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How I Learned to Stop Worrying and Love Colemak

  • Started by NottNott
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It's been nearly exactly six months since I first ever picked up Colemak:

5213983688d09aafd918626e6fad2a65.png

This is easily the fastest typing speed I've ever gotten, yay! Compare that to an average of 80 WPM on QWERTY with a peak at 90. I now average 95-100 I'd say. A month ago I got my first ever 100. I can still type 80 WPM on QWERTY as well, having tested it.

If you're worried that typing on Colemak will irreversibly expunge all knowledge of how to type on QWERTY forever you should read my post The Ultimate 'Will Colemak Destroy My QWERTY Skills?' Thread which explains that for most people this really won't happen.

If you're worried that using Colemak will turn you into a total keyboard obsessive, you should read my post Colemak: No big deal. In a nutshell, it's a post about how Colemak is for normal people who just want to make typing better. It's a post about not being mislead that Colemak is only for internet nerds. It's not a post written for the people who post on this forum either, but rather for lurkers who are interested in giving it a shot.

Last edited by NottNott (31-Jul-2018 15:24:31)
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Grats, NottNott! Nott bad, nott bad att all!!! ^_^

*** Learn Colemak in 2–5 steps with Tarmak! ***
*** Check out my Big Bag of Keyboard Tricks for Win/Linux/TMK... ***

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3azc8wd9hue11.jpg

Will the spiral into alternate keyboard layouts ever end? By the way this is the best keyboard I have ever typed on

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Is that a planck?

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sotolf said:

Is that a planck?

Just a Pok3r RGB ISO with Cherry MX Blues, with DSA keys from pimpmykeyboard.com. It's got the custom T and N homing keys and everything. Literally its only shortcoming is that I have two 'SUPER' keys instead of an FN key and a SUPER, because I forgot to order the FN. It's stupidly nice to type on!!!

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Looks really nice :) I'm thinking of getting myself a mechanical keyboard, but there are so many to choose between, and then it is the whole blue vs brown thing, probably would have to go for brown, so that I could use it at work as well :p

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Grats a lot! She's a beauty, she is.

You should have one SUPER and one DUPER key. ;-)

Too bad you don't grok the Angle mod. Would be nice.

Last edited by DreymaR (09-Aug-2018 09:10:43)

*** Learn Colemak in 2–5 steps with Tarmak! ***
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sotolf said:

Looks really nice :) I'm thinking of getting myself a mechanical keyboard, but there are so many to choose between, and then it is the whole blue vs brown thing, probably would have to go for brown, so that I could use it at work as well :p

I actually had to choose between having the backlight on this keyboard and having Blues, or having no backlight and having Browns. There is a Brown version with backlight that wasn't in stock at the time. I think I might have appreciated the extra quietness, as then I feel like I could really really use this keyboard anywhere. These new keycaps have made it more quiet however.

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sotolf said:

Looks really nice :) I'm thinking of getting myself a mechanical keyboard, but there are so many to choose between, and then it is the whole blue vs brown thing, probably would have to go for brown, so that I could use it at work as well :p

Just start with something. The thing is that if somebody getting into mechanical keyboards, that is rarely ends up with just one keyboard :) There is such idea as “endgame” keyboard in this hobby, and some people never reach it.

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ckofy said:
sotolf said:

Looks really nice :) I'm thinking of getting myself a mechanical keyboard, but there are so many to choose between, and then it is the whole blue vs brown thing, probably would have to go for brown, so that I could use it at work as well :p

Just start with something. The thing is that if somebody getting into mechanical keyboards, that is rarely ends up with just one keyboard :) There is such idea as “endgame” keyboard in this hobby, and some people never reach it.


So would you say go with a cheap mech keyboard at first, or go right to a pricier one like a pok3r? I'm just not completely sure, as I've never had a mech, I'm using scissors at work, and I'm quite content with them, but I've shortly tried a cheap mech, and they already feel pretty nice.

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sotolf said:
ckofy said:

Just start with something. The thing is that if somebody getting into mechanical keyboards, that is rarely ends up with just one keyboard :) There is such idea as “endgame” keyboard in this hobby, and some people never reach it.


So would you say go with a cheap mech keyboard at first, or go right to a pricier one like a pok3r? I'm just not completely sure, as I've never had a mech, I'm using scissors at work, and I'm quite content with them, but I've shortly tried a cheap mech, and they already feel pretty nice.

Whatever you feel right for you. Cheap mechs usually have crappy switches, but you may not know yet what switches are right for you. Pricier keyboards are keeping their value pretty well, I never had a problem to resell them (at r/mechmarket) and return my investment.

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ckofy said:

Whatever you feel right for you. Cheap mechs usually have crappy switches, but you may not know yet what switches are right for you. Pricier keyboards are keeping their value pretty well, I never had a problem to resell them (at r/mechmarket) and return my investment.

Yeah, I wouldn't expect cherry switches for a cheap price, are the crappy switches a lot worse to write on, or is it more about the longevity and failure ratio, as long as they are something that feels right I'd be okay with spending a bit of money in just making sure that it is something that I want before investing in something expensive at once.

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It is unlikely that you will find your ideal keyboard from the first try, only if you are not picky. The best course of action is to visit your local mechanical keyboard enthusiasts meetup, then you'll be able to try many different options and decide which you like. It is not likely that you will be able to find such variety in any store, this market is so narrow and specific that stores do not keep any worthwhile keyboards in stock.

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7nbS6Qa.jpg

Nearly nine months into Colemak! I've been told on and off in the past that my forum posts have helped people get into Colemak here and there, so that's why I'll throw up another update.

My QWERTY speed used to be 80 WPM, now it's more like 75 WPM. My Colemak speed has gone from 0 to I'd say 90-100 WPM average in nine months. I can still type on both layouts very fluently, but Colemak is clearly much nicer to type on any day (just did a bunch of typeracing to back that feeling up). It's definitely possible to learn Colemak and still be 'backwards compatible' and I'll have no problem on QWERTY keyboards any time soon.

Very soon the amount I actually have to type is going to skyrocket soon, and since that'll all be on my own laptop it'll be a blast. I'll gladly say (again) that Colemak is a long-term investment that will improve how you use computers, and now that I'm going to start using typing skills a whole lot more, the investment will have paid off. If you're looking for something to do, definitely try Colemak and you might get to look back and say that you were glad you did like I can.

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a3c91510bac3c2a6e69af00c35fd54a3.png

Never thought I'd see this :)

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Been about a year of using Colemak now, celebrated my Colemakversary apparently 5 days ago.

Same advice as always: stick with it! I'm at the point where I've basically forgotten I ever had to learn an 'alternate keyboard layout' and it's like I have just used it all along. I can still type QWERTY at 80 WPM.

If you're lurking, take the leap!

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NottNott said:

Been about a year of using Colemak now, celebrated my Colemakversary apparently 5 days ago.

Same advice as always: stick with it! I'm at the point where I've basically forgotten I ever had to learn an 'alternate keyboard layout' and it's like I have just used it all along. I can still type QWERTY at 80 WPM.

If you're lurking, take the leap!

Indeed, I somewhat regret not taking the leap earlier. Thinking back to all the years that I put up with awkward and uncomfortable typing. It seems crazy now.

Using Colemak-DH with Seniply.

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Grats, to all of us actually! ^_^

*** Learn Colemak in 2–5 steps with Tarmak! ***
*** Check out my Big Bag of Keyboard Tricks for Win/Linux/TMK... ***

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77301dc710068ce3d4580055257133cf.png

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☆*:.。. o(⁎≧▽≦)o .。.:*☆

*** Learn Colemak in 2–5 steps with Tarmak! ***
*** Check out my Big Bag of Keyboard Tricks for Win/Linux/TMK... ***

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Great man!
You should try dh angle mode, it is even more comfortable.

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NottNott tried it and didn't like it. Different strokes for different folks.

*** Learn Colemak in 2–5 steps with Tarmak! ***
*** Check out my Big Bag of Keyboard Tricks for Win/Linux/TMK... ***

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Been messing around with a new laptop that was faulty recently. Without getting into all of that, tried out my QWERTY skills and got this:
ZS5A2Ib.png
So, with minimal to no QWERTY usage, I still have this keyboard layout thoroughly there! Colemak is not a death sentence for typing on the 'normal layout'.

My decision to use Colemak, looking back on after two years with the layout, has definitely been one of the best time investments I have ever made! I've lost nothing, as I can still use QWERTY if I'm forced to by some evil person. But I imagine most businesses are accommodating and would sort me out for my needs. And if they didn't, there's always hardware Colemak keyboards or a USB layout scrambler that you can plug in. 99.9% of the time I currently use my own computers.

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Wow, you're somehow faster with your secondary layout (Qwerty) than I am on Colemak. IIRC, my best is a mere 83 on that site.

Completely agree on most businesses likely to be supportive - or at least accepting - once you explain the situation. The ones that aren't are probably not going to be good employers anyway.

Last edited by stevep99 (17-Jul-2020 13:37:33)

Using Colemak-DH with Seniply.

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