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im typing on a dvorak keyboard

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Dvorak Keyboards own.

I have 4 of them 🙂

3 at home, and one at work.

The only computer i use regularly without a dvorak keyboard is my lappie ... and even that I have remapped.

it just takes a bit of getting used to, but once you get past the initial 3 or 4 months of typing like a sloth, it will grow on you.

After a while, you may even prefer it over a qwerty keyboard.

Give it some time ...
 
there are some misconceptions here that I want to clear up.

1) Learning the Dvorak keyboard is ALOT easier then learning the qwerty layout. (Type with Dvorak for about 2 weeks and you will have it down pretty well.)
2) Switching between the two is VERY easy, its like a second language, you know what your speaking and you know how to speak it.
3) The QWERTY layout was intentionally made to make you slower when you type so that typewriters didn't jam because you were typing to fast dvorak puts the keys in a more functional layout (and IMO reduces repetitive stress / movement injuries.)
 
I can do about 110wpm in Dvorak and close to 70wpm with Qwerty. I just decided to switch to Dvorak one day because it's more efficient, it makes it impossible for others to mess with your computer, and it's bordering on esoteric. I like esoteric. :beer:
 
hmmm i may look into this~~

though there are times i type on aim and am thankful for the fact i can type coherent conversations with my left hand and eat a sandwhich with my right ^_~

edit:

'i just checked ebay...just ONE keyboard being sold...WOW
 
I have been typing on a QWERTY keybord for ten plus years now, I really fail to see the need to change.
 
This is a very interesting thread .. maybe I'll actually give a dvorak a chance.. can I easily just change my keyboard layout? (goes to check...)
 
If you buy an OLD (not Lexmark produced) IBM Model M keyboard the keys are removeable so you should be able to rearrange them into the DVORAK layout.
 
Originally posted by: Yzzim
Pic of dvorak keyboard

Seems like you use your right hand more on a dvorak keyboard and your left hand more on a qwerty...?

Do you notice any difference?
Click to expand...

The point of a Dvorak keyboard is to:

a) Move more commonly used letters onto the home row, right under your fingers (note the vowel placements)

b) Alternate hands as much as possible while typing (follow up each letter typed with one hand with a letter typed on the other), making for quicker typing as one can line up while the other presses. There are several rather common words in qwerty setups which use one hand exclusively... its a pain.

For an experienced typer, Dvorak can add another 30-40 words a minute once its been mastered.

Originally posted by: ShotgunSteven
Originally posted by: ConwayJim
if it ain't broke, don't fix it!
Click to expand...

If you learn the history behind the QWERTY keyboard, you will realize that it IS "broke."
Click to expand...

Yes, it is VERY broke. QWERTY is a relic of the typewriter days, the keys are positioned specifically for the purpose of SLOWING YOU DOWN.
 
Originally posted by: TheLonelyPhoenix
Originally posted by: Yzzim
Pic of dvorak keyboard

Seems like you use your right hand more on a dvorak keyboard and your left hand more on a qwerty...?

Do you notice any difference?
Click to expand...

The point of a Dvorak keyboard is to:

a) Move more commonly used letters onto the home row, right under your fingers (note the vowel placements)

b) Alternate hands as much as possible while typing (follow up each letter typed with one hand with a letter typed on the other), making for quicker typing as one can line up while the other presses. There are several rather common words in qwerty setups which use one hand exclusively... its a pain.

For an experienced typer, Dvorak can add another 30-40 words a minute once its been mastered.
Click to expand...

There are far more words in the English language that can be typed with just the home row keys of a Dvorak keyboard than with a QWERTY. I don't recall the exact figures unfortunately, and it seems I deleted the paper I wrote on the topic years ago.
 
Originally posted by: ShotgunSteven
There are far more words in the English language that can be typed with just the home row keys of a Dvorak keyboard than with a QWERTY. I don't recall the exact figures unfortunately, and it seems I deleted the paper I wrote on the topic years ago.
Click to expand...

Depends on what dictionary you test it against. 😉 I've heard anywhere between 3,000 to 5,000. For QWERTY its under 150.
 
Originally posted by: TheLonelyPhoenix
Originally posted by: ShotgunSteven
There are far more words in the English language that can be typed with just the home row keys of a Dvorak keyboard than with a QWERTY. I don't recall the exact figures unfortunately, and it seems I deleted the paper I wrote on the topic years ago.
Click to expand...

Depends on what dictionary you test it against. 😉 I've heard anywhere between 3,000 to 5,000. For QWERTY its under 150.
Click to expand...

Actually I seem to recall it was in the tens of thousands at least. Damn it, now I have to go search for the sources I quoted for my paper.

EDIT: No luck, there are far more sites about the topic now than when I wrote the paper. More than I have time to search, at present.

EDIT 2: I did find this site with many Dvorak resources while doing my search. Interesting reading, as well as links to some online typing tutor programs to help you learn Dvorak.

LINKY!
 
I'm using Dvorak on a Qwerty keyboard. You can switch in Windows in the Language thing in Control Panel. Here's a screenshot (ignore my lack of start menu. I changed hardware too many times and my key no longer works and I need to call Microsoft). I switched because Dvorak requires less finger travel... so less user fatigue (I noticed my fingers feeling strained using Qwerty). Here is a good link to practice Dvorak. It's how I practiced.

I didn't switch for any "speed" reasons. (In fact I heard that it's possible that Dvorak isn't any "faster" than Qwerty. Qwerty's layout is designed to space letters commonly strung together apart so as to not jam a typewriter, inadvertently making the typer less efficient, but that wasn't the main purpose. Spacing letters apart allows the fingers to "get ready for the next letter" as one letter is typed. So even though Dvorak has less finger travel and hand-switching going for it, Qwerty has letters spaced far "going" for it. Take it for what it's worth.)

However, for comfort, Dvorak owns Qwerty, from my personal experience. Typing Qwerty feels quite... brutish after typing on Dvorak.


Originally posted by: chuckywang
Is anybody here "fluent" in both types of keyboards?
Click to expand...

I can still type on Qwerty well. My fingers are sort of used to my home keyboard so they go for the Dvorak whenever I type at home. They "switch" to Qwerty mode easier on other keyboards. My keyboard at home is a not-so-wide laptop style keyboard (no numpad, arrows scrunched with letters). The hands don't have to move far between keyboard and mouse, so wrists don't go in any awkward positions (Yes I'm paranoid about RSIs (repetitive stress injuries), among other things.). Also, I learned Dvorak without looking at the keyboard (again, Qwerty keyboard). So whenever I look at the keyboard I (and my fingers) automatically think Qwerty.
 
Here's a great site showing how a Dvorak is better.
Click to expand...

Not better for the simple reason that any PC other than yours is going to have a QWERTY keyboard. It would be difficult to switch between the two.

But if you set up the PCs that you're going to use with Dvorak maybe you'd be fine. But sooner or later you'd be using someone else's PC and get all messed up again after using Dvorak so long, heh.
 
Originally posted by: Yzzim
Pic of dvorak keyboard

Seems like you use your right hand more on a dvorak keyboard and your left hand more on a qwerty...?

Do you notice any difference?
Click to expand...

That ain't a real dvorak. That's a poorly modified normal keyboard (someone pried off the keys and moved them around, thus resulting in a very un-ergonomic surface since all the keys are slightly different heights and sizes)
 
IIRC, QWERTY was invented to actually slow the process of typing to prevent typewriter jams, which were occuring very frequently with the previous setup, which might have been Dvorak. Qwerty slows down typing by reducing the number of words you can type with both hands (mixing up the vowels with the consonants).

I've always wanted to learn Dvorak, but I'm WAY too lazy.
 
I use Dvorak as well. Great layout. You can just change the keyboard layout in the Windows regional settings (it's also easy to remap keys in 'nix). I just use regular QWERTY keyboards. Dvorak keyboards are way too expensive.

A few tips to those trying it:
Don't rearrange your keys. This won't speed up the learning process any. In fact, it will probably slow it down as you'll never really learn the layout, just hunt and peck. Also you won't have the keys with the bump on them where they're supposed to be -- those are actually really useful in Dvorak because your fingers are on the home row most of the time. Instead, print out the dvorak layout and tape it somewhere on the side or bottom your monitor.

Don't give up just because you're not typing faster than on QWERTY after a couple of days. It takes a while to really learn it. Also don't worry that you will lose the ability to use QWERTY. I rarely use QWERTY anymore, but I can still type on it. You can always just change the keyboard layout on other computers if it becomes a problem (just remember to change it back 😉)

Some potential problems:
Unfortunately most shortcut keys were designed for QWERTY, so ctrl-c, ctrl-x and ctrl-v aren't as convenient as they once were. I tend to use ctrl-insert, shift-del, and shift-insert anyway, so it's not a huge deal. Also, a lot of games read the keyboard scan codes so you'll get stuck with crappy QWERTY is games. Most new games (like Quake3 and up) use the windows settings, though, so that shouldn't be much of an issue anymore.
 
Edit: I didn't remember this thread was way old and I'd already posted in it before! Ha!



Anywa, Dvorak still rocks my world. :thumbsup:
 
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