Do you regret buying your HHKB?

[Hypersphere]

First rule of keyboard real estate: Layout, layout, layout! For me, the HHKB layout is perfect. I also like the form factor, Topre switches, keycaps, and overall design/aesthetics of the board. I keep others in my rotation (including a custom 60% with brown Alps, V60MTS-C, IBM XT, RF87UB45, and RF87UB55), but I keep coming back to my (silenced and lubed) HHKB Pro 2.

[dante]

How crooked are all your HHKB keys?

This is something expected from Unicomp; not a $200+ Made in Japan product.

[Tangtawan]

Seeing many people defending their purchases here.

[LiquidEvilGaming]

Seeing many people defending their purchases here.

Not really defending honestly, the original question was do you regret buying your HHKB?  And while some definitely do i would say most do not either opinion is just as valid since it's subjective. Having owned/still owned.
Cherry MX Clears
Cherry MX Greens
Cherry MX Blues
Cherry MX Reds
Cherry MX Browns
Kailh Browns
Kailh Blues

And those are just ones i owned or still own not counting ones i have borrowed/tried the HHKB has been my personal favorite board(Enough so i am selling most of my other boards)....but that is my own opinion it's not for everyone and i totally respect that.

It's hardly "defending" Though if you are just stating your own opinion of the board in question.

[demik]

How crooked are all your HHKB keys?

This is something expected from Unicomp; not a $200+ Made in Japan product.

that's one thing ive hated about the hhkb. the inconsistency of it when it comes to crooked keys. my type s is perfect tho.

[gohono3]

My only regret going with the HHKB is that now I want to buy the Type-S, when I initially couldn't justify the $300 price tag.

[absyrd]

How crooked are all your HHKB keys?

This is something expected from Unicomp; not a $200+ Made in Japan product.

Thanks for pointing this out, jerk.

I never even thought to look.

My "1" key is cocked off to the right a bit. Rest are good, though.

[n3ro]

My only regret going with the HHKB is that now I want to buy the Type-S, when I initially couldn't justify the $300 price tag.

If you add Hypersphere's silencing rings to your regular HHKB, that should basically make it a Type-S since both have same type of sliders.

[funderburker]

If you add Hypersphere's silencing rings to your regular HHKB, that should basically make it a Type-S since both have same type of sliders.

Is hypersphere's just a flat rubber ring/spacer? What material is it?

[iLLucionist]

I do not regret buying my HHKB. It's one of the best purchases I have made. I must admit though that quality is lower than I expected: some keycaps are on the stem with a slight twist and the spacing is a little of. That, plus the rubber feet are too slippery.

[alexjd99]

Why would I regret buying the best keyboard?

[LiquidEvilGaming]

I do not regret buying my HHKB. It's one of the best purchases I have made. I must admit though that quality is lower than I expected: some keycaps are on the stem with a slight twist and the spacing is a little of. That, plus the rubber feet are too slippery.

I have not had any of the twisted keycap/crooked cap issues on either of my HHKB's that i can see anyway that several seem to mention...

However i do agree the Feet suck..were it not for the fact my wrist rest keeps it from slipping i would be making my own for the board.

[appleonama]

can mods lock this thread please? no one regrets it.

[mason]

can mods lock this thread please? no one regrets it.

[SpAmRaY]

can mods lock this thread please? no one regrets it.

Maybe they regret not buying one sooner.

[mason]

I just bought a second hhkb so I can try stock

[iLLucionist]

I do not regret buying my HHKB. It's one of the best purchases I have made. I must admit though that quality is lower than I expected: some keycaps are on the stem with a slight twist and the spacing is a little of. That, plus the rubber feet are too slippery.

I have not had any of the twisted keycap/crooked cap issues on either of my HHKB's that i can see anyway that several seem to mention...

However i do agree the Feet suck..were it not for the fact my wrist rest keeps it from slipping i would be making my own for the board.

The feet are easy to fix. The caps as well... I just swapped some on the homerow. But still, if you spend like 200$ on what must be the supreme ultra 2000 kb of them all (or at least that is what people make you believe), you expect it to be flawless. And although the HHKB is near perfect, I do not expect crappy feet on a 200$ keyboard.

[iLLucionist]

Honestly... are there people here around who truly DO regret the HHKB? There must be some.. Feel free to speak up. Topre is not endgame for everybody.

[derb2k2]

HHKB reigns supreme.

Definitely my favorite keycaps too. I transplanted them onto my FC660 since the stock PBT lack a nice texture.

[SpAmRaY]

I just bought a second hhkb so I can try stock

After having a lubed and dental banded 45g and 55g then type-s I've settled on stock 45g with pbt spacebar.

[iLLucionist]

I just bought a second hhkb so I can try stock

After having a lubed and dental banded 45g and 55g then type-s I've settled on stock 45g with pbt spacebar.

You didn't like lubed and dental bands? What didn't you like about the experience? 45g HHKB is already extremely smooth though.

[SpAmRaY]

I just bought a second hhkb so I can try stock

After having a lubed and dental banded 45g and 55g then type-s I've settled on stock 45g with pbt spacebar.

You didn't like lubed and dental bands? What didn't you like about the experience? 45g HHKB is already extremely smooth though.

The lube was probably ok but not worth the time to do it again, as far as the dental bands they just took away too much from the keystroke.

[iLLucionist]

I just bought a second hhkb so I can try stock

After having a lubed and dental banded 45g and 55g then type-s I've settled on stock 45g with pbt spacebar.

You didn't like lubed and dental bands? What didn't you like about the experience? 45g HHKB is already extremely smooth though.

The lube was probably ok but not worth the time to do it again, as far as the dental bands they just took away too much from the keystroke.

Hmm... good to know. Gonna try the dental bands mod myself but first time to buy a spare HHKB. Will be difficult to get the bands from the Netherlands. I've tried once but shipping costs were really insane.

[derb2k2]

I just bought a second hhkb so I can try stock

After having a lubed and dental banded 45g and 55g then type-s I've settled on stock 45g with pbt spacebar.

You didn't like lubed and dental bands? What didn't you like about the experience? 45g HHKB is already extremely smooth though.

The lube was probably ok but not worth the time to do it again, as far as the dental bands they just took away too much from the keystroke.

this is where Hypersphere's rings took over for me. The bands do indeed alter the stroke so much. In contrast, the key travel is minutely affected by Hyp's rings and the thock is ever more pronounced. Add a PBT spacebar and it's magic. I did swap with NT sliders though so I have different keycaps on it but I'm thinking about putting back the stock caps. eheh

[funderburker]

I just bought a second hhkb so I can try stock

After having a lubed and dental banded 45g and 55g then type-s I've settled on stock 45g with pbt spacebar.

You didn't like lubed and dental bands? What didn't you like about the experience? 45g HHKB is already extremely smooth though.

The lube was probably ok but not worth the time to do it again, as far as the dental bands they just took away too much from the keystroke.

Hmm... good to know. Gonna try the dental bands mod myself but first time to buy a spare HHKB. Will be difficult to get the bands from the Netherlands. I've tried once but shipping costs were really insane.

PM me about the dental bands. I could maybe hook you up with them goodies.

[funderburker]

can mods lock this thread please? no one regrets it.

I agree with you on this one. This is getting a bit like "HHKB Pro 2 love" thread #2.

[LiquidEvilGaming]

can mods lock this thread please? no one regrets it.

I agree with you on this one. This is getting a bit like "HHKB Pro 2 love" thread #2.

I support this message

[iLLucionist]

can mods lock this thread please? no one regrets it.

I agree with you on this one. This is getting a bit like "HHKB Pro 2 love" thread #2.

There MUST be people who don't like Topre and/or HHKB.. Even if it is only the 0.0001%. Or am I wrong?

Topre is love, I know. But it can't be for everybody.

[davkol]

This thread is about a year old, just look at the old posts.

[appleonama]

Everyone who posts their regret should be banned.

[BaconEggandCheeseBagel]

My only regret is not owning two of them. And I only have one computer...

[davkol]

Everyone who posts their regret should be banned.

Because that's how you deal with different opinions.

[Keycap]

I can't regret buying something that I haven't even bought yet but I still want one badly...

[MasterZebra]

My only regret is that it has lead me to look more into spending money on mods and trying other topre boards. I do find it difficult to find as many artisans but that seems to be changing with time. No real regrets here.

[TopreFan333]

No arrow keys. Depending on your use, you end up spending the whole day pressing Fn with your pinky: sure way to get RSI after a few months or years.

I mean in the HHKB's defense, if you need to use arrow keys often you really shouldn't be even looking at 60% or happy layouts in the first place

I use the arrow keys a LOT just in the course of writing, and honestly it's not a big deal at all -- after the second week or so, I didn't have to look down anymore. Right hand stays way closer to the home row this way.

[davkol]

That's the problem with the thread. Most people are just talking about ANSI HHKB Pro [2].

Meanwhile, Lite and JIS Pro have physical arrow keys and a pair of Fn keys.

If you add the hasu's converter, you can even get rid of the PFU's default Fn layer.

[losing_ctrl]

I have a HHKB JIS Type-S that I just got a few days ago. So far I am totally digging it, no regrets. I own a RealForce 87U 55G as well. I see this little HHKB as a great companion for my iPad, as well as for my laptops. I can't (yet) say that it stands up versus a good TKL board for sustained, desktop PC use. Just my opinion, but I don't see a need to bury the arrow keys under an Fn layer. Just because you can get used to something over time doesn't mean it's necessarily advantageous to do so. I would think it could be a good thing for one's hands to stretch out and reach a distant key once in awhile.

That being said, my keyboard views are evolving, and these days I have found myself getting quite fond of these Topre switches.

[feralfoo]

I'm on the HHKB Pro JIS train as well, currently tmk'ed with most of the ISO layout changed back to ANSI.

I regret buying the Pro 2 a little, as its gathering dust, but it did highlight how much I depend on an arrow cluster.

[losing_ctrl]

I'm on the HHKB Pro JIS train as well, currently tmk'ed with most of the ISO layout changed back to ANSI.

I regret buying the Pro 2 a little, as its gathering dust, but it did highlight how much I depend on an arrow cluster.

I'm just wondering what tmk'ed means. Sounds very interesting to me...

[klennkellon]

How crooked are all your HHKB keys?

This is something expected from Unicomp; not a $200+ Made in Japan product.

On a semi related note, my Model M has the straightest keys I've ever seen on a keyboard.

[feralfoo]

I'm just wondering what tmk'ed means. Sounds very interesting to me...

Hasu's custom controller boards and firmware - https://geekhack.org/index.php?topic=71517.0

[iLLucionist]

I'm on the HHKB Pro JIS train as well, currently tmk'ed with most of the ISO layout changed back to ANSI.

I regret buying the Pro 2 a little, as its gathering dust, but it did highlight how much I depend on an arrow cluster.

So you really didn't get used to the diamond arrow keys on the HHKB?

[feralfoo]

So you really didn't get used to the diamond arrow keys on the HHKB?

Yeah gave it a good shot over a few months. Had more success using wasd keys, likely due to many years gaming The biggest problem I had was using other peoples keyboards.

[iLLucionist]

So you really didn't get used to the diamond arrow keys on the HHKB?

Yeah gave it a good shot over a few months. Had more success using wasd keys, likely due to many years gaming The biggest problem I had was using other peoples keyboards.

Ahhh makes sense. I must say, in OSX it is more difficult to use arrow keys because a lot of functions to go to the beginning/end of words / lines also rely on painful shortcuts (like stock emacs). So I had to learn to combine the diamond keys AND the OSX built-in keystrokes. Was difficult to adjust the first 2-3 weeks working with Word I must admit.

[feralfoo]

Ahhh makes sense. I must say, in OSX it is more difficult to use arrow keys because a lot of functions to go to the beginning/end of words / lines also rely on painful shortcuts (like stock emacs). So I had to learn to combine the diamond keys AND the OSX built-in keystrokes. Was difficult to adjust the first 2-3 weeks working with Word I must admit.

This 1000 times!

[funderburker]

As I understand this thread is now turned into a discussion about what we love & hate/would want to change in HHKB.

So I just wanted to ask - do you move your HHKB around that much while you're typing? I thought that owning a HHKB is like owning a drift car but really I haven't had any issues with it sliding around much. But then again my wpm is ~50 so I'm not that fast.

[losing_ctrl]

I'm just wondering what tmk'ed means. Sounds very interesting to me...

Hasu's custom controller boards and firmware - https://geekhack.org/index.php?topic=71517.0

Cool, thanks for clearing that up for me. 

[ktkr]

Yes I kind of do regret buying my HHKB. Two of them.

No other keyboard cuts it anymore. It's like crack, once you thock you can't stop. Realforce is in the closet and majority of my other keyboards are long gone.

HHKB isn't perfect by any means but it's still easily the most fun keyboard I have ever used.

[iLLucionist]

As I understand this thread is now turned into a discussion about what we love & hate/would want to change in HHKB.

So I just wanted to ask - do you move your HHKB around that much while you're typing? I thought that owning a HHKB is like owning a drift car but really I haven't had any issues with it sliding around much. But then again my wpm is ~50 so I'm not that fast.

I move it around ALL THE TIME. Often when I hit the spacebar, it moves like 0.5mm. So I put my own feet on it and now it is perfectly stable.

[iLLucionist]

Yes I kind of do regret buying my HHKB. Two of them.

No other keyboard cuts it anymore. It's like crack, once you thock you can't stop. Realforce is in the closet and majority of my other keyboards are long gone.

HHKB isn't perfect by any means but it's still easily the most fun keyboard I have ever used.

So basically what you are saying is: HHBK ruined keyboarding for you and HHKB is endgame?