gvalia

I am using the Silakka54 keyboard with great pleasure. I configured the keyboard in such a way that I am using the Colemak-DH layout for English. However, I also speak other languages which do not use the Latin alphabet. For those languages, the operating system deals with translating the key presses. The problem is that my keyboard sends key signals according to the Colemak-DH layout while the system expects the QWERTY layout. Ergo, I get nonsense when I type.

To illustrate what I mean, let's say that pressing "L" on the QWERTY keyboard corresponds to the letter "Λ" being typed out. Since Colemak-DH moves the location of "L" to the "U" key, in order to type that character again, I'd have to press "U" on QWERTY, not "L" anymore. This breaks the layout.

One of the solutions I can think of is to make a macro that switches the keyboard over to a QWERTY layout and toggles the language change in the system. However, that would require me to reconfigure home row mods and other keys twice. Is there a more elegant solution for this problem, such as allowing the keyboard to send Unicode symbols? My keyboard uses VIAL for the firmware, by the way.

My beloved T420's bezels are coming apart at the hinge. This has already happened once---I glued the plastic back together---but now is a very inconvenient time for it to happen again. So I'm thinking of upgrading.

For me, the most important factors are:

1. Portability - I have to carry my laptop with me on a nearly daily basis.
2. Linux support.
3. A good keyboard, preferably without the numpad.
4. An HDMI port.
5. Good battery life (~5 hours with active use should be plenty but more is welcome).

I'm thinking of going with the 8th generation X1 carbon but I'd like to hear your opinion.