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geekhack Community => Keyboards => Topic started by: rrspamrr on Thu, 16 June 2016, 21:12:17

Title: Is it possible to get external arrow keys?
Post by: rrspamrr on Thu, 16 June 2016, 21:12:17: I recently purchased an HHKB pro 2 (feels like heaven!) but I'm running into a major problem: the lack of dedicated arrow keys. It's driving me insane!! However, I do recall hearing of "external" keyboard devices like numpads so I'm hanging onto the possibility that something like this exists for arrow keys too. Am I correct or do I have to live like this for the rest of my life :'(
Title: Re: Is it possible to get external arrow keys?
Post by: Sifo on Thu, 16 June 2016, 22:47:36: dunno if Techkeys.us still has these but...

can't be bothered to rotate u get the idea.

[attach=1]
Title: Re: Is it possible to get external arrow keys?
Post by: Floody on Thu, 16 June 2016, 23:02:19: Quote from: Sifo on Thu, 16 June 2016, 22:47:36
dunno if Techkeys.us still has these but...

can't be bothered to rotate u get the idea.

(http://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20160616/80ae47143795eb65c20c2a9a2c69b997.jpg)

I got you
Title: Re: Is it possible to get external arrow keys?
Post by: nmur on Thu, 16 June 2016, 23:08:15: don't impede yourself. chances are if you need arrow keys you probably need home/end/pgup/pgdn too

get a RF87U
Title: Re: Is it possible to get external arrow keys?
Post by: jcoffin1981 on Thu, 16 June 2016, 23:19:31: I don't know why most 60% boards don't include the arrow keys in the Fn layer with the IJKL keys. Anywhere else is very awkward. The HHKB PRo 2 JP version includes dedicated arrows instead of imbedded in an Fn layer. Yes there are number pads which have arrow functions along with pg up, pg down, end, etc. If you need to buy a seperate number pad for arrows you may have well have just gotten a full size board or TKL with dedicated arrows.
Title: Re: Is it possible to get external arrow keys?
Post by: QuincyJones on Fri, 17 June 2016, 01:40:57: Quote from: rrspamrr on Thu, 16 June 2016, 21:12:17
I recently purchased an HHKB pro 2 (feels like heaven!) but I'm running into a major problem: the lack of dedicated arrow keys.
Did you not think of this before you bought it? Ignore the (spammy paid for) advertising / comments you read around here about how great they are. Go looking for the thread/s that say how crappy they are once the initial excitement of "belonging to the club" wears off.

Cut your losses, sell that piece of crud and buy a decent keyboard.
Title: Re: Is it possible to get external arrow keys?
Post by: Air tree on Fri, 17 June 2016, 01:45:31: Quote from: QuincyJones on Fri, 17 June 2016, 01:40:57
Quote from: rrspamrr on Thu, 16 June 2016, 21:12:17
I recently purchased an HHKB pro 2 (feels like heaven!) but I'm running into a major problem: the lack of dedicated arrow keys.
Did you not think of this before you bought it? Ignore the (spammy paid for) advertising / comments you read around here about how great they are. Go looking for the thread/s that say how crappy they are once the initial excitement of "belonging to the club" wears off.

Cut your losses, sell that piece of crud and buy a decent keyboard.
(https://img.pandawhale.com/post-56058-james-franco-how-dare-you-gif-AFD1.gif)
Title: Re: Is it possible to get external arrow keys?
Post by: nmur on Fri, 17 June 2016, 01:58:51: Quote from: QuincyJones on Fri, 17 June 2016, 01:40:57
Quote from: rrspamrr on Thu, 16 June 2016, 21:12:17
I recently purchased an HHKB pro 2 (feels like heaven!) but I'm running into a major problem: the lack of dedicated arrow keys.
Did you not think of this before you bought it? Ignore the (spammy paid for) advertising / comments you read around here about how great they are. Go looking for the thread/s that say how crappy they are once the initial excitement of "belonging to the club" wears off.

Cut your losses, sell that piece of crud and buy a decent keyboard.

demik confirmed PFU shill
Title: Re: Is it possible to get external arrow keys?
Post by: Sifo on Fri, 17 June 2016, 02:35:33: Quote from: QuincyJones on Fri, 17 June 2016, 01:40:57
Quote from: rrspamrr on Thu, 16 June 2016, 21:12:17
I recently purchased an HHKB pro 2 (feels like heaven!) but I'm running into a major problem: the lack of dedicated arrow keys.
Did you not think of this before you bought it? Ignore the (spammy paid for) advertising / comments you read around here about how great they are. Go looking for the thread/s that say how crappy they are once the initial excitement of "belonging to the club" wears off.

Cut your losses, sell that piece of crud and buy a decent keyboard.

this guy knows
Title: Re: Is it possible to get external arrow keys?
Post by: TopreFan333 on Fri, 17 June 2016, 10:24:54: Quote from: rrspamrr on Thu, 16 June 2016, 21:12:17
I recently purchased an HHKB pro 2 (feels like heaven!) but I'm running into a major problem: the lack of dedicated arrow keys. It's driving me insane!! However, I do recall hearing of "external" keyboard devices like numpads so I'm hanging onto the possibility that something like this exists for arrow keys too. Am I correct or do I have to live like this for the rest of my life :'(

I found it awkward at first (a couple weeks, I think), but eventually it totally became muscle memory. For some uses, like graphic design work, it's still pretty awkward -- and when I doing a lot of nudging of stuff in Illustrator or Photoshop, I tend to hook up a full-sized board, also for the dedicated F keys.

But for routine text editing use, I don't have a problem with the FN-layer arrow on HHKB at all, even when doing combos like option+arrow to move a word at a time, or option+shift+arrow to select a word at a time. My fingers now just snap to the right keys, and honestly I find that the HHKB layout means that even doing all that, I'm staying much closer to the home row. When I go back to a board with separate arrow keys, it's a further reach and feels less natural. Also a pretty big fan of the Delete key being right above the return.

All that said, if you *really* can't get deal after giving your hands a chance to get used to it, I'd agree: just get rid of it before using something as awkward as "external arrow keys". There are other Topre boards with built-in arrow keys, and you'll get great resale value out of your HHKB.
Title: Re: Is it possible to get external arrow keys?
Post by: TopreFan333 on Fri, 17 June 2016, 10:27:45: Quote from: QuincyJones on Fri, 17 June 2016, 01:40:57
Did you not think of this before you bought it? Ignore the (spammy paid for) advertising / comments you read around here about how great they are. Go looking for the thread/s that say how crappy they are once the initial excitement of "belonging to the club" wears off.

Cut your losses, sell that piece of crud and buy a decent keyboard.

LOL, someone sounds jealous.

Now, if you'll excuse me, I'm off to spend the $50 check PFU just cut me to make that comment :rolleyes:
Title: Re: Is it possible to get external arrow keys?
Post by: dgneo on Fri, 17 June 2016, 10:32:31: Quote from: QuincyJones on Fri, 17 June 2016, 01:40:57
Quote from: rrspamrr on Thu, 16 June 2016, 21:12:17
I recently purchased an HHKB pro 2 (feels like heaven!) but I'm running into a major problem: the lack of dedicated arrow keys.
Did you not think of this before you bought it? Ignore the (spammy paid for) advertising / comments you read around here about how great they are. Go looking for the thread/s that say how crappy they are once the initial excitement of "belonging to the club" wears off.

Cut your losses, sell that piece of crud and buy a decent keyboard.

(https://media.giphy.com/media/L8XuphFGqlSfe/giphy.gif)
Title: Re: Is it possible to get external arrow keys?
Post by: i3oilermaker on Fri, 17 June 2016, 11:40:57: http://techkeys.us/collections/accessories/products/sixkeyboard (http://techkeys.us/collections/accessories/products/sixkeyboard)
(https://i.imgur.com/N5bsgIV.png)
Title: Re: Is it possible to get external arrow keys?
Post by: 1swt2gs on Fri, 17 June 2016, 11:49:35: Quote from: i3oilermaker on Fri, 17 June 2016, 11:40:57

http://techkeys.us/collections/accessories/products/sixkeyboard (http://techkeys.us/collections/accessories/products/sixkeyboard)
Show Image
(https://i.imgur.com/N5bsgIV.png)

Dang those are really pricey for what they are.
Title: Re: Is it possible to get external arrow keys?
Post by: i3oilermaker on Fri, 17 June 2016, 11:50:55: Quote from: 1swt2gs on Fri, 17 June 2016, 11:49:35
Quote from: i3oilermaker on Fri, 17 June 2016, 11:40:57

http://techkeys.us/collections/accessories/products/sixkeyboard (http://techkeys.us/collections/accessories/products/sixkeyboard)
Show Image
(https://i.imgur.com/N5bsgIV.png)

Dang those are really pricey for what they are.
PCB is cheap, custom milled and anodized case is expensive, yes.
Title: Re: Is it possible to get external arrow keys?
Post by: xondat on Fri, 17 June 2016, 11:52:38: Make a cheap plate and then handwire with a teensy. Easy macropad. Or wait till Rama's is out.
Title: Re: Is it possible to get external arrow keys?
Post by: 1swt2gs on Fri, 17 June 2016, 12:37:15: Quote from: i3oilermaker on Fri, 17 June 2016, 11:50:55
Quote from: 1swt2gs on Fri, 17 June 2016, 11:49:35
Quote from: i3oilermaker on Fri, 17 June 2016, 11:40:57

http://techkeys.us/collections/accessories/products/sixkeyboard (http://techkeys.us/collections/accessories/products/sixkeyboard)
Show Image
(https://i.imgur.com/N5bsgIV.png)

Dang those are really pricey for what they are.
PCB is cheap, custom milled and anodized case is expensive, yes.

Ah didnt see the PCB only option!
Title: Re: Is it possible to get external arrow keys?
Post by: MrFex on Fri, 17 June 2016, 12:43:26: If you are interested in a DIY project you might be interested in this project of mine:

https://geekhack.org/index.php?topic=70994.msg1733191#msg1733191

Good luck
Title: Re: Is it possible to get external arrow keys?
Post by: 1391406 on Fri, 17 June 2016, 13:01:44: Your HHKB is Topre, thus I'd want a Realforce numpad.
Title: Re: Is it possible to get external arrow keys?
Post by: 9fiftyfive on Fri, 17 June 2016, 17:17:28: I literally had the exact same problem. Get the Max-FALCON8

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
Title: Re: Is it possible to get external arrow keys?
Post by: 9fiftyfive on Fri, 17 June 2016, 17:18:48: Also, you get used to the keys fairly quickly. I've had my HHKB for a month or so and I adapted to the arrow keys within the first few weeks

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
Title: Re: Is it possible to get external arrow keys?
Post by: rowdy on Sun, 19 June 2016, 00:13:05: Quote from: i3oilermaker on Fri, 17 June 2016, 11:50:55
Quote from: 1swt2gs on Fri, 17 June 2016, 11:49:35
Quote from: i3oilermaker on Fri, 17 June 2016, 11:40:57

http://techkeys.us/collections/accessories/products/sixkeyboard (http://techkeys.us/collections/accessories/products/sixkeyboard)
Show Image
(https://i.imgur.com/N5bsgIV.png)

Dang those are really pricey for what they are.

PCB is cheap, custom milled and anodized case is expensive, yes.

This one has the neat firmware that makes it very simple to configure the keys.

Plus it is plug-and-play, and looks great!