This is not your father's cw contesting. Memory keyers, laptops and software rule!
If you're new to Ham Radio or just haven't participated in a cw contest because you can't decipher 30wpm in your head, don't worry, there's a solution and it's great fun. After a few hours you'll be surprised at how well you can make out the callsigns and cw exchanges in your head.
This is a an excellent learning tool. I'm using N1MM logger, FLDIGI, a Lenovo laptop and an Icom 7000. I have two cables connected to my radio. One for sending cw and one for rig control. It's not hard to do and did I mention it's a blast!
This is a fun and exciting way to make a lot of contacts.
Word of Caution: Practice makes progress. Don't just jump in and start sending. Read the contest rules. Listen for a while, become familiar with the exchanges and practice sending into a dummy load. Ask for help if you're unsure. Fellow hams are happy to assist, and remember, Google is your friend.
73 de Rich, K0PIR