geekhack
geekhack Community => Keyboards => Topic started by: xsphat on Fri, 09 May 2008, 23:41:55
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I've been looking for a keyboard I can leave at work so I don't have to keep taking the HHKB Pro 2 back and forth, and I knew this was a shot in the dark, but I bid on this:
(http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3246/2479952202_973c09465c.jpg)
It's an (original) HHKB Lite, KB-9975.
I got it today, it was a little harder to set up for Macs than my Pro 2 was, but after I got it all working the way I need it to, I found that the action is not too bad. The keyboard is so unused, the spacebar doesn't even have a wear spot or any scuffs on it. It wasn't even that dirty, so it's not like it was worn in.
It's a membrane, but the touch is really light and even. The only time I get the mashed potato feel from it is when I hold down modifier keys for combos. Typing is pretty nice on it. I wrote a few longer things at work and while it completely lacks the crispness of a mechanical keyboard, and my typing speed took a grumper, it isn't half bad.
Compare this to my review of the HHKB Lite 2 in the wiki. That thing sucked, it was a pile, a POS even and I hated it. If I were to review this one, it would fare much, much better. This keyboard is much more solid feeling than the Lite 2 and the key caps don't have that cheep Armourall feel either.
Maybe hell will freeze over now that I am saying this, but a membrane keyboard has in fact impressed me. Don't look for me to dump my ungodly expensive mechanical and capacitive keyboards anytime soon because the HHKB Lite doesn't compare, but I thought this was significant enough to tell you cats about.
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Ooh, a black one! I got the same one in white. There's an ebay seller that has many brand new ones for sale. I got one for $28 shipped awhile back.
I agree, it's definitely pretty nice. Worth the $28 I paid for it. But after getting the HHKBpro2, I can't switch back ;).
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I agree, there is no reason for me to switch, but it is great to leave at work.
I got mine for $40 though, now I feel hosed ... lol
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Here's pictures of mine:
(http://img103.imageshack.us/img103/6158/cimg0029zm9.th.jpg) (http://img103.imageshack.us/my.php?image=cimg0029zm9.jpg) (http://img257.imageshack.us/img257/6964/cimg0030qp2.th.jpg) (http://img257.imageshack.us/my.php?image=cimg0030qp2.jpg) (http://img87.imageshack.us/img87/1411/cimg0033ch4.th.jpg) (http://img87.imageshack.us/my.php?image=cimg0033ch4.jpg) (http://img118.imageshack.us/img118/8705/cimg0034vi3.th.jpg) (http://img118.imageshack.us/my.php?image=cimg0034vi3.jpg)
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Nice, mine doesn't have a logo on it.
Have you ever seen a black one of these? I haven't. That's half the reason I bought it
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If I were to review this one, it would fare much, much better.
"IF"??? Start writing!! :)
I've got a HHKB Lite I saved from the trash heap a while ago. I don't like the feel at all. Somebody really liked it though...it has been abused quite a bit.
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Nice, mine doesn't have a logo on it.
Have you ever seen a black one of these? I haven't. That's half the reason I bought it
I've NEVER seen a black one. Didn't even know they existed. Good find, if just for the rarity.
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Good find, if just for the rarity.
That was a driving point for me to buy it as well. Plus it matches my charcoal with black writing Pro 2.
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I'll bring it home from work today and post pics.
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Got pics yet? ;)
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No, it's the last week of college, so forgive me for whatever I say I'll do and don't. Soon though.
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Anything particular you want a pic of?
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The back label. I'm curious ;).
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http://www.amazon.com/Happy-Hacking-Keyboard-Lite-KB-9975/dp/B0016H8YW2
Is this legit? It seems way too cheap... any thoughts?
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thats a Lite...rubber dome - you're just buying the layout there
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so it doesnt have those fancy springy domes found in the HHKB pro?
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awesome, i'll look at that, thanks man
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I never buy from Amazon third parties on principal.
Out of curiosity, what is your objection to third parties on Amazon?
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What's annoying about it for me:
You're dealing with Amazon, but not really, so some things are different-- you don't go to the same place to complain or track the order, I don't think gift certificates work the same.
Also, it encourages Amazon's terrible store design. (I hate the way the way they handle payment-- where you can happily walk through submitting an order on a card which no longer even exists, because they don't 1) show you the payment method proiminently, 2) make it easy to change in the order flow-- particularly in the MP3 shop-- and 3) don't seem to validate the charge in any way prior to order completion, so it will reject the card you cancelled/replaced years ago before it's too late).
I guess the mindset is that if you buy regularly from them, the info will always be current, but I shop there erratically.