Filed under: Hardware, Peripherals, Odds and ends
Dvorak Desktop Keyboard non-Mod
Our previous post about a MacBook Dvorak keyboard mod generated a number of comments, including hearty suggestions from several our readers to try the Dvorak keyboard layout. Now desktop users of the Apple Keyboard (both wired and wireless) have an even easier option for testing the Dvorak layout. zCover is releasing a preprinted Dvorak layout skin that fits the Apple Keyboard and doesn't require any popping off and rearranging of your keys. It has the additional advantage of glowing in the dark and, of course, protecting the keyboard.Incidentally, for those who didn't know, OS X has built-in support for the Dvorak layout in the Input Menu of the International tab of your System Preferences.
[Via Macworld]
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
jtbandes said 5:25PM on 12-31-2006
Very neat, and I would definitely buy it if it weren't for the high price. It's just silicone... why $35?
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Ben said 5:30PM on 12-31-2006
What about a skin for laptop keyboards?
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Matthew Galaher said 7:35PM on 12-31-2006
Seems a bit silly in that if your using the Dvorak layout your probably don't need to look at the keyboard. I.E. why have an efficient layout if you are not touch typing? Dvorak it self however, is as Apple is to Microsoft. Check it out.
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teece said 8:24PM on 12-31-2006
Matthew: I'm a touch typist, and I type exclusively with Dvorak.
Having the keys labeled for Qwerty is a royal pain in the rear.
There are too many occasions when I look at the keyboard (not when I'm whipping out text: generally when I'm using keyboard shortcuts), and unless my hands are on home row, the letters on the keys short circuit my brain. A significant chunk of the time, I'll be using only one hand, or whatnot. On those occasions, it is very nice to have the keys say what they mean ( the Dvorak-Qwerty keyboard layout somewhat ameliorates this).
I also find it very helpful to have the keys say what they do for typing new passwords -- passwords are not regular English text, and as such, they are a pain to type at first (your brain learns to type words as much as letters: strings of punctuation and odd letter combos seriously slow you down until you learn them pretty well).
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Attabui said 11:11PM on 12-31-2006
With Dvorak regaining some of its old momentum, maybe Dvortyboards has a chance at a comeback. I never should have traded away my old TypeMatrix, they've almost doubled in price now.
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Francis said 5:00PM on 1-01-2007
Does it not seem to anyone that Dvorak may be soon dead - I mean my generation (teenagers of the 00's) never learnt Dvorak and probably never will - all I know is QWERTY, I'm sure past generations are on the same boat...
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Benson Leung said 2:46PM on 1-01-2007
I have been using Dvorak going on 4 years now. I echo the same sentiment : rearranging keys might be useful for someone just starting out using the keyboard, but since you're going to be learning to type with a new layout, you might as well do so touch typing.
I leave the keys at Qwerty, and touch type for everything.
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Idxeyb said 7:57PM on 1-03-2007
It would have been cool if Apple allowed one to customize the layout of the keyboard. Including the possibility to choose blank keys (my favorite).
Also, something like this: http://www.artlebedev.com/everything/optimus/ but based on the E-Ink technology would have been really cool!
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