6 ms·

I'd love to learn Dvorak but the problem is not all computers are easily configured to Dvorak. Then when you have to use someone else's computer you'll look lik

by borplk 14y ago

I'd love to learn Dvorak but the problem is not all computers are easily configured to Dvorak. Then when you have to use someone else's computer you'll look like an idiot or have to ask them to install/configure another keyboard layout which is not much better. I've seen it happen to people and it's quite painful. Operating systems should have a trivial way of switching between layouts (perhaps even a physical button dedicated to this).

risratorn 14y ago
I find it hard to believe that dvorak or any other ergonomic keyboard layouts would have that much impact on my productivity that a QUERTY keyboard.
- thornofmight 14y ago
  I can't imagine DVORAK adds enough enough value to justify constantly switching back and forth between DVORAK and QWERTY keyboards.
- paul-woolcock 14y ago
  You would be surprised, I was.
fceccon 14y ago
> I'd love to learn Dvorak but the problem is not all computers are easily configured to Dvorak. Changing layout on OS X and Gnome (I'm not sure about Win) is quite fast, usually if I need to type on someone else computer for more than 10 minutes I tell them and change it. Also even if I've switched to Dvorak a year ago I can still type at a good speed on qwerty.
- Jtsummers 14y ago
  Switching in Windows is easy. With the right configuration it's just ctrl+shift to swap back and forth. I've been using Dvorak for 12 years. Initially my QWERTY speed was seriously hampered, but after being in environments where switching was less convenient (public labs and the like) it recovered.
paul-woolcock 14y ago
I purchased a QIDO[1] just for this reason. It obviously doesn't work for all situations in which you are on someone else's computer, but it has served me well so far. I mainly use it for when I am on Windows (see next paragraph). In regards to OS support, the only OS I have really had problems with is Windows. Maybe I just wasn't checking the right checkboxes, but Windows seems to default to "I assume you want a different keyboard layout for each window, so have fun with that!" OSX and Linux have always been very sane, defaults-wise. 1: http://www.keyghost.com/qido/ http://www.keyghost.com/qido/

by borplk 14y ago

risratorn 14y ago

I find it hard to believe that dvorak or any other ergonomic keyboard layouts would have that much impact on my productivity that a QUERTY keyboard.

thornofmight 14y ago
I can't imagine DVORAK adds enough enough value to justify constantly switching back and forth between DVORAK and QWERTY keyboards.
paul-woolcock 14y ago
You would be surprised, I was.

fceccon 14y ago

> I'd love to learn Dvorak but the problem is not all computers are easily configured to Dvorak. Changing layout on OS X and Gnome (I'm not sure about Win) is quite fast, usually if I need to type on someone else computer for more than 10 minutes I tell them and change it. Also even if I've switched to Dvorak a year ago I can still type at a good speed on qwerty.

Jtsummers 14y ago
Switching in Windows is easy. With the right configuration it's just ctrl+shift to swap back and forth. I've been using Dvorak for 12 years. Initially my QWERTY speed was seriously hampered, but after being in environments where switching was less convenient (public labs and the like) it recovered.

paul-woolcock 14y ago

I purchased a QIDO[1] just for this reason. It obviously doesn't work for all situations in which you are on someone else's computer, but it has served me well so far. I mainly use it for when I am on Windows (see next paragraph). In regards to OS support, the only OS I have really had problems with is Windows. Maybe I just wasn't checking the right checkboxes, but Windows seems to default to "I assume you want a different keyboard layout for each window, so have fun with that!" OSX and Linux have always been very sane, defaults-wise. 1: http://www.keyghost.com/qido/ http://www.keyghost.com/qido/