Author Topic: Mechanical Dvorak keyboard?  (Read 3921 times)

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Offline GiraffePencils

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Mechanical Dvorak keyboard?
« on: Mon, 27 January 2014, 07:06:52 »
Hi,

I'm in the market for a Mechanical Dvorak keyboard, anyone know of a good one?

Cherry MX red keys would be really nice :)

I've looked at the WASD but as I live in britain I was hoping to find one with a better shipping price.

Any help would be appreciated

Offline yasuo

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Re: Mechanical Dvorak keyboard?
« Reply #1 on: Mon, 27 January 2014, 07:10:42 »
matias has Dvorak keyboard,but if you want cherry you can buy WASD/Ducky premier have Setting switch for dvorak
if not, you can buy keycaps custom in QWERKeys :)
« Last Edit: Mon, 27 January 2014, 07:13:48 by yasuo »
Logitech MK220 Colemak DH
SplitSyml by Moz BlacksMx fuk blacks

2/3 8.5pm                                          in de la my september month ya da all get my fukka "fake message"

Offline GiraffePencils

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Re: Mechanical Dvorak keyboard?
« Reply #2 on: Mon, 27 January 2014, 07:21:14 »
matias has Dvorak keyboard,but if you want cherry you can buy WASD/Ducky premier have Setting switch for dvorak
if not, you can buy keycaps custom in QWERKeys :)

Thanks, So I might need to buy from a couple and assemble, I suspected as much
just a question, I've never been on QWERKeys before, is their site under construction ATM?

Offline yasuo

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Re: Mechanical Dvorak keyboard?
« Reply #3 on: Mon, 27 January 2014, 07:39:34 »
matias has Dvorak keyboard,but if you want cherry you can buy WASD/Ducky premier have Setting switch for dvorak
if not, you can buy keycaps custom in QWERKeys :)

Thanks, So I might need to buy from a couple and assemble, I suspected as much
just a question, I've never been on QWERKeys before, is their site under construction ATM?
I don't know about it, for sure better QWERKeys.co.uk
Logitech MK220 Colemak DH
SplitSyml by Moz BlacksMx fuk blacks

2/3 8.5pm                                          in de la my september month ya da all get my fukka "fake message"

Offline mapple

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Re: Mechanical Dvorak keyboard?
« Reply #4 on: Tue, 28 January 2014, 02:30:58 »
you mean layout? or it's something other special kind of dvorak keyboard?

the one below can be every layout you dream of:P
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Offline gropingmantis

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Re: Mechanical Dvorak keyboard?
« Reply #5 on: Tue, 28 January 2014, 02:43:14 »
WASD or get a Phantom. I did the latter but for my needs (hardware Dvorak and a weird physical layout) Phantom is better.
You could also get an HID liberation controller for a Filco.

Offline rowdy

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Re: Mechanical Dvorak keyboard?
« Reply #6 on: Tue, 28 January 2014, 03:35:19 »
you mean layout? or it's something other special kind of dvorak keyboard?

the one below can be every layout you dream of:P


Even with printed DSA keycaps, you can pretty much put them anywhere on the keyboard as they are all the same profile.
"Because keyboards are accessories to PC makers, they focus on minimizing the manufacturing costs. But that’s incorrect. It’s in HHKB’s slogan, but when America’s cowboys were in the middle of a trip and their horse died, they would leave the horse there. But even if they were in the middle of a desert, they would take their saddle with them. The horse was a consumable good, but the saddle was an interface that their bodies had gotten used to. In the same vein, PCs are consumable goods, while keyboards are important interfaces." - Eiiti Wada

NEC APC-H4100E | Ducky DK9008 Shine MX blue LED red | Ducky DK9008 Shine MX blue LED green | Link 900243-08 | CM QFR MX black | KeyCool 87 white MX reds | HHKB 2 Pro | Model M 02-Mar-1993 | Model M 29-Nov-1995 | CM Trigger (broken) | CM QFS MX green | Ducky DK9087 Shine 3 TKL Yellow Edition MX black | Lexmark SSK 21-Apr-1994 | IBM SSK 13-Oct-1987 | CODE TKL MX clear | Model M 122 01-Jun-1988

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Offline yasuo

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Re: Mechanical Dvorak keyboard?
« Reply #7 on: Tue, 28 January 2014, 04:40:56 »
you mean layout? or it's something other special kind of dvorak keyboard?

the one below can be every layout you dream of:P


Even with printed DSA keycaps, you can pretty much put them anywhere on the keyboard as they are all the same profile.
+1
Logitech MK220 Colemak DH
SplitSyml by Moz BlacksMx fuk blacks

2/3 8.5pm                                          in de la my september month ya da all get my fukka "fake message"

Offline GiraffePencils

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Re: Mechanical Dvorak keyboard?
« Reply #8 on: Tue, 28 January 2014, 04:47:00 »
I think I had a wee bit of a misunderstanding with Mech keyboards, Right now I have a dome keyboard with moved keys.
I believed there was something better to be gained from a 'Dvorak' keyboard, It seems now there's no difference accept you don't need to change the input on windows.
This is good to know.
I may buy an ordinary Mech and a nice set of caps. Though I have to say I'd never heard of a phantom before, but dam I want one now.
Nothing more rewarding than something you MAKE, just a quick question though, is it cheaper to make? or is it one of those cases where you can't compete with the mass-produced value they get from bulk buying?
« Last Edit: Tue, 28 January 2014, 07:33:21 by GiraffePencils »

Offline Linkbane

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Re: Mechanical Dvorak keyboard?
« Reply #9 on: Tue, 28 January 2014, 11:35:33 »
A Phantom is extremely expensive compared to almost any mechanical keyboard because it's made from parts made just for us, i.e. the quantity of parts ordered was probably quite low and therefore expensive. I use Dvorak, and I guarantee you that it's not really important to get legends at all. I started about a year ago and went from ~80 to ~145 wpm; none of that improvement was made by looking at the keyboard, tell you that. If you learn Dvorak, it's pretty much required that you learn to touch type it.
Quickfire TK MX Blue Corsair K60 MX Red Ducky Shine 3 Yellow TKL MX Blue Leopold FC660C
Current best: 162 wpm.

Offline yasuo

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Re: Mechanical Dvorak keyboard?
« Reply #10 on: Tue, 28 January 2014, 11:50:06 »
I want tried dvorak on symm :p
Logitech MK220 Colemak DH
SplitSyml by Moz BlacksMx fuk blacks

2/3 8.5pm                                          in de la my september month ya da all get my fukka "fake message"

Offline SonOfSonOfSpock

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Re: Mechanical Dvorak keyboard?
« Reply #11 on: Tue, 28 January 2014, 12:18:21 »
The Kinesis Advantage has an option for dual legend qwerty/dvorak keycaps. So does Typematrix, but that's not a mech.

Offline Linkbane

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Re: Mechanical Dvorak keyboard?
« Reply #12 on: Tue, 28 January 2014, 16:52:41 »
The Kinesis Advantage has an option for dual legend qwerty/dvorak keycaps. So does Typematrix, but that's not a mech.

Dual legend is still not very good, as the more distinctive and main position is occupied by QWERTY, Dvorak is tucked away in the bottom right. Distracting and honestly sole-Dvorak keys or blanks would be better than QWERTY keys.
Quickfire TK MX Blue Corsair K60 MX Red Ducky Shine 3 Yellow TKL MX Blue Leopold FC660C
Current best: 162 wpm.

Offline GiraffePencils

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Re: Mechanical Dvorak keyboard?
« Reply #13 on: Tue, 28 January 2014, 17:07:18 »
A Phantom is extremely expensive compared to almost any mechanical keyboard because it's made from parts made just for us, i.e. the quantity of parts ordered was probably quite low and therefore expensive. I use Dvorak, and I guarantee you that it's not really important to get legends at all. I started about a year ago and went from ~80 to ~145 wpm; none of that improvement was made by looking at the keyboard, tell you that. If you learn Dvorak, it's pretty much required that you learn to touch type it.

Hey yeah, I type in dvorak now.

I was just thinking there's no reason to buy a mech with a layout I don't use.

I used the opportunity to learn to touch without learning bad habits.

How much does a Phantom set you back?

Offline Linkbane

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Re: Mechanical Dvorak keyboard?
« Reply #14 on: Tue, 28 January 2014, 17:39:58 »
A Phantom is extremely expensive compared to almost any mechanical keyboard because it's made from parts made just for us, i.e. the quantity of parts ordered was probably quite low and therefore expensive. I use Dvorak, and I guarantee you that it's not really important to get legends at all. I started about a year ago and went from ~80 to ~145 wpm; none of that improvement was made by looking at the keyboard, tell you that. If you learn Dvorak, it's pretty much required that you learn to touch type it.

Hey yeah, I type in dvorak now.

I was just thinking there's no reason to buy a mech with a layout I don't use.

I used the opportunity to learn to touch without learning bad habits.

How much does a Phantom set you back?

Here's a relevant thread which I just found. Should set you back, if you don't already have soldering tools, probably somewhere around $450 dollars, possibly not including shipping. There are cheaper options, I tell you.  :p

My personal philosophy is that I really don't care what sort of keycaps that I use. I prefer PBT because I like the feeling, but ABS won't slow you down or anything. You shouldn't be looking at the keys, and the only keys which I care to have printed are the number keys, because I'm still learning how to touch type them properly, but otherwise I honestly think that blank is better, You will literally never complain about fading. Even double-shot fades (in a somewhat horrific fashion, as you can start to see the entire base of the mold) after decades of use, but with blank, there's nothing to fade!
Quickfire TK MX Blue Corsair K60 MX Red Ducky Shine 3 Yellow TKL MX Blue Leopold FC660C
Current best: 162 wpm.

Offline dorkvader

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Re: Mechanical Dvorak keyboard?
« Reply #15 on: Tue, 28 January 2014, 20:28:10 »

Here's a relevant thread which I just found. Should set you back, if you don't already have soldering tools, probably somewhere around $450 dollars, possibly not including shipping. There are cheaper options, I tell you.  :p

My personal philosophy is that I really don't care what sort of keycaps that I use. I prefer PBT because I like the feeling, but ABS won't slow you down or anything. You shouldn't be looking at the keys, and the only keys which I care to have printed are the number keys, because I'm still learning how to touch type them properly, but otherwise I honestly think that blank is better, You will literally never complain about fading. Even double-shot fades (in a somewhat horrific fashion, as you can start to see the entire base of the mold) after decades of use, but with blank, there's nothing to fade!
I built my first programmable hardware-dvorak keyboard (phantom) for much less, including the cost of soldering equipment, multimeter and power used by said equipment. Keep in mind, though, the original plates were a great price, and the switches I harvested used from a cheaper keyboard. Also, the "case" is cardboard. I used it like that for many months. I plan to replace the cardboard someday.

Offline GiraffePencils

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Re: Mechanical Dvorak keyboard?
« Reply #16 on: Wed, 29 January 2014, 03:37:03 »
Hmmmmm,
I'm conflicted now, I own everything to solder (well no wire but that's cheap enough)
That link has the stuff at reasonable prices, I'll have to do a direct comparison in cost between buying and making.

The fun/prestige keeps creeping up on me  :p

Offline royb3

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Re: Mechanical Dvorak keyboard?
« Reply #17 on: Wed, 29 January 2014, 13:47:12 »
I have got an Unicomp classic 104, with buckling springs in dvoray layout. it's a hardwired one, so you have to set the pc's settings to USA International to type. It's a great keyboard, i've got it from http://pckeyboard.com.