Thank you! Well I'm sure the Dvorak layout is much better than the QWERTY layout, but from what I've read, Colemak makes it easier to use default shortcuts such as Ctrl+X, Ctrl+V, Ctrl+Z...

I need to be on holiday to learn the new layout though.

Cut/copy/paste is annoying for about a week, then you're fine. Here's my learning curve: http://www.superjoesoftware.com/temp/dvorak.png

I think now (2 years or so later) it's between 90-120 depending on how many typos I make.

You aren't really going to be super fast with dvorak but I do notice that my hands don't feel so tweaked.

If you're willing to put in the time to learn a whole new keyboard layout then you should be willing to put in the time to change any default shortcuts that you don't like!

But personally I haven't found them a problem at all, even in Emacs.

I think QWERTY + a foot switch, like this from Kinesis (http://www.kinesis-ergo.com/), makes for more fun.

Something I've always wondered...

If you learn a new keyboard layout, does that make it hard to use a regular layout? And what about if someone else uses your computer?

I wouldn't say hard, but it can take me a few minutes to get back to full touch typing. Before switching to Dvorak Type 2 (plus <Alt Gr> + homerow mapped to <[({})]> for programming) I did already have to switch between QWERTZ (German) and QWERTY (UK, sometimes US) on occasion, which may have prepared me for it. Though the differences between QWERTZ and QWERTY are pretty minimal compared to Dvorak.

Personally I find it damn near impossible to use QWERTY after going to DVORAK, even after several years. As for someone else using my machine, well my friends refer to my work machine as having "the klingon keyboard". Handy for keeping people the hell outta your workspace though ...

When I switched back (from Dvorak to Qwerty), I was faster than ever.

When you relearn the old layout, you can avoid your bad habits.