Talk: Dvorak

In article <36na17$im...@sashimi.wwa.com> you wrote:

: >(it's quite easy once you get the hang of it ... I can easily type over 
: >100 wpm on a good keyboard)

Hey there, scarecrow...

I've been curious about dvorak keyboards for a few years, ever since I
actually learned to touch type.  I'm wondering if you ever used a qwerty in
the first place, or if you started on a dvorak.  I ask because I wonder how
long it would take to get proficient at dvorak, and how available the
keyboards are on the market.  Also, I wonder if there are many typing tutors
out there for dvorak.  I know from speaking to my typing teacher that the
dvorak offers less chance of long term damage to the typist's hands, and I
have a history of hand trouble in my family, so I'm doubly thinking about
it.  I know you can't answer all these questions, but if you have some
ideas, I'd be beholden to you.

Thanks much!

stimps

In article <36ndh6$as...@gagme.wwa.com>,  <sti...@marimba.wimsey.bc.ca> wrote:
>
>In article <36na17$im...@sashimi.wwa.com> you wrote:
>
>: >(it's quite easy once you get the hang of it ... I can easily type over 
>: >100 wpm on a good keyboard)
>
>Hey there, scarecrow...
>
>I've been curious about dvorak keyboards for a few years, ever since I
>actually learned to touch type.  I'm wondering if you ever used a qwerty in
>the first place, or if you started on a dvorak.

   I learned to touch type in sixth grade.  I didn't type much for years 
after learning, so when I got a computer, I thought why not learn to type 
with the dvorak.

>I ask because I wonder how long it would take to get proficient at dvorak,

   I guess it takes the same amount of time to learn either, but maybe 
the dvorak is a bit easier, just because it's easier to do.  It would 
probably be easier to learn either one as a child, than to use one 
after years of using the other.

>and how available the keyboards are on the market.

   I have only found one company that sells dvorak keyboards.  The in 
Washington state, and I don't have the name at hand.  But before you ask 
me to dig up the name, it costs $200.  If they're still making them.

   But you don't need to have the actual keyboard.  The experts can tell 
you how to map your present keyboard to dvorak.  It won't have the right 
letters on the keys, but you're not supposed to looking ot them anyway.  
Although at times it is annoying.

>Also, I wonder if there are many typing tutors out there for dvorak.

   I've heard at least one teaches both.  I just used a chart and stared 
typing.  After a couple months, I could type, and after a few months it 
became transparent.

>I know from speaking to my typing teacher that the
>dvorak offers less chance of long term damage to the typist's hands, and I
>have a history of hand trouble in my family, so I'm doubly thinking about
>it.  I know you can't answer all these questions, but if you have some
>ideas, I'd be beholden to you.
>
>Thanks much!

   Hope this helps.

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Bob Allison (bob...@wwa.com) wrote:
> In article <36ndh6$as...@gagme.wwa.com>,  <sti...@marimba.wimsey.bc.ca> wrote:
> >In article <36na17$im...@sashimi.wwa.com> you wrote:
> >
> >and how available the keyboards are on the market.
>
>    I have only found one company that sells dvorak keyboards.  The in 
> Washington state, and I don't have the name at hand.  But before you ask 
> me to dig up the name, it costs $200.  If they're still making them.
>
>    But you don't need to have the actual keyboard.  The experts can tell 
> you how to map your present keyboard to dvorak.  It won't have the right 
> letters on the keys, but you're not supposed to looking ot them anyway.  
> Although at times it is annoying.

   If you have an IBM enhanced keyboard, you can change around all the 
keycaps.  Other keyboards may allow you to do this as well.  Would this 
work?  For example is the double quote character on the same key as the 
single quote on a dvorak?  I know you can get the IBM keyboards for much 
less then $200.

jpa...@mole.uvm.edu         "...You'll see my teeth in the stars above..."
jpa...@muskrat.uvm.edu                  -They Might Be Giants
jpa...@moose.uvm.edu

Jake Patterson <jpa...@mole.uvm.edu> wrote:
>
>   If you have an IBM enhanced keyboard, you can change around all the 
>keycaps.  Other keyboards may allow you to do this as well.  Would this 
>work?  For example is the double quote character on the same key as the 
>single quote on a dvorak?  I know you can get the IBM keyboards for much 
>less then $200.

   Yes, many keyboards allow this.  Just glancing at my keyboard, I 
believe all the key pairs are the same.  I could get a comparison chart, 
if anybody cared.

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Bob Allison (bob...@wwa.com) wrote:

:    I have only found one company that sells dvorak keyboards.  The in 
: Washington state, and I don't have the name at hand.  But before you ask 
: me to dig up the name, it costs $200.  If they're still making them.

:    But you don't need to have the actual keyboard.  The experts can tell 
: you how to map your present keyboard to dvorak.  It won't have the right 
: letters on the keys, but you're not supposed to looking ot them anyway.  
: Although at times it is annoying.

  I realize this will only help a small  number of people, but if you
happen to have an Amiga, you can set it to dvorak with a single
command,
"setmap dvorak"

  The keycaps (at least on stock A2000/A3000 keyboards) can also be taken
off and moved around quite easily.

  You can design your own keymap if you're really insane :) dvorak
just happens to be one of the keymaps included with the OS.  The rest
are all qwerty layouts for various countries. (IE, keys for accented
letters)

--
Joe Rumsey  <ogr...@netcom.com> ftp://ftp.netcom.com/pub/ogre/home.html

On 2 Oct 1994 sti...@marimba.wimsey.bc.ca wrote:

> keyboards are on the market.  Also, I wonder if there are many typing tutors
> out there for dvorak.  I know from speaking to my typing teacher that the

	"Mavis Beacon Teaches Typing", which is apparently a good typing
tutor which I started to use once, but never finished using (I still can't
touch type ;) ), caters for both QWERTY and Dvorak keyboards. 

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