I had about 90 minutes with the HHKB Pro 2 which is a good keyboard with a unique 45g Topre feel when compared with Realforce’s 45g plate-mounted switch. I prefer the feel of this switch on the HHKB Pro 2. You guys were right; it is springier than the same switch on a Realforce; and the resistance feels a bit greater compared with a 45g RF.
Some asked how it compares with MX Reds, also 45 grams. Well, the feel is different; it’s like trying to compare MX Clears with a 55g Topre—impossible to compare because both switches feel so very different. For the record, I prefer a 55g Topre to Cherry's MX Clear switch. Back to the MX Red/45g comparison: the MX Red lacks the solidity of the Topre; but the 45g Topre feels more stable when plate-mounted on an RF KB. However, with this said, I don’t like the feel of 45g RF KBs; they lack responsiveness. Not so with the HHKB. The switch is super-responsive on the Pro 2. The return is exceptional: more return force than one might expect; and feel from initial key press through my ‘bottoming-out’ typing felt really nice.
I did have some difficulty getting used to the layout, which figures; there would be a learning curve for me, but I expected this. I was permitted to reset the dip switches and test; it as fun and a great keyboard for make minor but convenient dip-switch customization.
What I didn’t like
I didn’t like being forced to use the Fn key to access the cursor keys; it’s really a pain, but not a deal-breaker; just a major inconvenience for those of us, me, who use our KBs for compiling, writing, and editing prose.
Having to use the Fn key for other commands is an immediate inconvenience for an HHKB novice--but I had to remember that this was my first outing with the keyboard. I’m sure if I had one and used it as often as I use my 87UB, I’d likely adjust. Speaking of the 55g/87UB, the HHKB, for me, cannot replace my Realforce. After this first outing, I still prefer the RF/55g to the Pro 2. I like the firmer key-switch for typing. However, after typing for hours on the 55g, making the transition to the HHKB would feel great; again, the only drawback is realigning my gray matter to the Pro 2’s configuration and calling up the Fn-key when needed.
I’d like to have an HHKB and use it as my lighter key-switch board. I'll get a Pro 2, but I don’t feel that it’s a keyboard I must have, but one I would really like to own. If I could own only one keyboard, it’d be the 55g/87UB. I know if an HHKB were the only keyboard under my PC, and if I had never typed on 55g RF, the Pro 2 would be my daily KB. When I finished my test, I really liked the feel of the keyboard; and if I had it, it's likely that I'd use it exclusively for several days to see if I could overcome my initial reservations re using the Fn key to access some commands. I think in time I'd find the KB would work just fine for me. But for now, my 55g RF is my #1 board; and the HHKB Pro 2 will eventually by my #2 keyboard. With these two KBs, there's really nothing more I could ask for two exceptional keyboards.
Thanks for your help and support. I agree, HHKB is a great keyboard. I can understand the rationale for so many dedicated HHKB users. And who knows, if I had one here and began using it exclusively for a few days, perhaps ordinal rankings would change between the 87UB and the Pro 2. One has to approach these things with an open mind.
If there are typos or syntax errors, mea culpa. Trying the HHKB was pretty exciting for me and I wrote this pretty quickly, sans proofing. I know that you understand, it's a keyboard-guy thing. And now that I've written all this and think about having used the Pro 2, I may not have the patience to wait for a used one. Yeah, you could say I really liked the Pro 2.
