I bought a MBP off ebay, and I opened it up to find out it has a french keyboard.
(I had even asked the seller if it was french prior to purchase, but I digress).

Apparently you can change the language preferences to english on the computer. Fair enough. If I change the keyboard preferences to US english, can I slip on one of those silicone keyboard covers with english characters, and will that be sufficient to make my keyboard english?

Will I find other "french" related issues on the computer, or is the keyboard it?

I can return the MBP as another option, but it was a good deal, but I don't want something that will only frustrate me.

Thanks!

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Is there any other inherent issues with the language that I may not be happy with in the future?
Will the keyboard issue make me cross eventually?

I just am trying to decide if I should return it or not.

No, there are no issues using "English" keyboard in the preferences if you have a french keyboard. I just hate the hideous return key on the french keyboard. LOL

On the other hand, i have an english keyboard, and i often have to type in french.. I just added the french keyboard in system preferences and type just as if it was a french keyboard. Of course, you won't know what you are typing unless you know your keys by heart..

If you are someone needs to look at the keyboard to know what you are actually typing, i'd say forget this. return it.

Which model MBP is it? There have been some changes to the keyboards over the years...

Is it this one? http://img683.imageshack.us/img683/1333/dsc2745.jpg

More examples from Apple - the USB keyboard, but the layout is pretty much the same:

Apple Keyboard - French - Apple Store (Canada) (http://store.apple.com/ca/product/MB110C/B)

NOTE: these are what Apple calls "French Canadian" - they're not AZERTY keyboards like you find in France.

The English keyboard is a bit different - http://images.anandtech.com/doci/3889/MBP13_keyboard.JPG

See the differences with the return key and number of keys in the rows adjacent to it. I'm not sure how things get remapped when you change your keyboard prefs - you'd have to try it and see if it all works ok without too much remapping of the brain necessary (assuming that you're a touch typist, that is!).

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I truly appreciate the answers you have given me. I can type by touch on my PC, but this is my first foray in Mac. I'm mostly just a mom, looking for a better way to work my large library of photographs.

I assume I probably could learn how to use the Mac commands by touch, but I suspect that there is going to be a learning curve. Hence why I wondered if I could slip on a silicone keyboard sleeve that would mask the french keyboard with the english cover.

Irritated at the seller...yes.

Oh, and it the french canadian version..not the AZERTY.

Who knew there was so many types of keyboards out there?

Irritated at the seller...yes.

If you were misinformed about the product, contact the seller for a refund and return the machine; if they refuse raise an issue with eBay. If you confirmed it was an english keyboard and it's not, sort it out.

See fit hell give you engh of a refund to cover the cost of replacing the keyboard with an English one (assuming its an older per unibody MacBook pro where that is an inexpensive proposition)

I truly appreciate the answers you have given me. I can type by touch on my PC, but this is my first foray in Mac. I'm mostly just a mom, looking for a better way to work my large library of photographs.

I assume I probably could learn how to use the Mac commands by touch, but I suspect that there is going to be a learning curve. Hence why I wondered if I could slip on a silicone keyboard sleeve that would mask the french keyboard with the english cover.

Irritated at the seller...yes.

You should have no problems working by feel with the french keyboard on an english layout.

You just need to keep in mind that the \ or | key is the À key.

I still hate the hideous return key though.. :)

I would either send back the keyboard or ask for some $ back!