Re: Re: New to the list

Thanks, everyone for your replies and support.

I am still using, and continue to use, the Dvorak layout.

Here have been my frustrations
1- I have a HUGE problem with vowels. Either I skip entering them
alltogether or I enter the wrong vowel. As time progresses, this issue is
starting to work itself out.

2- I switch up M and W CONSTANTLY!! This is perhaps my largest source of
continual frustration. I know that eventually, I will simply get over it,
but for know, when I do that, it's almost embarrasing! "Oh yeah, I'w mith
it!"

3- I find myself doing the before-and-after thing. IE, if a word ends with a
letter sequence the next word starts with, I run them together sometimes.
Like "Figueroa Road" becomes "figueroad"

4- Windows shortcuts. CTRL C X and V were created out of convenience - to
QWERTY typists. When doing large data manipulation, I used to be able to hit
them one-handed with ease. It is now quite a fiasco.

5- My Qwerty keeps asserting itself. I start typing half a sentence just
fine but somewhere through it, it all turns to garbage as instinct took over
and QWERTY'd out the other half. This mostly happens when I start feeling as
though I can relax a bit.

6- I am a looker. Uh oh, get a rope! But right now, my suffers TOO much when
I don't look at the keyboard. I used to be a looker for QWERTY and about
seven years ago forced myself to stop. Once I get used to Dvorak, I'll stop
looking too. But for now, I find it necessary just to be productive.

All that said, I aw still loving it. I mean, I can pop out some words and
completely surprise myself with how easy they are to type on this
configuration! Shall we talk about dentists or stone or aeons - anyone? =)

And I most certainly do not hurt anymore from typing. I used to get what I
would call wrist-lock after a full day of typing - where my forearms would
get so tight that I couldn't type faster than MAYBE 15 WPM just because I
became incapable of pressing the keys any faster. Since I have switched,
this hasn'n even come close to hinting it might occur. And man is it nice
not to hurt. =)

I have also kept up with the Web sites and ather stuff you all have sent -
thanks for sending them!

I do have some feedback on all of it.

ABCD - might be a good resource for typing lessons but their online format
is killing me. I stopped. Additionally, they really need the services of a
Website design person.

TypingByTouch.com -
I have a lot of feedback on this site and much will seem even nitpicky. I
can provide it if you want, but in short, I appreciate what you are trying
to do with it but it doesn't present well. Additionally, it has some faux
pas that lend it less credibility than it deserves - mostly in language and
its lack of non-IE brower support.

That said, I do think it has potential and you should keep working at it!

I guess I am saying that I see it as "first draft" material. It needs to be
shorn up now.

Typematrix -

Appealing. But I have a hard time convincing myself to replace my current
keyboard at home, which is designed for gamers (which I am) or convincing my
work to get me one at this point of just learning a new input style. (Go
back to QWERTY would be the argument)

But give me a year or two and such an argument would have weight... I just
might go for it then...

One BIG thing they would have to do IMO though, would be to add a ten-key
pad and to remove the enter/backspace from the middle. Even though it is
frowned on, I do sometimes cross over and press the opposing letter with the
wrong hand, especially when using shortcut keys.

Windows support of Dvorak.
While windows does support Dvorak, if you have multiple users and want to
leave QWERTY input installed, some programs ignore the fact you are on
Dvorak and go QWERTY on you anyway! Java is a HUGE offender.

And switching back (like by using the language bar) works - for that
session. Then it goes right back when you bring the offending screen back
up.

Eventually, I just removed the other input profile and it now works great.

As for QWERTY being banned, I disagree. People who already use it should be
allowed. What should happen instead is the standards for accreditation of
schools should require all labs to offer both input styles, with hardwired
keyboards that could accept Qwerty and hardwire that to Dvorak as an option
and to require any typing instruction to be taught only in Dvorak.

In fact, Once I become better at Dvorak and my children as well, I will at
least try to get it as an option in my local school. (That they would at
least inform parents of the benefits of Dvorak and teach Dvorak to those who
would be willing to learn it.) I don't have high hopes it will go over well,
but I will at least try.

Whew! I've typed quite a bit.

I'll keep checking in.

Keith, in Tucson


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