Ask HN: Using alternative keyboard layouts?

Re:Ask HN: Using alternative keyboard layouts? by mcxx on Thursday January 08, 2009 @11:52AM (#425160)

That's one reason why I'm not so keen on learning Dvorak - you won't be able to write efficiently on any other computer than yours. Until now, it was just my assumption, that by learning Dvorak (or any other layout as a matter of fact), you'll lose your QWERTY-fu. Thanks for sharing.

I'll probably stick with QWERTY and a Kinesis keyboard.

[ Parent | on HN ]

Re:Ask HN: Using alternative keyboard layouts? by jobenjo on Thursday January 08, 2009 @12:16PM (#425196)

I've been using Dvorak/Kinesis for about 4 years, and I agree mostly with what's said. After a while, I found I could still use QWERTY, at least at a decent enough level that I could just grab someone's computer and not bother remapping (though sometimes I do that too).

The funny thing is every time someone grabs my laptop, they are totally freaked out.

[ Parent | on HN ]

Re:Ask HN: Using alternative keyboard layouts? by silentbicycle on Thursday January 08, 2009 @08:19PM (#425992)

> you won't be able to write efficiently on any other computer than yours.

Not my experience, at all. It takes a second to switch gears mentally, but it's not at all different from people fluent in multiple languages. Context helps, though: I type Dvorak on my desktop, my laptop, and my computer in the office, but Qwerty on other computers.

[ Parent | on HN ]

Re:Ask HN: Using alternative keyboard layouts? by euccastro on Thursday January 08, 2009 @01:09PM (#425307)

I was a mediocre QWERTY typist when I switched to Dvorak. I lost what little ability I had in QWERTY. I heard of people who could switch between the two, but I haven't even tried. In some 5 years I haven't missed the ability to write efficiently in other computers.

[ Parent | on HN ]