Laptops and Arabic keyboards

[Fajr]

As-salaamu `alaykum

Is there anyway to change the keyboard interface on laptops?
I've been using a normal English keyboard with arabic font enabled etc, but I'm a bit tired of typing arabic 'from memory' and was wondering if I could change the inbuilt keyboard for an arabic/english one?
Jazaakumullahu khayran

[Abuz Zubair]

You have two choices:

a) get Arabic stickers for keyboards, or

b) get an Arabic keyboard and plug it into your laptop.

I would discourage you from a, though. It would mess up your keyboard.

Go for option b. Look for light keyboards you can fold and carry with you easily.

[Umm Ahmed]

A seperate arabic keyboard is the best thing.

[Yasir]

wa'alaikum as-salaam,but I'm a bit tired of typing arabic 'from memory'The more you type in Arabic insha'Allah, the easier it'll become.
It's similar to typing in English, in that you would go on to be able to type without having to look to the keyboard.Look for light keyboards you can fold and carry with you easily.Are there portable ones like that available?

[aburasheed]

I think stickers are not that bad if you take your time to apply them properly. Make sure you scratch your nails evenly on the stickers. You may have some issues around the "bumps" at the home key ("f" and j" keys). Otherwise it's okay (see pic.) I gave one to a Sheikh, I felt sorry for him, since he has pieces of paper on the keyboard lol.

I bought them online for $12, I forgot which site, but this one looks a bit cheaper:
http://www.latkey.com/keyboard_stickers.asp

[Fajr]

Jazaakumullaahu khayran, useful input.
If the stickers actually stick well, then I might try them. But it sounds wholly better to get that seperate keyboard - I'm slightly worried about space tho... not sure if I can type with the laptop's keyboard in the way. Ok, I'll see what I can come up with inshaa'Allaah, baarak'Allaahu feekum.

[aburasheed]

Jazaakumullaahu khayran, useful input.
If the stickers actually stick well, then I might try them. But it sounds wholly better to get that seperate keyboard - I'm slightly worried about space tho... not sure if I can type with the laptop's keyboard in the way. Ok, I'll see what I can come up with inshaa'Allaah, baarak'Allaahu feekum.

If you are concern about space, try the docking station:
http://www.amazon.com/Sherpaq-Oyster-Laptop-Docking-Station/dp/B00008BQVP

[Niqaabis]

This is a good alternative

virtual keyboard

http://www.muftah-alhuruf.com/

[abuyasin]

The best Option is Arabic keyboard layouts for Western users where you can use arabic the same way like english I use it in my home pc and laptop and office computer and it always been the best option to me

The package for Windows 2000, XP and NT 4.0 contains two keyboard layouts: Arabic ASDF Eastern with Arabic-Indic digists and Arabic ASDF Western with Arabic-European digits. The package for Windows 95, 98 and ME has only one keyboard layout: Arabic ASDF, which is like Arabic ASDF Western but without Farsi yeh.

this is the website for the information http://zsigri.tripod.com/fontboard/arabic.html

Click here to download the Zip file (http://zsigri.tripod.com/fontboard/fbarab.zip)

[Skillganon]

Salaam,

I installed the Arabic Language Support on XP, now I can write in Arabic, but can someone help me how to get the vowels on in it?

[hearandobey]

Salaam,

I installed the Arabic Language Support on XP, now I can write in Arabic, but can someone help me how to get the vowels on in it?

Wa `alaykumusalaam wa rahmatullah ukhti

After typing a letter in Arabic press:

SHIFT + A (or S) - to get the kasra/tayn
SHIFT + Q (or W) - for the fat-ha/tayn
SHIFT + E (or R) - for the dhammah/tayn

And you can extend a word by pressing SHIFT + J for example:

بســــــــــــــــــــــــــــــم الله الرحمـــــــــن الرحيــــــــم

آمـــــــــــــــــــــــــــيـن

[Skillganon]

Jazak Allah Khair sis.

[Abu Abdallah al-Bulghari]

wa'alaikum as-salaam,The more you type in Arabic insha'Allah, the easier it'll become.
It's similar to typing in English, in that you would go on to be able to type without having to look to the keyboard.Are there portable ones like that available?

I second that opinion.

[suhailp]

wa'alaikum as-salaam,The more you type in Arabic insha'Allah, the easier it'll become.
It's similar to typing in English, in that you would go on to be able to type without having to look to the keyboard.?

give it a month.