Author Topic: QWERTY -> DVORAK on Filco? (Read 9593 times)

kencheeto · « **on:** Thu, 29 October 2009, 21:42:32 »

Hi guys, I purchased a Filco Tenkeyless Cherry Blue keyboard about when they were available at elitekeyboards, and I was curious if there was an easy way to switch the layout from QWERTY to DVORAK?

I searched but couldn't find anything about this specifically. I don't really mind spending a little money, but am mostly curious if someone has already done this or knows comfortably how.

Thanks!

justin · « **Reply #1 on:** Thu, 29 October 2009, 21:49:02 »

If it has the keylabels, just remove the keys and rearrange them. If it's blank there's nothing to do. Either way, you just switch the layout in your operating system's preferences and you're good to go. It's pretty simple.

Xuan · « **Reply #2 on:** Thu, 29 October 2009, 23:39:10 »

Quote from: justin;129312

If it has the keylabels, just remove the keys and rearrange them. If it's blank there's nothing to do. Either way, you just switch the layout in your operating system's preferences and you're good to go. It's pretty simple.

Do Filcos have all keys shaped the same way like BS boards?

timw4mail · « **Reply #3 on:** Fri, 30 October 2009, 07:24:56 »

Quote from: Xuan;129316

Do Filcos have all keys shaped the same way like BS boards?

No, they don't. They're sculpted.

itlnstln · « **Reply #4 on:** Fri, 30 October 2009, 07:58:15 »

Go blank/"Otaku." That will solve all your problems. I am a much better typist today for it.

kencheeto · « **Reply #5 on:** Fri, 30 October 2009, 13:17:05 »

Ok, so I could get the replacement Otaku keycaps and change out just the letters.. Or I could just ignore the lettering. That wouldn't be as cool..

microsoft windows · « **Reply #6 on:** Fri, 30 October 2009, 14:02:26 »

Personally, from my experience, it would be easier to learn another layout on a keyboard that feels much different than a normal one with the QWERTY layout. That way, it would be easier to learn something completely new rather than learn how to do that and use the QWERTY ones.

kencheeto · « **Reply #7 on:** Fri, 30 October 2009, 15:44:25 »

UGH I hate you guys. Now I'll just have to spring for another keyboard

Hmm.. Looks like I've got some reading to do into Topre switches.

hyperlinked · « **Reply #8 on:** Sat, 31 October 2009, 03:00:08 »

Quote from: kencheeto;129441

UGH I hate you guys. Now I'll just have to spring for another keyboard

Hmm.. Looks like I've got some reading to do into Topre switches.

Wow. It didn't take much to get you to squeal. A couple of lukewarm answers about keycaps and you're gunning for a Topre board. Delete this site from your bookmarks before it's too late!

d2v · « **Reply #9 on:** Sat, 31 October 2009, 06:41:19 »

As Oscar Wilde said :

Quote

The only way to get rid of temptation is to yield to it... I can resist everything but temptation.

kencheeto · « **Reply #10 on:** Sat, 31 October 2009, 19:03:51 »

Yeah, it only took about a week of lurking around on the boards to convince me to grab the filco blue cherry tenkeyless. Easily the best computer-related upgrade I've done in a while, so I feel its justified.

kencheeto · « **Reply #11 on:** Sun, 01 November 2009, 18:30:52 »

Quote from: timw4mail;129343

No, they don't. They're sculpted.

Wait..

I just ordered the keycap puller from elitekeyboards. I was planning on rearranging the qwerty layout to dvorak- leaving all the non-letter keys in their spots. The letters will be interchangeable, right?

timw4mail · « **Reply #12 on:** Sun, 01 November 2009, 19:08:46 »

Quote from: kencheeto;129817

Wait..

I just ordered the keycap puller from elitekeyboards. I was planning on rearranging the qwerty layout to dvorak- leaving all the non-letter keys in their spots. The letters will be interchangeable, right?

Only if you want one weirdly bumpy typing experience.

rdh · « **Reply #13 on:** Sun, 01 November 2009, 19:11:42 »

Quote from: kencheeto;129817

I just ordered the keycap puller from elitekeyboards. I was planning on rearranging the qwerty layout to dvorak- leaving all the non-letter keys in their spots. The letters will be interchangeable, right?

Sorry, no. The Filco boards (like most keyboards) use differently-shaped keycaps in each row.

This picture shows a set of blank Filco key caps in their normal order on a flat surface. The picture doesn't highlight it well, but if you look closely you can see the shape differences:

Look especially at the number key row vs. the Z-row, if you're having trouble seeing it.

You can swap the keys around within the rows without problems, but if you swap between different rows, the tops of the keys will be at different heights and angles.
Try swapping a few keys from different rows to see what you think. The mismatched feel would annoy me a lot, but you may not mind as much.

Even if you don't end up swapping your caps, the puller will still be useful for situations like when you want to clean the key caps.

kencheeto · « **Reply #14 on:** Sun, 01 November 2009, 19:16:08 »

I see. Thanks for the info- I think I'll spring for the blank key replacement set and keep a layout printed until I'm comfortable with dvorak. Also, should I choose to switch between qwerty and dvorak I'll be able to easily.

kencheeto · « **Reply #15 on:** Sun, 08 November 2009, 18:35:29 »

Well, I've switched to dvorak and so far I'm loving it. Not quite at my previous 120-130 wpm but picking it up faster than expected. Thanks for everyone's input!

DreymaR · « **Reply #16 on:** Mon, 09 November 2009, 08:02:10 »

One word for you my friend: Colemak. Where it's at.

AndrewZorn · « **Reply #17 on:** Mon, 09 November 2009, 10:41:29 »

colemak

DreymaR · « **Reply #18 on:** Mon, 09 November 2009, 11:12:51 »

word

kencheeto · « **Reply #19 on:** Mon, 09 November 2009, 23:14:15 »

Alright, I just checked it out.. Read the Colemak forums and haven't read anything super convincing yet. Am I missing some killer feature?

Rajagra · « **Reply #20 on:** Tue, 10 November 2009, 07:19:46 »

Quote from: kencheeto;131430

Alright, I just checked it out.. Read the Colemak forums and haven't read anything super convincing yet. Am I missing some killer feature?

Yes. Colemak requires less effort, is easier to learn coming from Qwerty, and keeps keys for important shortcuts in the standard places.
http://mkweb.bcgsc.ca/carpalx/?colemak

Dvorak on the other hand is sometimes easier to setup, and you can buy hardware-based Dvorak keyboards.

AndrewZorn · « **Reply #21 on:** Tue, 10 November 2009, 07:33:24 »

less effort also meaning higher speed potential, if you are still missing that main point

kencheeto · « **Reply #22 on:** Tue, 10 November 2009, 15:21:54 »

Awesome; I figured it out. I'll keep you posted

DreymaR · « **Reply #23 on:** Fri, 13 November 2009, 03:22:47 »

Quote from: kencheeto;131430

Am I missing some killer feature?

Me? ;p

kencheeto · « **Reply #24 on:** Wed, 25 November 2009, 03:26:20 »

I've had to do a ton of coding the past week, so I haven't been able to make the switch yet- I've got my blank caps and am ready to rock this winter break

spremino · « **Reply #25 on:** Wed, 25 November 2009, 03:57:22 »

Quote from: kencheeto;136135

I've had to do a ton of coding the past week, so I haven't been able to make the switch yet- I've got my blank caps and am ready to rock this winter break

Wise decision. Learning your first alternative layout will be frustrating, the first week at least, therefore it makes sense doing it when you can take a relaxed pace.

patrickgeekhack · « **Reply #26 on:** Fri, 27 November 2009, 22:25:55 »

Quote from: hyperlinked;129507

Wow. It didn't take much to get you to squeal. A couple of lukewarm answers about keycaps and you're gunning for a Topre board. Delete this site from your bookmarks before it's too late!

Good advice, but it usually does not work if the person has already started posting here :-)

Personally, I think most people don't come here just to learn about keyboards in general. In most cases they were just looking for some reviews about a particular keyboard and some just go on to buy the keyboard after they got the reviews they wanted. This was my intention when I was deciding between the Customizer and the Das. But because I have always liked a good keyboard and always like to try a keyboard I have never tried, I continued to visit this forum and ended up with a collection.

ricercar · « **Reply #27 on:** Mon, 30 November 2009, 17:11:54 »

I came here because I'd never met a keyboard aficionado other than me, and stayed because I realized I'm an amateur. That and I like sparring--and watching people spar--with intelligent people who won't hit me or start crying...

:popcorn:

microsoft windows · « **Reply #28 on:** Mon, 30 November 2009, 17:17:15 »

I don't want to type on a keyboard in that Lego layout!

ricercar · « **Reply #29 on:** Mon, 30 November 2009, 23:17:08 »

Quote from: ripster;137581

Show Image

You cut me Shrek. You cut me deep.

DreymaR · « **Reply #30 on:** Tue, 01 December 2009, 03:52:47 »

Quote from: microsoft windows;137583

I don't want to type on a keyboard in that Lego layout!

If you were, that line would read:

Quote from: LEGOmsWin

I ON AN O YPE ON A KEYBOAR IN HA LEGO LAYOU

microsoft windows · « **Reply #31 on:** Wed, 02 December 2009, 19:11:00 »

Quote from: ripster;137592

I fart in your general direction.

Claviers Japonais PFffffffttt!
Show Image

You missing a keycap there?

kencheeto · « **Reply #32 on:** Mon, 07 December 2009, 02:15:51 »

10 days until I unleash Colemak.

However, I have another question- Are the keycaps on the HHKB Pro 2 formed uniquely like the Filco tenkeyless? Or would I be able to switch the keys around on the hhkb without getting the blank keycaps or getting it factory customized?

Thanks for putting up with me! I'm considering saving for a hhkb pro 2.

AndrewZorn · « **Reply #33 on:** Mon, 07 December 2009, 05:01:57 »

the rows are different shapes. you dont want to rearrange anyway, the nubs are worth more than the lettering.

chimborazo · « **Reply #34 on:** Fri, 11 February 2011, 01:47:09 »

Quote from: DreymaR;131192

One word for you my friend: Colemak. Where it's at.

lol if there are any words which would abbreviate in the english language - and justify in the process an unsubstantiated claim such as colemak is where it’s at, and hence is better than dvorak - i cant think of a better one than flatulent conclusion.
i thought the discussion as to which one of the two is better was over with by now or it ought to be, lol but apparently not.
kauffmann and others have turned a blind eye to your theories - posted on the colemak forum - and this in itself should give an everlasting pause to this never ending argument.

but this is not it, there comes rajagra, who months ago was - shall i say - impartial one way or another to the discussion, but now he is a biased colemak user. i do wish colemak the best and i mean it. the problem - if there is one lol - stems from the fact that his color-filled-headache-inducing graph makes me realize that colemak proponents are out there, just like the jehova witnesses, who try to convert non-dvorak and dvorak users alike to their preferred denomination. good luck.

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Author Topic: QWERTY -> DVORAK on Filco? (Read 9593 times)