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Dvorak

Hi,

Can someone confirm or deny whether:

1) the iPad supports a Dvorak keyboard layout in software
2) you can use a qwerty bluetooth keyboard in Dvorak mode
2) you can use the "keyboard dock" in Dvorak mode

Thanks

Posted on Apr 3, 2010 11:06 AM

59 replies

Apr 3, 2010 1:32 PM in response to focomoso

focomoso wrote:
as do many of the fastest typists in the world.

Evidence ? Somehow I doubt that such typing experts are going to be using an iPad so its unlikely to be much of an issue.

Bobby G

Level 1

49 points

Apr 3, 2010 1:38 PM in response to focomoso

Find someone who has an iPad and if they are at all more courteous than the put-down artists offering no-help replies to this thread, ask them to verify the key layouts in iPhone OS 3.2. It shouldn't take more than a minute.

I'm a Dvorak user (Apple's //c hardware switch got me hooked before the first Mac ever shipped) and I'm going to request it if it's not there. But it didn't keep me from ordering a (3G) iPad. I'm not planning to do much typing (as I don't on my iPhone).

Tom Gewecke

Level 10

115,970 points

Apr 3, 2010 1:48 PM in response to focomoso

And yet, there's this: http://www.tuaw.com/2010/03/19/ipad-dvorak-hardware-keyboard/ so who am I to believe?

You are right, there is such a listing in the keyboard settings. It looks like support for hardware keyboards differs from the options available for the software keyboard. Someone will just have to try a dvorak hardware keyboard and see if it works right.

focomoso Author

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Apr 3, 2010 1:46 PM in response to beamermt25

beamermt25 wrote:
the Dvorak keyboard is not supported by Apple at this time. The only way Apple will 'support' it is if there is a 3rd party app or hardware device to allow for it.

So, again I ask, what about this? http://www.tuaw.com/2010/03/19/ipad-dvorak-hardware-keyboard/

focomoso Author

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Apr 3, 2010 1:56 PM in response to Bobby G

Bobby G wrote:
Find someone who has an iPad and if they are at all more courteous than the put-down artists offering no-help replies to this thread, ask them to verify the key layouts in iPhone OS 3.2. It shouldn't take more than a minute.

I would, but I don't know anyone with an iPad yet. I'm an early adopter and would get one, but not until I at least know that I can type on the thing.

Apple's //c hardware switch got me hooked before the first Mac ever shipped

That's how I got into it as well. When I had the //c, I had no idea what the dvorak button did other than mess up the letters, but later, when I started developing an rsi from qwerty typing, I remembered the old hardware switch and did some research and now am 100% dvorak all the time.

And to the Dvorak naysayers, I'm not really interested in a discussion of the merits of the layout or Apple's reasons for including it or not. It works better for me, personally (I type almost twice as fast and move my fingers far less). All I want to know is whether or not I can actually us on an iPad.

Thanks

focomoso Author

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Apr 3, 2010 2:03 PM in response to Tom Gewecke

Tom Gewecke wrote:
Someone will just have to try a dvorak hardware keyboard and see if it works right.

No, not a dvorak hardware keyboard. A qwerty keyboard in dvorak mode. This is how I work 90% of the time. If you (or some kind soul) could switch to dvorak mode using either a regular bluetooth keyboard or the iPad keyboard dock and let me know whether it actually outputs dvorak, that would be great...

To test, roll your fingers across the "asdf" keys, it should come out as, "aoeu".

Thanks

Bobby G

Level 1

49 points

Apr 3, 2010 2:06 PM in response to focomoso

focomoso wrote:

I would, but I don't know anyone with an iPad yet. I'm an early adopter and would get one, but not until I at least know that I can type on the thing.

You don't have to know an iPad owner yet. Presumably one will show up here who can give us the definitive answer in seconds. But I suspect that since there is no Dvorak support in Phone OS 3.1 that 3.2 is likewise "crippled." Que domage! But as has been suggested in this thread, go to the iPad feedback page and register your request!!! Do it now! There are several other key layouts that U.S. users will NEVER use. But you don't hear them putting the folks who use the Spanish keyset down.

best,
bobby

Tom Gewecke

Level 10

115,970 points

Apr 3, 2010 2:34 PM in response to Bobby G

But I suspect that since there is no Dvorak support in Phone OS 3.1 that 3.2 is likewise "crippled."

My guess is that it will work. The iPad has specific hardware keyboard settings that go way beyond the software choices. Besides Dvorak there is US Extended, US International PC, and some others. These would be pointless if they had no function.

Bobby G

Level 1

49 points

Apr 3, 2010 2:45 PM in response to Tom Gewecke

Tom Gewecke wrote:

But I suspect that since there is no Dvorak support in Phone OS 3.1 that 3.2 is likewise "crippled."

My guess is that it will work. The iPad has specific hardware keyboard settings that go way beyond the software choices. Besides Dvorak there is US Extended, US International PC, and some others. These would be pointless if they had no function.

The point is not that a hardware solution might/not be supported (and who makes a BT Dvorak hardware keyboard to begin with?), but that if implemented in software (as it has always been on MacOS, Windows, Linux, etc.), the user simply switches a preference setting. The amount & complexity of code to provide this (or any optional layout) is pretty lightweight, after all.

Apr 3, 2010 2:54 PM in response to Bobby G

Yes, just checked on my 3.2 iPad. you can set your hardware keyboard to Dvorak mode. It's in the International menu. Software is limited to qwerty, azerty and qwertz, but Dvorak and a bunch of others are available for hardware.

Tom Gewecke

Level 10

115,970 points

Apr 3, 2010 3:14 PM in response to Bobby G

if implemented in software (as it has always been on MacOS, Windows, Linux, etc.), the user simply switches a preference setting.

That's what it is, I'm sure. Nobody makes US Extended or US International PC physical keyboards. My guess is that the iPad includes software layouts that enable ordinary Apple keyboards to input using Dvorak and these other mappings.

focomoso Author

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Apr 3, 2010 3:55 PM in response to erogenous

erogenous wrote:
Yes, just checked on my 3.2 iPad. you can set your hardware keyboard to Dvorak mode. It's in the International menu. Software is limited to qwerty, azerty and qwertz, but Dvorak and a bunch of others are available for hardware.

Thanks, that's what I wanted to hear! Looks like I'll me moseying on down to my local apple store.

focomoso Author

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Apr 3, 2010 3:59 PM in response to erogenous

erogenous wrote:
Yes, just checked on my 3.2 iPad. you can set your hardware keyboard to Dvorak mode. It's in the International menu. Software is limited to qwerty, azerty and qwertz, but Dvorak and a bunch of others are available for hardware.

Just want to confirm, was this with the iPad keyboard dock thingie or a bluetooth keyboard?

Tom Gewecke

Level 10

115,970 points

Apr 3, 2010 5:09 PM in response to focomoso

Just want to confirm, was this with the iPad keyboard dock thingie or a bluetooth keyboard?

You don't need a keyboard to put the setting for "hardware keyboard" on Dvorak.

focomoso Author

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Apr 3, 2010 5:19 PM in response to Tom Gewecke

Tom Gewecke wrote:

Just want to confirm, was this with the iPad keyboard dock thingie or a bluetooth keyboard?

You don't need a keyboard to put the setting for "hardware keyboard" on Dvorak.

Sure, but until someone can actually confirm that it works, I'm not taking the chance.

Dvorak