Author Topic: HHKB Pro 2 Type-S on Taobao for a modest $435 USD  (Read 7684 times)

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Offline joysick

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HHKB Pro 2 Type-S on Taobao for a modest $435 USD
« on: Tue, 09 August 2011, 20:27:26 »
http://item.taobao.com/item.htm?id=10743590215

I was deeply considering it until i opened up the currency translator.
Happy Hacking Keyboard Professional 2 -- Otaku White
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Offline PlayerZero

  • Posts: 136
HHKB Pro 2 Type-S on Taobao for a modest $435 USD
« Reply #1 on: Tue, 09 August 2011, 23:18:29 »
I can't seem to understand how people justify spending $300 on what seems like a fancy rubber dome...  Although I've never tried Topres, so I could be wrong.
Extensive research has found your statement to be of inferior quality.  Please revise it.

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Offline Aznguyen316

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HHKB Pro 2 Type-S on Taobao for a modest $435 USD
« Reply #2 on: Tue, 09 August 2011, 23:30:40 »
Yeah it is a fancy rubber dome, feels nice though.  I guess it's the same reason someone can look at some of us and ask how someone can spend $100 on a mechanical keyboard when the one at home that came with their PC works fine.

Offline hcry4

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HHKB Pro 2 Type-S on Taobao for a modest $435 USD
« Reply #3 on: Tue, 09 August 2011, 23:37:35 »
Cheaper than geekstuff4u...

Offline skwan

  • Posts: 28
HHKB Pro 2 Type-S on Taobao for a modest $435 USD
« Reply #4 on: Wed, 10 August 2011, 02:12:57 »
Just bought one from there, and shipped to me last week, still testing it out, but so far liking it, feels tamer than the pro 2, at first didn't notice the loss of travel, but now that i have typed on it a little, i can feel the difference, as for whether the type s really stands for speed or just advertising hocus pocus, i need some more time before i can safely comment on that.

I am just waiting until i can get someone to help me do a blindfold/ear muff test to see if i can feel the difference between with or without type S. I wish i can get a real force low noise in for the test as well, but i can't afford 3 topres...

Oh btw i noticed people were moaning about pinging, my type S has a slight ping on the space bar, i tried taking it apart and knocking on the various parts, and the high pitch ring seems to come from the key cap itself (try hitting the key cap with the case or other key caps the noise is surprisingly high pitch)... not a big issue, but being a type S, that is the most prominent noise the keyboard makes... My pro 2 has the same problem (a much worse case of it) some time after a few weeks use of it, it lost the nice thock on the space bar, and is now giving a very mechanical sound, and its weird because the noise is made when typed with my right thumb, but not with my left thumb, tried taking the thing apart and messed with it for ages to no avail..

brief note on impression so far (only 1.5 weeks of use), feels more linear with the loss of the little bit of travel at the top, especially noticeable when typing at high speed, unlike the brown (never tried any other MX cherries so cannot compare with blue etc) the faster you type the lower the tactile, i feet that the pro 2's tactile response doesn't go away with speed, if i may use a metaphor, it is kinda like slappaing water, the faster you hit it, the more forceful the response. So the type s loses alittle bit of that, i never even realised that until i tried the type s, and then tried to compare it back to the pro 2.  With all that said the difference is minimal, and it is much more accurate to say that it is just the pro 2 with less noise topping out, as expected, as advertised.

Another thing i noted, if you just run your fingers lightly over the keytops on the pro 2, it makes a noise (like all keyboards would), and i was thinking the type S wouldn't (or at least less), but it doesn't damp that noise, it makes the same noise, the only noise damped is when the key is coming up, not sure how this is relevant in day to day use, but it is something i noted.

Offline agor

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HHKB Pro 2 Type-S on Taobao for a modest $435 USD
« Reply #5 on: Wed, 10 August 2011, 02:28:24 »
Quote from: PlayerZero;396250
I can't seem to understand how people justify spending $300 on what seems like a fancy rubber dome...  Although I've never tried Topres, so I could be wrong.

It's the feeling of being one with cup rubber!
KBD8X II - MX 5000 - Realforce 88UB - Phantom - GH60

Offline Trueepower

  • Posts: 102
HHKB Pro 2 Type-S on Taobao for a modest $435 USD
« Reply #6 on: Wed, 10 August 2011, 03:01:08 »
Quote from: PlayerZero;396250
I can't seem to understand how people justify spending $300 on what seems like a fancy rubber dome...  Although I've never tried Topres, so I could be wrong.


I know its crazy. I advise not trying a Topre in case you like them.
Topre Realforce 87ub 55g Topre Realforce 87ub 45g
Luxeed MK5

woody

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HHKB Pro 2 Type-S on Taobao for a modest $435 USD
« Reply #7 on: Wed, 10 August 2011, 04:16:19 »
Quote from: skwan;396289
...
Great review, thanks.

Offline RiGS

  • Posts: 1594
HHKB Pro 2 Type-S on Taobao for a modest $435 USD
« Reply #8 on: Wed, 10 August 2011, 08:47:04 »
Quote from: skwan;396289
Just bought one from there, and shipped to me last week, still testing it out, but so far liking it, feels tamer than the pro 2, at first didn't notice the loss of travel, but now that i have typed on it a little, i can feel the difference, as for whether the type s really stands for speed or just advertising hocus pocus, i need some more time before i can safely comment on that.

I am just waiting until i can get someone to help me do a blindfold/ear muff test to see if i can feel the difference between with or without type S. I wish i can get a real force low noise in for the test as well, but i can't afford 3 topres...

Oh btw i noticed people were moaning about pinging, my type S has a slight ping on the space bar, i tried taking it apart and knocking on the various parts, and the high pitch ring seems to come from the key cap itself (try hitting the key cap with the case or other key caps the noise is surprisingly high pitch)... not a big issue, but being a type S, that is the most prominent noise the keyboard makes... My pro 2 has the same problem (a much worse case of it) some time after a few weeks use of it, it lost the nice thock on the space bar, and is now giving a very mechanical sound, and its weird because the noise is made when typed with my right thumb, but not with my left thumb, tried taking the thing apart and messed with it for ages to no avail..

brief note on impression so far (only 1.5 weeks of use), feels more linear with the loss of the little bit of travel at the top, especially noticeable when typing at high speed, unlike the brown (never tried any other MX cherries so cannot compare with blue etc) the faster you type the lower the tactile, i feet that the pro 2's tactile response doesn't go away with speed, if i may use a metaphor, it is kinda like slappaing water, the faster you hit it, the more forceful the response. So the type s loses alittle bit of that, i never even realised that until i tried the type s, and then tried to compare it back to the pro 2.  With all that said the difference is minimal, and it is much more accurate to say that it is just the pro 2 with less noise topping out, as expected, as advertised.

Another thing i noted, if you just run your fingers lightly over the keytops on the pro 2, it makes a noise (like all keyboards would), and i was thinking the type S wouldn't (or at least less), but it doesn't damp that noise, it makes the same noise, the only noise damped is when the key is coming up, not sure how this is relevant in day to day use, but it is something i noted.

The S stands for silence not speed.
Last edited by RiGS; Jan 2011

Offline hcry4

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HHKB Pro 2 Type-S on Taobao for a modest $435 USD
« Reply #9 on: Wed, 10 August 2011, 09:13:52 »
Damn it. This thread makes me want one even more.

Offline Aznguyen316

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HHKB Pro 2 Type-S on Taobao for a modest $435 USD
« Reply #10 on: Wed, 10 August 2011, 09:19:38 »
Yeah I've listened to some youtube comparisons but that's not the same.  Sometimes I think my HHKB sounds loud if I were to imagine myself in the other room, however my GF has not yet ocomplained about it.  The klop sound is wonderful lol, but I do feel like it is a bit louder than Reds even though I bottomed out on those things a lot.  At least this has a deeper sound than the PBT keycaps bottoming out.
« Last Edit: Wed, 10 August 2011, 09:22:18 by Aznguyen316 »

woody

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HHKB Pro 2 Type-S on Taobao for a modest $435 USD
« Reply #11 on: Wed, 10 August 2011, 10:53:02 »
Quote from: Aznguyen316;396394
Sometimes I think my HHKB sounds loud if I were to imagine myself in the other room, however my GF has not yet ocomplained about it.
My did. I tried typing on the HHKB while in bed and was quickly told it's too loud.

Offline skwan

  • Posts: 28
HHKB Pro 2 Type-S on Taobao for a modest $435 USD
« Reply #12 on: Wed, 10 August 2011, 11:15:03 »
Rigs I think ur wrong on that, pfu does say type s stands for both speed and silent a quick google search should fix you up.  It is actually one of the main reason why I want to compare it with the realforce low noise, as logic and common sense would tell me that they are the same, but their advertisments/statements are different especially with type s with s standing for both speed and silent while realforce only call theirs low noise, or quiet/peaceful sound, from my far from useful and most likely incorrect understand of jap...

Now I have done a few typing test on both, and I will have to say I type marginally faster on type s, but the difference is probably less than the error bar, and the type s is in my office, while I use my pro2 in my bed, so posture is less than perfect, top speed difference is less than 5 wpm at approximate 100 wpm.

Offline RiGS

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HHKB Pro 2 Type-S on Taobao for a modest $435 USD
« Reply #13 on: Wed, 10 August 2011, 11:19:57 »
The Realforce low noise also oddly states that it has 4mm key travel.
I would easily put a grand that it has the same switches, and the only difference is the added foam ring.
Last edited by RiGS; Jan 2011

Offline skwan

  • Posts: 28
HHKB Pro 2 Type-S on Taobao for a modest $435 USD
« Reply #14 on: Wed, 10 August 2011, 11:27:31 »
Well the plunger is different too, that is confirmed. The foam ring is rather thick, so they thinned the plunger to make up for what would otherwise be a full mm loss of travel, from what I see from mine and pics of rf low noise, that is probably a grand you would win, but I wish I can just have the two side by side to confirm.  Which makes it curious why their statements are different when as far as I can see it's the same thing

Offline Aznguyen316

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HHKB Pro 2 Type-S on Taobao for a modest $435 USD
« Reply #15 on: Wed, 10 August 2011, 11:34:25 »
Quote from: woody;396437
My did. I tried typing on the HHKB while in bed and was quickly told it's too loud.


Fortunately I'm in the guest room when I'm on my computer, but yeah if I was in the same room definitely I can see complaints occurring.

Offline RiGS

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HHKB Pro 2 Type-S on Taobao for a modest $435 USD
« Reply #16 on: Wed, 10 August 2011, 11:38:48 »
Quote from: skwan;396463
Well the plunger is different too, that is confirmed. The foam ring is rather thick, so they thinned the plunger to make up for what would otherwise be a full mm loss of travel, from what I see from mine and pics of rf low noise, that is probably a grand you would win, but I wish I can just have the two side by side to confirm.  Which makes it curious why their statements are different when as far as I can see it's the same thing

Because the marketing department of most companies likes fooling its customers.
There is no way that Topre made a different mold for the silent version.

Also there might be a small room (0.5-0.8mm) between the plunger and the switch housing to partially accommodate the foarm ring when the switch is not depressed.
« Last Edit: Wed, 10 August 2011, 11:43:26 by RiGS »
Last edited by RiGS; Jan 2011

Offline guilleguillaume

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HHKB Pro 2 Type-S on Taobao for a modest $435 USD
« Reply #17 on: Wed, 10 August 2011, 11:43:33 »
Quote from: RiGS;396459
The Realforce low noise also oddly states that it has 4mm key travel.
I would easily put a grand that it has the same switches, and the only difference is the added foam ring.

http://www.kbdmania.net/xe/1339790

You can take a look there to compare the 2 versions.

Offline RiGS

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HHKB Pro 2 Type-S on Taobao for a modest $435 USD
« Reply #18 on: Wed, 10 August 2011, 11:46:47 »
Lol, I have no time for that...
Last edited by RiGS; Jan 2011

Offline skwan

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HHKB Pro 2 Type-S on Taobao for a modest $435 USD
« Reply #19 on: Wed, 10 August 2011, 12:17:43 »
LOL yes, it looks normal to me, but shouldn't to you since i am the one with the type S LOL... ya if you look two pics up from the one you posted you can make out that the horizontal part of the plunger is slightly thinner, and the legs looks different too, so i do believe that they remolded the plunger too.

Thank you for the opportunity to correct the number one expert in keyboard in the world, it is quite an honor!  i feel like my type s paid for itself already...

On a more constructive note, i have actually did the ring mod on my hhkb pro 2 after seeing the realforce low noise, and found that losing almost 1 mm of travel makes the key feel almost like a scissor switch, so similar in fact that it makes the whole hhkb pointless to me.  Pointless because there are scissor switches that are more quiet than even the type S, so it failed on both fronts, and this was what prompted me to buy the type S.... the timing was odd, because it was announced the day after i did the mod, and decided to undo it... felt like fate, and so i ordered...
« Last Edit: Wed, 10 August 2011, 12:21:30 by skwan »

Offline RiGS

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HHKB Pro 2 Type-S on Taobao for a modest $435 USD
« Reply #20 on: Wed, 10 August 2011, 12:33:39 »
Pics or it didn't happen. Did you use thick o-rings? The foam ring on the silent looks thinner than the 1,6mm o-ring.
« Last Edit: Wed, 10 August 2011, 13:00:34 by RiGS »
Last edited by RiGS; Jan 2011

Offline RiGS

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HHKB Pro 2 Type-S on Taobao for a modest $435 USD
« Reply #21 on: Wed, 10 August 2011, 12:57:54 »
It looks identical.

Last edited by RiGS; Jan 2011

Offline The Solutor

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HHKB Pro 2 Type-S on Taobao for a modest $435 USD
« Reply #22 on: Wed, 10 August 2011, 20:25:23 »
Quote from: joysick;396197
http://item.taobao.com/item.htm?id=10743590215

I was deeply considering it until i opened up the currency translator.


Good.

This means something like 1.5$ per gasket, the most expensive after the Shuttle Challenger o-ring.
The problem with quotes on the Internet is you never know if they are true  (Abraham Lincoln)

Offline RiGS

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HHKB Pro 2 Type-S on Taobao for a modest $435 USD
« Reply #23 on: Thu, 11 August 2011, 16:28:17 »
I think recent RF models have the same new plunger.
Maybe I should take apart my new RF 55g.
No, not yet.
A real gentleman should never bang the lady on the first date.
Last edited by RiGS; Jan 2011

Offline The Solutor

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HHKB Pro 2 Type-S on Taobao for a modest $435 USD
« Reply #24 on: Thu, 11 August 2011, 17:00:51 »
Quote from: RiGS;397223

A real gentleman should never bang the lady on the first date.


With all the money it cost you can consider it an escort, not a lady :happy:
The problem with quotes on the Internet is you never know if they are true  (Abraham Lincoln)

Offline TheProfosist

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HHKB Pro 2 Type-S on Taobao for a modest $435 USD
« Reply #25 on: Fri, 12 August 2011, 14:38:57 »
wondering if its possible to mod a regular to be like a silent version.

Offline hasu

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HHKB Pro 2 Type-S on Taobao for a modest $435 USD
« Reply #26 on: Fri, 12 August 2011, 22:42:05 »