Laptop(maybe?) - but does it have a BREAK key?

[ChrisGreaves]

Is there a clever way of determining from the online catalogue if a laptop keyboard has a break key?
I made a mistake with my current laptop - it does not have a Break key, and since I develop programs in Office VBA, Ctrl-Break is close to a necessity for me.

I'm still undecided as to whether to get the screen fixed or buy a new latop.
I went into three stores this morning looking at laptops.

It's easy enough in the store to walk past a row of laptops and stop ONLY at those that sport a Break key to check the price and note down the model number.
The CPU, RAM and HD specs don't interest me at all - I'm not running or developing games and movies- just doing two-fingered typing of interesting little applications.

Store clerks all tell me to go off to their web sites - microsoftstore.ca thesource.ca bestbuy.ca and so on, but none of these sites tell me whether the laptops have a Break key.
Is there a clever way of determining from the catalogue if a laptop keyboard has a break key?
My only sure way of knowing right now is to inspect the laptop, physically, in the store.

I know that as a developer I am in a very small minority - most consumers want to browse the web and watch movies.

TIA
Chris

[PJ_in_FL]

How about using AutoHotKey and map the break key to a key combination your computer has? For example ...

Code: Select all

#InstallKeybdHook
#+b::send {break}

maps the Windows Key + Shift + b to {break}

One warning: once you start using AutoHotKey you can't stop! You'll keep finding new key combinations, hot strings, etc. to add to your little script!!!!

[viking33]

A few suggestions were:
Fn + Delete

Ctrl + Alt + Esc

Or a reg addition. ( it says Desktop but are you daring? )

(Option)
If you want you can copy/Paste the text below into a *.txt file.
Save the file onto your desktop and rename as New_Reg_Key.reg because of the *.reg extension you can then double_click the file to add the new registry key.
[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Control\Keyboard Layout]
"Scancode Map"=hex:00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,02,00,00,00,46,e0,44,00,00,00,00,00

OR Google "Laptop keyboard replacement for Break key."

[ChrisGreaves]

How about using AutoHotKey

Hi PJ. I made a small script:-

Code: Select all

#InstallKeybdHook
#+b::send {break}
Return

and wrote a small VBA module

Code: Select all

Sub test()
    While True
        MsgBox "I am in a loop"
    Wend
End Sub

Executed the AHK script, started the VBA macro, but "Shift-B" did not interrupt the execution of the VBA script.

Sooooo ... Is there a clever way of determining from the online catalogue if a laptop keyboard has a break key?

[Rudi]

Sorry...can't answer your catalog question, but my suggestions are:

1. Use an on-screen keyboard
2. Plug in a peripheral keyboard

[ChrisGreaves]

A few suggestions were:... OR Google "Laptop keyboard replacement for Break key."

Thanks Bob.
With the ScanCode in place, what keyboard keys would I press to effect a Ctrlk-Break?
I tried the other suggestions again (I tried them a month or two ago) and worked through the Google hits.
No success.

It was a little terrifying because on this laptop the <Blue Fn> combined with the <F2> key turns off wireless connection.
Terrifying because if you aren't paying attention, you have no wirelss and no internet all of a sudden.

Sooooo ... Is there a clever way of determining from the online catalogue if a laptop keyboard has a break key?

[ChrisGreaves]

Sorry...can't answer your catalog question, but my suggestions are:
1. Use an on-screen keyboard
2. Plug in a peripheral keyboard

Thanks Rudi.
My guess is that online store catalogues don't cater to developers who insist on having a <Break> key.
Plug-in keyboards (and external CD burners and ...) are ruled out. I can't see the point of carrying around even more junk in my shoulder bag.

All stores I visited di have laptops with Break keys, but they tended to be in the stratospheric level ($700-$1500) which means, for me, I'm better off staying with a $150 screen repair and just being miserable about the lack of a Break key.

FWIW over the years (various hardware and OS) I have had very little success with key-substitutes, including the infamous Sendkeys devices.

[Jay Freedman]

PDF copies of owner's manuals for most things are on the Internet these days. If you see a laptop listing in a catalogue that looks promising, download its manual and search for "Break", or for a picture of the keyboard.

Another alternative is to post a question on the laptop's page at Amazon.com to ask other users whether they have a Break key. Amazon will email customers who have reviewed that model, asking them to look at your question.

[Rudi]

Sorry...can't answer your catalog question, but my suggestions are:
1. Use an on-screen keyboard
2. Plug in a peripheral keyboard

Plug-in keyboards (and external CD burners and ...) are ruled out. I can't see the point of carrying around even more junk in my shoulder bag.

What about #1?
The on-screen K/B can do the job if you need a Break key.

[PJ_in_FL]

How about using AutoHotKey

Hi PJ. I made a small script:-

Code: Select all

#InstallKeybdHook
#+b::send {break}
Return

and wrote a small VBA module

Code: Select all

Sub test()
    While True
        MsgBox "I am in a loop"
    Wend
End Sub

Executed the AHK script, started the VBA macro, but "Shift-B" did not interrupt the execution of the VBA script.

Sooooo ... Is there a clever way of determining from the online catalogue if a laptop keyboard has a break key?

Try WINDOWS-KEY plus SHIFT plus B...

[jonwallace]

If you're still looking Chris, I spotted a couple of ASUS notebooks from their X series that had pause break keys on the keyboard. They were the X553 and the X555. I know that Scotland's a long way to come, but they might have the same model in Toronto...

[ChrisGreaves]

... PDF copies of owner's manuals... post a question on the laptop's page at Amazon.com ...

Two good suggestions; thanks Jay.
I spent part of Thursday wandering through PC-repair shops on College Street getting quotes for screen repair ($50-$150) and looking at second-hand (i.e. older with Break keys) laptops.
Then I realised that I didn't really know how much GB disk I was using so came home to think.
(About 100GB it turns out).
Tomorrow I'm dropping this DELL off for screen repair and heading out of town Wednesday for lunch, so by Thursday the world should be sunny and shining again!

[ChrisGreaves]

The on-screen K/B can do the job if you need a Break key.

Maybe.
I've never used an on-screen keyboard.
Wouldn't that reduce the amount of VBA code my eyes can scan through?
Real-estate on this screen is precious.

[ChrisGreaves]

Try WINDOWS-KEY plus SHIFT plus B...

Ahaha!
I shall file this post under "Traps for young players"
Thanks PJ. I'll give 'er a whirl tonight ...

[ChrisGreaves]

If you're still looking Chris, I spotted a couple of ASUS notebooks from their X...

Thanks jon.
I saw a few ASUS-Break books last Wednesday (was it?) and passed them by because they didn't have a DVD-burner drive.
The sales clerk assured me all too quickly that one could boot from a USB external drive, but I felt he lacked confidence.
(signed) "Still-looking" of Toronto.

[John Gray]

Chris, what you need for your development work is:

1. a 27" external screen (say 2560x1440)
2. an external keyboard, which will include a Break key
3. a nice USB optical mouse
4. ... and a PC system unit

Stop faffing about with thoughts of laptops!

[ChrisGreaves]

Chris, what you need for your development work is:

1. a 27" external screen (say 2560x1440)
2. an external keyboard, which will include a Break key
3. a nice USB optical mouse
4. ... and a PC system unit

Stop faffing about with thoughts of laptops!

Absolutely correct!
While I was still working (or at least, being paid to be working) (actually, being promised to be paid ...) I had switched from a desktop to a laptop for ease of visiting client sites.
Last week I kicked a few tyres on desktops thinking "I do most of my stuff offline at home now, why not get a Proper System".
I'd fall back on my ACER netbook (jukebox) to visit WiFi, d/l stuff (as I do now) and u/l stuff and then retreat home for a nice cuppa and a cookie and a desktop.
Thanks for the reinforcement.

[Rudi]

The on-screen K/B can do the job if you need a Break key.

Maybe.
I've never used an on-screen keyboard.
Wouldn't that reduce the amount of VBA code my eyes can scan through?
Real-estate on this screen is precious.

You wouldn't use the keyboard unless you need to use the CTRL+Break button. If you are stuck in an endless loop...access the K/B and use it to break the code. Then close or minimize it again. Just another option....

BTW: Its lighter than carrying around any shortcut keys!

[HansV]

I was wondering whether the Pause (Break) key on the on-screen keyboard would really work to stop running code, so I performed a little test. It does work! Clicking Ctrl then clicking Pause did pause the code.

[Rudi]

I work almost exclusively on a laptop, although at work and home I plug in an external K/B and a second monitor. While travelling though, I've used an on-screen keyboard a few times before to stop code. However, I have strangely (and on occasion) been able to break code by pressing several times on the Escape key too... Escape is a mystery as it only seems to work intermittently??