Dvorak

[trains are bad]

I can't type. Never learned. I feel I need to in this world. I can 'type' very fast looking at my hands and using only a few fingers. But that's not typing.

Think I should take the two steps backward and hope for an eventual 3 steps forward?

If I need to learn, should I learn Dvorak? Can you get laptops with Dvorak?

Are we stuck with qwerty for all of eternity? Or will we someday leave it behind?

[Target Practice]

What the hell is Dvorak? Wasn't he a composer?

[jayel579]

What the hell is Dvorak? Wasn't he a composer?

yes he was, and a very good one

New World Symphony was his biggest song. 4th movement of his 9th synphony i believe

[Dryden]

Almost any laptop can be converted to the Dvorak layout. Every operating system has a Dvorak keymap, so after you configure, you just pop the key caps off the keyboard and reassemble the pieces. Laptops are easy to convert since the key caps are usually all the same size; not always the case with desktop keyboards, though most should still work.

Anywho, I'd recommend against it. The speed you gain from a Dvorak layout is unique only to your home computer, and you'll actually be taking 'two steps back' when you have to use anyone else's computer.

Honestly, I'd recommend just firing up Word and try your hand at creative writing. Anything. It doesn't have to be good, it just has to be engrossing enough to you until your fingers build up the muscle memory to type fast. Yes, I do think we're stuck with QWERTY for eternity.

Or switch to a DOS or Linux command prompt.

[SanDiegoMag]

I would absolutely love to hear some Dvorak. My orchestra has been playing too much Tchaikovsky. But Dvorak is a common name so who knows who it could be

[cheetah256]

Almost any laptop can be converted to the Dvorak layout. Every operating system has a Dvorak keymap, so after you configure, you just pop the key caps off the keyboard and reassemble the pieces. Laptops are easy to convert since the key caps are usually all the same size; not always the case with desktop keyboards, though most should still work.

Anywho, I'd recommend against it. The speed you gain from a Dvorak layout is unique only to your home computer, and you'll actually be taking 'two steps back' when you have to use anyone else's computer.

Honestly, I'd recommend just firing up Word and try your hand at creative writing. Anything. It doesn't have to be good, it just has to be engrossing enough to you until your fingers build up the muscle memory to type fast. Yes, I do think we're stuck with QWERTY for eternity.

Or switch to a DOS or Linux command prompt.

i completely agree. i used the dvorak layout on my laptop and home computers for about three months, but it was so frustrating trying to use a computer anywhere else, that i just gave up and switched back.

[Fixion]

He's obviously talking about the keyboard layout....

I have a friend who knows how to type on both dvorak and qwerty. Although whats even more amazing is the insane speed at which he types. He can type about twice as fast as I can, and I'm not slow by any strech of the imagination.

Reminds me of the good old 'typespeed' matches we had, and which I lost every time.

[trains are bad]

How do you configure? My control panel doesn't have anything useful. Also if I learn to type Dvorak, I can just revert to the current method if I have to type qwerty.

[Dryden]

Are you running XP? If so, go to the control panel:

1. Open Regional and Language Options
2. Select the Languages tab
3. Press the Details button under the Text services and input languages heading
4. Select Keyboard->US under the Installed services heading
5. Click Add
6. Browse for the appropriate Dvorak keyboard layout.

After you're done and have logged out and back in, remove the keycaps from your keyboard and reassemble. Check your owners manual for tips on disassembling, but you should be able to remove the caps by sliding the blade of a flat screwdriver under the edge of the key caps and using it for leverage. Again, READ YOUR OWNERS MANUAL!!! I'm taking no responsibility if you hose your keyboard because it turns out the key caps weren't removable.

You should probably print out this page before you get started:

http://www.microsoft.com/enable/products/dvlayout.aspx

[Thordic]

Dvorak sucks.

http://www.nhl.com/lineups/player/8462041.html

[Dryden]

Dvorak sucks.

No he doesn't, John's a real nice guy ... and a good sense of humor too. (Don't know about his mad hockey skillz though).

http://www.pcmag.com/author_bio/0,1772,a=123,00.asp