Hi There!
I'm seriously considering getting an HHKB Pro 2. But unfortunately my choice has come down to the aesthetics of the keyboard; typical isn't it?
I was wondering if any HHKB owners out there can shed some light on a few subjects. And if anyone in general can field their opinions about it. Anything at all, maybe I'm being a tad too picky and should go ahead and just flip a coin.
Printed or Non-Printed?
I'm fairly set on getting a Non-Printed one, as I'm quite familiar with the layout and I currently don't have a Non-Printed board. Seems fitting that the non-printed board would be the only Topre board, streetcred +1.
However if anyone has anything to say on this I would very much love to hear it.
White or Black?
I can't really decide on this. I like the look of both. I feel like the white harkens back to the era of the *nix terminals, and black keyboards are everywhere these days. But the black just has so much cybercredsz, how else will I increase my epeen?
Type-S?
I'm pretty much set on not getting the Type-S, mainly for the fact that its 200 dollars more. And from what I can tell, it doesn't get that much more quiet. Any differing opinions?
I know there will be a lot of you that might say "Just decide for yourself" and things like that, honestly I agree and I will eventually. But for a keyboard like this, I personally like to get all points of view. I would appreciate the input very much, and I hope that the community and any future HHKBp2 buyers might benefit from the discussion that comes out of this.
Cheers!
As said before by rowdy, printed key caps are mainly used by people who are familiar with the 60% layout. I have printed key caps on mine because mine is different, I am learning JIS layout and I am also somewhat fairly new to the 60% scene. Too bad in my case there are no unprinted key caps for my specific layout.
About colours, they say that the dust will be somewhat more visible on the black one. The white one however may get dirty over time (though not as quick as white ABS key caps seeing as how PFU chose to use PBT, the same more or less as with virtually every other Topre based keyboard out there). HHKB Pro2 black isn't exactly black it is more like gray. If you are going to choose that sort of colour you might also want to factor in that the legends on the keys may not be easily seen without a light at night. This is mainly because the legends are printed black, the same as with the white variant but it is probably more visible at night. If you are new to the 60% scene, it might actually be none the wiser to start with the white first if you prefer to sometimes work in the dark (I personally do at times).
To go with silenced or not depends on how comfortable one is with d-i-y silencing. Type-S indeed is more expensive than non Type-S but I wouldn't go as far as saying that it is $200 more unless you happen to live in places where customs tax are high. They are roughly around USD$2 (JPY¥182) for non printed HHKB Pro2 and about USD$70 (JPY¥7082) as of writing from amazon.co.jp (mostly Japanese, be warned):
Printed/legended key caps (first link is standard and the second is Type-S variant):
http://www.amazon.co.jp/PFU-Keyboard-Professional2-USB%E3%82%AD%E3%83%BC%E3%83%9C%E3%83%BC%E3%83%89-PD-KB400WN/dp/B000F1HWFU/http://www.amazon.co.jp/PFU-Hacking-Keyboard-Professional2-%E7%99%BD%EF%BC%8F%E7%84%A1%E5%88%BB%E5%8D%B0%EF%BC%88%E8%8B%B1%E8%AA%9E%E9%85%8D%E5%88%97%EF%BC%89/dp/B008GXT6SK/Blank/unprinted key caps (first link is standard and the second is Type-S variant):
http://www.amazon.co.jp/PFU-Keyboard-Professional2-USB%E3%82%AD%E3%83%BC%E3%83%9C%E3%83%BC%E3%83%89-PD-KB400W/dp/B000EXZ0V2http://www.amazon.co.jp/PFU-Hacking-Keyboard-Professional2-%E7%99%BD%EF%BC%88%E8%8B%B1%E8%AA%9E%E9%85%8D%E5%88%97%EF%BC%89/dp/B008GXQWOGamazon.co.jp seems to not have gray version of Pro2 Type-S as of writing. Also amazon.co.jp does not ship outside Japan, so you need to use a forwarding/proxy service (which will cost you extra for forwarding fees but the fees vary from forwarder/proxy to forwarder/proxy) on top of paying fees for shipping the product to you. This may work out cheaper than buying it from certain places but you may forfeit 1 year warranty if for example you bought the keyboard not from elitekeyboards.com but direct from Japan.
Aurally, I guess the Type-S does not have that slightly harsher sound when maybe the slider goes down and up. Also because it has a foam in between each of the sliders on the Type-S when the key is released it does not make that "thock" sound quite loud. Notably because it has something in between to prevent the sound of plastic bumping on plastic that loud.
The slider/plunger design maybe quite different between a standard and a proper Type-S for instance the base of the slider is not as square on the standard one, it is more kinda like oval shaped on Type-S. The latches also on the normal one does not stick out as much on the standard one as it does for the Type-S. OO2 gave me part of the information I said about the differences with the design. I personally do not have the standard variant but I have seen a photo of where the slider is more smooth on the Type-S as opposed to normal.
I guess the slight differences in design between the two does not really make all that much difference. In other words, if I were to take the factory fitted foam off my HHKB it should sound as loud as a regular HHKB Pro would in theory. I guess having a smoother walls on the slider may prevent the wear and tear on the foam based silencing.
The price of the Type-S is somewhat unjustifiable I guess especially if one is willing to take their HHKB apart and fit their own silencers, etc. It has been done before as rowdy pointed out a link, there has been already a fair few people that have silenced their own HHKB via either dental band hack or foam hack. Foam hack requires a bit more work than dental band hack imo.
From my own personal point of view with my Type-S is that it sounds almost like as if it is some sort of a cheap membrane based keyboard. In other words, I am not able to hear the "thock" sound at all unless if say for instance I put my ear on the keyboard and try to hear the sound as I release the keys. Though I have yet to take the foam out and to try and see if the "thock" sound would be more pronounced than before
If by any means you prefer a cheaper alternative than for instance sourcing it from elitekeyboards, here is a good link describing one how to source HHKB (and other goods from Japan) by going through a forwarding/proxy service:
[Guide] Bought my HHKB Pro 2 from amazon.co.jp : MechanicalKeyboardsAlso I believe (and from some people I have also heard from recommending) tenso.com is probably the best Japanese forwarding service out there.
Last but not least I want to make a note here that if you (by any means) sourced your HHKB from Japan. Do be aware that you do not have 1 year manufacturer's warranty. Instead if you have any issues with your HHKB the only way is to harrass your seller. I have noticed that my HHKB has an empty warranty "sheet". There was nothing filled out under the shop name and address nor was the purchasing date was noted. The said warranty sheet printed most of its terms and conditions in Japanese with the exception of one notable rule: "３．本書は日本国内においてのみ有効です。This warranty is valid only in Japan." This is written as it is on the warranty sheet. It is the only rule that is written in both Japanese and English. So here is basically your caveat emptor so to speak.
I believe that the seller bought the keyboard straight from PFU directly (through their website) and simply just forwarded the parcel onto me. My HHKB (because it is JP variant) means that I must go through some proxy/forwarding service as elitekeyboards does not offer this sort of keyboard. I do not know how elitekeyboards work but supposedly if one has issues with their HHKB they can send their keyboards back for replacement I guess however in my case I have to go nag my seller if there were issues with my HHKB.
