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Dvorak Layout Claimed Not Superior To QWERTY

Posted by kdawson on from the contra-network-effects dept.

Michael Pyne sends in an article published at Reason Online 13 years ago, dismantling the entrenched myth that the Dvorak keyboard layout is a superior technology to QWERTY. The odd thing is that this 13-year-old article recaps research (refereed and published in a respected economics journal) 19 years ago. While we have discussed Dvorak many times over the years, I don't believe we have dug into this convincing-sounding refutation of the Dvorak mythology. The article is in the context of arguing against the conventional wisdom of "first mover advantage" — that the first product to market gains a large entrenchment benefit, such as VHS vs. Beta, MS-DOS vs. anything, etc. It's very much a pro-markets piece.

15 of 663 comments (clear)

  1. Dvorak by gEvil+(beta) · · Score: 5, Funny

    Is that old blowhard at it again? Why do you keep posting stuff about this bozo?

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    This guy's the limit!
    1. Re:Dvorak by jonasj · · Score: 4, Funny

      Blaarrh.... old joke.

      Though I wouldn't want to type on him.

      --
      You know, Microsoft's street address also says a lot about their mentality.
    2. Re:Dvorak by reboot246 · · Score: 5, Funny

      Hey, I like Dvorak! His New World Symphony is awesome.

    3. Re:Dvorak by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 5, Funny

      I noticed your handle was about sexual intercourse with ancient computing equipment. I've descended to inform you that no electronic machinery will surpass the conventional branches of sexual intercourse, and doing what you do could be a danger to your health.

      Thanks.

    4. Re:Dvorak by martin-boundary · · Score: 5, Funny

      Poor guy. So young, and already typecast...

  2. Re:learning curves by x78 · · Score: 5, Funny

    clearly never played EVE-online

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    Don't panic
  3. gotta say by EpsCylonB · · Score: 3, Funny

    tl;dr

    1. Re:gotta say by ChienAndalu · · Score: 4, Funny

      Still learning the new layout?

  4. .nnw C mgoy oaf by windsurfer619 · · Score: 3, Funny

    Ydco b., nafrgy co k.pf jrbugocbi abe jrgby.p cbygcyck.

  5. Re:i like dvorak but stick with the standard qwert by SteveWoz · · Score: 4, Funny

    Italian doesn't have a 'y'? Well, at least Italy does.

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    OK a new size TV
  6. OMG HaXX0r! by Mr.+Underbridge · · Score: 5, Funny

    I know that the Slashdot editing has a very low reputation around here but I was pretty interested to see how much work was done on this article writeup. You can see mine at the Firehose entry. The Slashdot editor even went to the trouble of looking up prior Dvorak-related articles (and taking the trouble to notice the article I submitted was 13 years old -- whoops)

    Wow, you're right. I'll fire off an email to Taco letting him know that kdawson's account has been hacked. That sort of compromise can't be tolerated, even if it's by a benevolent professional editor.

  7. Re:Depends on the Language by Veggiesama · · Score: 5, Funny

    For an example of a keyboard for a non-Latin alphabet, look at the alternate symbols on this Japanese keyboard:
    http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:MacBookProJISKeyboard-1.jpg

    Obviously, that's not a real Japanese keyboard, because it's missing they keys for ^_^, o_O, and =3.

  8. Re:i like dvorak but stick with the standard qwert by Sique · · Score: 4, Funny

    But Italy is called Italia in Italy ;)

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    .sig: Sique *sigh*
  9. Re:Not good enough by digitalchinky · · Score: 5, Funny

    I quite literally scraped off all the key labels from all my keyboards both at home and at work. It doesn't just discourage the keyboard illiterate, it actually leaves them questioning your sanity, so they tend to stay well away.

  10. Re:i like dvorak but stick with the standard qwert by commodoresloat · · Score: 3, Funny

    y?