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geekhack Community => Reviews => Topic started by: Peripheral Prophet on Tue, 21 June 2016, 13:03:11

Title: HHKB- Tactical Nuke
Post by: Peripheral Prophet on Tue, 21 June 2016, 13:03:11: Ill preface this by saying that I purchased the HHKB because of the programming/typing appeal, I do not game at all..

The HHKB and its topre switches are hands down exactly what i want a keyboard to feel and sound like.. Super sturdy, uber smooth keys and keystrokes, like butter... The sound is like unicorns running in a field of coconuts and its absolutely soothing to the ear, I find myself typing more just to hear that beautiful sound.. Definitely a more noticeable tactile bump than the MX Browns on my ducky, which honestly makes me wonder about all the cherry mx hype altogether.. I can see the linear cherry switches and the gaming appeal maybe, but I cant imagine any of cherrys tactile switches comparing to these topre switches..

New key layout isnt that bad, Im already acclimating while more occasionally having to look at the board to get my footing..

The size is another huge plus, I cant ever go back to a full size keyboard after this, its absolutely amazing how much I notice my mouse being closer to where I need it...

The usb ports are pretty useless, not a huge deal though..

I thought the keyboard for some reason was going to be sliding all over my desk, but so far that hasnt been an issue whatsoever.

Super happy with this keyboard, and unless there is a revision to this board, i can say this is definitely an end game board for me..
Title: Re: HHKB- Tactical Nuke
Post by: LiquidEvilGaming on Tue, 21 June 2016, 14:21:41: Glad to hear it arrived safely and that you are enjoying it. Usually when people mostly like browns but feel as though Clears are too stiff the 45G HHKB is more or less the perfect balance of the two without being too heavy but yet still giving a superior tactility and smoothness.

The USB ports are useless though to this i agree and mentioned it in my HHKB review how remarkably little they will actually power.

The HHKB is one of my favorite 60%s in my collection where i constantly go back and forth between my top 3 favorites.

Pok3r backlit with MX Clears and BSP PBT Cherry profile caps
KBP V60 with MX Blues and Midnight DCS profile caps
and of course the HHKB itself (with a red PBT spacebar i am loving the feel of compared to the stock ABS spacebar)

If i HAD to choose a favorite it would be close between the MX Blues and HHKB....thing is though the HHKB does not bother my wife or other company..where as the Blues drive most people around me insane.

Hope you continue to enjoy it for many years to come.

Cheers

P.S the WHite logitech mouse with the WHite HHKB is a very nice touch, personally i'm definitely a Logitech mouse man myself with the G602 staying on my desk almost 24-7.
Title: Re: HHKB- Tactical Nuke
Post by: klennkellon on Tue, 21 June 2016, 20:18:55: I would buy it if it had a key in the usual position off the ctrl key. I could forgive everything else if it was not for that one key.
Title: Re: HHKB- Tactical Nuke
Post by: RobotMalcolmX on Tue, 21 June 2016, 20:20:59: And they just look so good (despite having their photo taken with a potato).
(http://i.imgur.com/spKLPcJ.jpg)
Title: Re: HHKB- Tactical Nuke
Post by: rowdy on Tue, 21 June 2016, 21:49:51: Cherry MX have a very, very slight bump, almost like gritty reds.

I use HHKB for gaming too, and it's fine (unless you need quick access to lots of function keys).
Title: Re: HHKB- Tactical Nuke
Post by: Peripheral Prophet on Wed, 22 June 2016, 08:22:29: Quote from: RobotMalcolmX on Tue, 21 June 2016, 20:20:59
And they just look so good (despite having their photo taken with a potato).

Love it! Im thinking about the black caps for mine, and hopefully there are a few brocaps coming my way :)

Trying to keep it simple :cool:
Title: Re: HHKB- Tactical Nuke
Post by: 9fiftyfive on Wed, 22 June 2016, 16:08:08: Quote from: RobotMalcolmX on Tue, 21 June 2016, 20:20:59
And they just look so good (despite having their photo taken with a potato).
Show Image
(http://i.imgur.com/spKLPcJ.jpg)

Where'd you get the textured keycaps?

Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk
Title: Re: HHKB- Tactical Nuke
Post by: 9fiftyfive on Wed, 22 June 2016, 16:09:29: I use an HHKB, and I have to say that it's the coolest keyboard I've used so far. I'm also getting a Pok3r for my second computer (I might as well try to switch it up), but so far it's my favorite

Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk
Title: Re: HHKB- Tactical Nuke
Post by: jerue on Wed, 22 June 2016, 18:20:30: I know some users aren't a fan of the HHKB for programming because it lacks dedicated arrow keys. Is that an issue for you?

I noticed you keep your HHKB on a mat...I believe it's the best way to use the keyboard, but have you tried on other surfaces?

I think the feel of the regular HHKB is superb, but it's a bit loud for my taste. The Type-S fixes that problem for me but the feel isn't as optimal...swapping to silenced purple sliders and lubing the board now makes my HHKB Type-S my favorite keyboard of the bunch :)

I think some have said the Type-S and even the HHKB Professional BT is a bit of a revision - I am holding out for a white Type-S BT version with blanks (whenever that happens :)) )
Title: Re: HHKB- Tactical Nuke
Post by: Hypersphere on Wed, 22 June 2016, 18:32:25: The HHKB Pro 2 is an excellent choice. My favorite variant is a black HHKB Pro 2 silenced and lubed with blue alphanumerics, red Esc, and red Fn. The layout is perfect, including the cursor diamond.
Title: Re: HHKB- Tactical Nuke
Post by: Peripheral Prophet on Wed, 22 June 2016, 19:43:30: Quote from: jerue on Wed, 22 June 2016, 18:20:30
I know some users aren't a fan of the HHKB for programming because it lacks dedicated arrow keys. Is that an issue for you?

I noticed you keep your HHKB on a mat...I believe it's the best way to use the keyboard, but have you tried on other surfaces?

I think the feel of the regular HHKB is superb, but it's a bit loud for my taste. The Type-S fixes that problem for me but the feel isn't as optimal...swapping to silenced purple sliders and lubing the board now makes my HHKB Type-S my favorite keyboard of the bunch :)

I think some have said the Type-S and even the HHKB Professional BT is a bit of a revision - I am holding out for a white Type-S BT version with blanks (whenever that happens :)) )

I use my mouse instead of my arrow keys so I dont really notice not having them to be honest.. I havent tried it on any other surface, its just a ducky extended pad, but it keeps the keyboard from moving and I honestly couldnt be happier with the setup.. As far as whether or not the type s is a revision or not, I do not know.
Title: Re: HHKB- Tactical Nuke
Post by: RobotMalcolmX on Thu, 23 June 2016, 08:10:11: Quote from: 9fiftyfive on Wed, 22 June 2016, 16:08:08
Quote from: RobotMalcolmX on Tue, 21 June 2016, 20:20:59
And they just look so good (despite having their photo taken with a potato).
Show Image
(http://i.imgur.com/spKLPcJ.jpg)

Where'd you get the textured keycaps?

Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk

I got them in a trade with another member, but they were originally available through a Brocaps raffle.
Title: Re: HHKB- Tactical Nuke
Post by: oneproduct on Thu, 23 June 2016, 20:53:20: Quote from: klennkellon on Tue, 21 June 2016, 20:18:55
I would buy it if it had a key in the usual position off the ctrl key. I could forgive everything else if it was not for that one key.

This. Some people say having a key in the control position is not ergonomic. If you find that to be true, just don't use the key in that position; don't remove it entirely. And if ergonomics are that much of a concern for you, don't use an HHKB when you could use something like an Ergodox for example. Others put the control key where caps lock would be, which is fine, except that I put backspace there, which is the standard for Colemak. You will most likely press backspace far more than you press control. Typing accuracy for most people is probably between 85 and 95% (based on what I see in typeracer and such) which would put backspace as one of the most pressed keys (assuming you use that rather than delete). Having backspace where caps lock is is likely more beneficial than having control there. I also don't like the position of the function key on the HHKB because it makes me move my hand away from the home row. On my programmable keyboards I use right alt as the function key.

Also not having dedicated arrow keys can be annoying sometimes. A particular use case is wanting to highlight one word. The shortcut for this is shift+control+direction. On an HHKB this then becomes shift+control+function+direction. When you start having to hold so many modifiers it becomes a bit mentally confusing. I don't have this problem when programming because I use a Vim plugin for my IDE, so I highlight words in a different way, but when not in a programming environment, say when using Notepad++ or something, it can be an issue.
Title: Re: HHKB- Tactical Nuke
Post by: YourMatt on Fri, 02 September 2016, 11:52:44: Quote
The usb ports are pretty useless

I use a wireless Logitech mouse, and I like to keep the dongle plugged into my keyboard USB port. I keep the keyboard plugged into a KVM switch, so when I switch computers the mouse goes along with the keyboard. It's a specialized use for sure, but it a pretty useful one regardless.
Title: Re: HHKB- Tactical Nuke
Post by: ReverbSlush on Fri, 02 September 2016, 13:04:45: I use the USB port for my Yubikey (2 factor auth)... it's nice to have there by the keyboard instead of hunting for an open port on the computer!
Title: Re: HHKB- Tactical Nuke
Post by: Altis on Wed, 14 September 2016, 19:09:04: Quote from: YourMatt on Fri, 02 September 2016, 11:52:44
Quote
The usb ports are pretty useless

I use a wireless Logitech mouse, and I like to keep the dongle plugged into my keyboard USB port. I keep the keyboard plugged into a KVM switch, so when I switch computers the mouse goes along with the keyboard. It's a specialized use for sure, but it a pretty useful one regardless.

You could also get a short USB flash drive that's nearly flush with the back of the keyboard so that you can bring files between your computers.
Title: Re: HHKB- Tactical Nuke
Post by: Elrick on Sun, 09 October 2016, 00:28:26: Quote from: Peripheral Prophet on Tue, 21 June 2016, 13:03:11
Ill preface this by saying that I purchased the HHKB because of the programming/typing appeal, I do not game at all..

You gutted me with that silly title - "HHKB - Tactical Nuke".

I thought you modified it into an all metal shell casing (5kg) for all out WAR but no, just another plain-jane, all plastic keyboard masquerading as a "mechanical keyboard".

Shame on you :'( .