As for switching back and forth between qwerty and Dvorak, it shouldn't be too much of a problem once you are familiar with the keyboard, as all you have to do to change the layout (in windows) is go to Start--> Settings--> Control Panel--> Keyboard--> Input Locals (could be called something else)--> double-click English US and change to English US-Dvorak. It may ask you for the drivers, so if you use different computers that may not have the drivers, copy them to disk (they are is one of the cab files on the windows cd). If anyone needs Dvorak drivers for DOS, let me know.
I've been using the Dvorak keyboard layout for a year or two. I find that it feels more natural, and I can definitely type faster. I have never used a keyboard that was designed as a Dvorak keyboard. I just switched around the keys, and made labels for those that can’t switch.
Just a few quick facts:
When typing on the Dvorak keyboard, you're fingers travel 1/3 of the distance they do on a qwerty keyboard to type the same thing. The vowels are on one side of the keyboard and the major consonants on the other, so that your hands are used more equally. When qwerty typewriters first came out, they allowed the salesperson to type ‘typewriter’ with the first line of the keyboard.
Also, it seems some people have answered this post while I was away and I haven’t yet read what they wrote. Hope I'm not repeating anything!
Lomas
