Question about the PFU Happy Hacking lite2 for Mac

[chaumeow]

Hello!
After seeing the beautiful very HHKB Professional JP, I went on ebay and saw this:

PFU Happy Hacking Keyboard Lite2 for Mac

http://www.ebay.ca/itm/NEW-PFU-Happy-Hacking-Keyboard-Lite2-for-Mac-PD-KB200MA-F-S-Airmail-/370646582536?pt=PCA_Mice_Trackballs&hash=item564c420508&_uhb=1#ht_2239wt_862

This may be a silly question, but is it still topre switch keyboard or even a mechanical keyboard? Also, why would it be so much cheaper than a regular HHKB Profession2?

Also, is there anywhere else besides ebay where I can buy a Happy Hacking Keyboard Professional JP? Thank you! ^^
-chau

[Computer-Lab in Basement]

All HHKB Lite keyboards are just normal rubber domes.  Not Topre.

[xsphat]

I had one to use at work and a Pro 2 at home for quite a while. The Lite 2 feels mushy and is very hard to type on for long periods of time. I can't recommend it unless you want to switch to that layout everywhere you type, and already have a Pro.

[jdcarpe]

YGPM

[chaumeow]

oh no! that's awful! No wonder it was so cheap (Well, not cheap for a rubber dome). Meh, no thanks hahah I find that I can't go back to rubber dome anymore. Mac keyboards are of an exception though lol.

Thank you everyone! I'll stick to finding a nice  Professional JP one lol! Thank you!

[xsphat]

The Pro2 rules, no doubt about it. But I have a lot of trouble going back forth between the IBM layout that everyone uses and the Unix layout's delete key placement.

[The_Beast]

Ironically I've heard that the rubber domes in that keyboard are some of the worst rubber domes there are in the market. The only really reason to buy it was for the layout

but don't quote me on that.

[Computer-Lab in Basement]

Ironically I've heard that the rubber domes in that keyboard are some of the worst rubber domes there are in the market. The only really reason to buy it was for the layout

but don't quote me on that.

I just quoted you on that... lol

[The_Beast]

[Computer-Lab in Basement]

Hehe...

[xsphat]

Yeah, I bought a used one on ebay to keep consistent with the layout, but yeah, it sucked to type on. I kind of miss those days ...

[OrpheusX]

I've just recently gotten into mechanical keyboards but I've been using a Lite2 for almost a decade and, for a rubber dome, keyboard I think it's actually pretty good. Not great but good. For me the reason for buying it was the compactness and the pro-Emacs layout. If HHKB were to introduce a version of it with either Topre or Cherry switches I'd buy it in a heartbeat because the Pro2's layout is just a little too hardcore for me. I make heavy use the arrow keys on the Lite2 in combination with the Alt and Meta keys to move around quickly. Having to add the Fn key (which is only included on the right side of the Pro2) to do the same thing is more than I can ask of my hands. Maybe if it weren't $300 bucks...

[xsphat]

I've had 2 Pros and I regret selling both.

[nar]

For buying a Pro JP, there are a few stores that sell it like JList or Geekstuff4u http://www.geekstuff4u.com/happy-hacking-keyboard-pro-2-japanese.html

However it's usually significantly cheaper to just buy it from Japan and use a service to buy/forward it for you.
For example, if you buy it from Amazon.co.jp http://www.amazon.co.jp/dp/B001KWJTD6/
Its $100 cheaper, then since they don't ship electronics outside of Japan, you can use a forwarding service, like Tenso http://www.tenso.com/en/ to get a japanese address and forward it to you for an extra $5-$10 (Plus however much it costs to ship it to you from Japan of course).

[Hyde]

I've had 2 Pros and I regret selling both.

Why did you end up selling it?

[xsphat]

Why else? Money trouble and buy more keyboards!

[davkol]

I've recently had a chance to use the HHKB Lite2, and it was surprisingly nice, very close to Key Tronic rubber domes. It even makes me consider buying one for school (I'm afraid even Cherry MX Red or Cherry ML are way too loud).

[jdcarpe]

Non-clicky Cherry MX switches (i.e. not blue or green) with o-rings on the keycaps are really quiet, since you lessen the noise from bottoming out.

[davkol]

I actually do use reds on my primary keyboard, and I bottom out rather rarely, but they still make some noise (the switch returning to its default position after being released), and soft-landing pads feel just wrong on linear switches IMHO (I like them on tactile switches, though).

[Binge]

Might want to look into a matias keyboard   Silent as a rubber dome that can't clack.

[davkol]

Full size? Do not want.

[Sinzz]

Such a nice layout... Though would like the space bar to be a bit bigger. Someone needs to build something like that in mx. (can't afford topre)

[daerid]

After using a HHKB 2 for a couple of days, holy ****... I think I like it more than the 45g RF, and that's saying a lot.