RE: COLEMAK layout?

The Dvorak layout is based on years of research on numerous aspects of
typewriting behaviour, not just casual impressions of which letters belong
where. Anyone hoping to improve the Dvorak layout should read Dvorak's book
first.
 
The claim that Dvorak "isn't optimal because it was designed without the aid
of computers" seems particularly rich in the absence of any evidence that
computers were needed or that they were used in the design of this COLEMAK
thing. The criticisms advanced below are unscientific and in many cases
picayune.
 
Scott Horne
 
 


  _____  

From: [email protected] [mailto:[email protected]] On
Behalf Of ericsc4
Sent: 15 novembre 2008 23:11
To: [email protected]
Subject: [altkeyboards] COLEMAK layout?




I was thinking of switching to DVORAK, but just recently I found out
about COLEMAK. Now I might switch to COLEMAK instead. What is
everyone's opinion on the COLEMAK layout? http://colemak.
<http://colemak.com/> com/

Also here is a link to a wiki with usage diagrams comparing QWERTY,
DVORAK, and COLEMAK.
http://tinyurl. <http://tinyurl.com/64g9mz> com/64g9mz

I'm especially interested in what experienced Dvorak users think of
the layout. And maybe a counter argument from the pro-DVORAK side on
what might be wrong with COLEMAK and why DVORAK is better.

Below is some text taken from the Colemak website:

What's wrong with the Dvorak layout?

* Placing 'L' on the QWERTY 'P' position causes excessive strain
on the right pinky. Colemak doesn't place frequent letters where the
pinkies stretch.
* 'F' is on the QWERTY 'Y' position which is a difficult stretch
on normal keyboards.
* 'I' is very frequent but isn't on the home position.
* 'R' is very frequent but isn't on the home row.
* It is significantly lopsided so that the right hand does too
much work.
* It's not comfortable to use Ctrl-Z/X/C/V shortcuts with the left
hand while holding the mouse with the right hand. Colemak conserves
those shortcuts in their QWERTY positions.
* Even though the design principles are sound, the implementation
isn't optimal because it was designed without the aid of computers.
* 'L' and 'S' form a frequent same-finger digraph on the right
pinky. Same-finger for the pinky is very rare in Colemak. In
particular, Unix commands such as 'ls -l' are very uncomfortable to type.
* Some punctuation (in particular the curly/square brackets) is
less comfortable to type on Dvorak. This affects mainly programmers
and advanced Unix users. 

Is it worth switching from Dvorak to Colemak?

The Colemak keyboard layout fixes all the issues mentioned above, and
wins in virtually every criterion, but the difference will be less
noticeable than the difference between QWERTY and Dvorak. The switch
won't be as easy for veteran Dvorak users. If you're generally happy
with Dvorak, you should probably stick with it. 



 



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