Keyboard Layouts Discussion

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What keyboard layout do you use? I've been using QWERTY for so long, I think trying to change would be too much of a struggle.

QWERTY.
My brother was using DVORAK but I don't know if he still is.

I did not even know there is more than one still in use! Are there others also??

Stephen Jay Gould wrote a very interesting little essay on the "evolution" of the keyboard layout. QWERTY won out over several other designs shortly after the invention of the typewriter for various historical reasons, but as I recall, it was not actually the most efficient layout possible.

Anyway, would love to know more details about current keyboard layout designs that people here know about and why one uses one over another.

This is what my keyboard looks like:

[img][800:360]http://www.typematrix.com/shop/images/products/2030-dvorak.png[/img]

It's a Dvorak-style TypeMatrix keyboard. I've been using it for about 6 years, and it's AWESOME.

I switched from QWERTY to Dvorak during high school, when my QWERTY typing speed was still under 30WPM (Meaning I really wasn't all that good on QWERTY yet), but switching only took a few weeks of practice. I think it's worth it; Dvorak just feels better.

OMG! I had no idea such a thing existed for English language typewriting! What is the advantage of this over QWERTY for you, or is it just the one you learned on and so it works for you? Is this design for a specific use/ ability type / application? Of course I will now go surf it on my own, but would love to hear more about what you know about it also.

It took me long enough to get comfy with QWERTY. I can't imagine switching now. But the subject is fascinating.

sorry double post

Definitely qwerty. Back when I was 19 I read about how qwerty was designed to slow down typists on type writers. I thought there was no need for that on a computer and I didn't want to be using the slowest layout possible so I found the keyboard layout setting in XP, popped out all the keys from the keyboard with a knife and put them back in dvarak style.

At first getting used to this new layout was a struggle. After a few weeks I could type just as fast as I did before on qwerty. But no faster. It didn't seem that much better to me except that the vowels where on the home row. Then I signed up for community college so I went back to qwerty at home because I realized I could absolutely not use their qwerty keyboards when I had dvorak at home. When using someone else's computer I was as slow as a first time typist. My brain absolutely cannot hold more than one keyboard layout at a time.

So when I was back on qwerty, my speed actually increased. Probably because I had papers to write. I think your speed is based more on how much time you spend typing than which keyboard layout you use. I found out that thing about trying to slow down typists on typewriters was a myth. That thing about qwerty being specifically designed to type as slow as possible, a myth. qwerty is actually a pretty good layout. Try comparing it with the abcdef layout. qwerty wins hands down.

Typical QWERTY, but I remap the functions of 'Caps Lock' and left 'Control' keys so their functions are traded.

This keyboard is also available as a QWERTY. I got the Dvorak version because I was already using that format.

Note the grid layout of the keys on this keyboard, and the fact that the commonly used keys 'backspace', 'enter', and 'delete' are in the middle of the keyboard; this means that for those keys, now you can use your index finger and not stress your weaker little finger. The Shift keys are also niiiiice and big. When I switched to the typematrix, I was addicted to World of Warcraft and had early-onset carpel tunnel syndrome; the pain went away in a matter of weeks.

Here's the QWERTY version:

[img][800:360]http://www.keyboardco.com/keyboard_images/typematrix_usb_us_qwerty_keyboard_large.jpg[/img]

I have used both QWERTY and Dvorak and I definitely prefer Dvorak.

it is wise to know QWERTY though...... even though it sucks...... just because it is ubiquitous

http://www.smithsonianmag.com/arts-cult ... 49/?no-ist

Apparently there is a new arrangement designed more for the thumb typing of the modern age. Also, article has interesting history about the whole subject.

The 'QWERTY' keyboard continues to be "the favorite" in the 'Internet age.' Personally, I never gave much thought to other keyboard layouts; as the 'QWERTY' layout is largely "taken for granted!"

Here is a link on the 'Dvorak Keyboard' http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dvorak_Simplified_Keyboard

The QWERTY layout is fine. Anyone who says otherwise has just been listening to urban legends.

No mention of AZERTY the french equivalent of QWERTY and standard? http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/AZERTY

I don't use AZERTY though as I'm french canadian... I use a variation of QWERTY adapted to french language; here it is:

QWERTY was chosen for old-school typewriters becouse that layout caused the least issues with letter hammers getting stuck together.
computers were introduced slowly, and most typists already could blind-type on typewriters, so they kept QWERTY to ease the transition, even though the reason for it was removed.
indeed, QWERTY is for germanic languages (german, dutch, english). other language bases had different layouts due to the same reasons, latin languages (french, spanish) had AZERTY.

indeed, DVORAK is more convenient in letter placement from a hand-movement standpoint, but QWERTY is historical.
i have also learned to type with QWERTY, and i dont feel the need to learn DVORAK.
however, there are differences in european and american QWERTY, in the placements of the special signs ( /?[]\;<>), and i often get them wrong on other computers, since i have keyboards that are physically european, but due to having windows set to 'standard' english (american), it keeps resetting the layout to american, even though i remove the layout from the choices (darn you, win-update)