HHKB Type - S or HHKB BlueTooth

[donnghia]

Can you give advices me which is better to buy, and more easy to mod in the future?

For examples bluetooth + silent ring mod is more useful than Type_S + Hasu controller BT mod or the reverse?

thanks alot

[shadowku]

HHKB is generally easy to mod, provided that you're gentle with the case.

It all depends on how you use it.. really. The Hasu BT controller has a more limited battery life but lets you reprogram the keyboard.
A Type-S has longer stems but some people actually like Silent-X rings over the Type-S silencing.

I've tried many different configurations and my preferred is actually stock sliders, hypersphere'd, lubed, BKE Redux light rings. Hasu controller optional.

All in all, the HHKB seems to be discontinued in Japan, so you'll either have to buy used on MM/GH, find a place that still has it in stock, or just wait for the Pro 3, which is rumored to release this year.

[nguyenhimself]

The Silence-X rings are really nice, and you can also the new Silencing rings (whose maker I forgot) currently being sold on Kbdfans.

My comment on r/mk awhile ago re. BT vs Hasu:

## HHKB with Hasu:

- Looks nicer (no battery bump in the back).
- You have to order + wait for the controller + the lithium battery.
- You have to disassemble the board and put them in.
- The lithium battery can only last 14 -18 hours/charge.
- Programmable via QMK.
- Some has said they had problems wirelessly connecting to older computers and certain phones.

## HHKB BT:

- Looks less nice with the bump.
- The battery will last 3-4 months (as I was told by some), and...
- Can be easily replaceable (just 2 cheap AA alkaline batteries).
- Not programmable (No big deal for me since I'm very comfortable with Karabiner-Elements.
- Better build quality than other HHKBs (less flexing, probably due to being made later).

Which one is better? Depends on your priorities.

Me, I prefer a great out-of-the-box experience plus not having to charge my keyboard every night like a damn phone.

[swedishpiehole]

I agree with the above. I had the same question before I decided to purchase the BT version, and I'm glad I did. I would hate having to charge it every day. The battery bump doesn't bother me at all, as I can't see it when I'm using the keyboard. The batteries do seem to last a long time. Also, if you go with the Type-S and the Hasu controller, you not only have to use an outdated mini USB cable, but you'll have two useless USB ports in the back. For me, this is somehow worse than the battery bump.
It's a shame not to have QMK, but if you want remap a lot of keys and swap the keycaps to match, you'll have a hard time finding many Topre-compatible options anyway. I've just decided to embrace the HHKB layout, which is pretty great.
As others have said, it's easy to silence the switches with third party rings. I'm really happy with my Silence X rings.

[donnghia]

Thanks you guys for advices

I agree with the above. I had the same question before I decided to purchase the BT version, and I'm glad I did. I would hate having to charge it every day. The battery bump doesn't bother me at all, as I can't see it when I'm using the keyboard. The batteries do seem to last a long time. Also, if you go with the Type-S and the Hasu controller, you not only have to use an outdated mini USB cable, but you'll have two useless USB ports in the back. For me, this is somehow worse than the battery bump.
It's a shame not to have QMK, but if you want remap a lot of keys and swap the keycaps to match, you'll have a hard time finding many Topre-compatible options anyway. I've just decided to embrace the HHKB layout, which is pretty great.
As others have said, it's easy to silence the switches with third party rings. I'm really happy with my Silence X rings.

as a real HHKB BT user, can you please tell me what is the real battery life of it? can it last over a month before replace the 2 AA baterry? Thanks alot !

[Kelseer]

For me its around 2 months, depending on the quality of the batteries. I would get less life using rechargeable ones. If you insist on having bluetooth, I'd get the BT model over Hasu primarily over the battery life and slightly better build quality over the older models.

I'm typing this on the HHKB BT at the moment anyway.... so as far as the battery bulge is concerned, I would say its a non-issue, as you just cannot see it when you're typing.

[swedishpiehole]

Thanks you guys for advices

I agree with the above. I had the same question before I decided to purchase the BT version, and I'm glad I did. I would hate having to charge it every day. The battery bump doesn't bother me at all, as I can't see it when I'm using the keyboard. The batteries do seem to last a long time. Also, if you go with the Type-S and the Hasu controller, you not only have to use an outdated mini USB cable, but you'll have two useless USB ports in the back. For me, this is somehow worse than the battery bump.
It's a shame not to have QMK, but if you want remap a lot of keys and swap the keycaps to match, you'll have a hard time finding many Topre-compatible options anyway. I've just decided to embrace the HHKB layout, which is pretty great.
As others have said, it's easy to silence the switches with third party rings. I'm really happy with my Silence X rings.

as a real HHKB BT user, can you please tell me what is the real battery life of it? can it last over a month before replace the 2 AA baterry? Thanks alot !

I've had it for about two months of medium use and the batteries haven't run out yet.

[ArchDill]

I have an hhkb BT with purple silent sliders and I love it. The battery has lasted me from 2-4 months, It feels sturdier and looks a bit nicer (in my opinion).

I never had a Hasu on my Pro 2 but I LOVE my BT.

[DALExSNAIL]

I just got a type-s and to be honest, I personally prefer it to BT................sort of

If they just came out with a Type-S BT I would never look back, I'd pay 500 if they asked it. That kind of stems from my paranoia when opening up HHKBs. I've never bought an HHKB that was modded, or I modded myself, that didn't feel worse, to me , than a stock HHKB. Take that with a grain of salt, as I'm very much like that with everything, and it's most likely mental.

I prefaced with that to say that, the BT overall is a much better experience IF YOU DONT MIND THE NOISE. It's more well built, the case design itself is a bit more refined, and I'd say the key feel and tactility in my experience was a bit better, most likely due to the case redesign. If you're comfortable with stock HHKB noise levels, or feel like you could silence it without effecting the key feel, go for the BT for sure. If sound is a big thing for you like it is for me, I'd suggest the S.

[livewirerc]

I just got a type-s and to be honest, I personally prefer it to BT................sort of

If they just came out with a Type-S BT I would never look back, I'd pay 500 if they asked it. That kind of stems from my paranoia when opening up HHKBs. I've never bought an HHKB that was modded, or I modded myself, that didn't feel worse, to me , than a stock HHKB. Take that with a grain of salt, as I'm very much like that with everything, and it's most likely mental.

I did exactly what you're describing. I'd bought a Type-S and it arrived with a non-functioning key. I contacted the vendor and rather than ask me to send it back, they just sent me an entire new HHKB Type-S and let me keep the busted one. I also had a hangar queen Realforce 87u with 55gm domes that I'd pulled parts from for other projects, so I scavenged the domes from it and the longer sliders/silencing rings from the spare Type-S, and then reassembled my HHKB BT using the best of each. I know we toss around "end game" a lot, but this keyboard really is it for me. The better build quality, improved feet, and battery life of 6+ weeks of heavy, daily use makes it a no-brainer for me. I don't mind not being able to program it, because I love the OG layout.

One negative experience I've had with the Hasu controller on android tablets and phones is that when it pairs, it puts a mouse pointer dead center of the screen and every time I hit enter it actuates the left click, which is incredibly annoying. The HHKB BT does not do this for me, and works like a charm with all my devices, iOS, Android, Linux, Windows, whatever. Don't get me wrong, I love the Hasu controller-based HHKB and use three of them around the house/at work, but they spend most of their time plugged in and only go fully wireless when I'm in a meeting, in another room, or doing something else that requires the keyboard to move further from the system than the cord will allow.

[the_marsbar]

If they just came out with a Type-S BT I would never look back, I'd pay 500 if they asked it.

Time to put down that money

https://www.pfu.fujitsu.com/direct/hhkb/detail_pd-kb800ws-kbrf.html

[VimLover]

At this point you should just buy a hybrid or a hybrid S. I just received mine and they've totally fixed the spacebar which is worth literally every penny. Whether you buy a pro 2 or a type s the old spacebar is loud AF.

The hybrid also is fully programmable and has a very small bt bump so there's no reason to put in a hasu controller which has terrible battery life and voids your warrenty.

[DALExSNAIL]

If they just came out with a Type-S BT I would never look back, I'd pay 500 if they asked it.

Time to put down that money

https://www.pfu.fujitsu.com/direct/hhkb/detail_pd-kb800ws-kbrf.html

Cheaper than expected actually. I just sold my type S due to RSI issues, but if the spacebar is truly fixed like VIM lover says, then it might be worth as a travel keyboard.

[Polymer]

At this point you should just buy a hybrid or a hybrid S. I just received mine and they've totally fixed the spacebar which is worth literally every penny. Whether you buy a pro 2 or a type s the old spacebar is loud AF.

The hybrid also is fully programmable and has a very small bt bump so there's no reason to put in a hasu controller which has terrible battery life and voids your warrenty.

The PBT spacebars fixed this on my HHKB..but that's good to hear the rattle is gone..