Polish keyboard 214 is best

@Polonius3: no one uses it in Poland
edited

But sometimes you want to write something, like a headline, using capital letters only. And then it's a problem.

I have seen headlines in capitals, where ą and ę were small letters (it doesn't usually happen, because, as qwertyuiop mentioned, noone in Poland uses 214 - maybe only some people accustomed to typewriters, where it was the standard layout, and learnt to type sightlessly) - and it looks just weird.

I don't know if any company even produces keyboards with the 214 layout.

If you are a foreigner, then:
- if you are accustomed to the English or the American keyboard (or any other similiar to them), you should use the "programmer's" layout (with Polish letters under right Alt, or left Alt+Ctrl, at least in Windows - in Linux with Mate desktop that I use just now it's right Alt or left Alt, but I use the right Alt only anyway)

- if you are accustomed to the German keyboard (or any other similar), you should use the "214" vel. "typewriter's" layout
- if you are accustomed to any other keyboard layout, I recommend the "programmer's" one, since it's the standard used in Poland, actually I don't know anyone who would use the "typewriter's" keyboard and even in Germany I always switch to the "programmer's" layout, not "214", because the latter is just annoying for me. I have always used the "programmer's" layout.

Indeed they do. I'm currently using a Dell Polish 214 keyboard. Previouisly I had an IBM one.

In Windows 10 (other versions of Windows also offer multiple locales built-in), to select a region and keyboard layout:

Control panel (by category) -> "Add a language" under Clock, Language, and Region

Or

Control Panel (by icons) -> Region -> Language preferences

Then

"Add a language" (I currently have English, Polish, Russian, and Japanese.) to add a new locale.

In Polish mode, to type a character with a kreska, kropka, ogonek, or ukośnik, hold the right-Alt key and type the character. The left-Alt works as usual. The shift keys work as usual. Right-Alt z makes ż. Right-Alt-Shift x makes Ź. You do NOT type keys sequentially.

To switch between languages (keyboards), hold the Windows Key and type space.