dvorak vs qwerty

[garazdawi]

I have just installed dvorak. Right now it's really slow, but I'm hoping that I will pick up pace soon enough. The main reason that I'm making the switch is for ergonomic reasons, supposedly you strain your fingers mush less. So is anyone using dvorak? and if so are you happy using it?

PS: it took me 4 min to write this message.

[Xandax]

Have often thought of looking into dvorak, because it should also be a faster way of typing, although I've not looked into it much. But the qwert system is an old legacy from back when typewriters had swingarms that shouldn't get tangled into each other when typing fast, so the typing speed had to be decreased.

My main fear with considering changing is that I'm a programmer/software developer and typing is a laaaarge part of my day. And if I start getting accustomed to an unusual keyboard layout I could get "problems" in my professional life.

Also - I've thought myself to type really fast with qwert, so I'm not sure if I could gain much speed either. I'm using a sort of modified 8 finger system, and sometimes all 10, but it isn't "official" 10-finger system I'm typeing

As for the ergonomic reasons, I don't know anything about thoese, but I've never had (m)any problems with that. I'm using one of the ergonomic keyboards from Microsoft (unfortunally a discontinued series, so it is hard to get a new), and that has also increased my typing speed due to not having to shift my fingers around the keyboard so much.

But - I'm very curious about dvorak, so maybe I should look into it some more

Are there any decent dvorak keyboards out there, or is it hard to find?

[dragon wench]

I just found this site (http://www.mwbrooks.com/dvorak/), which provides some helpful information.

Looks intriguing, but I don't think I'd switch... it took me long enough to learn how to type on a standard keyboard

[Vicsun]

Quote:

Originally posted by dragon wench I just found this site (http://www.mwbrooks.com/dvorak/), which provides some helpful information.

LOL, was this by any chance the first site that came up when you searched for "dvorak" on google?

[garazdawi]

Quote:

Originally posted by Xandax Are there any decent dvorak keyboards out there, or is it hard to find?

I use this layout, but it's specific to swedish so it might not apply to you (but it should as you are danish).

I am also studying to become a programmer/SW engineer and hence know what you mean about not wanting to loose typing speed with the qwerty layout. However as with many things I belive that if you learn how to use both efficiently then you can learn how to switch inbetween them as you whish.

You should however not use dvorak to type faster, the styping speed that you have depends totally upn yourself and the layout of the keyboard has very little to do with it.... however as 70% of all english words can be typed with the middle row only (as opposed to 40% with qwerty), you don't have to move your fingers as much as you would with a qwerty. This has to be good ergonomics or I don't know what is.

and it's never to late to think about ergonomics as I'm probably going to spend the next 45 years infront of a keyboard. Hey, that gave me another idea this program is also really great because it gives you an excuse to go and bug your friends at work for a couple of minutes.

[Xandax]

Well - typing speed is the main concer for me.
The egonomical benefits aren't a big concern for me, because I've never really had problems with using keyboard or mouse for that matter. As long as I sit in positions where I can shift around and feel comfetable. It is proberly because I don't use the "real" 10-finger system, but a personal adapted version of it - and I have found what matches my own usage best.
The "only" thing I've done to improve my ergonomical situations is using one of thoese "ergonomical" (broken) keyboards for the - well for me - more comfetable keyboard position.
This also means I'm less likely to shift because I doubt such keyboards even exist in dvorak.
Using such a keyboard has also increased my typeing speed, because it has forced me to learn how to type without looking at the keyboard. (drove a friend, with whom I wrote my dissertation, mad because I could type while looking at him and talk with him )

[HighLordDave]

You could always go to Wal-Mart and get a $10 basic keyboard, pop the keys off and re-arrange them in the Dvorak layout.

As a side note, if you want to mess with your friends at a LAN party, when one of them goes to recycle some soda or get more pizza, switch their keyboard setting to Dvorak and then watch them wonder why they can't kill anyone at Call of Duty or UT2004. It's a scream.

[Georgi]

Or learn to touch type in Dvorak and then it doesn't really matter whether your keyboard is Dvorak or not. Good training not to look down!

[Sojourner]

Quote:

Originally posted by HighLordDave As a side note, if you want to mess with your friends at a LAN party, when one of them goes to recycle some soda or get more pizza, switch their keyboard setting to Dvorak and then watch them wonder why they can't kill anyone at Call of Duty or UT2004. It's a scream.

You're *evil*.