Should I bother learning Dvorak?

[megabenman]

I've been thinking of learning Dvorak, but I'm not really sure if it's worth it. With QWERTY, I type 70-100 WPM (depending on the size of each word and amount of punctuation) with quite a few errors (note that the 70-100 wpm is after correcting errors). I really want to try Dvorak, because the prospect of typing with less errors and faster seems great. It took me 2 years to get to my QWERTY speed, so I'm wondering how long it should take to learn Dvorak.
Here are my main questions:

1) I know Dvorak is good against injuries, but what about speed?
2) What is the best way to learn Dvorak (I'm on a mac). For QWERTY, I used Spongebob Typing (don't laugh) and learned it in about a week.
3) How long will Dvorak take to type 30 WPM without thinking or looking?
4) How long will Dvorak take to type back to 70-100 WPM without thinking or looking?
5) I need a decent typing speed for Computer Sciences, Per 3. I can't be typing like crap. What is the best time to learn Dvorak?
6) Is it possible to be able to type Dvorak and QWERTY well? If so, how?
7) What do I do about games that use the AWSD keys for movement?

Thank you for your help. I might have more questions later on.

[Tony]

I will actually be publishing an article about Dvorak on the blog some time this week. You might want to subscribe and check it out, when the article is out.

[HeavenAgain]

ummmm, i see keyboards....
i just noticed QWERTY is the top left hand of my keyboard, how interesting.
you are brave, many people are scared to try new things once they are used to what they always do (like me)

[Mazer]

megabenman @ Tue Sep 25, 2007 6:31 pm wrote:

1) I know Dvorak is good against injuries, but what about speed?
2) What is the best way to learn Dvorak (I'm on a mac). For QWERTY, I used Spongebob Typing (don't laugh) and learned it in about a week.
3) How long will Dvorak take to type 30 WPM without thinking or looking?
4) How long will Dvorak take to type back to 70-100 WPM without thinking or looking?
5) I need a decent typing speed for Computer Sciences, Per 3. I can't be typing like crap. What is the best time to learn Dvorak?
6) Is it possible to be able to type Dvorak and QWERTY well? If so, how?
7) What do I do about games that use the AWSD keys for movement?

Thank you for your help. I might have more questions later on.

1) Quite fast once you've gotten used to it.
2) Good question. Dunno. For Linux I had dvorak7min or something; I'm sure you can find it for your OS as well. It wasn't awesome, but it works.
3) Dunno. Sorta depends on you.
4) see above
5) Whenever you have free time. Most modern operating systems allow you to switch between keyboard layouts with ease.
6) That's what I hear. Just as long as you don't get confused as to which layout you are currently using.
7) See 5. Dvorak is great if you'll be doing lots of typing (ie, coding, word processing). Most keyboard shortcuts are intended for a QWERTY layout (games, applications like Photoshop or anything else hotkey intensive). Just make sure you can switch easily when you need to; I can do this by holding down Left Alt + Left Shift.

[Tony]

Mazer @ Tue Sep 25, 2007 8:04 pm wrote:

Most keyboard shortcuts are intended for a QWERTY layout (games, applications like Photoshop or anything else hotkey intensive). Just make sure you can switch easily when you need to;

What I found to be exceptionally useful is to use the Dvorak-QWERTY hybrid layout. It's basically Dvorak, though while the Control key is held down, the layout switches into QWERTY mode for the duration.

So Ctrl+J becomes Ctrl+C -- same mechanical action for the same shortcut.

[megabenman]

Mac has this built in. It's pretty cool.

I was just learning a little Dvorak earlier. I learned oeu and htn. It was very hard for me, I kept mixing up n with o and T with H. Eventually I started getting it! But, since I only know 6 keys I have to type this with QWERTY. I hope it's not negatively affecting my Dvorak learning (20 minutes) too much.

[Mazer]

Just give it time. No sense in making things hard for yourself now by trying some kind of cold turkey switch.

[megabenman]

Over the last couple days, I have been typing exclusively Dvorak (including this message). I'm only typing at 14 wpm, which is painful coming from 80 wpm. I also have to think about what I am typing. However, it is worth it so far! I am improving quickly, and my QWERTY skill hasn't changed.

[Bobrobyn]

Eh. The lazyness in me is tempted to say that the effort is not worth the gain in speed. I've been typing qwerty since before highschool.....