Dvorak keyboard's fatal flaw is when you have to type on someone else's keyboard. Standardization has its benefits, even if less than ideal. Trackballs have a similar issue.

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MiddleEndian 7 months ago | parent | next [-]

I've exclusively used Kensington trackballs at home and work (along with trackpads on laptops I guess) since I was around seven years old, Dvorak since I was around fourteen.

I really don't use other people's computers that often, but mice aren't that hard to use (just uncomfortable) and I can still type in QWERTY at about 25WPM but I'd have to look at the keyboard a bit.

Trackballs and Dvorak are both more comfortable than their alternatives, but the real benefit is the reactions I get when other people try to use MY devices when they're not prepared lol

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mbirth 7 months ago | parent [-]

What about keyboard shortcuts? I’ve only realised why some shortcuts were chosen after using an English language QWERTY keyboard.

On a German QWERTZ keyboard, most symbols are in completely different places, require modifiers, and thus you almost get cramps when typing some keyboard shortcuts. On a “default” English keyboard, they’re easy and the placement makes sense.

	▲	MiddleEndian 7 months ago \| parent [-]
		It's a little annoying but overall not too bad. Don't need the additional modifiers but I no longer have ZXCV next to each other. I usually have two hands at the keyboard anyway.

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rgoulter 7 months ago | parent | prev | next [-]

To an extent, Vim and Emacs have a similar issue, especially if you spend time customising these.

Often, the benefits from using an improved tool outweigh the costs of it being non-standard.

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7 months ago | parent | prev [-]

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