If you just want to get the device get it from ebay.

The global shipping program is really great for this IMO; you pre-pay any taxes due (just VAT for laptops IIRC) so you don't have to deal with extra waits or paying a ton for DHL/whoever to collect it from you. The seller ships the item to a distribution centre domestically, then ebay check it and handle the international leg.

There's a good chance you'll end up saving compared to buying locally in the UK even after paying for shipping and VAT on the whole thing. Have done it with my last couple of laptops and wouldn't hesitate to do it again.

I didn't know that was a thing. Thanks for the tip!

I was looking at buying an ultrabook and had the same problem (but living in Germany). In the end I decided on a Lenovo X1 Carbon, though, but faced the decision to either get one from the Lenovo store (which allows you to get a US keyboard) or buy with an education discount from a retailer. Since the discount for the latter was really steep, I saved 500€ and settled on a DE keyboard, although its layout is a major pain for programming. But I couldn't justify shelling out 500 bucks more just for the different keyboard. It's a shame but I guess we're really a minority.

The X1 Carbon is a beautiful laptop, with the best keyboard in business. I am still using my original (i7/8/256) one from 2012, and it's holding up incredibly well. Build quality is second to none.

I would love to upgrade to the latest quad core goodness, and better energy saving tech, but as long as it works I'll keep on using it.

It would be good to see a toughness comparison of the MBP against the X1 Carbon, especially in a "milspec" dusty environment. I hear they're not having the best run with their keyboards in less than pristine environments.

I just got an X1 Carbon that I use with an egpu dock for work, and I absolutely love it. Thinner and lighter than a MacBook, the keyboard is great, and it runs Linux. Only complaint I have is that the egpu doesn't support hotswapping, but egpus are new, so I'll give it some time.

Also, a trackpoint :).

Congrats. :-) Yep, forgot to mention trackpoint! I don't even use the mouse pad anymore, it's just that good.

I'm with ya, but that's because I'm an American who finds himself in the UK! Every UK keyboard I use is ever so slightly different, which drives me a bit crazy.

I'm in exactly the same position, it didn't even occur to me that the layout might be different. What's the difference between the US and UK layouts?

On the US keyboard, the enter key is only one key height and longer, and the left shift key is longer. This moves a couple of keys around (`\). The most notable (especially from a programming point of view) is that the " and @ keys are switched. I use strings way more than I do anything else, so the US way is preferable here as its on the home row. The pound sign disappears, but I don't think I've ever actually needed it, while I need $ all the time.

Perhaps minor, but as I say, noticeable when I switch keyboards that its an annoyance.

Edit: added some text

> the " and @ keys are switched. I use strings way more than I do anything else, so the US way is preferable here

Eh? They're both shifted, so why does it matter which one is on which key?

I edited too late. See updated post:

> the " and @ keys are switched. I use strings way more than I do anything else, so the US way is preferable here as its on the home row

Less travel required.

A few things. The " and @ are swapped, I think, and some stuff about backslash. I can see that would be annoying for American users.

But the main pro for UK users is that the UK layout has a double-height Return key. It's fab.