mechanical keyboard for "layman" user? (hhkb)

[mrkm]

hi everyone,

first post here; probably will be a bit different than what you're used to.

i just stumbled upon the phenomena that is the mechanical keyboard yesterday purely by chance while browsing instagram. it was an hhkb pro 2 sans symbols/letters. being a visual person (i'm a photographer + film maker by trade) i was immediately drawn to it.
i started researching them and fell in love. growing up in the 90's the sound these make alone evokes a certain nostalgia, but it's really their looks that have me smitten.

that's what brings me here...

are the majority of mechanical keyboards (hhkb, das, vortex, ducky, etc.) aimed primarily at coders, gamers and generally more computer-proficient folk or can they be used by a "layman" such as myself, too? lack of certain keys/controls scares me, but i'm a relatively quick learner. as much as i'd love one of the label-free keyboards-- purely for aesthetic reasons--, i just know i wouldn't have the capacity to freely operate one without great trouble. to reiterate: i don't game, i don't code and am relatively technically inept, but am drawn to a) the aesthetics of the hhkb (and some other boards) b) adore the sound they make. i will be using purely for "regular" use; e-mail, web-browsing as well as writing articles and scripts. photo editing is also central to what i do, but i don't really use any special keys for that. 

i'm pretty set on picking up an hhkb pro 2 type-s and swapping some of the keys for coloured ones, but wanted to get some honest feedback here first.

side question: what's the best place to purchase an hhkb pro 2 type-s and also what's a good place for high quality custom coloured keys?

[demik]

elitekeyboards or amazon jp using a proxy.

no such thing as colored hhkb keycaps.

hhkb are pretty quiet so you wont get the sound you think youre going to get.

unless you are epzy and type like a viking. rip hhkb

hhkb is easy to learn i dont code or anything so i fall under layman and its my fav and only kb

[esoomenona]

.

[saturnotaku]

adore the sound they make. i will be using purely for "regular" use; e-mail, web-browsing as well as writing articles and scripts. photo editing is also central to what i do, but i don't really use any special keys for that. 

i'm pretty set on picking up an hhkb pro 2 type-s and swapping some of the keys for coloured ones, but wanted to get some honest feedback here first.

side question: what's the best place to purchase an hhkb pro 2 type-s and also what's a good place for high quality custom coloured keys?

I work in marketing as a day job and as a freelance writer on the side, and use Topre switch keyboards every day. They're absolutely amazing for typing. I use the editing, meta, and function keys too much to make the HHKB a viable daily driver. This is based on my experience with less costly 60% layout keyboards, thus why I'm using tenkeyless Realforce models.

The HHKB Type-S is an awfully big investment, especially if it's your first foray into mechanical keyboards. The good news is that if you don't end up liking it, you can come back, sell it here, and recoup most of your investment.

Colored keycaps are not an option for the HHKB and indeed most Topre boards in general.

[demik]

blanks are easy to type on. i started with a blank hhkb. and thats all ive owned (two white one black) only my hhkb jp was lettered.

[Premonition]

Yeah, demik is in a higher realm than the rest of us obviously. You can get colored keycaps off of ebay and sometimes here, but they're pretty expensive (>$100 for a set) since they're not in production, and you can't get them by letter, only by set. Elitekeyboards also has a few colored WASD sets and escape keys.

And no, most mechanical keyboards are made for anyone.

[saturnotaku]

Yeah, demik is in a higher realm than the rest of us obviously. You can get colored keycaps off of ebay and sometimes here, but they're pretty expensive (>$100 for a set) since they're not in production, and you can't get them by letter, only by set. Elitekeyboards also has a few colored WASD sets and escape keys.

Those sets are designed for Realforce 87/104 keyboards. The alphanumerics will fit, but the meta keys are different.

[demik]

Yeah, demik is in a higher realm than the rest of us obviously. You can get colored keycaps off of ebay and sometimes here, but they're pretty expensive (>$100 for a set) since they're not in production, and you can't get them by letter, only by set. Elitekeyboards also has a few colored WASD sets and escape keys.

And no, most mechanical keyboards are made for anyone.

keyboard taylor swift

[mrkm]

thanks for the replies, fellas.

what is the best source for custom coloured keycaps (for hhkb)? i've seen lots on google + instagram with custom keys (other than hot key project).

does anyone have a link where to buy hhkb jp pro type-s? i'm maybe consider that over the pro 2, but not sure yet.

what are some good blue and brown cherry equipped boards to check out primarily for writing (prefer minimal aesthetic)?

[uprock7]

are the majority of mechanical keyboards (hhkb, das, vortex, ducky, etc.) aimed primarily at coders, gamers and generally more computer-proficient folk or can they be used by a "layman" such as myself, too? lack of certain keys/controls scares me, but i'm a relatively quick learner. as much as i'd love one of the label-free keyboards-- purely for aesthetic reasons--, i just know i wouldn't have the capacity to freely operate one without great trouble. to reiterate: i don't game, i don't code and am relatively technically inept, but am drawn to a) the aesthetics of the hhkb (and some other boards) b) adore the sound they make. i will be using purely for "regular" use; e-mail, web-browsing as well as writing articles and scripts. photo editing is also central to what i do, but i don't really use any special keys for that. 

to be perfectly clear, mechanical keyboards are marketed towards coders and gamers, but outside of macro gamer keys, nothing is specific for gamers or coders. The reliability, feel, and typing experience is what makes mechanical keyboards nice. If you spend a fair bit of time in front of a computer and appreciate a better typing experience, you should give mechanical keyboards a shot.

[rowdy]

Welcome to Geekhack!

One thing to add - pretty much every keyboard is just plug and play.  A few have DIP switches that you can use to set options, especially if you are using a Mac.  Otherwise just plug it in and start typing.

[Roibhilin]

i don't even have a HHKB but you should probably get it

[intelli78]

thanks for the replies, fellas.

what is the best source for custom coloured keycaps (for hhkb)? i've seen lots on google + instagram with custom keys (other than hot key project).

does anyone have a link where to buy hhkb jp pro type-s? i'm maybe consider that over the pro 2, but not sure yet.

what are some good blue and brown cherry equipped boards to check out primarily for writing (prefer minimal aesthetic)?

1. There are a bunch of colored Realforce sets on eBay right now, but they will only cover the alphas on the HHKB. The modifiers and some other misc keys are missing. There are no colored sets designed specifically for HHKB.

2. Don't get the JP Pro. Not only is the standard HHKB arrow cluster better once you get accustomed to it, the JP Pro has screwed up row staggering.

3. QFR, Filco MJ2, Poker II are some good places to start but there are dozens and dozens.