Leopold FC660C Keycaps

[muad]

Wow!  Yet another overwhelmingly positive review of the FC660C.
I'm almost regretting getting this HHKB now.  Almost.  I got this just before the FC660C was available, plus this is the white HHKB and white FC660C is not yet available.  So for now I am happy with my HHKB.

I would love to have an HHKB, I think it is the best looking keyboard keyboard ever made and those keycaps...  Since the price for the hhkb was so close to the fc660c I seriously considered getting it but I knew from comparing my poker II and fc660m that the layout wouldn't work for me.

[Hypersphere]

Well, after getting countless numbers of recommendations to try the HHKB Pro 2, I finally placed the order, and it arrived today. For anyone who might be interested, I have posted a review on GH:

http://geekhack.org/index.php?topic=48804.msg1049426#msg1049426

All things considered, I like the HHKB Pro 2 better than my Leopold FC660C. I did not expect this to be the case; I was pleasantly surprised. Adaptation to the layout and lack of arrow keys was amazingly fast. Moreover, one of the bonuses is that the stock keycaps are stellar, and replacement sets are available in printed or non-printed white/light gray or dark gray.

[rowdy]

Well, after getting countless numbers of recommendations to try the HHKB Pro 2, I finally placed the order, and it arrived today. For anyone who might be interested, I have posted a review on GH:

http://geekhack.org/index.php?topic=48804.msg1049426#msg1049426

All things considered, I like the HHKB Pro 2 better than my Leopold FC660C. I did not expect this to be the case; I was pleasantly surprised. Adaptation to the layout and lack of arrow keys was amazingly fast. Moreover, one of the bonuses is that the stock keycaps are stellar, and replacement sets are available in printed or non-printed white/light gray or dark gray.

Most people seem to miss the arrow keys - I know I do.  But at least I am using a Mac and can use Ctrl key combinations, which don't work the same under Windows.

I had real trouble using the HHKB on Windows.

[dante]

HHKB 2 has been out since March 2006.  Isn't it time for a HHKB 3?

[rowdy]

HHKB 2 has been out since March 2006.  Isn't it time for a HHKB 3?

How can you improve on perfection?

[TimIsABat]

HHKB 2 has been out since March 2006.  Isn't it time for a HHKB 3?

HHKB 2 has been out since March 2006.  Isn't it time for a HHKB 3?

How can you improve on perfection?

Giving a 55g option? And making the Control to Capslock...or better yet...make it backspace.

Well, after getting countless numbers of recommendations to try the HHKB Pro 2, I finally placed the order, and it arrived today. For anyone who might be interested, I have posted a review on GH:

http://geekhack.org/index.php?topic=48804.msg1049426#msg1049426

All things considered, I like the HHKB Pro 2 better than my Leopold FC660C. I did not expect this to be the case; I was pleasantly surprised. Adaptation to the layout and lack of arrow keys was amazingly fast. Moreover, one of the bonuses is that the stock keycaps are stellar, and replacement sets are available in printed or non-printed white/light gray or dark gray.

Great review! I for one can adjust to the layout for the HHKB considering I was able to navigate with ease on a Poker X.

[AuRinBei]

HHKB 2 has been out since March 2006.  Isn't it time for a HHKB 3?

HHKB 2 has been out since March 2006.  Isn't it time for a HHKB 3?

How can you improve on perfection?

Giving a 55g option? And making the Control to Capslock...or better yet...make it backspace.

Well, after getting countless numbers of recommendations to try the HHKB Pro 2, I finally placed the order, and it arrived today. For anyone who might be interested, I have posted a review on GH:

http://geekhack.org/index.php?topic=48804.msg1049426#msg1049426

All things considered, I like the HHKB Pro 2 better than my Leopold FC660C. I did not expect this to be the case; I was pleasantly surprised. Adaptation to the layout and lack of arrow keys was amazingly fast. Moreover, one of the bonuses is that the stock keycaps are stellar, and replacement sets are available in printed or non-printed white/light gray or dark gray.

Great review! I for one can adjust to the layout for the HHKB considering I was able to navigate with ease on a Poker X.

Or make it programmable like the Poker II. I would have bought an HHKB if there was a way to turn on a program layer and have the arrow keys be something else.

[Hypersphere]

HHKB 2 has been out since March 2006.  Isn't it time for a HHKB 3?

HHKB 2 has been out since March 2006.  Isn't it time for a HHKB 3?

How can you improve on perfection?

Giving a 55g option? And making the Control to Capslock...or better yet...make it backspace.

Well, after getting countless numbers of recommendations to try the HHKB Pro 2, I finally placed the order, and it arrived today. For anyone who might be interested, I have posted a review on GH:

http://geekhack.org/index.php?topic=48804.msg1049426#msg1049426

All things considered, I like the HHKB Pro 2 better than my Leopold FC660C. I did not expect this to be the case; I was pleasantly surprised. Adaptation to the layout and lack of arrow keys was amazingly fast. Moreover, one of the bonuses is that the stock keycaps are stellar, and replacement sets are available in printed or non-printed white/light gray or dark gray.

Great review! I for one can adjust to the layout for the HHKB considering I was able to navigate with ease on a Poker X.

Or make it programmable like the Poker II. I would have bought an HHKB if there was a way to turn on a program layer and have the arrow keys be something else.

Before I bought the HHKB Pro 2, I thought I would probably want to move the location of the arrow keys, but after trying it for only a few minutes, I found that I liked the default location, and I preferred the diamond cursor to the inverted-T. However, if you want to move the location of the arrow keys, I think, although I am not sure, that it might be possible using third-party software, such as AutoHotkey for Windows or KeyReMap4MacBook for the Mac.

[Hypersphere]

Regarding arrow (cursor) keys, I have now had an opportunity to do more testing with the HHKB Pro 2 and KeyReMap4MacBook software for the Mac. Using the DIP switches on the keyboard, I can remap the left Command (Diamond) key to an extra Fn key, so that I can control the cursor diamond from either the left or the right. Moreover, using the software, I have 14 built-in choices for arrow (cursor) keys, including choices of modifiers and WASD, EXSD, RVDF, ESDF, and IJKL. I could write even more custom choices by modifying the XML configuration file.

Although I rather like Control_L+IKJL, I have mostly been using the default Fn+[/;'. After using the HHKB Pro 2 for only a few days, I now prefer it over the Leopold FC660C and even my IBM SSK. This surprised me, because I thought I would have had trouble adjusting to the differences in layout and the absence of dedicated arrow keys, but the HHKB Pro 2 is amazingly intuitive. Its styling, minimalism, feel, sound, and efficiency combine to make this keyboard a joy to use.

[s0ckpupp3t]

Regarding arrow (cursor) keys, I have now had an opportunity to do more testing with the HHKB Pro 2 and KeyReMap4MacBook software for the Mac. Using the DIP switches on the keyboard, I can remap the left Command (Diamond) key to an extra Fn key, so that I can control the cursor diamond from either the left or the right. Moreover, using the software, I have 14 built-in choices for arrow (cursor) keys, including choices of modifiers and WASD, EXSD, RVDF, ESDF, and IJKL. I could write even more custom choices by modifying the XML configuration file.

Although I rather like Control_L+IKJL, I have mostly been using the default Fn+[/;'. After using the HHKB Pro 2 for only a few days, I now prefer it over the Leopold FC660C and even my IBM SSK. This surprised me, because I thought I would have had trouble adjusting to the differences in layout and the absence of dedicated arrow keys, but the HHKB Pro 2 is amazingly intuitive. Its styling, minimalism, feel, sound, and efficiency combine to make this keyboard a joy to use.

What fingers do you use for the Fn+[/; arrows?  Pinky on the FN key and then just your index finger on the arrows?

The reason I think I'd have difficulty adjusting is that I am very used to using 3 fingers (index, middle and ring) in the inverted-T layout.  And I use the arrow keys a lot when editing documents.

[Hypersphere]

Regarding arrow (cursor) keys, I have now had an opportunity to do more testing with the HHKB Pro 2 and KeyReMap4MacBook software for the Mac. Using the DIP switches on the keyboard, I can remap the left Command (Diamond) key to an extra Fn key, so that I can control the cursor diamond from either the left or the right. Moreover, using the software, I have 14 built-in choices for arrow (cursor) keys, including choices of modifiers and WASD, EXSD, RVDF, ESDF, and IJKL. I could write even more custom choices by modifying the XML configuration file.

Although I rather like Control_L+IKJL, I have mostly been using the default Fn+[/;'. After using the HHKB Pro 2 for only a few days, I now prefer it over the Leopold FC660C and even my IBM SSK. This surprised me, because I thought I would have had trouble adjusting to the differences in layout and the absence of dedicated arrow keys, but the HHKB Pro 2 is amazingly intuitive. Its styling, minimalism, feel, sound, and efficiency combine to make this keyboard a joy to use.

What fingers do you use for the Fn+[/; arrows?  Pinky on the FN key and then just your index finger on the arrows?

The reason I think I'd have difficulty adjusting is that I am very used to using 3 fingers (index, middle and ring) in the inverted-T layout.  And I use the arrow keys a lot when editing documents.

When I use the default right-Fn, I use the pinky for Fn and index and middle fingers for the arrows. However, using the add-on software for the Mac, I have several choices for an inverted-T, for which I would use three fingers as you described. I have not yet had a chance to look into Windows-based software for remapping keys.

[irendulic]

Sorry to bring out such an old topic, I think it's better to ask here than to open a new topic..

I've recently bought the FC660M, and I must say I absolutely love the keycaps on it. That isn't standard profile, no way to purchase a backup set somewhere?

[Linkbane]

Sorry to bring out such an old topic, I think it's better to ask here than to open a new topic..

I've recently bought the FC660M, and I must say I absolutely love the keycaps on it. That isn't standard profile, no way to purchase a backup set somewhere?

Two things; the FC660M and FC660C are totally different. The M-version is mechanical, while the C-version is capacitative (Topre), which use different keycaps than MX and are generally rather difficult to find. Your FC660M probably uses OEM profile caps, and it doesn't matter which profile they are, you can still replace them with anything else you'd like.

[irendulic]

I know they are different, but in this thread both have been discussed. In the opening post author comments on both m and c keycaps.

I think you misunderstood. I know I can put any cherry keycaps, but I'm looking for ones that are the same (or closest to) the original ones. I like they flatness and low-profileness

[aggiejy]

Not that I'm aware of, but I agree that the stock keycap profiles are fantastic.

[tbc]

the g80-3000 and persumable the 3850 have EXTREMELY low keycaps.

I'm a super fan of the 'chiclet' with mechanicals underneath concept and those keycaps are going to be as close as you get.

[rayuki]

necro bump yay. so just got my FC660C and seem a bit sad there doesn't seem to be any option for the modifiers on it in terms of keycaps, is this still the case or am i not looking correctly? i seem to have found an artisan that may have done some at some point, does anyone know if there are any other artisans out there who will do a commision job for just some modifiers? can get blank sets of other topre boards that will work on this but modifiers seem the biggest pain.

[raymogi]

necro bump yay. so just got my FC660C and seem a bit sad there doesn't seem to be any option for the modifiers on it in terms of keycaps, is this still the case or am i not looking correctly? i seem to have found an artisan that may have done some at some point, does anyone know if there are any other artisans out there who will do a commision job for just some modifiers? can get blank sets of other topre boards that will work on this but modifiers seem the biggest pain.

Yup you're correct. There's nothing out there that will fit those bottom row modifiers.

I fit the whole Realforce keys on my 660C, including the right shift, but my bottom row stays stock.

[rayuki]

Might have to try and source some mx converter things lol