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

[Jason Porter]

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

Like the other replies to this message, I just leave the keyboard alone.
I can switch between QWERTY and Dvorak, but I still have to look (most
of the time) at my fingers when I do QWERTY.  I am slower, but most of
the time it's not an issue.  I'm a programmer and already type faster
than most of my co-workers :)  Also switching over to Dvorak does make a
few things harder such as gaming or using editors that rely on key
commands (such as Vi, Emacs, etc), and of course the location of your
typical shortcuts like copy, paste, etc. are all in different locations.

I recommend learning how to touch type Dvorak and don't mess with the
keys.  Also if you try to switch the keys they are not all (on some
keyboards) the same size and angle which can mess things up.  Just stick
with a normal QWERTY keyboard and learn to touch type.

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

I've thought about getting one of these (if for no other reason to watch
the co-workers stare and never ever touch my box.)  Of course for those
that are security paranoid, if you keep a standard QWERTY board and just
use Dvorak it makes it a little harder for someone to watch what you are
typing and recreate the exact letters :)

If you do decide to make the switch, do it cold turkey.  Print out a
Dvorak layout and use that for a reference until you can touch type.
The more often you switch between the two layouts when you are learning
the slower the process will go.  IIRC it took about a month of solid use
for me to be completely comfortable with Dvorak.

Best of luck to you!