I switched over to Dvorak about 5 years ago. The main reason was speed, and not so much RSI, though I used to get cramping in both hands after extended periods on the computer.
It took me a month to touch-type again (albeit slower than when using QWERTY) and about 3 months before I had surpassed my QWERTY speed. I had maxed out at about 60 wpm with QWERTY, and was up around 90 wpm with Dvorak.
The cramping has gone and never returned. I do get some pain in my right wrist still, but I think that is mostly due to the mouse rather than the keyboard.
I used to be a helpdesk support guy so had to run around to other people's computers often, but not anymore. Even now, 5 years later, I can still touch type *fairly* well on a QWERTY keyboard. It's not great, but when I look I can type about 30 wpm while using all the write fingering.
Hope this was useful.
I actually bought a new keyboard a while ago from fingerworks.com. I never got used to it, but if you read the forums there it sounds like a lot of people have adapted and really loved it. They also have a Dvorak layout.
kynddaze
The LCD is actually a user replaceable part. support.apple.com has an article that lists all the user-replaceable parts.
In Europe there was some fiasco with the PSU being too noisy. Solution? Ship out a bunch of new PSU's that don't make so much noise and get the user to replace it themselves.
Your LCD burns out? Get a new one, and pop it in yourself.
Actually, all laptops for years have supported the ability for the computer to function with the screen closed. All you have to do is plug in an external mouse or keyboard to wake the computer while the screen is closed.
It sort of makes sense (kind of) that you would not want to operate the computer closed without having an external means to control the UI.
Slashdot Mirror
I switched over to Dvorak about 5 years ago. The main reason was speed, and not so much RSI, though I used to get cramping in both hands after extended periods on the computer. It took me a month to touch-type again (albeit slower than when using QWERTY) and about 3 months before I had surpassed my QWERTY speed. I had maxed out at about 60 wpm with QWERTY, and was up around 90 wpm with Dvorak. The cramping has gone and never returned. I do get some pain in my right wrist still, but I think that is mostly due to the mouse rather than the keyboard. I used to be a helpdesk support guy so had to run around to other people's computers often, but not anymore. Even now, 5 years later, I can still touch type *fairly* well on a QWERTY keyboard. It's not great, but when I look I can type about 30 wpm while using all the write fingering. Hope this was useful. I actually bought a new keyboard a while ago from fingerworks.com. I never got used to it, but if you read the forums there it sounds like a lot of people have adapted and really loved it. They also have a Dvorak layout. kynddaze
The LCD is actually a user replaceable part. support.apple.com has an article that lists all the user-replaceable parts. In Europe there was some fiasco with the PSU being too noisy. Solution? Ship out a bunch of new PSU's that don't make so much noise and get the user to replace it themselves. Your LCD burns out? Get a new one, and pop it in yourself.
Actually, all laptops for years have supported the ability for the computer to function with the screen closed. All you have to do is plug in an external mouse or keyboard to wake the computer while the screen is closed. It sort of makes sense (kind of) that you would not want to operate the computer closed without having an external means to control the UI.