Pictured above is the French keyboard. It has caused typing to take up to three times as long, both because I have to erase constantly, because common letters are placed in terrible locations (apparently the home row concept was beyond them - I need the A!), and because sometimes I have to hunt for letters (it literally took me a week to figure out how to type @).
As an example, I’m going to type something up from a random article using the standard QWERTY keyboard, and then with a French keyboard.
English keyboard:
California state government’s full-time work force continues to grow despite Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger’s order to freeze hiring amid a historic budget shortfall.
From June 2008 to February 2009, most state agencies either increased or kept the same number of full-time employees, according to a Bee analysis of personnel data. The state also failed to lay off as many part-time employees during the crisis as promised by the governor.
French keyboard:
Cqliforniq stqte govern,entùs full)ti,e zork force continues to groz despite Gov: Qrnold Schzqrweneggerùs order to freewe hiring q,id q historic budget shortfqll:
Fro, June éàà_ to Februqry éààç; ,ost stqte qgencies either increqsed or kept the sq,e nu,ber of full)ti,e e,ployees; qccording to q BEE qnqlysis of personell dqtq; The stqte qlso fqiled to lqy off qs ,qny pqrt)ti,e e,plyees during the crisis qs pro,ised by the governor;
As you can see, the number and puncuation keys on a French keyboard are all over the place. And let me tell you, it makes me want to smash these things into pieces.
