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A very nit-picky HHKB review (one week update)

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johndavis33:
Okay, so I just got my HHKB. It seems like a very good product to write a review about, because every review I read prior to buying it was very one sided, with either pure love for the product, or just frustration by people who really shouldn't have bought it. It's one of the first products where I had thoughts about it, that I didn't really see other people talking about.

So, here's my first impressions. I plan on updating this later with my thoughts once i've had it for a while.

- FIRST IMPRESSIONS -
Okay, so before buying this keyboard I was torn between the HHKB and the fc660c. They were even in my mind but I picked the HHKB because it looked better IMO. The thing I didn't like about the leopold was the wasted space, above the right arrow and below the delete/insert. The problem is, the HHKB ALSO has wasted space next to it's modifiers! The HHKB's wasted space still ends up looking more elegant, so I gave it the pick. However, on a keyboard of this size, I believe ALL the space needs to be used. I mean, I get it, ~minimalism~, but really. The space is already taken it up, it might as well be used. This doesn't happen on the JP version, they realize that. I mean, hell. Give me anything. Give me a backspace key. An f5 key, that's a commonly used one. A key that does nothing but with a funny keycap. A key that instantly types the phrase "I hate ABS spacebars".

Speaking of that. What the hell is with the spacebar. It's good quality ABS that feels like PBT, but it's ABS. So it won't stay feelin' good for long. Eventually it'll be sticky and gross and shiny. ABS is a cost cutting thing. They did it to cut costs on the HHKB. Let's just analyze that sentence for a second.

Cost cutting.
On the HHKB.

This is a keyboard that sells for 260 dollars. How much does a PBT space bar cost? You can get a cherry MX spacebar for 7 dollars. For the sake of conversation, let's say a topre one would cost 20 bucks for PFU to include. Is there seriously anybody who would pay 260 dollars for a keyboard, but wouldn't spend 280? For a keyboard that is marketed as the end all, be all of quality, there's really no reason for this. I'm not sure if it's also a cost cutting measure, but there's only 2 tiny little rubber feet and they're not really enough to keep the keyboard still in most situations. Also, it doesn't have the filco-style rubber on the feet that come out to change the typing angle. If this wasn't for cost cutting reasons, I don't see why they couldn't figure out a way to leave it up to the user to choose. Maybe a set of rubber feet with some adhesive? The keyboard has 2 different sets of feet, to let you type at 3 different angles. I don't see why they couldn't have added another set of feet that didn't really change the typing angle and just added filco-stlye rubber feet. Seriously, there shold be no cost cutting on this keyboard.

Switching to good stuff, now. So I was worried about getting this over the Leopold because I heard it was built better than the HHKB, with a metal plate moutn vs. a plastic case mount. TBH, I think I'd prefer this case mounting compared to plate mounting, but only on topre. The bottoming out for this board is much more forgiving than anything I've ever tried. I never, ever bottom out using cherry switches because it's just really unpleasant. Typing on topre, however, are like typing on boobs. This differnce in bottoming out feeling lets me use a lighter switch, like the 45g topre, compared to the greens and whites I prefer on cherry boards. It's an awesome feeling. The difference between the case mounted switches and the issues that I described earlier, is that yes, it's cheaper than plate mounting, but it adds to the experience as a whole. The keycaps, also, are amazing. The texture is a lot grainier than the other PBT caps I've used. I don't know yet if I prefer it to smoother PBT caps like my ducky dye subs. I will say that the printing is MILES better than the already excellent ducky keys. There is absolutely no running anywhere, even on very tiny font. It's the type of quality I expected buying the HHKB.

The DIP switches are also great. I never really bothered with the dip switches on my duckies, but the I found the dip switches on the HHKB very, very useful. I think I have 4/6 turned on right now. They're great. The big sticker on the back explaining all the dip switches, however, doesn't look very elegant, to be honest. It's on the back, so it's fine when the keyboard is in use. But really, pickign up the keyboard just feels bad. Ducky keyboards have a tiny metal PLAQUE on the bottom, at half the price. The HHKB has a cheap silver sticker. It's not even well applied, for God's sake. The screws, too, are weird. There's no way to cover them up? Honestly, with the screws, the sticker, and the lack of rubber feet, the bottom of this keyboard just feels like a cheap mess.

The keyboard's cable is nice and white, to match the case. However, it's a little bit long. It's a perfectly fine cable length, probably good distance for normal use. It's just that I needed short micro USB cable. I don't know why I expected one from the HHKB, maybe because it was short. There's absolutely no reason for me to be dissapointed by this, and honestly it really shouldn't be in the review. You maybe shouldn't even have read this paragraph.

Even after all my whining, the HHKB is an amazing keyboard. The only thing that I think could give a similar experience would be the fc660c. The layout, the switches, the key caps - all awesome, and unique. To be honest, I didn't believe it before trying this keyboard, but to get an experience like this, you really need to pay to play, and at the end of the day it's worth it. Still, the HHKB is far from perfect. It's got a lot of rough edges. To be honest, for a design that's been unchanged for 8 years, and is supposed to be premium, there are some inexcusably cheap things (ABS spacebar being the prime suspect).

To end it, it's awesome, it's unique, and it's worth the price. But it ain't perfect.

-ONE WEEK LATER-
Okay, so my opinions have changed ever so slightly. First off, about that ABS spacebar. I've learned that when the HHKB was released(2006), manufacturing processes weren't good enough to produce PBT spacebars without warping.

However, it's 2014. And I've got two PBT spacebars that show no warping at all, and they came with boards that are half the cost of the HHKB


I don't care when the HHKB was designed. It is supposed to be a premium keyboard. It should be cutting edge, not having to catch up with cheaper boards. Even though no other topre keyboard has one, it's not a non issue. Leopold's FC660C didn't need to include a PBT spacebar, because none of it's competition had one either. But, with other companies like Leopold and Coolermaster making topre boards, how long will it be until a new company releases a topre keyboard with a PBT spacebar?

Really, I think learning that this keyboard was released in 2006 kind of reframes most of the critism I had towards this board. I have no idea what the mechanical keyboard market was like in 2006. I'm judging an 8 year old board by today's standards. I just don't know if the ABS spacebar and build quality would have been up to standards back then. But, they aren't up to today's standards.

I think I know my biggest complaint with the HHKB Pro 2: It isn't the HHKB Pro 3. At this point, the board just seems outdated. I think the HHKB Pro 3 needs to come fast. When it does arrive, it needs a PBT spacebar, variants in 55g and with bluetooth, and a metal case bottom similar to the Northgate Omnikey. Then, the HHKB would be truly deserving of the praise and status that it has.

Still, I freakin' love this keyboard.

dannejanne:
I believe they don't make spacebars in PBT because of difficulties in manufacuring. They bend easily after being molded and needs special care to keep tolerances. At least that's what I have heard but I'm not entirely sure it's true. So it's not only to cut costs. It could explain why they are so rare. Not even my Topre has a PBT spacebar.

koalapear:

--- Quote from: johndavis33 on Thu, 24 July 2014, 00:01:50 ---Speaking of that. What the hell is with the spacebar. It's good quality ABS that feels like PBT, but it's ABS. So it won't stay feelin' good for long. Eventually it'll be sticky and gross and shiny. ABS is a cost cutting thing. They did it to cut costs on the HHKB. Let's just analyze that sentence for a second.

Cost cutting.
On the HHKB.

--- End quote ---

I believe the reason the spacebar is ABS is to minimize warping (caused when the PBT cools and contracts after the molding process) that is often associated with longer PBT keys (Signature Plastic's DSA blanks are know for this issue). In fact many PBT keysets have an ABS space bar for this reason (Realforces and most of SP's DSA caps for example).

I agree with your other complaints however. For a board in this price range it should be a model of over-engineering. I have heard many complaints as to the build quality of the HHKB which makes me leery of ever purchasing one. I'll probably end up with a Realforce as my first Topre board because of this.

johndavis33:

--- Quote from: dannejanne on Thu, 24 July 2014, 00:13:09 ---I believe they don't make spacebars in PBT because of difficulties in manufacuring. They bend easily after being molded and needs special care to keep tolerances. At least that's what I have heard but I'm not entirely sure it's true. So it's not only to cut costs. It could explain why they are so rare. Not even my Topre has a PBT spacebar.

--- End quote ---
Well, cherry ones work fine, so I assume it would be the mounts. There's gotta be some way to make the mounts out of ABS and the rest out of PBT, or hell, even a PBY coating. Heck, PFU could just use a cherry or proprietary slider for their spacebar, letting them use different mounts. I assure you that people buying the HHKB won't mind the additional cost.

rowdy:
What they said about PBT space bar warping.  Technology (or PBT plastic) has improved such that PBT space bars can now be produced relatively consistently without warping (see the recent DSA Granite set, for example).

Back when HHKB was being made, they probably decided there would be too much wastage and product returns due to faulty (warped) space bars, and opted for ABS instead.  This is very common on PBT sets of old.

And sorry, but I read the paragraph about the cable :p

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