Comments on: Dvorak update http://jamesmckay.net/2006/08/dvorak-update/ because there are few things that are less logical than business logic Fri, 16 Jul 2010 12:27:57 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.0 By: Marv http://jamesmckay.net/2006/08/dvorak-update/comment-page-1/#comment-853 Marv Wed, 20 Dec 2006 13:24:45 +0000 http://www.jamesmckay.net/2006/08/dvorak-update/#comment-853 Yes, time to pretty crucial for trying to make a change. For some odd reason, I usually make switches at really awkward times. I switched to Colemak on Nov. 16th. The semester was pretty much almost over, and I still had many papers to type, so I went from 75wpm(with Dvorak) to 20wpm(with Colemak). Even though I was typing pretty slow, I think typing those papers helped me out. I can already type at and sustain 60wpm with Colemak, and I've only been using it for a little over a month now. Yes, I'm afraid the evil QWERTY layout will remain, but that doesn't mean I have to use it! When I switched to Dvorak and did the comparison (with the Java applet) of the two layouts, I couldn't believe I was still using QWERTY. It's not so much about typing speed; it's about typing efficiently, and I do not believe QWERTY allows that. It is a hassle to go to someone's house and ask them if you could download a keyboard layout, but that's the price I pay. I was aware that I would have to hunt-and-peck a lot. If ever I need to do some serious typing on QWERTY, I guess I could always use Shai's converter. Yes, time to pretty crucial for trying to make a change. For some odd reason, I usually make switches at really awkward times. I switched to Colemak on Nov. 16th. The semester was pretty much almost over, and I still had many papers to type, so I went from 75wpm(with Dvorak) to 20wpm(with Colemak). Even though I was typing pretty slow, I think typing those papers helped me out. I can already type at and sustain 60wpm with Colemak, and I’ve only been using it for a little over a month now.

Yes, I’m afraid the evil QWERTY layout will remain, but that doesn’t mean I have to use it! When I switched to Dvorak and did the comparison (with the Java applet) of the two layouts, I couldn’t believe I was still using QWERTY. It’s not so much about typing speed; it’s about typing efficiently, and I do not believe QWERTY allows that.

It is a hassle to go to someone’s house and ask them if you could download a keyboard layout, but that’s the price I pay. I was aware that I would have to hunt-and-peck a lot. If ever I need to do some serious typing on QWERTY, I guess I could always use Shai’s converter.

]]> By: James http://jamesmckay.net/2006/08/dvorak-update/comment-page-1/#comment-849 James Tue, 19 Dec 2006 22:07:03 +0000 http://www.jamesmckay.net/2006/08/dvorak-update/#comment-849 What put me off Dvorak in the end was the time it was taking to make the switch. It wasn't a very busy time at work, but even so I found it was slowing me down so much that it was getting in the way. Now that things are much busier, there's no chance of me even thinking about it unfortunately. I think this is the problem that most people have with switching to Dvorak or whatever. It's such a big transition that it crucifies your productivity for several weeks while you're making it. Also, when you have to switch between several different computers, it is a major nuisance, and that's a problem that you find with any keyboard layout. That's why QWERTY is, unfortunately, still so pervasive. What put me off Dvorak in the end was the time it was taking to make the switch. It wasn’t a very busy time at work, but even so I found it was slowing me down so much that it was getting in the way. Now that things are much busier, there’s no chance of me even thinking about it unfortunately.

I think this is the problem that most people have with switching to Dvorak or whatever. It’s such a big transition that it crucifies your productivity for several weeks while you’re making it. Also, when you have to switch between several different computers, it is a major nuisance, and that’s a problem that you find with any keyboard layout. That’s why QWERTY is, unfortunately, still so pervasive.

]]> By: Marv http://jamesmckay.net/2006/08/dvorak-update/comment-page-1/#comment-847 Marv Mon, 18 Dec 2006 19:45:20 +0000 http://www.jamesmckay.net/2006/08/dvorak-update/#comment-847 Hello! I know this is a bit late, but I used Dvorak not too long ago. Dvorak is great, but every keyboard layout has its flaws, though, and Dvorak's flaws were a bit too much for me. Dvorak places L and S so that the right pinky has to reach for it, and that caused strain on my right pinky. Maybe you haven't experienced this. Also, I and R aren't on the home row; I is used much more than U is, likewise with R. I'm sure Colemak has its flaws, too. I have yet to find out what they are, though. I also like how Colemak stresses on combinations rather than hand alternation. With the Java comparison applet, Colemak achieves under 1.5% (from what I've tested) same finger ratio while Dvorak achieves a little bit over 2%, which you can view here: http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v206/Saiaku_Akuma/comparison.jpg. Also, it keeps the Ctrl-Z/X/C/V shortcuts in their QWERTY positions, which I love. Although I do program from time-to-time in C++, I'm not a heavy programmer. Dvorak places punctuations in places that were awkward for me (e.g. the curly braces). I'm not trying to bad mouth Dvorak 'cause I really enjoyed using it. Anything that's better than QWERTY is good. It's just unfortunate that not too many people are aware of the evils of QWERTY. Hello! I know this is a bit late, but I used Dvorak not too long ago. Dvorak is great, but every keyboard layout has its flaws, though, and Dvorak’s flaws were a bit too much for me.

Dvorak places L and S so that the right pinky has to reach for it, and that caused strain on my right pinky. Maybe you haven’t experienced this. Also, I and R aren’t on the home row; I is used much more than U is, likewise with R.

I’m sure Colemak has its flaws, too. I have yet to find out what they are, though. I also like how Colemak stresses on combinations rather than hand alternation. With the Java comparison applet, Colemak achieves under 1.5% (from what I’ve tested) same finger ratio while Dvorak achieves a little bit over 2%, which you can view here: http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v206/Saiaku_Akuma/comparison.jpg. Also, it keeps the Ctrl-Z/X/C/V shortcuts in their QWERTY positions, which I love. Although I do program from time-to-time in C++, I’m not a heavy programmer. Dvorak places punctuations in places that were awkward for me (e.g. the curly braces).

I’m not trying to bad mouth Dvorak ’cause I really enjoyed using it. Anything that’s better than QWERTY is good. It’s just unfortunate that not too many people are aware of the evils of QWERTY.

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