Thread
Dvorak Keyboard Layout
If any of you out there use a Dvorak keyboard, I'd like to announce that I have just joined your ranks. It's rather slow going right now, but I am already picking it up faster than I did QWERTY. Also, since you can have my Apple Pro Keyboard when you pry it from my cold, dead hands, I decided to rearrange my keyboard:
http://img130.imageshack.us/img130/4480/im000679lc0.jpg
Just a happy announcement!
http://img130.imageshack.us/img130/4480/im000679lc0.jpg
Just a happy announcement!
I've always wondered what Dvorak typing would be like. I'll have to give it a try some time.
Sounds like it's working out for the better though.
Sounds like it's working out for the better though.
I might try learning it on my IIc...I'm not using it for anything else.
It'd be awesome of Dvorak laid the first 5 letters out like DVORAK...then, when he'd type his last name, he'd just have to swipe his finger across the first 5 keys
Heheheheheheeheheheheeheheheheheeheehe...heh.
It'd be awesome of Dvorak laid the first 5 letters out like DVORAK...then, when he'd type his last name, he'd just have to swipe his finger across the first 5 keys
Heheheheheheeheheheheeheheheheheeheehe...heh.
Useless though, because DVORAK is slower than QWERTY.
I also just recently switched on my desktop using my IBM clickey keyboard
I'm gonna be doing that, too!
Just waiting for my AT - PS/2 and PS/2 - USB adapters to arrive
Welcome aboard! We've been expecting you. You sticking with it? I'm surprised there aren't more of us actually; I thought being a Mac user was all about thinking different. If you've stuck with it you'll soon notice how much more smoothly and easily you type.
The only problem is, I would quite like to buy a typewriter - at least with a typewriter you get more than 5 minutes to compose your sonnet before the battery dies!! -but sadly they don't make Dvorak typewriters. Only Tchaikovsky tea-chests.
The only problem is, I would quite like to buy a typewriter - at least with a typewriter you get more than 5 minutes to compose your sonnet before the battery dies!! -but sadly they don't make Dvorak typewriters. Only Tchaikovsky tea-chests.
Indeed. And my knee is Archbishop of Canterbury.
I decided that 1 week before school ends with 2357614687 reports that need to be typed probably wasn't the best time to learn a new keyboard layout
However, I will be learning it over the summer and sticking with it. Good to find another here.
Wewt for the world record typing speed (212 WPM) being set on a Dvorak Keyboard!
Neither is faster, it depends on the users knowledge of the layout and personal finger-speed.
I'd credit the typist more than the keyboard for such a feat.
Of course, but having an easier, more logical layout makes higher speeds possible; and I would imagine an average typist would probably improve their speed somewhat by switching. Once you've gotten used to Dvorak, then you try QWERTY again, you'll really feel like your fingers are playing a game of Twister on your keyboard.
In the couple of days that I was using it there, I was amazed at just how little my fingers moved! It's nice really.
I think it'd be too much re-adjustment for me to learn the Dvorak layout. I like impressing my friends by touch typing passwords using the standard QWERTY layout ;D
Same - I can't touch-type, but you do still feel your fingers moving towards the location of the keys you need without having to think about it. I don't think I could cope with trying to learn a new layout (plus you'd have to buy a special keyboard to even try it).
After decades of teaching myself to use a keyboard with a decent amount of speed, changing to Dvorak would really screw me up.
Two reasons why I won't touch a Dvorak layout:
1. I'm already a decent QWERTY touch typist. Since both keyboards use the same physical arrangement, knowing two key layouts would bugger me up. (I once tried Dvorak on an ergonomic keyboard. It ended up that I couldn't use QWERTY on that keyboard if I tried because of my mind jumbling them up.)
2. Everyone uses QWERTY anyway. Using Dvorak would either mean carting my own keyboard around, or finding somebody with administrative access to change the keymap.
1. I'm already a decent QWERTY touch typist. Since both keyboards use the same physical arrangement, knowing two key layouts would bugger me up. (I once tried Dvorak on an ergonomic keyboard. It ended up that I couldn't use QWERTY on that keyboard if I tried because of my mind jumbling them up.)
2. Everyone uses QWERTY anyway. Using Dvorak would either mean carting my own keyboard around, or finding somebody with administrative access to change the keymap.
really now ? then you dont know that qwerty was created to actually slow typists down
when they stil had old fashioned mechnical typewriters remember those ?
typists would be so fast the key hammers got tangled up qwerty was tought up to slow them down
these days its fast because we are used to it
the dvorak layout was created to be much more effecient and faster when you get used to it
i tried to get used to it but failed i have been using qwety longer then i care to remember
That is almost certainly an urban myth. The QWERTY keyboard was designed to minimize the number of collisions between hammers. Anyone who has actually used a mechanical typewriter will tell you that the hammers that tend to jam are the ones that are closest together. I'm guessing because there is a bigger region where the hammers try to occupy the same spot since they are running along roughly the same line. Anyway, the point is you reduce the collisions by separating the hammers. You don't actually have to try to slow the typist down by mechanical means anyway, since that is self correcting (i.e. too many jams, just type slower).
I don't touch type, either. I cheat. I use my memory as a buffer. I memorize two or three sentences, type them out, and then when I get near the end I glance back and take in 2 or 3 more sentences. The Amazing Human Print Spooler!!!
I do that too...I'm trying Dvorak now' and I will for 3 weeks before I say yea or nay. Slowly learning...
How long were you using Dvorak for? I've never had a problem with switching between both, though obviously it feels wrong to use qwerty now.
Exactly - so the keys are arranged on the basis of minimising the limitations of ancient equipment, not on the basis of what is a logical and fast keyboard to type on. So naturally, it's going to be slower than dvorak.
I have been studying alt layouts for the past month. I thought I would respond to a few things here for others who might be considering changing to Dvorak.
"Useless though, because DVORAK is slower than QWERTY"
Where is the proof? Dvorak is based on 12 years of research
wereas qwerty was designed to reduce typewriter arm jams.
Just going off that alone, I would suspect Dvorak would be
easier to learn, and allow me to reach higher speeds.
"I'd credit the typist more than the keyboard for such a feat."
Perhaps in some cases, but it is interesting to note that she (212wpm record holder) flunked qwerty based typing class in high school prior
to learning on Dvorak, so in this case you really can't because she
had no skills prior to learning and reaching the fastest time on any
layout. Actually, her case supports looking into Dvorak, because
one has to ask, if the fastest typist flunked qwerty prior to typing
on a Dvorak, what does this say about Dvorak. A whole lot I think!
"plus you'd have to buy a special keyboard to even try it"
Incorrect. The software is included with most operating systems. You might like to pop the keys off and rearrange, or apply stickers, but you
don't have to buy a new keyboard
"Useless though, because DVORAK is slower than QWERTY"
Where is the proof? Dvorak is based on 12 years of research
wereas qwerty was designed to reduce typewriter arm jams.
Just going off that alone, I would suspect Dvorak would be
easier to learn, and allow me to reach higher speeds.
"I'd credit the typist more than the keyboard for such a feat."
Perhaps in some cases, but it is interesting to note that she (212wpm record holder) flunked qwerty based typing class in high school prior
to learning on Dvorak, so in this case you really can't because she
had no skills prior to learning and reaching the fastest time on any
layout. Actually, her case supports looking into Dvorak, because
one has to ask, if the fastest typist flunked qwerty prior to typing
on a Dvorak, what does this say about Dvorak. A whole lot I think!
"plus you'd have to buy a special keyboard to even try it"
Incorrect. The software is included with most operating systems. You might like to pop the keys off and rearrange, or apply stickers, but you
don't have to buy a new keyboard