Can you rearrange the keys on a ThinkPad?

My friend just got the idea of rearranging the keys on his keyboard to the Dvorak style. I mean this as literally rearranging, not changing the settings of the computer, but actually ripping the keys off and putting them in a different place. I thought that would be a cool idea, and am looking forward to trying it when I get my new ThinkPad Edge.

Does anyone have any experience rearranging keys? It it too dangerous or hard? Also, if anyone has any experience of using Dvorak, I'd be glad to hear.

Thanks in advance,

Valmancer

 

I haven't tried re-arranging the keys, but I do use Dvorak a fair amount. I like the layout. It will take a couple of weeks of hunt-and-peck before you get up to speed using it, and it's annoying that none of the key-command shortcuts are in the same place. (And many of the ones designed to be one-handed aren't anymore.)

 

Physically, it should be possible. But, the amount of effort and the chance that something will go wrong (i.e. breaking the support for some keys) make it not worth it. I personally like the QWERTY layout as I can type quickly with it and it is what most shortcuts are designed for.

 

You'd have to remap the keyboard for that to work. I'd guess that setting would be somewhere under Languages in Control Panel but I've never tried it. Just physically rearranging the keys won't work.

 

FWIW, I found this on a wiki page

" Windows
According to Microsoft, versions of the Windows operating system including Windows 95, Windows NT 3.51 and higher have shipped with support for the U.S. Dvorak layout.[24] Free updates to use the layout on earlier Windows versions are available for download from Microsoft.

Earlier versions, such as DOS 6.2/Windows 3.1, included four keyboard layouts: QWERTY, two-handed Dvorak, right-hand Dvorak, and left-hand Dvorak.

In May 2004 Microsoft published an improved version of its Keyboard Layout Creator (MSKLC version 1.3[25] – current version is 1.4[26]) that allows anyone to easily create any keyboard layout desired, thus allowing the creation and installation of any international Dvorak keyboard layout such as Dvorak Type II (for German), Svorak (for Swedish) etc.

Another advantage of the Microsoft Keyboard Layout Creator over third-party tools for installing an international Dvorak layout is that it allows creation of a keyboard layout that automatically switches to standard (QWERTY) when pressing the control or the windows key"


Have a Magical Day!

 

You might shop around for an external usb type keyboard. I'd guess there's some pretty decent Dvorak keyboards out there somewhere.

Inexpensive, and saves ripping up your Thinkpad.

 

Or just buy a second keyboard and modify it, that way you'll still have a regular, working one later.

With all the international versions of laptops, does Lenovo sell one better suited for making the mod? Or even one already setup that way?

 

I've seen it done to a ThinkPad, except you'd have to go to extra effort to deal with the TrackPoint.