I speak english...

[PRISONER 24601]

So if I bought a Nipponese keyboard, what the heck would I do with those kana and function keys? Do they add an extra layer to the keyboard? Can I remap them, macro, what?

I'm guessing they would do nothing by default and I'd have to set something up with AHK. For you guys that own MoonClickers, what do you do with them... Other than type in Japanese, of course.

I'd buy one in a second if it weren't for the tiny backspace, but extra functionality might just put me over the top.

[leos]

Maybe try Something Different???:lalala:


hhkb in action

[PRISONER 24601]

I'm also white- so i don't have rhythm like the blacks, yellows, browns, and semetics of the world.

watching people play keyboards like an instrument is cool, but I want to know what i can do with those extra keys...

[timw4mail]

Nipponese? You mean Japanese?

I think the extra keys do function to add another layer, but I'm not completely sure.

[ecru]

I remapped those extra keys to ins / home / end (Filco FKB100M/NB).  Never had a need for another layer so haven't experimented with that.  Note also if you just plug the board in with US layout, the symbols stay where you expect them (not as printed).

[PRISONER 24601]

I remapped those extra keys to ins / home / end (Filco FKB100M/NB).  Never had a need for another layer so haven't experimented with that.  Note also if you just plug the board in with US layout, the symbols stay where you expect them (not as printed).

Ah, thanks. That's really good to know.

I wonder how easy it would be to remap the other layer to, say, a colemak layout? I bet there are more useful things to do with one, but that's all I can think of right now.

[microsoft windows]

If the layers act like that I might be interested in getting a keyboard like that to play with different keyboard layouts.

[PRISONER 24601]

If the layers act like that I might be interested in getting a keyboard like that to play with different keyboard layouts.

I don't know if they do, though. I've never heard of anyone doing it... and It would be pretty useless if you're the only one using the computer.

I can see it being really cool if, say, you're used to colemak and your wife only knows dvorak... or something. Of course that marriage was doomed from the start, and you can't expect a keyboard to fix those kind of things.

[ch_123]

Physical key arrangements aren't particularly interesting, unless you're doing something cool like the HHKB. Otherwise, US ANSI all the way!

God, I used to hate the US layout...

[quadibloc]

I'm also white- so i don't have rhythm like the blacks, yellows, browns, and semetics of the world.

This is the first time I've heard that the Chinese, the East Indians, and the Jews also have "natural rhythm".

[chimera15]

　You should at least still be able to use the keys to access symbols quicker. The mukan or henkan, I forget which should drop down a list of symbols if you type a letter, or say a name like copyright, or music, etc. Ⓒ　♬　There are a lot of really cool extended symbols in the Japanese kana as well if you know how to access them.

❀= hana=flower for instance.

☂=ame=rain or kasa





Make sure you're using the right driver for the keyboard. I like the alps usb Japanese driver for my boards.

You can use sharpkeys to change the keys to whatever you want.

[spremino]

So if I bought a Nipponese keyboard, what the heck would I do with those kana and function keys? Do they add an extra layer to the keyboard? Can I remap them, macro, what?

Yes, you can remap them or use their scancodes for macros. SharpKeys doesn't cut it, however. Been there, done that.

Tiny backspace has not been an issue for me, however you can swap it with Caps Lock for easier access.

Were Japanese keyboards more easier and cheaper to get, I would happily throw away all my European keyboards.