For the last decade I've been using an Apple Wireless keyboard. I've loved this thing. I've used it at home, in the office, and on client sites. Hell, I wrote my wedding vows with it connected to an iPad.
But I eventually managed to kill its left Shift, and that gave me the excuse to go nuts for a new keyboard.
I knew I wanted 60% form factor, maybe 65%. Sub-TKL for sure. I did not want a footprint significantly larger than the Apple Wireless I was retiring. I also did not want a DIY solution for my first mechanical kbd.
Tons of reading, tons of YT videos, and a number of samples later, I landed on two options.
- HHKBp2
- Vortex Pok3r w/ MX Whites and thick O rings
I ordered them both, intending to return the one I liked the least.
The HHKB arrived first.
It took some getting used to, to a large degree just because I was finally going to keys with proper travel.
I soon grew very fond of most of the layout. I live in bash and IntelliJ, so I haaated what was done to the tilde, and modifiers for arrows would clearly take a while to adjust to. I also really liked the feel and sound of the keys, although the lower rows seem lighter.
The switches are overall lighter than I would have liked. I often rest my fingers on the keys, and with this one I end up typing a row of A's or spaces.
They are also buttery smooth - a pleasure to type on.
I fully regretted going for the black on black.
A week later the Pok3r arrived.
This was a far more mixed bag.
I had gotten used to the HHKB layout, so I immediately started chasing that.
I hadn't noticed the Escape being merged with tilde. This had me fuming.
I started liking the programmability. I've now got 2 layers I live in.
The biggest fail BY FAR were the switches. They are all over the place. Some click loudly. Some click mildly. Some you can feel a bump, but no sound. The spring is twangy. And they are SO very scratchy, compared to both the sample I based my choice on, and of course the HHKB's Topre.
I've also used 2.5mm O rings on it (except for R1 which I've put 1.5mm behind the 2.5mm).
Occasionally the R Shift and Return keys bind.
My current choice is for the Pok3r.
In addition to all the above observations,
- The HHKB offers no programmability, and a Hasu is a significant expense on top of the already high purchase price.
- I am looking forward to putting SA or MT3 profile keycaps on the Pok3r. By comparison there's almost nothing for Topre.
But I am making the choice very half heartedly. The MX Whites turned out so bad that I've emailed the store to see if there's a possibility of a warranty replacement.
I am reading up on lubing them, and I've gotten in on the recent Kaihl BOX Pale Blue massdrop. I would have preferred Jades, based on a sample pack I got, but the Pale Blues will do. And, hey, MX keycap compatibility.
EDIT:I ended up keeping the HHKB instead.
The Pok3r is currently in the mail, being returned to mechanicalkeyboards.com for a full refund (nice dealings with they customer support) due to the inconsistency of the MX Whites. I made a video for them to illustrate the issue:
To be clear, the issue is also evident in another video I made testing out some naked switches.