My answer is anecdotal—because I want to include a pitch for the Dvorak key layout, see.
= Ander's Typing Saga =I learned to type in high school—on QWERTY, like everyone else. And yes, this was entirely pre-PC, so we're talking typewriters. (Dad gum, where'd I leave my walker...?)
My QWERTY speed never went much beyond 60–65 (which I remember reading back then was in the range "expected of a good secretary"). This, despite typing for hours each day on
Bulletin Board Systems, the hobbyist-based precursor of the Internet.
Then I found out about the
Dvorak keyboard layout. It make so much sense, I decided to try it. I added the Dvorak layout driver to my DOS AUTOEXEC.BAT startup file (fun chatting with dinosaurs, ain't it?) so my PC (an
XT-compatible 286, I think—ha!) was a I didn't move my keys around or relabel them; I just kept a small printout of the Dvorak layout next to my PC, and consulted it only when necessary. (I still chuckle when I see "dedicated" boards with Dvorak and other alternative layouts... The idea is
not to look at your fingers!)
It took me two weeks to reach my QWERTY speed—and from the very start, Dvorak felt much more comfortable and natural.
It took me only a month or so to reach 100 WPM. I eventually leveled off at 110–115, where I am today.
It's so simple now to switch to Dvorak on virtually any computer. However, on the rare occasions where I must type something in QWERTY, I have no trouble doing it. It's just not nearly as fast or comfortable (surprise!).
I'm sure the other QWERTY alternatives are just as good, or even better. But if you type a lot, and speed and comfort are important to you, I heartily recommend you shed the ankle-weights that are QWERTY and switch to something easier. :?)
OK, thanks for your attention. You can go do something else now. Typingly, A.