On my desk, I have two machines, both with identical Big Ol’ Dell Keyboards. But I have swapped the keys around on the one on the left to make it a Dvorak-UK layout. The box on the right is my main working desktop (Slackware-13.0) and the one on the left is mainly for IRC run out of tty2 although I also use it for live testing when writing code. Because the IRC box is the Dvorak box, all I do is type which gives me a lot of practice.

I got past the hunt-and-peck stage in about 6 weeks, and slowly started getting better from there. I still have trouble with M and W being next to each other, and I often grab the wrong vowel, but other than that I’ve gotten pretty good. Sometimes I get so comfortable I reach over to the QWERTY keyboard and momentarily forget how to type; but that’s only occasionally. I think I do pretty well swapping between the two.

I now have a new skill for my CV and the ability to fend off RSI later in life. I feel I have accomplished something.

Some notes:

• Do not bother trying to find a Dvorak keyboard – people just don’t sell them – rearrange one you have.
• Pick a good keyboard to re-arrange. Try to find one that has no curvature so the keys are all the same dimensions and set at the same angle.
• In a linux console: `loadkeys dvorak` will give you a Dvorak (US) layout instantly.
• In Slackware 13.0, tell hald about your new keyboard as in my earlier post so it works in X.

I urge everyone to spend a little time reading DVZine to rid you of fear, uncertainty and doubt (FUD) about Dvorak. There’s a lot of misinformation out there and DVZine will put you straight.

Have fun.