Colemak keyboard layout

#1

Post by sirsar » Sun, Jul 07, 2013, 4:17 AM UTC

Re: Colemak keyboard layout

#2

Post by deadfall » Sun, Jul 07, 2013, 4:27 AM UTC

I am cautious to change my keyboard layout because I use a lot of different machines. Has anyone tried this or the Programmer Dvorak layout?

Ref: http://www.kaufmann.no/roland/dvorak/

Re: Colemak keyboard layout

#3

Post by chaetodon » Sun, Jul 07, 2013, 4:34 AM UTC

Lefthanders like me need an inverse Colemak to remain effective, given that many of the most used letters are on a QWERTY keyboard on my left hand (while with Colemak e.g. the E has moved to the right). Does an inverse Colemak exist?

Re: Colemak keyboard layout

#4

Post by anting » Sun, Jul 07, 2013, 4:42 AM UTC

deadfall wrote: post #2

I am cautious to change my keyboard layout because I use a lot of different machines. Has anyone tried this or the Programmer Dvorak layout? Ref: http://www.kaufmann.no/roland/dvorak/

I use programmer dvorak, though I can't tell if it's much better than QWERTY. It hasn't been too difficult to install it on every machine I use.

Re: Colemak keyboard layout

#5

Post by ams6110 » Sun, Jul 07, 2013, 4:44 AM UTC

deadfall wrote: post #2

I am cautious to change my keyboard layout because I use a lot of different machines. Has anyone tried this or the Programmer Dvorak layout? Ref: http://www.kaufmann.no/roland/dvorak/

It's a valid concern. I spend most of my work day in Emacs, and have caps-lock and ctrl swapped on my primary work machines. Even that small difference is a problem when I need to type on someone else's computer.

Re: Colemak keyboard layout

#6

Post by 1123581321 » Sun, Jul 07, 2013, 4:46 AM UTC

deadfall wrote: post #2

I am cautious to change my keyboard layout because I use a lot of different machines. Has anyone tried this or the Programmer Dvorak layout? Ref: http://www.kaufmann.no/roland/dvorak/

I use regular Dvorak and it is not pleasant to switch to a fresh machine.

Re: Colemak keyboard layout

#7

Post by HNJohnC » Sun, Jul 07, 2013, 4:55 AM UTC

The author of that site should site stats comparing Colemak with Dvorak because that's really their 'competition' so to speak.

Re: Colemak keyboard layout

#8

Post by thatswrong0 » Sun, Jul 07, 2013, 5:03 AM UTC

I've used Colemak for a year and a half now. The common shortcut keys are in the same place still (ctrl-c, ctrl-v, etc.). I use Vim and keep the default bindings and it works fine (though movement is odd.. up and down are inverted). I used to type at around 100 wpm with QWERTY and can reach that or higher now. I can still use QWERTY when I need to although I have to look down a bit.

All in all I like it. It feels good and efficient to type. I initially switched because I wanted to learn to touch type on QWERTY.. Not only was it a struggle to change habits but QWERTY felt just.. Awful and slow. So I wanted to learn a new layout. Colemak seemed less radical than Dvorak and also more efficient (less finger movement). Learning a whole new layout was quite hard (especially in the middle of a semester), but I think it did make learning to touch type easier. The hardest part was 's' being moved a letter to the right.. I confused 'r' and 's' for a while now. So yeah, if anyone is thinking about trying it, go for it. Don't rearrange the keys, just print out the layout and look at that for reference so you learn the locations by feel.

Re: Colemak keyboard layout

#9

Post by thatswrong0 » Sun, Jul 07, 2013, 5:17 AM UTC

HNJohnC wrote: post #7

The author of that site should site stats comparing Colemak with Dvorak because that's really their 'competition' so to speak.

There's a link right on the front page ('Compare') to an applet which compares QWERTY, Dvorak, and Colemak..

Re: Colemak keyboard layout

#10

Post by fakeer » Sun, Jul 07, 2013, 5:23 AM UTC

anting wrote: post #4

deadfall wrote: post #2

I am cautious to change my keyboard layout because I use a lot of different machines. Has anyone tried this or the Programmer Dvorak layout? Ref: http://www.kaufmann.no/roland/dvorak/

I use programmer dvorak, though I can't tell if it's much better than QWERTY. It hasn't been too difficult to install it on every machine I use.

Yes, I would like to know what's really wrong with "qwerty". Have never used anything other than QWERTY, ever. I really want to know. Seeing this "can't tell if it's much better than QWERTY" in your comment I thought I can get a well balanced answer from you, other than the types of "Ecams is best, Vim is best".