Why are the keys on the keyboard set up the way they are?

Question

where are they not in alphabetic order?

Answer 1

Its based on the layout of the typewriter when it was first invented. The layout allows for the arms to strike the paper and return before the letter strikes the paper. It reduced the likelyhood the arms would strike each other.

Answer 2

From the link below, several reasons are given:

"Some sources assert that the QWERTY layout was designed to slow down typing speed to further reduce jamming.[2][3] [4] Other sources assert the rearrangement worked by separating common sequences of letters in English.[citation needed] Ostensibly, the hammers that were likely to be used in quick succession were less likely to interfere with each other.[4]

It has also been suggested the top row was designed to have all the letters for the word "typewriter" so that typewriter salesmen could "peck" the word "typewriter" more quickly and easily without appearing to have to "hunt" for the keys.[5] This was in the period when typing was considered women's work and men rarely could type. [citation needed] However, the first typewriter operators were typically male clerks at railroad offices."