I've switched my keyboard to dvorak. I'm reminded of how it feels to be a hunt and peck typist. The speed at first is terrible but I can see this being better over all in the long run.

I've considered it once or twice, but man, it just seems like another thing I don't want to have to re-learn, lol. Not like my typing is getting better instead of worse anyway....

I think Para does if I’m not mistaken.

Too old to switch from qwerty.

quote:

Originally posted by FenderBender:
I've switched my keyboard to dvorak.

Why would you do that?

(I'm not trying to be a jerk -- I'm genuinely curious. What's the advantage?)

QWERTY was designed to be the slowest because of early mechanical typewriters. Typists back in the day were getting fast enough to be outrunning the mechanics and binding up the strikers hitting the ribbon, so a keyboard layout that was least efficient was devised to keep people from typing fast enough to keep that happening. The problem is, the technology evolved but the keyboard didn't, so today we're typing at speeds on QWERTY that would have choked mechanical typewriters but the "need" for the layout simply isn't there.

Honestly, the question at this phase of our timeline is "why wouldn't you?" and the answer is generally "because it's the way I learned and it's always been this way, why re-learn how to type?" Worth it for some, maybe not for many.

Thanks, Smudge. Now that you mention it, I remember the problem of "outrunning" the mechanicals. (Whew! It's been a long time!) And you're right: I've learned QWERTY, and it would take me a good long time to re-learn and use Dvorak. But... would typing be significantly quicker once I learned it? Especially now that we rarely have the mechanicals to deal with at all?

Again, I'm not trying to be argumentative -- just trying to learn.

while in theory dvorak has advantages, at this point in my keyboard career v1957, there is no point.

quote:

Originally posted by vthoky:
Thanks, Smudge. Now that you mention it, I remember the problem of "outrunning" the mechanicals. (Whew! It's been a long time!) And you're right: I've learned QWERTY, and it would take me a good long time to re-learn and use Dvorak. But... would typing be significantly quicker once I learned it? Especially now that we rarely have the mechanicals to deal with at all?

I think it really comes down to the individual. As I said, I've thought about it a few times, and there's definitely some arguments to be made in it's favor, but I'm not sure I feel like learning to type all over again. I used to play with a heavy portable mechanical typewriter when I was a child, and once I had that somewhat figured out, my parents let me mess with a Selectric they had, so I have a bit more perspective on the evolution of typing than most people my age (mid 30's). Anymore, I think if I'm going to do it, I need to do it fairly soon, but I just don't feel inclined to.

quote:

Originally posted by vthoky:Again, I'm not trying to be argumentative -- just trying to learn.

Nothing about your questions seems argumentative, at least to me.

I've never even seen a dvorak keyboard, but I'm curious about WPM averages on the forum for both (or any) kinds of keyboards. I can type about 80 wpm on an average on qwerty. but are the alternatives really easier/faster?

quote:

Originally posted by PorterN:
I've never even seen a dvorak keyboard, but I'm curious about WPM averages on the forum for both (or any) kinds of keyboards. I can type about 80 wpm on an average on qwerty. but are the alternatives really easier/faster?

you can be just as fast, but you'll have less ergonomic issues as the key placement is better, based on frequency of usage, and letter placement in words.

When looking at ergonomics since I work at a computer most of the day, dvorak and other key layouts looked like they would be a good next step. The one thing that stopped me was the I frequently have to move to other systems and keyboards. Would it be hard to switch from qwerty and dvorak?

I tinkered with it a few (15) years ago but couldn’t get the swing of it. I’m fast enough for what I need to do anymore and too old to bother investing much time in it for no more benefit than it would confer.

quote:

Originally posted by bryan11:
When looking at ergonomics since I work at a computer most of the day, dvorak and other key layouts looked like they would be a good next step. The one thing that stopped me was the I frequently have to move to other systems and keyboards. Would it be hard to switch from qwerty and dvorak?

I'm breaking almost 30 years of habit. (I'm 32) there is as with anything a learning curve, but I'm doing better today than yesterday. typing fundamentals haven't changed just letter placement. But they make more sense in this layout once you start to use it.