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[BrandonQ]

Anyone using the Dvorak keyboard layout, what do you guys and gals think about it? I am trying to learn now.

[HyperNexus]

Yes. I'm a big fan of Dvorak. I applaud you for giving it a try and recommend you keep at it. Good luck.

I was always a rather subpar QWERTY typist and decided that I needed to make the change not just to improve my touch typing but to kill some of the bad habits that I picked up with QWERTY. Stupid things such as looking at the keys even though I knew what they were.

It took me about a month to completely convert over. It was painful for the first few weeks but well worth it. I've been happily using it for roughly two years now. Before using Dvorak I would occasionally get sore wrists. I bought an ergonomic keyboard and started learning Dvorak, since then I haven't had sore wrists at all.

It's worth noting that there is a layout often called Dvorak QWERTY which is Dvorak with the QWERTY keyboard shortcuts. I know this layout exists on OSX and I'd imagine there would be an equivalent for Windows and Linux. Unfortunately I only found out about this months after using Dvorak and couldn't go back to using the old shortcuts.

Some people recommend altering the keys on your keyboard or using stickers. I advise against doing this. The point is that you shouldn't be looking at the keys at all.

GNU Typist also has lessons for learning Dvorak. Well worth a look.

[tesselode]

Honestly, I don't see the problem with QWERTY. Why use a keyboard layout that's going to make lots of games not control properly and change every keyboard shortcut ever? Then again, I haven't got sore wrists or anything from using QWERTY and I've never tried Dvorak so I don't know if it's more efficient or not.

[stef1a]

I couldn't imagine switching. Just like typing properly. I never learned, so I just peck now. It's probably a lot slower than typing how you're meant to type, but I can type relatively fast (I can clock 100 wpm), so it doesn't bother me. I've tried learning, but damn, it's difficult.

[Noah!]

I've been using it for about two years now, and I absolutely LOVE it. Can't say it's really boosted my typing speed that much, but the ergonomics are well worth it. It makes typing feel comfortable and under control, whereas with QWERTY it feels like my fingers are just going all over the place.

Other than that, my story's pretty much the same as HyperNexus, except that I went and switched the keys around so it feels more legitimate.

[Nix]

It's probably a lot slower than typing how you're meant to type, but I can type relatively fast (I can clock 100 wpm), so it doesn't bother me. I've tried learning, but damn, it's difficult.

There's no possible way you can clock 100 wpm by pecking.

[Player Ʒ]

It's probably a lot slower than typing how you're meant to type, but I can type relatively fast (I can clock 100 wpm), so it doesn't bother me. I've tried learning, but damn, it's difficult.

There's no possible way you can clock 100 wpm by pecking.

80WPM, 90WPM, close enough on a QWERTY keyboard.

[Rob Lach]

I already type at a rate faster than I can stream my thoughts, so I'd only benefit from increasing my wpm if I were transcribing something from handwritten to digital.

[Xion]

What rob said. Also I've never had any problems with comfort issues or anything. I make typos pretty often but then I just backspace them and it gives my brain a chance to catch up with my fingers.

[DareM]

Scary, learning to type again on a different keyboard.
It feels like trying to learn to talk again.
I applaude everyone who succeeds, you must have a very fresh brain.

[ortoslon]

relearned from freeform sighted qwerty to touch typing Dvorak three years ago with Verseq (free seven-day demo should be enough to get you started), feels much more comfortable

[C.A. Sinner]

you gotta hear this on vinyl man, it sounds so much warmer

[Nikica]

you gotta hear this on vinyl man, it sounds so much warmer

no man, i can't stand that surface noise

[Nix]

I use a UNICOMP Customizer keyboard (modern factory runs of the Model M using the original patent) with qwerty and I get around 100wpm give or take some when I'm transcribing. I've heard good things about Dvorak, but I imagine it would be a pain in the ass to forget how to type well on qwerty then have to use a qwerty keyboard on another computer. Qwerty is just too ubiquitous and it works well enough.

[BrandonQ]

Thanks for the replies! I shall continue learning. I have heard the reason its better than qwerty is because qwerty is designed for type-writers and deliberately makes you slower so you don't make mistakes. But Dvorak is designed for keyboards which require far greater speed and accuracy.