Convert me to the HHKB

[pagosElite]

Convert me, convince me to waste (or possibly not?) my money on on HHKB Pro 2 , HHKB JP, or even the HHKB Type-S (I don't even know what the difference is...).

[SpAmRaY]

I think you need to do more research for yourself instead of relying on the opinion of others. There is enough information here to make a very informed decision but ultimately you won't know until you try it for yourself.

[rowdy]

Well said, sir!

I bought mine on a whim, and loved it, but I had read enough about them to know what I get getting myself in to.

[pagosElite]

I think you need to do more research for yourself instead of relying on the opinion of others. There is enough information here to make a very informed decision but ultimately you won't know until you try it for yourself.

Some people swear the HHKB is worth it, and some swear that its not worth it and whenever I'm looking for something like a keyboard or a mouse although I make an informed decision I like to hear owners' opinions and arguments for and agains because it provides me with a wider, 1st person perspective of the keyboard.

[SpAmRaY]

I think you need to do more research for yourself instead of relying on the opinion of others. There is enough information here to make a very informed decision but ultimately you won't know until you try it for yourself.

Some people swear the HHKB is worth it, and some swear that its not worth it and whenever I'm looking for something like a keyboard or a mouse although I make an informed decision I like to hear owners' opinions and arguments for and agains because it provides me with a wider, 1st person perspective of the keyboard.

Again, this horse has been beaten to death here, just like topre vs mx or 60% versus not 60%.

Personally I loved the HHKB I had but that was after modding it and at the end of the day I sold it because I never used it.

For me it was a money pit because I wanted 55g versus 45g so I bought another board and scavenged domes then lubed and dental band modded, then bought some fancy FN keys to go with it and the next step would have been buying the MX stems (or a novatouch) so I could use my MX caps on it....then I would have had to get another one to use at home, and get carrying cases for both of them, then I would want to put custom controllers in both of them, then bluetooth when it is ready, the cycle never ends....

[absyrd]

For me it was a money pit because I wanted 55g versus 45g so I bought another board and scavenged domes then lubed and dental band modded, then bought some fancy FN keys to go with it and the next step would have been buying the MX stems (or a novatouch) so I could use my MX caps on it....then I would have had to get another one to use at home, and get carrying cases for both of them, then I would want to put custom controllers in both of them, then bluetooth when it is ready, the cycle never ends....

Not everyone needs to follow that path or even "upgrade" the hhkb at all.

However, Spamray is right on about there being endless topics on the subject already; you should do a quick search or even just look down a page or two and I'm sure you'll find user reviews and/or a thread with the same question(s) you asked.

EDIT: Hell... just look 2 threads down from yours...
http://geekhack.org/index.php?topic=60492.0

And 7...
http://geekhack.org/index.php?topic=60486.0

And so on...

[rowdy]

http://geekhack.org/index.php?topic=60492.0
http://geekhack.org/index.php?topic=60486.0
http://geekhack.org/index.php?topic=60250.0
http://geekhack.org/index.php?topic=59920.0
http://geekhack.org/index.php?topic=58499.0 <-- this one in particular
http://geekhack.org/index.php?topic=59720.0
http://geekhack.org/index.php?topic=58833.0
http://geekhack.org/index.php?topic=58000.0
http://geekhack.org/index.php?topic=57943.0
http://geekhack.org/index.php?topic=58234.0
http://geekhack.org/index.php?topic=58028.0

[absyrd]

Nicely done, rowdy. Bahaha.

[SpAmRaY]

Nicely done, rowdy. Bahaha.

rowdy has a gift for linking topics

and I was sharing my personal opinion and experience since that is what the OP asked for

[pagosElite]

For me it was a money pit because I wanted 55g versus 45g so I bought another board and scavenged domes then lubed and dental band modded, then bought some fancy FN keys to go with it and the next step would have been buying the MX stems (or a novatouch) so I could use my MX caps on it....then I would have had to get another one to use at home, and get carrying cases for both of them, then I would want to put custom controllers in both of them, then bluetooth when it is ready, the cycle never ends....

Not everyone needs to follow that path or even "upgrade" the hhkb at all.

However, Spamray is right on about there being endless topics on the subject already; you should do a quick search or even just look down a page or two and I'm sure you'll find user reviews and/or a thread with the same question(s) you asked.

EDIT: Hell... just look 2 threads down from yours...
http://geekhack.org/index.php?topic=60492.0

And 7...
http://geekhack.org/index.php?topic=60486.0

And so on...

Have seen all these before, but thanks!

Nicely done, rowdy. Bahaha.

rowdy has a gift for linking topics

and I was sharing my personal opinion and experience since that is what the OP asked for

Thanks! I never plan on ever touching my keyboards through modding or customizing other than MAYBE buying keycaps. Say, do you know what the Topres on the HHKB are most comparable to the Cherry MXs in terms of weight as I think the Reds are WAY too light because they are 1) Very small actuation force and 2) have no light click like the Browns. The blacks seem to heavy for me, the blues are a bit too heavy, and the Browns are PERFECT for me. So in terms of weight and actuation, what are the Topres on the HHKB most similar to?

http://geekhack.org/index.php?topic=60492.0
http://geekhack.org/index.php?topic=60486.0
http://geekhack.org/index.php?topic=60250.0
http://geekhack.org/index.php?topic=59920.0
http://geekhack.org/index.php?topic=58499.0 <-- this one in particular
http://geekhack.org/index.php?topic=59720.0
http://geekhack.org/index.php?topic=58833.0
http://geekhack.org/index.php?topic=58000.0
http://geekhack.org/index.php?topic=57943.0
http://geekhack.org/index.php?topic=58234.0
http://geekhack.org/index.php?topic=58028.0

Haha, all those links are already blue-d out, I've read through them all already.

[absyrd]

Okay. If you've done that much reading, it is just time to buy the damn thing. If you don't like it, sell it.

[rowdy]

And you still need convincing?

Is there a specific aspect of the HHKB that you haven't resolved yet?

[osi]

You read all those and still don't know??!

That means you don't want it...

[pagosElite]

And you still need convincing?

Is there a specific aspect of the HHKB that you haven't resolved yet?

There are a lot of things no one has addressed before that are the swaying factors for me such as:

Are the Topres on the HHKB similar in weight/effort needed to actuate it to the Cherry MX Browns?
Is the HHKB Colemak friendly in terms of moving keys around and compliance?
Is the resale value of the HHKB after years comparable to a Mac's resale value in that the resale value is very close to the original price?
What are the differences between the HHKB Pro 2 and the HHKB Type-S other than that its "quieter" (does it have a better design, longer keystroke lifespan, more customizability, what actually makes it more quiet than its counter part, is the typing experience better than its counterpart, are Topres on the HHKB
Pro 2 loud to begin with like the MX Blues?)?

This are the questions that I have yet to find through all of those posts and they are the only ones that really determine if I drop SO much money on a keyboard. Thanks a lot in advance!

[Vanilla]

And you still need convincing?

Is there a specific aspect of the HHKB that you haven't resolved yet?

There are a lot of things no one has addressed before that are the swaying factors for me such as:

Are the Topres on the HHKB similar in weight/effort needed to actuate it to the Cherry MX Browns?
Is the HHKB Colemak friendly in terms of moving keys around and compliance?
Is the resale value of the HHKB after years comparable to a Mac's resale value in that the resale value is very close to the original price?
What are the differences between the HHKB Pro 2 and the HHKB Type-S other than that its "quieter" (does it have a better design, longer keystroke lifespan, more customizability, what actually makes it more quiet than its counter part, is the typing experience better than its counterpart, are Topres on the HHKB
Pro 2 loud to begin with like the MX Blues?)?

This are the questions that I have yet to find through all of those posts and they are the only ones that really determine if I drop SO much money on a keyboard. Thanks a lot in advance!

-I already answered in your other thread that a HHKB has 45g topres and mx browns require 45g to actuate.
-Keyboard-side, the HHKB is closed source and not programmable besides the fixed dip switches on the back. You can attempt to change the layout with remapping software computer-side.

-HHKB's hold their value very well over time. They will *never* become obsolete unlike even today's trash bin mac pro. Don't expect to find a bargain even for used.

-The type-s is very similar to the vanilla HHKB; near perfect twins of each other aside from the type s being labeled that at the upper right and only being offered in white. The type-s has pads at the top of its topre switches to buffer *only* the plasticy return sounds when typing fast otherwise the bottoming out sound is the same for both. The type s also has slightly* reduced travel to "enhance" your WPM.

-Topre switches are quite quiet compared to blues as they are non-clicky. The sound of topres can be described as a subtle rumbling sound of bottoming out and the switches returning.

[fuzzybaffy]

I should note though, that even though the actuation force between the Topre switch, and the MX Brown switch are the same, they feel very different in terms of how "easy" they are to press. IIRC, Ripster made the distinction between "actuation force", and "work", which can differ between switches, even though the switches have the same actuation force.

That said, it seems the MX Browns are easier to press than the Topre switch (even the 45g), even though they have the same actuation force. I still prefer the Topre switch, though, because I don't like the "springiness" of MX switches. But that's clearly personal preference. Other people have written in other threads that they actually like and prefer the springiness of MX switches, so, again, personal preference.

I don't own an HHKB (I own a Realforce 87u), so I can't speak on its layout, however.

[pagosElite]

And you still need convincing?

Is there a specific aspect of the HHKB that you haven't resolved yet?

There are a lot of things no one has addressed before that are the swaying factors for me such as:

Are the Topres on the HHKB similar in weight/effort needed to actuate it to the Cherry MX Browns?
Is the HHKB Colemak friendly in terms of moving keys around and compliance?
Is the resale value of the HHKB after years comparable to a Mac's resale value in that the resale value is very close to the original price?
What are the differences between the HHKB Pro 2 and the HHKB Type-S other than that its "quieter" (does it have a better design, longer keystroke lifespan, more customizability, what actually makes it more quiet than its counter part, is the typing experience better than its counterpart, are Topres on the HHKB
Pro 2 loud to begin with like the MX Blues?)?

This are the questions that I have yet to find through all of those posts and they are the only ones that really determine if I drop SO much money on a keyboard. Thanks a lot in advance!

-I already answered in your other thread that a HHKB has 45g topres and mx browns require 45g to actuate.
-Keyboard-side, the HHKB is closed source and not programmable besides the fixed dip switches on the back. You can attempt to change the layout with remapping software computer-side.

-HHKB's hold their value very well over time. They will *never* become obsolete unlike even today's trash bin mac pro. Don't expect to find a bargain even for used.

-The type-s is very similar to the vanilla HHKB; near perfect twins of each other aside from the type s being labeled that at the upper right and only being offered in white. The type-s has pads at the top of its topre switches to buffer *only* the plasticy return sounds when typing fast otherwise the bottoming out sound is the same for both. The type s also has slightly* reduced travel to "enhance" your WPM.

-Topre switches are quite quiet compared to blues as they are non-clicky. The sound of topres can be described as a subtle rumbling sound of bottoming out and the switches returning.

In terms of Colemak compliance, would I even need to program anything keyboard side so if can work with Colemak or can't i just put the settings on my Mac to Colemak and it will recognize the keyboard strokes as Colemak? Also, are all the key rows the same size? So if I wanted to move a home row key or two to the row right above it would it fit perfectly or are they different sizes and is it easy to take off keys and move them on a Topre keyboard?

[epzy]

Get da Type-S, it's da best.

[SSIPAK]

jump on the bandwagon, it's worth it

[rowdy]

And you still need convincing?

Is there a specific aspect of the HHKB that you haven't resolved yet?

There are a lot of things no one has addressed before that are the swaying factors for me such as:

1. Are the Topres on the HHKB similar in weight/effort needed to actuate it to the Cherry MX Browns?
2. Is the HHKB Colemak friendly in terms of moving keys around and compliance?
3. Is the resale value of the HHKB after years comparable to a Mac's resale value in that the resale value is very close to the original price?
4. What are the differences between the HHKB Pro 2 and the HHKB Type-S other than that its "quieter" (does it have a better design, longer keystroke lifespan, more customizability, what actually makes it more quiet than its counter part, is the typing experience better than its counterpart
5. are Topres on the HHKB Pro 2 loud to begin with like the MX Blues?)?

This are the questions that I have yet to find through all of those posts and they are the only ones that really determine if I drop SO much money on a keyboard. Thanks a lot in advance!

1. Yes, although the force curve is different.

2. Not really, no.

3. Pretty much, yes.

4. HHKB-S is silent, otherwise the same.  You can "silence" HHKB yourself.

5. No.

[RimpactPC]

I just got a pro 2 and I live it topres are awesome