Dvorak keyboard layout?

[Per Hansson]

Hiya, just curious. Are any of you using or have used the Dvorak keyboard layout then switched back to QWERTY?

I took an old keyboard and set it up for Swedish Dvorak. I could really feel that I had to move my hands much less to type stuff. It generally felt allot better to type for me...

However what I did not like was that all off a sudden the cut/copy/paste keys are all spread out over the keyboard

Plus allot of other software rely on the layout being QWERTY, like the Vi text editor for example... (things just get difficult with any other layout)

It kinda felt like learning to type Dvorak would not be so much of a trouble, compared to fixing all keyboard shortcuts that are burnt into my mind permanently (and reassigning the keyboard shortcuts somehow in the million of programs I have to more logical keys)

Apple has a quite slick solution for this, quote: "Since about 1998, beginning with Mac OS 8.6, Apple has included the Dvorak layout. Apple also includes a Dvorak variant they call “Dvorak - Qwerty Command”. With this layout, the keyboard becomes QWERTY when the Command (Apple) key is held down."

It sure took helluva lot of time to learn the keyboard shortcut for opening new windows in Opera became Ctrl+T compared to the umm, old that I've now managed to forget what it even was :P (they did this change because that's the standard in all other browsers)



So I've switched back to regular QWERTY layout now, how about you?

[willawake]

Re: Dvorak keyboard layout?

i havent used it but have read that it is superior. I doubt i would use it because firstly i can type very fast without looking at the keyboard using the qwerty layout and secondly i am supporting other pcs with qwerty layout so it would probably be difficult to switch back and forth.

the funny thing about touch typing is that i probably could not tell you where a key would be on the keyboard but can find it with my finger automatically.

[Per Hansson]

Re: Dvorak keyboard layout?

Yea, I hear ya

Though I've been chatting with a few Swedish Dovrak users and they say they have no problem switching back and forth...
One of them even works in IT Support he said and goes out to client PC's etc...

I have the same opinion as you tho, that it might be difficult to switch back and forth...

I noticed something else. I type more correct if I look at the keyboard when typing.... However when I had my Dovrak keyboard layout and switched back to QWERTY (with the keys still at the Dovrak layout) I did not have any problems finding the QWERTY keys

So it is infact not the text on the keyboard I need to look at. But rather the general layout of the keyboard which helps me press the correct key...

I also notice right now that after switching back from using Dovrak one day to my normal QWERTY keyboard I do not need to look at the keys at all anymore to type correctly. Go figure