Is there anything out there that is actually better than the HHKB?

[VimLover]

I went to my first keyboard meetup recently, and I was actually really surprised with how toyish a lot the keyboards I had been lusting over like the Kono boards, Ergodox, etc felt to me. They felt cheap, unsubstantial, and nowhere near as good as the pictures online made them look. I've owned my fair share of boards with a variety of switches, but I can't help shake the feeling that the HHKB is far out there in terms of build quality, switches, and layout. I feel stuck, as I truly would like to keep investing in the keyboard hobby and improving my setup, but the HHKB 3 is nowhere to be found. Aside from the build quality, I have yet to find a switch that is a real contender to the feel Topre IMO. Then there's the perfect size of the HHKB, the perfect placement of the keys and arrow key cluster in the fn layer, and just the feeling that for a top priced mechanical keyboard, you somehow are cheating the system and getting an insane deal.

[Sifo]

dunno these office microsoft boards replicate that rubber dome feel pretty well if i do say so myself

[shadowku]

I've also been a bit disappointed with a lot of boards that I've tried as well as a lot of layouts. But I'm sure that I'm being very biased because I just prefer HHKBs, to which, I have several.
I do think the build quality of the HHKB is great, but not the best. RFs and HHKBs are decently built, but the cases are at par, if not a bit worse than other brands like Leopold and Filco.

I think the main thing is that the case matters a lot for Topre because it affects the feeling and the sound which matter a lot more than with any MX switches. I played around with my HHKBs with different mods and I've found that one of my favorite configurations for it is lubed, hyperspheres, stock sliders and BKE lights. I like my purple slider'd HHKB a lot too, but I want to try it with BKEs.

As for the Pro 3, the Pro 2 has already been discontinued in Japan and I don't really expect PFU to make a huge announcement about the successor, so it's going to be a surprise. I'm going to get my brother in Tokyo to send me a few ASAP when it releases.

The HHKB has the best layout for me. I'm guessing you're a VIM user (really just guessing), and the layout works well for VIM when you just use the jkl; arrow cluster. I don't use VIM anymore, but I've gotten used to the standard arrow cluster such that I'm not really making use of my Hasu controller (except to make the media buttons work on Windows as well as on Mac). I now make sure that all my other keyboards have a split backspace and I always put CTRL where Capslock is.

[shadowku]

dunno these office microsoft boards replicate that rubber dome feel pretty well if i do say so myself

=P trololol

[Sifo]

dunno these office microsoft boards replicate that rubber dome feel pretty well if i do say so myself

=P trololol

i aint trolling sir

[dgneo]

dunno these office microsoft boards replicate that rubber dome feel pretty well if i do say so myself

=P trololol

he's just mad they don't make them in cyan

[VimLover]

I think the main thing is that the case matters a lot for Topre because it affects the feeling and the sound which matter a lot more than with any MX switches. I played around with my HHKBs with different mods and I've found that one of my favorite configurations for it is lubed, hyperspheres, stock sliders and BKE lights. I like my purple slider'd HHKB a lot too, but I want to try it with BKEs.

Thanks for the mod suggestions, I haven't tried those. I have tried the FC660C and that board is what made me realize that the case matters a ton. There's something about the non-metal plate HHKB case that is putting those switches into perfect alignment.

I'm guessing you're a VIM user (really just guessing),

Is it really that obvious??

[Sifo]

dunno these office microsoft boards replicate that rubber dome feel pretty well if i do say so myself

=P trololol

he's just mad they don't make them in cyan

i dont think anything would make typing on topre enjoyable lmao

[dgneo]

dunno these office microsoft boards replicate that rubber dome feel pretty well if i do say so myself

=P trololol

he's just mad they don't make them in cyan

i dont think anything would make typing on topre enjoyable lmao

that really is funny rofl

[shadowku]

that really is funny rofl

It's true, though. I brought him my HHKB with Hasu rings and BKE lights at work.. and he said NOPE - would not touch again. LOL

Thanks for the mod suggestions, I haven't tried those. I have tried the FC660C and that board is what made me realize that the case matters a ton. There's something about the non-metal plate HHKB case that is putting those switches into perfect alignment.

I also had a FC660C for a while and I thought that would be the perfect alternate board for me but it felt very cold. RFs also have a metal plate but the FC660C still just felt completely different. I got rid of it. Speaking of which, I need to update my keyboard signature.

Is it really that obvious??

No, not really, had to guess =P

[azhdar]

Sifo is right.

[livewirerc]

No.

[Sintpinty]

dunno these office microsoft boards replicate that rubber dome feel pretty well if i do say so myself

=P trololol

he's just mad they don't make them in cyan

i dont think anything would make typing on topre enjoyable lmao

With a wrist wrest... the natural pro feels weird. I'm guessing that's how it relieves the pain 

[ideus]

dunno these office microsoft boards replicate that rubber dome feel pretty well if i do say so myself

=P trololol

he's just mad they don't make them in cyan

i dont think anything would make typing on topre enjoyable lmao

ds
As in any HHKB's thread, the MX vs Topre old-farts-fight resurfaces.

[swedishpiehole]

Honestly, as the owner of an HHKB BT and a new Niz Atom66, I would have to say that the Niz may be my favorite. I so prefer the looks of the HHKB, though (all black). All Niz Nopres have MX compatible switches, but because of the nonstandard space bar on the Atom66 there is no way to do a full keycap swap, which leaves you with the choice between the quite ugly stock caps or having a mismatched space bar. So from an aesthetics point of view, even though the case of the Niz is a nice clean white, it's definitely not as good looking of a keeb as the HHKB. That said, it feels amazing to type on and is way more customizable than the HHKB. I really love dedicated arrow keys and a rechargeable battery.

Anyhoo, I love them both, but if I had to choose, I just might go with the Niz.

[Sup]

Enough custom keyboards with the aluminium/Poly housings with linear switches blow my HHKB Pro 1 away. Pro 1 is nice to bring to work though not that heavy and not loud.

[DWawa]

Honestly, as the owner of an HHKB BT and a new Niz Atom66, I would have to say that the Niz may be my favorite. I so prefer the looks of the HHKB, though (all black). All Niz Nopres have MX compatible switches, but because of the nonstandard space bar on the Atom66 there is no way to do a full keycap swap, which leaves you with the choice between the quite ugly stock caps or having a mismatched space bar. So from an aesthetics point of view, even though the case of the Niz is a nice clean white, it's definitely not as good looking of a keeb as the HHKB. That said, it feels amazing to type on and is way more customizable than the HHKB. I really love dedicated arrow keys and a rechargeable battery.

Anyhoo, I love them both, but if I had to choose, I just might go with the Niz.

1. How are the 35-gram switches versus the 45-gram in HHKB?
2. How do you like the spacebar (apart from zero customizability)? It brings right Fn over one key, which looks handy but might be just so-so in practice.
3. How much battery life are you getting?
4. Are the macros much of an attraction versus HHKB, with no macros?

I'm probably going to try the Niz Atom66--the macros might be the kicker--but the HHKB with Hasu's controller is already very, very good.