[sllug-members]: Switching keyboard layouts (Dvorak)

[Aaron Toponce]

Chad wrote:
> Hello,

Hi.

> How do you deal with using other's keyboards?  When you help someone
> on their computer, setup a new system, or troubleshoot problems; it's
> unlikely you'll find your keyboard layout being used on their system.

True, but it takes seconds to switch, and if I'm going to be on the
system for any length of time, I'll take a minute to get it switched
over.  However, if not teaching, I'm *rarely* on another system, and
being on someone else's system drives be batty as is, let alone the
broken layout.

> Is it difficult to "float" back and forth from Dvorak to Qwerty?  

Doing the amount of teaching that I do, I have to float back and forth
all the time when at student machines, so I haven't lost the QWERTY
touch, however, I am noticeably slower, and have to look at my fingers
while I type.  When not teaching, I'm rarely at a computer that I don't own.

> Do
> you just pop your keys off your Qwerty keyboard and rearrange them for
> a Dvorak layout or is it better to purchase a Dvorak-intended
> keyboard?

Neither.  Both are bad ideas.  First, if you move your keys around, then
you lose the locations of the bumps on the F and J keys.  Second, moving
them around encourages you to look at your fingers while you type, and
this will just slow you down (you may find trouble with this anyhow, as
the posts under the keys will most likely be different preventing the
move).  Same with purchasing keyboards with the Dvorak layout pre-installed.

Rather, I would recommend leaving the QWERTY keys where they are, and
learn how to touch type.  Also, if you want a good keyboard without the
QWERTY layout, I would recommend the Das Keyboard II
(http://daskeyboard.com).  There are no letters on the keys, just like
there are no letters on your piano keys, encouraging you to learn how to
type properly.

> Are there Bluetooth Dvorak keyboards?  Ergonomic Dvorak keyboards?
> Bluetooth and Ergonomic Dvorak keyboards?

Dunno, but again, I wouldn't go after them anyway.  It'll be more
detrimental to your speed and accuracy then if you didn't purchase these
keyboards.

-- 
                       _
Aaron Toponce         ( )  ASCII Ribbon Campaign
www.aarontoponce.org   X   www.asciiribbon.org
                      / \

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