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geekhack Community => Keyboards => Topic started by: lowpoly on Sat, 19 April 2008, 16:34:08

Title: hhkb pro2: blank or not?
Post by: lowpoly on Sat, 19 April 2008, 16:34:08

Hi,

I'm new here, great forum.

I think about getting a hhkb pro2 in the future and I wonder whether I should get the blank key caps or not.

I know I want the blanks, mostly because of the clean looks,  but I'm not sure if they would go so well with my kind of use:

I switch between layouts often (english/german) and I use applications like Photoshop with many left hand keyboard shortcuts.

I cannot touch type but plan to learn it with the new keyboard.

So, anyone got a blank and regretted it afterwards?

Title: hhkb pro2: blank or not?
Post by: iMav on Sat, 19 April 2008, 19:57:10

Quote from: sofa king

So, anyone got a blank and regretted it afterwards?

Not me.  I absolutely love my blank key HHKB Pro 2!  ;)

BTW, welcome to GeekHack!!

Title: hhkb pro2: blank or not?
Post by: jemkeys on Sat, 19 April 2008, 20:38:51

I got a blank and LOVE it.  But then again, I know how to touch type.

If you don't know how to, it'll probably force you to learn fast, lol.

It's a tough call in your situation.  I know I've never had a blank keyboard before, but it didn't take me any time to get used to this.  But then again, I always used touch typing.  It's weird, but even with blank keycaps the familiar shape lets me know where the keys are.  I never falter when reaching for the home row.  ;)

Title: hhkb pro2: blank or not?
Post by: Bluemercury on Sat, 19 April 2008, 22:44:01

Whats the best price i can get for this keyboard and where?

Title: hhkb pro2: blank or not?
Post by: bigpook on Sat, 19 April 2008, 23:02:35

Thats one pricy board.

http://www.geekstuff4u.com/advanced_search_result.php?keywords=happy%20hacking&search_in_description=1

Title: hhkb pro2: blank or not?
Post by: jemkeys on Sat, 19 April 2008, 23:48:54

Yea, I ordered mine from BeNippon because it was much cheaper than geekstuff.  EMS shipping included, it was about $30 less than geekstuff w/shipping.

Title: hhkb pro2: blank or not?
Post by: Bluemercury on Sun, 20 April 2008, 10:27:09

So Happy Hacking Keyboard pro 2 is probably the most expensive keyboard out there? Anyway what kind of switches this uses?

Title: hhkb pro2: blank or not?
Post by: jemkeys on Sun, 20 April 2008, 11:14:25

I'm pretty sure the HHK HG Japan is the most expensive keyboard out there... something close to $5000.

Title: hhkb pro2: blank or not?
Post by: Bluemercury on Sun, 20 April 2008, 12:40:52

Quote from: jemkeys;4096

I'm pretty sure the HHK HG Japan is the most expensive keyboard out there... something close to $5000.

HHK HG?whats that?

Title: hhkb pro2: blank or not?
Post by: jemkeys on Sun, 20 April 2008, 13:27:34

http://www.engadget.com/2006/10/12/happy-hacking-keyboard-hg-japan-the-4-400-keyboard/

Title: hhkb pro2: blank or not?
Post by: lowpoly on Sun, 20 April 2008, 13:55:25

Thanks for the answers so far.

I think I could cut down on the dual layout use for some time. The main reason I started using the us-layout is ctrl-z. In Germany y and z are swapped so ctrl-z is somewhat hard to type with one hand. Well, for me at least. On HHKB this will be less of an issue because of the better positioned ctrl key.

Did any of you try something like Photoshop on a blank keyboard?

Title: hhkb pro2: blank or not?
Post by: jemkeys on Sun, 20 April 2008, 15:41:44

I've used photoshop shortcuts.  Mainly the basic ones though, like ctrl+c/v/x/etc...

The better-positioned CTRL key is nice.  Although it took some getting used to in FPS games.  In Call of Duty 4, shift made you take a knee, ctrl made you lay down prone.  Seemed intuitive... but it was hard at first to realize the higher key made you lay down, while the lower key made you take a knee.

Title: hhkb pro2: blank or not?
Post by: xsphat on Sun, 20 April 2008, 20:46:15

Get the one I have - black with black writing - if you type in low light it might as well be blank, but the letters easy to see under a lamp.

I am a touch typist and like blank keys better, but I still watch the keys when I type, stupid, huh?

Title: hhkb pro2: blank or not?
Post by: IBI on Sun, 20 April 2008, 20:46:48

How do you find the shortened right shift? It's taking me a while to get used to it on my K1.

Title: hhkb pro2: blank or not?
Post by: jemkeys on Sun, 20 April 2008, 21:48:42

Heh, now that you mention it - I've never used the right shift at all.  

WOW, you're right!  There's another whole key down there!

Title: hhkb pro2: blank or not?
Post by: iMav on Sun, 20 April 2008, 22:04:31

Quote from: IBI;4103

How do you find the shortened right shift? It's taking me a while to get used to it on my K1.

I only have issues with a shortened right shift key when it is coupled with a backspace that is two keys above the enter key.

My pinky is too short to reach the BS/Del key on a standard IBM layout...so I use my ring finger.  So, I have to shift my right hand over.  If this action is followed immediately by a shifted character (using the right shift key), the short shift key gets me every time (hitting the key to the right instead).  With the HHKB layout, I can easily reach the BS/Del key with my pinky, so this scenario never occurs.

Title: hhkb pro2: blank or not?
Post by: xsphat on Mon, 21 April 2008, 10:04:56

I never have had any shift key issues with the HHKB.

Title: hhkb pro2: blank or not?
Post by: lowpoly on Mon, 21 April 2008, 10:05:46

Quote from: xsphat;4102

Get the one I have - black with black writing - if you type in low light it might as well be blank, but the letters easy to see under a lamp.

I know that this would be the right thing to do.

However, no red flags were posted so I think I'll just go with the blank and see how far I get.

Thanks, everyone.

iMav, did you try to order your case from beNippon? They don't have it in the shop but did you ask them?

Title: hhkb pro2: blank or not?
Post by: iMav on Mon, 21 April 2008, 12:41:38

Quote from: sofa king

iMav, did you try to order your case from beNippon? They don't have it in the shop but did you ask them?

No.  I specifically wanted to order an item from each of the brokers to compare the service I received from each of them.

I wouldn't hesitate to recommend either now that I have dealt with them.

Title: hhkb pro2: blank or not?
Post by: lowpoly on Tue, 22 April 2008, 05:46:25

Thanks. I'll get some quotes now.