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geekhack Community => Keyboards => Topic started by: mikenothing on Mon, 15 February 2010, 21:48:35

Title: HHKB review
Post by: mikenothing on Mon, 15 February 2010, 21:48:35

hi guys, im making a utube review of this keyboard, part 1 is here :

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yS0GCUhbDNI

there is gonna be a part 2, so i wanted input from other owners, is there anything you think i should include in this review that i havent so far ??

Title: HHKB review
Post by: chuckading on Mon, 15 February 2010, 22:18:49

You seem to really like the size and layout of the HHKB.  Have you seen the HHKB Lite models? For your 2nd video, you could talk about the Topre switches that are in your HHKB Pro 2 which is one of the main reasons the board cost so much.  Also, you could review how the HHKB feels compared to the other rubber dome keyboards you may have.

Title: HHKB review
Post by: mikenothing on Tue, 16 February 2010, 07:57:39

yep they are on the list, TY!

Title: HHKB review
Post by: bigpook on Tue, 16 February 2010, 09:42:11

Quote from: ripster;158536

Yeah, in part two you should address the most common question I think your target audience (people new to mechanical keyboards) would have.

WTF - what happened to the arrow keys?

I can see were someone would want separate arrow keys but I think with the HHKB the idea was to keep the fingers on the home row.
This is achieved by having the fnc + 'key' . It works fine for me but I can understand how it would be an issue for others.

If not the HHKB then there is always the realforce : )

Title: HHKB review
Post by: bigpook on Tue, 16 February 2010, 10:27:03

I might be able to get used to the enter key, but the short right shift would  kill me.

Title: HHKB review
Post by: itlnstln on Tue, 16 February 2010, 10:32:24

I don't use the right shift often, but you're right, that is an odd place for it.  I would rather see the rt. shift and the up arrow swapped.  At least if I go for the up arrow and hit shift the consequences are much less than the opposite.

Title: HHKB review
Post by: itlnstln on Tue, 16 February 2010, 10:43:16

The best thing about the Japanese version is the "BS" key.

Title: HHKB review
Post by: TDK on Tue, 16 February 2010, 11:29:28

I bought an HHKB Pro 2 just before Christmas, along with a Realforce 87U.

At the time I said that I preferred the HHKB over the Realforce as I liked the key press more.  The lack of arrow keys really took some getting used to and if I'm honest I still don't think I've fully adjusted.

I recently started using the Realforce at work and now find that I prefer it.  The slightly lighter key press is less fatiguing and the arrow keys are just much more convenient than using the Fn key on the HHKB - I often end up using the mouse for cursor repositioning, which is getting annoying.

Looks like I might be getting another Realforce sometime soon!

Title: HHKB review
Post by: mikenothing on Tue, 16 February 2010, 12:38:29

well, the arrow keys .... im totally used to them now, ill cover that in the next part of the vid.

the noodle key ...... the japanese have extra modifier keys, they change the pcs input language, for entering different chracters, there are a few different ways of entering japanese text via a keyboard. there are 69 keys on the one in the vid, at least thats what the guy says, and lol, i dont think he says anything about americans having fat fingers !!

Title: HHKB review
Post by: ch_123 on Tue, 16 February 2010, 13:21:15

Quote from: ripster;158648

Well, I'm just saying this English version is  filled with wasted space in the corners

Damn, we better fix that!

(http://img.presence-pc.com/dossiers/g15gk/1.jpg)

I do however wish they included twin Fn keys. Sure you can turn the left Meta into an Fn, but there's situations where you'd want both.

Title: HHKB review
Post by: elbowglue on Tue, 16 February 2010, 15:40:31

Quote from: ch_123;158657

Damn, we better fix that!

Show Image

(http://img.presence-pc.com/dossiers/g15gk/1.jpg)

I do however wish they included twin Fn keys. Sure you can turn the left Meta into an Fn, but there's situations where you'd want both.

(http://www.naval-technology.com/projects/cvn-21/images/1-aircraft-carrier.jpg)

My favorite thing about the g15 is the compact spacesaver format..

Title: HHKB review
Post by: ch_123 on Tue, 16 February 2010, 16:23:12

Quote from: elbowglue;158693

My favorite thing about the g15 is the compact spacesaver format..

i liek the backliting cuz it lets me type in the dark.im not good with compuetr.

Title: HHKB review
Post by: kishy on Tue, 16 February 2010, 16:31:19

Quote from: elbowglue;158693

Show Image

(http://www.naval-technology.com/projects/cvn-21/images/1-aircraft-carrier.jpg)

My favorite thing about the g15 is the compact spacesaver format..

How dare you compare a G15 to an aircraft carrier...that title is reserved for new-style IBM 122-key keyboards!

Title: HHKB review
Post by: rdjack21 on Tue, 16 February 2010, 21:40:20

Quote from: bigpook;158603

I might be able to get used to the enter key, but the short right shift would  kill me.

The enter key is not really a problem at least not for me. But that darn little right shift key is a real PITA and is really the only issue I have with my MD01B0/HE0100 and now Sun Short type keyboard.

Title: HHKB review
Post by: rdjack21 on Tue, 16 February 2010, 22:12:46

Quote from: ripster;158602

Nobody has still explained to me adequately why the Japanese divert from this philosophy for their own country.

The Japanese HHKB.  Gaijin not welcome.

Show Image

(http://www.pfu.fujitsu.com/hhkeyboard/lineup/images/thumb_pdkb420w_l.jpg)

Personally I can live with out the arrow keys if it means giving up the larger right shift key. I know you say you don't use the right shift much but the little you do use it and hit the up arrow instead is a real PITA.

Quote from: ripster;158602

I seriously  doubt the ratio of left to right handed people is any different.  This is NOT in the Japanese standard for keyboards.  

It IS a defacto standard among laptops/netbooks and compact keyboards.  Except for that Enter key of course - that sucks.

But the enter key is standard for Japanese keyboards and the layout is pretty much standard on Japanese laptops and compact keyboards. On US Laptop keyboards the shift key is the standard size even though the cursor keys are their as well. I could live with a US Laptop layout for cursor keys on a HHKB3 but not really with the HHKB JP version you like to post all over the place.

ThinkPad keyboard, sorry about the garbage on the image, but check out the monster shift key :
(http://geekhack.org/attachment.php?attachmentid=7895&stc=1&d=1266379075)

Or how about a Dell laptop keyboard to be fair so we don't say it is just a ThinkPad thing. As you can see even Dell understands you need a decent sized shift key on the right.
(http://geekhack.org/attachment.php?attachmentid=7896&stc=1&d=1266379075)

But if you want to see the arrow keys done right all you have to do is take a look at the HHKB Light. Not that I would wast my money on getting a HHKB Light but still they did get the arrow keys right. If PFU are willing to make the HHKB Pro a little bigger (deeper) they could do something like this using the Topre short throw switches because they take less space so you would not need to grow the case by much.

HHKB Light Japanese:
(http://geekhack.org/attachment.php?attachmentid=7897&stc=1&d=1266379616)

HHKB Light US:
(http://geekhack.org/attachment.php?attachmentid=7898&stc=1&d=1266379616)

Title: HHKB review
Post by: hyperlinked on Wed, 17 February 2010, 00:18:29

Quote from: ripster;158602

Show Image

(http://www.pfu.fujitsu.com/hhkeyboard/lineup/images/thumb_pdkb420w_l.jpg)

I seriously  doubt the ratio of left to right handed people is any different.  This is NOT in the Japanese standard for keyboards.  

It IS a defacto standard among laptops/netbooks and compact keyboards.  Except for that Enter key of course - that sucks.

I was at Fry's Electronics today getting a monitor and I went and played with the keyboards of a bunch of Netbooks and Laptops while I was there. the MSI Wind and one of the older ASUS EeePC's have a similar layout. I loved the keyboards on those units, but really soured on them when I couldn't hit the right shift key without looking.