SURVEY: Your keyboard layout switching experience

[fleischverpackung]

Hi there you typing enthusiasts!

I am interested in your hands-on experience while switching to DVORAK, COLEMAK or what else is out there.
This should not start a discussion about which is best or what switching to is worth it.
I hope this thread could be informative for others considering learhing another layout.

I am intrested in:

# language
# what you are using your pc for (programming/writing/office/graphics)
# average and max wpm QWERTY speed before switching
# how long you've been touch typing QWERTY
# the time you put in relearning
# your new wpm speed over time
# your QWERTY speed after switching

[domsch1988]

Just too answer your questions shortly:

- German
- Mostly office and some writing/browsing
- 65 avg 82 max
- 4 years
- 9 hours a day (not sure if i got that question right...) since 3 days
- 32 currently and increasing
- untested (i just started and don't want to make it harder by going back and forth)

[stevep]

#language
English

# what you are using your pc for (programming/writing/office/graphics)
Mainly programming

# average and max wpm QWERTY speed before switching
I only did a couple of tests before switching, was around 50-55 wpm, but not using the "proper" technique

# how long you've been touch typing QWERTY
never learned

# the time you put in relearning
practised daily, took about 2 or 3 months to be comfortable, learned to properly touch-type simultaneously.

# your new wpm speed over time
70wpm

# your QWERTY speed after switching
I have switched. I don't need no steenking QWERTY.

[iaeen]

#language
English

#What you are using your PC for
Mostly programming and general office work. Also surfing the internet.

#average and max wpm QWERTY speed before switching
maybe 25-30 hunting and pecking

#how long have you been touch typing QWERTY
Never. I tried to learn touch typing several times. I never succeeded until I made the switch to Dvorak.

#the time you put into relearning
It took me maybe a month before I got really comfortable. About two weeks after I switched (at about the time I was committed and couldn't easily go back), I had to write up my senior design report for engineering school. That was painful, but a couple overnighters spent typing with a hard deadline was a great motivation to pick it up faster.

#your new wpm speed over time
I'm averaging about 45wpm right now. I should mention that I don't consider myself to be a very good typist; I'm just happy that I can type.

#your QWERTY speed after switching
I avoid QWERTY at all costs. I would probably struggle with 10 wpm now.

[steve.v]

Hi there you typing enthusiasts!

I am interested in your hands-on experience while switching to DVORAK, COLEMAK or what else is out there.
This should not start a discussion about which is best or what switching to is worth it.
I hope this thread could be informative for others considering learhing another layout.

I am intrested in:

# language
# what you are using your pc for (programming/writing/office/graphics)
# average and max wpm QWERTY speed before switching
# how long you've been touch typing QWERTY
# the time you put in relearning
# your new wpm speed over time
# your QWERTY speed after switching

English
Programming/Writing
130 wpm highest
15 yrs
3 months to learn Colemak @60 wpm
80 wpm avg now (1.5 year)
10 wpm / 40 wpm (mobile thumbs)

[chroness]

Hi there you typing enthusiasts!

I am interested in your hands-on experience while switching to DVORAK, COLEMAK or what else is out there.
This should not start a discussion about which is best or what switching to is worth it.
I hope this thread could be informative for others considering learhing another layout.

I am intrested in:

# language
# what you are using your pc for (programming/writing/office/graphics)
# average and max wpm QWERTY speed before switching
# how long you've been touch typing QWERTY
# the time you put in relearning
# your new wpm speed over time
# your QWERTY speed after switching

English
Programming/Writing
130 wpm highest
15 yrs
3 months to learn Colemak @60 wpm
80 wpm avg now (1.5 year)
10 wpm / 40 wpm (mobile thumbs)

do you have any recommendations for mobile typing speed tests? I'd be curious to know mine.

[Zustiur]

English
Home PC is a bit of everything including some gaming. Also use colmak at work
70wpm before switch
about 20 years of touch typing QWERTY
About 4 weeks of focussed relearning
Current WPM unmeasured but probably around 50-60, which is enough for most things I do
QWERTY speed on a good day is still around 70 wpm, but edging slower as I use it less and less. On a bad day. Probably about 20 wpm as my mind rebels. It seems to depend almost entirely on location rather than anything else. If I'm at a desk where I've used colemak, then QWERTY is hard, but if I go somewhere else entirely QWERTY is totally do-able.

[steve.v]

Hi there you typing enthusiasts!

I am interested in your hands-on experience while switching to DVORAK, COLEMAK or what else is out there.
This should not start a discussion about which is best or what switching to is worth it.
I hope this thread could be informative for others considering learhing another layout.

I am intrested in:

# language
# what you are using your pc for (programming/writing/office/graphics)
# average and max wpm QWERTY speed before switching
# how long you've been touch typing QWERTY
# the time you put in relearning
# your new wpm speed over time
# your QWERTY speed after switching

English
Programming/Writing
130 wpm highest
15 yrs
3 months to learn Colemak @60 wpm
80 wpm avg now (1.5 year)
10 wpm / 40 wpm (mobile thumbs)

do you have any recommendations for mobile typing speed tests? I'd be curious to know mine.

easy; http://play.typeracer.com

[Fiery]

# language
Norwegian
# what you are using your pc for (programming/writing/office/graphics)
a bit of everything, but mostly writing and browsing
# average and max wpm QWERTY speed before switching
45-50~
# how long you've been touch typing QWERTY
1+ years properly
# the time you put in relearning
2 months, first month half switch and second full switch
# your new wpm speed over time
up to 40wpm
# your QWERTY speed after switching
basically gone

[The Mick-a-nator]

I've switched to Dvorak for a bout a year now and I'm pleased I did. I couldn't touch type before I changed layout, so my data isn't super accurate and I suspect learning to touch type had more of an affect for me.

- Language: English (UK QWERTY, switched to US Dvorak)
- PC Use: Programming and Office work.
- WPM before switch: not sure, but ~40wpm avg and ~50 max
- QWERTY touch typing: Never touch typed before.
- Learning time: ~2hours a day for 2 weeks, then full switch (~9-10 hours a day). Competent after 3-4 weeks.
- New WPM: 55-60 and growing
- New QWERTY speed: ~35-40 wpm

I have a post here where I'm going through and dissect my Dvorak learning experience in more detail.

[tuffff]

# Language: German (QWERZ, switched to Neo 2 4 years ago, will be switching to custom BU-TEK as soon as my planck arrives)
# PC Use: Programming and some gaming
# WPM before switch: ~60 wpm
# QWERTY touch typing: 2 years but with bad habits
# Learning time: Switched completely and suffered for ~2 weeks. Speed acceptable at ~4 weeks, 4 layers in muscle memory ~4 months
# New WPM: 100 wpm currently, but reason for switching was mostly it’s much more comfortable while coding
# New QWERTZ speed: Just tested 16 wpm …

[yellowfour]

# Language:
English

# what you are using your pc for:
programming, writing, office, graphics, games, multimedia, internet, storage, networking, communication, server, virtual machine

/////////////////

QWERTY to Dvorak

# average and max wpm QWERTY speed before switching
60/70 WPM

# how long you've been touch typing QWERTY
6 years

# the time you put in relearning
1 month

# your new Dvorak wpm speed over time
80 WPM

# your QWERTY speed after switching
40 WPM

/////////////////

Dvorak to BEAKL

# average and max wpm Dvorak speed before switching
80/90 WPM

# how long you've been touch typing Dvorak
15 years

# the time you put in relearning BEAKL
9 days

# your new BEAKL wpm speed over time
35 WPM

# your Dvorak speed after switching
80 WPM

[algernon]

QWERTY -> Dvorak (in progress)

# language

English, with some Hungarian thrown in once in a while.

# what you are using your pc for (programming/writing/office/graphics)

Prose, programming, chat, games.

# average and max wpm QWERTY speed before switching

90-95 average, 110-ish top.

# how long you've been touch typing QWERTY

~15 years, or more.

# the time you put in relearning

4+ months, but hardly any tutorials.

# your new wpm speed over time

50WPM and rising.

# your QWERTY speed after switching

~80WPM, rapidly dropping.

[DvorakDachshund]

# language: English
# what you are using your pc for (programming/writing/office/graphics)
At the time of the initial switch, writing a LOT of emails for work. CUrrently, office work (spreadsheets, etc)
# average and max wpm QWERTY speed before switching
I maxed out at 60 WPM for my sped tests
# how long you've been touch typing QWERTY
Never learned to touch type QWERTY unfortunately
# the time you put in relearning
Took about 2 months of ~3 hours a day of typing to get up to 60WPM on Dvorak
# your new wpm speed over time
My current speed tests are between 95-100 WPM
# your QWERTY speed after switching
Around 40 WPM, since I rarely use it. If I'm somewhere away from a DVORAK board (like vacation with only my wife's laptop) I get back up to 60 WPM in a couple of days.

[H-Man]

# language
English
# what you are using your pc for (programming/writing/office/graphics)
Everything. Typing, programming, graphics, gaming, engneering work, etc.
# average and max wpm QWERTY speed before switching
Lets just say 30 WPM. I have hand issues.
# how long you've been touch typing QWERTY
Tried to learn for 10 years, gave up 6 years ago. 
# the time you put in relearning
I've been DVOARK for 6 years but relearning only took 6 weeks.
# your new wpm speed over time
I don't know or care. Switched to DVOAK because QWERTY was giving me RSI. I'm about twice as fast on DVOARK if I had to guess.
# your QWERTY speed after switching
Don't know. Rarely use QWERTY.

[WestMountain]

# Language:
English

# what you are using your pc for:
programming, writing, office, graphics, games, multimedia, internet, storage, networking, communication, server, virtual machine

/////////////////

QWERTY to Dvorak

# average and max wpm QWERTY speed before switching
60/70 WPM

# how long you've been touch typing QWERTY
6 years

# the time you put in relearning
1 month

# your new Dvorak wpm speed over time
80 WPM

# your QWERTY speed after switching
40 WPM

/////////////////

Dvorak to BEAKL

# average and max wpm Dvorak speed before switching
80/90 WPM

# how long you've been touch typing Dvorak
15 years

# the time you put in relearning BEAKL
9 days

# your new BEAKL wpm speed over time
35 WPM

# your Dvorak speed after switching
80 WPM

Do you recommend switching from dvorak to beakl. is it much better?