idea was one I had not yet considered.

cook · Posted: Fri Apr 08, 2005 3:56 am Post subject:

Any time.

UsualSuspect · Posted: Fri Apr 08, 2005 5:16 am Post subject: Cyrillic Keyboard

Hi,
You have another option....letters that stick on to the keyboard.
When my wife came out she bought her own Cyrillic keboard out and all it is is your standard English Keyboard with Cyrillic letters in Red on the appropriate keys in the standard Russian Typewriter layout. I also got her to buy two packs of stick on Cyrillic letters in case her Keyboard's letters wear out and I have to type cyrillic on it.

I have seen them advertised in the 'Net....

Regards
Usualsuspect

cook · Posted: Fri Apr 08, 2005 5:22 am Post subject:

Whoops! In that case, hopefully he hasn't already bought a keyboard. They are quite pricey.

bernhard_riemann · Frequent Guest Joined: 15 Sep 2004 Posts: 40

Nope, I haven't bought anything yet but the stick-on characters sounds like a great idea. Thanks for all the support, you two.

mediashark · Moderator Joined: 04 Nov 2004 Posts: 1601

Try learning touch-typing. If you have windows xp you can use the on-screen keyboard (under 'accessories' -> 'accessbility').

If you ask me the Russyan layout is more sensible than English qwerty layout. Do you realise that you can type the word 'typewriter' from the top row only? It's to make it easier for typwriter salesmen to demonstrate customers. That's layout planning for you.

wavetossed · WayToRussified Joined: 27 Jun 2004 Posts: 337

All modern operating systems support the standard Russian keyboard layout. You just have to configure the right keyboard drivers etc. Try googling for the words "russification" and your operating system name.

If you have to use somebody else's computer to type in Cyrillic, the easiest thing to do is go to http://www.translit.ru. Since that application is done in Javascript, you can probably save it on a CD-R or a USB thumbdrive and carry it with you, but I haven't tried that myself yet.

If you want to put Cyrillic keystickers on your keyboard, I highly recommend the LATKEY brand since they are available in various colors to match different keyboards. I got the transparent stickers with yellow cyrillic letters to put on my black laptop keys and white stickers with red cyrillic for my eMac. The LATKEY brand have the printing on the same side as the sticky stuff so they will never wear off until the entire plastic sticker has worn through. I had some different stickers before this and the paint on them wore off in 6 months.

Also, some people suggest that you should use a wierd keyboard layout that puts Cyrillic letters on the same key as the English letter with the same sound. For instance, S=C, N=H, V=B, M=M. I think this is a bad idea because then you will be unable to use a normal Cyrillic keyboard. It only takes a couple of weeks to get used to the standard Cyrillic layout and then you can easily use computers in a Russian Internet cafe, etc.