HHKB Pro2 Questions

[sudowork]

Just ordered a HHKB Pro2 from Elitekeyboards (I wish I could have waited for a Mini Guru though), and I had a few questions before I receive it.

1. What's the difference between Clear (Mac mode) and Backspace?
2. If you're in Mac mode, and you flip DIP switch 3 to the ON position, then will Clear turn into a Backspace
3. Do you find the placement of the Fn key hard to reach? If so, do you recommend mapping the left <> key to Fn?
4. And just to confirm, if you use software to map your keylayout to Dvorak, the Fn+KEYs remain the same (controlled by hardware), right?
5. Can you make it so the Delete key is Backspace by default and Delete when used in conjunction with Fn? If not, do you find it annoying for essay-writing?

[Rajagra]

1. Clear sends the same scan code as a NumLock key. So on a PC it toggles NumLock. No idea what it does on a Mac.

2. DIP 3 turns Delete into Backspace. Fn-Delete sends Clear still.

3. Yes and Yes. But I haven't spent time trying to adapt to the layout.

4. Yes. I use Colemak, but the HHKB does it's own conversions before the computer has a chance to intervene. Works fine.

5. No. You have to use Fn ` to get Del.

[ch_123]

You can set it so that the left Meta key is Fn. You can't really map an arbitrary key to be an Fn, as Fns are managed by the hardware, not the OS.

As pointed out above, you can flip a dip switch so that the Delete key is backspace, and delete becomes Fn + ~`

[itlnstln]

I set the left Meta key to Fn, but I rarely use it.  If I need to a Fn key, I just move my hand so that I rest my pinky on the Fn key, and use my other fingers for the arrows, or whatever.  I found that I do page navigation in clumps, so moving my hand over is still efficient.

[test157]

I'am using left FN all the time, IMHO it's the big plus of this board when you dont have to move your fingers AT ALL - to use arrow keys or page up and down end or home. and here again, if you use left FN you don't have problems with delete at all its very comfy, just some time to get it used.

also what you can find missing on this layout it's control on  the right side (sometimes you want to use it, but not so often) and windows key on the left side if you have left FN activated (I use it for some shortcuts in windows and in linux) - second issue is more important for me, but not disaster at all, until you look at empty corners of the keyboard.

also I have strong personal opinion that dedicated arrow keys it's PLUS of this board, not MINUS.

[sudowork]

Thanks for the info guys. I suppose I'll just have to wait for mine to come in .

[o2dazone]

I use the same configuration on a Mac as I do on a PC. -011010- It works, but without a second Fn key, you have to get comfortable with clawing your arrow keys. I have, but I know some people prefer the left Fn to deal with things. Which is understandable, as it makes hitting F1 - F6 a one handed process.

[sudowork]

By the way, is the Mac OS X driver necessary? It seems that all the keys function as they should without it.

[ch_123]

It might be needed for stuff like the volume keys and eject.

[sudowork]

It might be needed for stuff like the volume keys and eject.

Seemed to work out of the box for me, which is why I was wondering why Drivers were necessary. Perhaps it's for 10.4 and below?

[ch_123]

That's probably it.

[itlnstln]

I just wish the volume keys would work natively in Windows.

[AvengeR]

just a tiny suggestion: there should be a topic about suggestions for a hhkb3.

(i posted this here because it's the only thread on the first topic about hhkb)

[test157]

did anyone see hhkb3 announce? it's goes as second url in google.com with this url http://bit.ly/8DMF67

what don't work anymore for some reason.

[d-blank]

if you can read Asian Japanese font, then you will see it mean HHKB 30,000 Japanese Yen.

I just ordered mine, you have wake up before I check this out..