Well, it's been a couple months since I posted this, so where do I stand on the old SMK 85 vs. HHKB Pro 2 battle after a hundred or so hours on each?
Well, I am using the SMK 85 right now. It is just a better keyboard, that's all there is to it. It types better than the HHKB, it feels more solid and it is even more rare than the HHKB Pro 2. The SMK 85 is loud and strong. Plus, I can type faster on this than any other keyboard I own. If anyone here finds one of these with Apls sliders or Cherry blues, I think you would be mad to not pick it up.
So there you have it folks, the $50 unknown model kicks the butt of the $280 legend.
I don't really know what else to try now. I am thinking about getting something with the Cherry blue switches, since I don't own anything with them. Here is a couple options:
The iOne Scorpious M10
http://www.barrys-rigs-n-reviews.com/reviews/2007/hardware/m10key/m10key.htmThis one looks cool and is cheap, but it is a full size 'board, and I think I would ahave a hard time going back after so long of having space savers.
Option 2 is a the Cherry 1800 series:
http://www.cherrycorp.com/english/keyboards/Industrial/1800/index.htmI'm not really sure which Cherry switches come with this one, but I have a feeling Cherry makes a model like this with the blue sliders I so desire.
Anyone know of another space saver with Cherry blue switches?
BTW, The Deck 82 key is out - read their forums, the admin posted something stating that Deck 'boards will only use the black linear MX switches, and they have no intentions of switching to the blues.