flickr.com— This MacBook owner physically converted his MacBook to the Dvorak keyboard layout (a keyboard layout much more comfortable to use than Qwerty). If only they could be purchased that way.
Dec 26, 2006View in Crawl 4
I dabbled with dvorak (for a few months or so) and found it a pretty usable typing layout.However it's too impracticable in life, QWERTY has a universal stronghold on the keyboard world. Everyone knows this, everyone's learnt it. Heck, probably nearly every computer you'll use (outside your own) will have a QWERTY keyboard. It's a universal standard. So I switched back to QWERTY (which took a while to get back into, I must admit) before I started University a few years ago, at least that way I could get a decent typing speed wherever I went.
I dont get it, wont the computer still interpret the keystrokes as a QWERTY keyboard? Or is there some function on my Mac that will allow me to change it?
"and soon, we'll see some grandma switching to Dvorak stories."I can hear my grandmother:- "I switched to John C. Dvorak because he's so hot. I threw your grandfather out.".
Yes, there is.These are instructions from:<a class="user" href="http://www.mwbrooks.com/dvorak/mac.html">http://www.mwbrooks.com/dvorak/mac.html</a>Go to System Preferences, Click on International, and click on the Dvorak keyboard you want in the list (United States is the only one selected by default).To switch between US (QWERTY) and Dvorak, press Command+Option+Space. There'll be an icon in the top bar - the US flag in QWERTY, a black and white "DV" in Dvorak.
I tried popping off the keycaps like this guy did, and he must have had a jeweler's lupe and nerves of steel, because I really messed up my keyboard and had to spent $300 to get it repaired. The delicate plastic mechanism under each key was no match for a sweaty Betty like me with a screwdriver. A much easier solution is a silicone overlay; it looks great and works fine, fitting snugly over the existing keys. It might offer some protection from coffee spills too, who knows. You can find the silicone cover by Googling "dvorak" with "macbook" and "cover".
djhworldDec 27, 2006
I dabbled with dvorak (for a few months or so) and found it a pretty usable typing layout.However it's too impracticable in life, QWERTY has a universal stronghold on the keyboard world. Everyone knows this, everyone's learnt it. Heck, probably nearly every computer you'll use (outside your own) will have a QWERTY keyboard. It's a universal standard. So I switched back to QWERTY (which took a while to get back into, I must admit) before I started University a few years ago, at least that way I could get a decent typing speed wherever I went.
inunchukDec 27, 2006
I dont get it, wont the computer still interpret the keystrokes as a QWERTY keyboard? Or is there some function on my Mac that will allow me to change it?
Closed AccountDec 27, 2006
I did that with my Mac Book Pro . . . but I still need to switch to the normal format for when I work in most applications like photoshop. :(
blackjack75Dec 27, 2006
"and soon, we'll see some grandma switching to Dvorak stories."I can hear my grandmother:- "I switched to John C. Dvorak because he's so hot. I threw your grandfather out.".
waconnerDec 27, 2006
Congrats to the person with the keyboard project. Personally, I cannot stand the Dvorak layout.
47f0Dec 28, 2006
Yes, there is.These are instructions from:<a class="user" href="http://www.mwbrooks.com/dvorak/mac.html">http://www.mwbrooks.com/dvorak/mac.html</a>Go to System Preferences, Click on International, and click on the Dvorak keyboard you want in the list (United States is the only one selected by default).To switch between US (QWERTY) and Dvorak, press Command+Option+Space. There'll be an icon in the top bar - the US flag in QWERTY, a black and white "DV" in Dvorak.
47f0Dec 28, 2006
Actually, this keyboard is ideal:<a class="user" href="http://www.daskeyboard.com/">http://www.daskeyboard.com/</a>How Zen ;-)
stateofdreamsDec 29, 2006
I've suprisingly never heard about the DVORAK style until now. It peeked my interest. Hope to learn it here soon. But I have a thing about downloading certain stupid programs on some unknown site. So i figured there has to be another way without buying a darn thing and downloading something unkown. so this is what i found and it's free and easy and there's even a shortcut in windows (ctrl + shft) to switch from QWERTY to DVORAK so others at the home wont get mixed up with me typing this new style.If you Have Windows XP and want to learn the dvorak keyboard, go here:<a class="user" href="http://www.microsoft.com/enable/training/windowsxp/keyboardlayout.aspx">http://www.microsoft.com/enable/training/windowsxp/keyboardlayout.aspx</a>it gives you really easy instructions on what to do so you don't have to buy a thing.or to check other versions, go here:<a class="user" href="http://www.microsoft.com/enable/products/altkeyboard.aspx">http://www.microsoft.com/enable/products/altkeyboard.aspx</a>
miuradagSep 1, 2007
I tried popping off the keycaps like this guy did, and he must have had a jeweler's lupe and nerves of steel, because I really messed up my keyboard and had to spent $300 to get it repaired. The delicate plastic mechanism under each key was no match for a sweaty Betty like me with a screwdriver. A much easier solution is a silicone overlay; it looks great and works fine, fitting snugly over the existing keys. It might offer some protection from coffee spills too, who knows. You can find the silicone cover by Googling "dvorak" with "macbook" and "cover".