Dvorak worth it?

[f4phantom2500]

I type rather quickly on qwerty, I did a test earlier today keying a passage I previously hadn't, and averaged 90+ wpm with 92% accuracy (3 minute test), but today I switched to dvorak.

http://www.powertyping.com/dvorak/typing.html

That page helped a lot. My question is if anybody thinks it's not worth the effort and why. As far as I can tell, if you're willing to put in the effort there's no reason not to. Any thoughts? Questions? Comments?

 

[ForumMaster]

i can type without looking at the keyboard with qwerty so i see no reason to try dvorak. are there even keyboards available with dvorak?

 

[Colt45]

If the only computer you use is dvorak, sure, why not.

Unfortunately most of earth uses qwerty, which will throw a wrench into your typing if you go somewhere else..

 

[f4phantom2500]

You can set it within windows, so that's not really an issue. I rearranged my keyboard so I can learn easier, but if I put some thought into it I can recall most of the key locations.

 

[Albatross]

dvorak is pretty good,try new world symphony

 

[f4phantom2500]

I just did a 3 minute test using dvorak, 9 wpw, 96%.

 

[dug777]

Originally posted by: ForumMaster
i can type without looking at the keyboard with qwerty so i see no reason to try dvorak. are there even keyboards available with dvorak?

If you own the greatest keyboard ever made, i speak of course of the mighty IBM Model 'M', then the keycaps are removable

 

[shortylickens]

Colt45 pretty much summed it up.
If you use it at home and get one for the office and those are the only two you ever have to use: sure.

But since its likely you will have to use a bunch of different computers in your life, learning something relatively obscure isnt going to help you.

 

[NogginBoink]

I've tried Dvorak once or twice and I noticed that it was much more comfortable.

I didn't stick with it long enough to gain typing speed.

 

[Mrvile]

Is there a program or setting in Windows that you can use to just set the current keyboard to Dvorak? I've been thinking of getting an old keyboard, popping out and rearranging the keys, and giving Dvorak a shot.

 

[mrSHEiK124]

Originally posted by: dug777

Originally posted by: ForumMaster
i can type without looking at the keyboard with qwerty so i see no reason to try dvorak. are there even keyboards available with dvorak?

If you own the greatest keyboard ever made, i speak of course of the mighty IBM Model 'M', then the keycaps are removable

Err, I can remove the key caps on my Logitech Elite (the ORIGINAL, not the one with the fscked up Insert, Home, Delete...etc cluster) too, big whoop?

 

[mrSHEiK124]

Originally posted by: Mrvile
Is there a program or setting in Windows that you can use to just set the current keyboard to Dvorak? I've been thinking of getting an old keyboard, popping out and rearranging the keys, and giving Dvorak a shot.

Control Panel -> Regional and Language Options -> "Languages" tab -> Details button -> Add -> English (US), select Dvorak layout

That's for Windows XP

 

[Accipiter22]

Originally posted by: albatross
dvorak is pretty good,try new world symphony

9th is my favorite..3rd movement I believe

 

[FilmCamera]

Originally posted by: albatross
dvorak is pretty good,try new world symphony

Yeah that's what I thought when reading the topic.

 

[b0mbrman]

Originally posted by: Colt45
If the only computer you use is dvorak, sure, why not.

Unfortunately most of earth uses qwerty, which will throw a wrench into your typing if you go somewhere else..

Yup. That's why it doesn't make sense.

Unless you're doing it for the sole purpose of being different...

 

[Mo0o]

I tried left hand only dvorak for awhile just for shits and giggles but eventually I got bored of it and it wasn't really worth it since i dont do a lot of heavy typing anyways.

 

[f4phantom2500]

Holy crap, you people who say it's impractical because different computers use qwerty need to read. Sheik and I both said it's a simple setting change within Windows. And the keys are easily removed in most, if not all, modern computer keyboards, which is why I was able to rearrange the ones on mine.

 

[jitspoe]

I use Dvorak myself. It's a lot easier on the hands, and all of the common keys are on the home row. My tip to you is this, though:

If you want to learn it, don't rearrange your keys. That will just let you continue bad typing habits. What you want to do is keep the qwerty key layout (sometimes you'll need this if you ever load a game or something that doesn't support different keyboard layouts) and tape a printout of the dvorak layout on your monitor. That will keep your eyes up where they need to be instead of hunt-and-pecking. It takes a while to adapt, but I think it's worth it to be able to type quickly without looking at the keyboard at all.

 

[Alonelymuffin]

I've seen experiments that concluded that dvorak was slightly better. They said that learning the new layout probably wasn't worth it. I say go ahead, different=cool.

 

[OVerLoRDI]

I tried to learn it. Currently my old IBM keyboard from 1984 is has all the keys moved around for Dvorak. Learning dvorak is brutal... absolutely brutal. Also it messes up a huge amount of windows short cuts which totally sucks. If it wasn't for the windows shortcuts I'd say it was worth it but otherwise but with common short cuts all F'ed up no way.

 

[f4phantom2500]

Originally posted by: jitspoe
I use Dvorak myself. It's a lot easier on the hands, and all of the common keys are on the home row. My tip to you is this, though:

If you want to learn it, don't rearrange your keys. That will just let you continue bad typing habits. What you want to do is keep the qwerty key layout (sometimes you'll need this if you ever load a game or something that doesn't support different keyboard layouts) and tape a printout of the dvorak layout on your monitor. That will keep your eyes up where they need to be instead of hunt-and-pecking. It takes a while to adapt, but I think it's worth it to be able to type quickly without looking at the keyboard at all.

Well, like I said, I can do 90+ wpm with QWERTY with little effort, and I don't have bad habits to carry over. So far I actually find that I'm typing Dvorak better via touch typing, like I can think of where the letter is quicker than I can look for it, although I do tend to look sometimes.

 

[dug777]

Originally posted by: mrSHEiK124

Originally posted by: dug777

Originally posted by: ForumMaster
i can type without looking at the keyboard with qwerty so i see no reason to try dvorak. are there even keyboards available with dvorak?

If you own the greatest keyboard ever made, i speak of course of the mighty IBM Model 'M', then the keycaps are removable

Err, I can remove the key caps on my Logitech Elite (the ORIGINAL, not the one with the fscked up Insert, Home, Delete...etc cluster) too, big whoop?

People who say 'err' when they begin a sentence are always super giant nerds in real life, so i'd stop it now unless you want to grow up into one, if i was you

I have an Elite, and i wasn't aware of that, but that doesn't change the fact that they're lightweight badly made junk compared to a model M

 

[FallenHero]

I used one for about 3 years. Going from a normal keyboard to a dvorak wasn't that difficult for me. Took me about 10 seconds to get into the mindset of either one. (usually after typing something very incoherent) Try it out...the only reason I dont use one now is because pop got all over my dvorak keyboard and I was too poor to replace it. Also, watch out in certain programs/bios. The default for the rest of the english speaking world is qwerty and the computer assumes thats what you are using.

 

[pennylane]

qwerty is how barbarians type.

Dvorak is FAR more comfortable to type on. I didn't switch to Dvorak for the speed, I switched because it's easier on the fingers. Your fingers will thank you for it.

It took me about a week to get to a respectable 30 wpm, doing drills and such. After that I just learned the rest on the go til I got up to wherever I am now.

Switching to dvorak is as easy as going to the language settings in Windows.

 

[dighn]

Originally posted by: dug777

People who say 'err' when they begin a sentence are always super giant nerds in real life, so i'd stop it now unless you want to grow up into one, if i was you

I have an Elite, and i wasn't aware of that, but that doesn't change the fact that they're lightweight badly made junk compared to a model M

err I'll take that as a compliment

anyway, if this is really easier on the fingers then perhaps this is something I should consider