Why is it impossible to find a good & cheap Dvorak keyboard? Help!

[TriggerHappy101]

I spend a lot of time on the keyboard at work and at home. I want to learn the dvorak keyboard layout. I want a good dvorak keyboard.

Yes, I know you can use Windows to change from QWERTY to Dvorak, but I want the actual keys printed with the Dvorak layout.

Yes, I know I can get two dollar stickers to overlay on the keyboard to change the letters. But the bumps on the F and J keys will drive me nuts, because the bumps will be in the wrong spots. Plus the stickers would make it feel weird.

I sort of wish they had this keyboard in Dvorak.
(Microsoft Natural Ergo Keyboard 4000)

http://www.amazon.com/Microsoft-Natu..._sim_dbs_hpc_3

All of the Dvorak style keyboards Ive found are $100+ bucks. No way I am paying that.

This one would be great... but its $100 bucks.

http://matias.ca/dvorak/

Suggestions?

 

[gsaldivar]

After you change the layout in Windows, can't you just pop the keys off and rearrange them? As for the bumps on the F & J keys, surely a Dremel or some sandpaper can take care of that...?

 

[tommylommykins]

It's actually highly reccomended that you don't change any keys round or put stickers on the keys when you learn dvorak. You're going to be learning dvorak to touchtype: Touchtyping means not looking at the keyboard as you type... If you put stickers on or rearrange the keys, then you'll end up looking at the keyboard, and then you won't be learning how to touchtype.

As a sidenote, I think it's only worth learning Dvorak if you don't know how to touchtype on Qwerty, or you have really bad technique with Qwerty. If you are already quite fast with qwerty, I wouldn't bother with going for a month or two without being able to use your computer properly.

 

[Phynaz]

Why is it impossible to find a good & cheap Dvorak keyboard?

Because good and cheap are mutually exclusive.

 

[TriggerHappy101]

Because good and cheap are mutually exclusive.

I can find a good n cheap qwerty keyboard for 15-20 bucks. Should be the same for dvorak.

I see your point tommylopkins. I will just switchover and start learning.

 

[DirkGently1]

I'd never heard of these before! Live and learn i guess. My typing skills are so appalling i'm not sure i'd even notice the difference anyway

 

[bunnyfubbles]

I can find a good n cheap qwerty keyboard for 15-20 bucks. Should be the same for dvorak.

I see your point tommylopkins. I will just switchover and start learning.

because there simply isn't a large enough market for a plug and play DVORAK keyboard let alone for there to be cheap models

as others have already mentioned it makes a lot more sense to just change your keyboard preferences at the OS level and then physically swap keys if need be

 

[gorcorps]

Why are you going against the grain of the english speaking world and wanting to learn DVORAK?

 

[smackababy]

Why are you going against the grain of the english speaking world and wanting to learn DVORAK?

From what I've read, DVORAK is actually more efficient once you learn it.


And I don't know if all keyboards are like this, but the ones we have at work don't allow you to change the F and J keys, except for with themselves.

 

[modestninja]

Why are you going against the grain of the english speaking world and wanting to learn DVORAK?

Because Dvorak is a better layout. QWERTY was designed to make typewriters not jam. Dvorak was designed to make typing as efficient as possible. IIRC, 70% of the typing is done in the home row.

That being said, I don't type enough to go through the PITA of switching over but for those who do (programmers, secretaries, etc...) you can be way more efficient and help avoid repetitive strain injuries.

 

[tommylommykins]

Having learnt dvorak, I'd say the benefit it gave me is being able to properly touch type rather than being a faster typer.

The benefit is that I never have to look at the keyboard ever, or even keep it in the corner of my eyes

 

[smackababy]

Having learnt dvorak, I'd say the benefit it gave me is being able to properly touch type rather than being a faster typer.

The benefit is that I never have to look at the keyboard ever, or even keep it in the corner of my eyes

I don't have to do that on QWERTY, but I am a programmer so I type a lot per day.

 

[tommylommykins]

<- Also a programmer (having spent years typing QWERTY, I honestly can't truly touchtype with it)

DVORAK definately does have its drawbacks though..

Under linux, `ls -l` is all typed with the little finger on the right hand. It's not comfortable.
C, X, and V, which are used for copy and pasting, are all far apart from each other
It's harder for people to make sense of common typos, because they're used to seeing typos that people make on QWERTY keyboards
Other people can't use my computer without getting confused and annoyed, and then complaining vocally at me.

 

[0roo0roo]

Because Dvorak is a better layout. QWERTY was designed to make typewriters not jam. Dvorak was designed to make typing as efficient as possible. IIRC, 70% of the typing is done in the home row.

That being said, I don't type enough to go through the PITA of switching over but for those who do (programmers, secretaries, etc...) you can be way more efficient and help avoid repetitive strain injuries.

extremely dubious statement
http://www.straightdope.com/columns...y-keyboard-purposely-designed-to-slow-typists
http://www.utdallas.edu/~liebowit/keys1.html

 

[IndianScout]

I read an article long time ago that stated the QWERTY keyboards were laid out so that salesmen could type "typewriter" all on a single row since most of them didn't know how to type.