Linux makes Romanian better!
The few times I had to use proper Romanian in emails, a language I’m fluent in, I used Windows with a Ro keyboard layout to type its 5 extra glyphs (ăâîşţ). I’ve grown somewhat accustomed to using keys like [, ], ;, ‘ for input, and its strange flip of letters Y<->Z. I always thought there had to be a better way — it’s only 5 measly extra characters, no need to make it so hard on the user.
A colleague wants to learn Romanian (cool!) and at work I run Linux/KDE. So I added the Ro kb layout using the KDE Keyboard Tool and enabled it. I tried [, I tried ], but no Romanian characters showed up. I first thought it wasn’t working, then I looked it up: somebody had actually found a better way! When you switch to the Ro kb layout under X, it behaves the same as it does for English. With one exception. Want to type ş? Right-Alt-s! ţ = Right-Alt-t, and so on. Right-Alt is great as a modifier key because I never use it for anything. I now leave my KB in Ro mode all the time; I see it as English with Romanian benefits. As my buddy Luis would say, in his rather thick British accent: brilliant!
