Switch To Dvorak

Switching Your Keyboard

You can switch your computer to Dvorak simply by changing the Windows keyboard settings. Here's how:

Click on the Start button.
Go to Settings/Control Panel.
Double-click on Keyboard.
Click on the Language tab, then click on Properties.
In the pull-down list, choose United States-Dvorak.
Click OK.
You may be asked to insert your Windows CD-ROM.

Windows XP users will have to go into the Regional and Language Options control panel instead.

After doing this, your keyboard should operate in Dvorak mode. Now all you have to do is relabel your keys. You can buy labels or just use a marker.

This is the original Dvorak key layout. Microsoft has its own version, so you may find that depending on your platform, some of the non-alphanumeric keys may differ from this diagram.

If you have Windows 3.1, you can get to the Control Panel using Program Manager and then change the keyboard settings.

If you use a Mac, you can download a system extension that will give you the Dvorak layout or one-handed Dvorak layouts.

Learning Dvorak

Dvorak keyboarding is easy to learn but requires patience. You will only need a few hours to learn the new key assignments. Regaining your former typing speed could take weeks, but you'll enjoy faster typing for the rest of your life after that. It's slow at first, but you'll appreciate the logical key placement right away. Of course, if you are learning to type for the first time, you'll be better off with Dvorak right from the start! Here are some computer programs that will help you learn the new keyboard faster.

MasterMind Dvorak Touch-Typing Tutor
DvortyBoards includes this program with keyboard purchases or you can download it from their web site.

ABCD: A Basic Course in Dvorak
Learn Dvorak by typing your lessons on a web site.

Bob Harrell Home Page
The web site includes a downloadable tutor program optimized for the one-handed Dvorak layouts.

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