FC660C vs. HHKB Pro 2

[DAVYtm]

Thinking about picking up another Topre board because, well, Topre. Currently using an HHKB Pro 2. Hoping that some people on here who have or have tried both to give me some pros/cons of the FC660C in comparison to the HHKB.

Also if anyone knows, does the 2015 version of the FC660C have a standard space bar now?

[yomammary]

Not again!

Haha there are several threads you can already check out.
I don't think they've changed the spacebar.

[raymogi]

FC660C always have the same spacebar as HHKB.

I purposely bought an old model with blank keycaps and my standard Topre spacebar fits there.

[keshley]

If you see a standard spacebar, you're likely looking at an FC660M. All the new FC660Cs I've seen are running the normal Topre 6u spacebar.

[sircheddar]

I have never used an hhkb but my good friend has a 660c and I have been using a 660m for a while. The 660c felt incredibly solid. I think it's form factor is also less of a commitment. To me, hhkb 's seem like a commitment to the keyboard and learning and understanding it.

Also, the 660c key caps felt incredible.

[DAVYtm]

If you see a standard spacebar, you're likely looking at an FC660M. All the new FC660Cs I've seen are running the normal Topre 6u spacebar.

That was my only reservation, good to know. Thanks for the info!

I have never used an hhkb but my good friend has a 660c and I have been using a 660m for a while. The 660c felt incredibly solid. I think it's form factor is also less of a commitment. To me, hhkb 's seem like a commitment to the keyboard and learning and understanding it.

Also, the 660c key caps felt incredible.

I'm pretty comfortable with the HHKB, but have been feeling like I should sell my last Cherry board and pick up another Topre. HHKB is fantastic but I wanted something with a heavier case, and I've heard the keystrokes feel a bit deeper on the 660c. Do you know if the stock space bar for the 660c is PBT? 

[sircheddar]

If you see a standard spacebar, you're likely looking at an FC660M. All the new FC660Cs I've seen are running the normal Topre 6u spacebar.

That was my only reservation, good to know. Thanks for the info!

I have never used an hhkb but my good friend has a 660c and I have been using a 660m for a while. The 660c felt incredibly solid. I think it's form factor is also less of a commitment. To me, hhkb 's seem like a commitment to the keyboard and learning and understanding it.

Also, the 660c key caps felt incredible.

I'm pretty comfortable with the HHKB, but have been feeling like I should sell my last Cherry board and pick up another Topre. HHKB is fantastic but I wanted something with a heavier case, and I've heard the keystrokes feel a bit deeper on the 660c. Do you know if the stock space bar for the 660c is PBT?

sorry, ive only typed on it for a few sessions, and couldnt tell ]:

[DAVYtm]

If you see a standard spacebar, you're likely looking at an FC660M. All the new FC660Cs I've seen are running the normal Topre 6u spacebar.

That was my only reservation, good to know. Thanks for the info!

I have never used an hhkb but my good friend has a 660c and I have been using a 660m for a while. The 660c felt incredibly solid. I think it's form factor is also less of a commitment. To me, hhkb 's seem like a commitment to the keyboard and learning and understanding it.

Also, the 660c key caps felt incredible.

I'm pretty comfortable with the HHKB, but have been feeling like I should sell my last Cherry board and pick up another Topre. HHKB is fantastic but I wanted something with a heavier case, and I've heard the keystrokes feel a bit deeper on the 660c. Do you know if the stock space bar for the 660c is PBT?

sorry, ive only typed on it for a few sessions, and couldnt tell ]:

Ah I took a look around online and it looks like it's ABS. Will have to try to trade one of my PBT space bars for a white one. C'est la vie

[clacktalk]

660c

[Porkins]

I have been using a HHKB for the past few months and just ordered an FC660C last night from Widebasket. I love my HHKB, but working as an accountant I live in excel and the dedicated arrow keys of the 660 are going to be a welcomed addition. As soon as I receive the board and type on it for a few hours I'll update my post with my opinion about the difference in feels.

[Neo.X]

I had a FC600C and sold it. HHKB feels better than it if it's not much better.

[ideus]

If you see a standard spacebar, you're likely looking at an FC660M. All the new FC660Cs I've seen are running the normal Topre 6u spacebar.

Just for the record: The FC660M, the one that has Cherry switches, has a 6.25u space bar but it does not have the stems in standard position.

[file_id]

The new 2015 FC660Ms have standard positions.

[ideus]

The new 2015 FC660Ms have standard positions.

Leopold finally got its mind right.

[sircheddar]

If you see a standard spacebar, you're likely looking at an FC660M. All the new FC660Cs I've seen are running the normal Topre 6u spacebar.

That was my only reservation, good to know. Thanks for the info!

I have never used an hhkb but my good friend has a 660c and I have been using a 660m for a while. The 660c felt incredibly solid. I think it's form factor is also less of a commitment. To me, hhkb 's seem like a commitment to the keyboard and learning and understanding it.

Also, the 660c key caps felt incredible.

I'm pretty comfortable with the HHKB, but have been feeling like I should sell my last Cherry board and pick up another Topre. HHKB is fantastic but I wanted something with a heavier case, and I've heard the keystrokes feel a bit deeper on the 660c. Do you know if the stock space bar for the 660c is PBT?

sorry, ive only typed on it for a few sessions, and couldnt tell ]:

Ah I took a look around online and it looks like it's ABS. Will have to try to trade one of my PBT space bars for a white one. C'est la vie

Good find. I do see a ton of topre space bar replacements, not sure why. Does rf come with a abs too maybe for some reason? Anyways, good luck making your decision. Just know that both choices are amazing!

[DAVYtm]

I have been using a HHKB for the past few months and just ordered an FC660C last night from Widebasket. I love my HHKB, but working as an accountant I live in excel and the dedicated arrow keys of the 660 are going to be a welcomed addition. As soon as I receive the board and type on it for a few hours I'll update my post with my opinion about the difference in feels.

Looking forward to reading it! I really love the INS/DEL and arrow cluster on it, so I'm hoping the feels are very similar to the HHKB if not better.

[Solo]

If you see a standard spacebar, you're likely looking at an FC660M. All the new FC660Cs I've seen are running the normal Topre 6u spacebar.

That was my only reservation, good to know. Thanks for the info!

I have never used an hhkb but my good friend has a 660c and I have been using a 660m for a while. The 660c felt incredibly solid. I think it's form factor is also less of a commitment. To me, hhkb 's seem like a commitment to the keyboard and learning and understanding it.

Also, the 660c key caps felt incredible.

I'm pretty comfortable with the HHKB, but have been feeling like I should sell my last Cherry board and pick up another Topre. HHKB is fantastic but I wanted something with a heavier case, and I've heard the keystrokes feel a bit deeper on the 660c. Do you know if the stock space bar for the 660c is PBT?

sorry, ive only typed on it for a few sessions, and couldnt tell ]:

Ah I took a look around online and it looks like it's ABS. Will have to try to trade one of my PBT space bars for a white one. C'est la vie

Good find. I do see a ton of topre space bar replacements, not sure why. Does rf come with a abs too maybe for some reason? Anyways, good luck making your decision. Just know that both choices are amazing!

RF boards also normally come with ABS spacebars.

[Hypersphere]

My favorite keyboard is my DIY silenced (with my Silencing Rings) black HHKB Pro 2 with blank black modifiers and spacebar and blue Topre alphanumeric keycaps. I like both the 60% form factor and the HHKB layout.

Much earlier, I had a first-generation Leopold FC660C. I liked the solid feel and sound, but I didn't like the layout as much as that of the HHKB. In addition, at that time, the keycaps on the FC660C were not nearly as nice as those on the HHKB. However, even with the new improved keycaps on the FC660C, I prefer the HHKB -- again because of the 60% form factor and layout.

As you may know, the switches in the FC660C are mounted to a steel plate, whereas in the HHKB they are mounted in the top plastic case. These differences give rise to a more solid feel and sound in the FC660C and a more plastic/springy sound/feel in the HHKB. I think because of the extra give when typing on the HHKB, I find typing on it to be less tiring than typing on a plate-mounted Topre board like the FC660C.

There are times when I prefer the sound and feel of plate-mounted Topre switches, and so I have a RF87U for this. When I am not typing on a 60% board like the HHKB, I like to use a TKL board. I have never been comfortable with any of the keyboards in the in-between categories, such as so-called 65%, 84-key, etc.

[sircheddar]

If you see a standard spacebar, you're likely looking at an FC660M. All the new FC660Cs I've seen are running the normal Topre 6u spacebar.

That was my only reservation, good to know. Thanks for the info!

I have never used an hhkb but my good friend has a 660c and I have been using a 660m for a while. The 660c felt incredibly solid. I think it's form factor is also less of a commitment. To me, hhkb 's seem like a commitment to the keyboard and learning and understanding it.

Also, the 660c key caps felt incredible.

I'm pretty comfortable with the HHKB, but have been feeling like I should sell my last Cherry board and pick up another Topre. HHKB is fantastic but I wanted something with a heavier case, and I've heard the keystrokes feel a bit deeper on the 660c. Do you know if the stock space bar for the 660c is PBT?

sorry, ive only typed on it for a few sessions, and couldnt tell ]:

Ah I took a look around online and it looks like it's ABS. Will have to try to trade one of my PBT space bars for a white one. C'est la vie

Good find. I do see a ton of topre space bar replacements, not sure why. Does rf come with a abs too maybe for some reason? Anyways, good luck making your decision. Just know that both choices are amazing!

RF boards also normally come with ABS spacebars.

Ok, i thought i had heard that some where. is there a reason... it just seems like dealing with such high quality boards, they would fit the last piece in the puzzle.

[DAVYtm]

My favorite keyboard is my DIY silenced (with my Silencing Rings) black HHKB Pro 2 with blank black modifiers and spacebar and blue Topre alphanumeric keycaps. I like both the 60% form factor and the HHKB layout.

Much earlier, I had a first-generation Leopold FC660C. I liked the solid feel and sound, but I didn't like the layout as much as that of the HHKB. In addition, at that time, the keycaps on the FC660C were not nearly as nice as those on the HHKB. However, even with the new improved keycaps on the FC660C, I prefer the HHKB -- again because of the 60% form factor and layout.

As you may know, the switches in the FC660C are mounted to a steel plate, whereas in the HHKB they are mounted in the top plastic case. These differences give rise to a more solid feel and sound in the FC660C and a more plastic/springy sound/feel in the HHKB. I think because of the extra give when typing on the HHKB, I find typing on it to be less tiring than typing on a plate-mounted Topre board like the FC660C.

There are times when I prefer the sound and feel of plate-mounted Topre switches, and so I have a RF87U for this. When I am not typing on a 60% board like the HHKB, I like to use a TKL board. I have never been comfortable with any of the keyboards in the in-between categories, such as so-called 65%, 84-key, etc.

Thanks for the thorough response! My favorite layout is that in-between size, I have a B. Mini right now and think I would love the 660C in terms of form factor. My biggest draw to the 660C is the layout and that it's plate-mounted. I've yet to try a plate-mounted Topre board yet though.

[Adriel]

I've tried them not in the long term but once where I went to the store to try both to decide on which will be my first topre board and I ended up getting the Leopold board. I don't know how to describe it but the Leopold feels more tactile and springy while the HHKB might feel more "thocky"(?) in comparison while the Leopold is more about the upstroke clack and the spring back. As many people has said the Leopold might feel stiffer, some say it's the metal backplate that makes it feel stiffer but yea be prepared for slightly stiffer keys.