Thanks to everyone for their replies. Acquiring a separate keyboard for a portable computer seems rather to defeat the machine's inherent purpose. I've also noticed that Dell and other internet suppliers offer a QWERTY option for portables on their Belgium French language web sites, with the same power cords as those used here. However they refuse to deliver in France. Two conclusions ensue from this little research and thanks to your help: 1- We have to buy within the UK (or Belgium) 2- We are seeing the return of trade barriers in the EU.