« previous next »
Pages:  [1]     Go Down

Author Topic: MY old HHKB Pro has just died :(  (Read 4480 times)

0 Members and 1 Guest are viewing this topic.

Offline km0

  • Thread Starter
  • Posts: 1
MY old HHKB Pro has just died :(
« on: Mon, 26 April 2010, 17:45:46 »
Hey everyone.

This is my first post, and I'm jumping in looking for some help :)

My Happy Hacking Keyboard Professional has broken today, to make matters worse my tracker ball has started to ware so much is not longer moves smoothly.

Anyway, the USB port has been playing up for a while and today it broke clean off the PCB.  I'm not very adapt with a soldering iron nor have I got one that's accurate enough to fix it.  So I wondered if anyone knew where I might be able to pick up a replacement part?            

HHKB Model Number : [PD-KB300]
Topre part #  : [39-NA-0123]

It's served me well, but I'm not very happy that this as broken TBH.

I hadn't realized that it used a membrane, with springs beneath until I opened it today.

I'm kinda resigned to the fact I'm not going to find a replacement part, especially hard over here in the UK.

So I'm considering getting a new KB either as a backup or a replacement, would love some suggestions from anyone that's used one of these older HHKB Pros and can recommend an alternative for sub £100 (~$200 US).

I will most probably just use the USB to and map additional key combination's,  I found the setup I have on my HHKB to be sufficient, however it would be nice to have full n-key support if I ever wanted to in future.  Plus I would like to know it'll last for a good while, in fact I'd pay more if I knew it would last 2+ years.

Itching to get back to a decent Keyboard, already made a bunch of mistakes in this post and missed so many letters, grrrrrr.

Any thoughts on a decent tracker ball would be great too, although this is the keyboard forum.

Cheers km0
« Last Edit: Mon, 26 April 2010, 17:48:09 by km0 »
Logged

Offline itlnstln

  • Posts: 7048
MY old HHKB Pro has just died :(
« Reply #1 on: Mon, 26 April 2010, 18:02:07 »
I've got an HHKB for sale in the classifieds.  Holla at me.
Logged

Offline iMav

  • geekhack creator/founder
  • Location: Valley City, ND
  • "Τα εργαλεία σας είναι σημαντικά."
MY old HHKB Pro has just died :(
« Reply #2 on: Mon, 26 April 2010, 18:10:20 »
Are there any electronics shops, two-way radio repair, etc that you could pay to have it repaired?  That would be your cheapest alternative.
Logged

Offline Rajagra

  • Posts: 1930
MY old HHKB Pro has just died :(
« Reply #3 on: Mon, 26 April 2010, 23:15:56 »
Sorry to hear the bad news. I always suspected the USB socket was a weak point, and I'm not pleased to be proven right.

A Guruboard would be a good replacement, but price and release date are yet to be confirmed.

A Filco FKBN87M/EB with brown Cherry switches is nice, but works out a bit over £100. Is also US layout - not necessarily a bad thing. Ah, what am I thinking, the HHKB is also US-style so no problem there.

Don't throw the broken board away, there has to be someone willing to try and repair it. If I had the right tools I'd offer myself.
Logged

Offline ch_123

  • * Exalted Elder
  • Posts: 5860
MY old HHKB Pro has just died :(
« Reply #4 on: Tue, 27 April 2010, 02:04:53 »
Quote from: km0;176272

I hadn't realized that it used a membrane,


It doesn't. It has a capacitive contact board.

I'd definitely try to get it repaired. That failing, you can probably sell it in the market place here and someone can buy it and repair it themselves.
« Last Edit: Tue, 27 April 2010, 02:08:28 by ch_123 »
Logged

Offline elbowglue

  • Posts: 583
MY old HHKB Pro has just died :(
« Reply #5 on: Tue, 27 April 2010, 02:42:12 »
Do you have any pictures of how the board failed?  The capacitive switch seems to be able to last forever, perhaps the HHKB fans here can reinforce their boards so as to prevent such a breakdown in their keyboards in the future.

How long did you use it before it broke down on you?  Were you moving it from place to place a lot?

Thanks.

BTW if you buy itlnstln's board I'm sure you could sell your broken board on ebay for a decent price as it may not be a difficult fix!

Welcome to geekhack btw!
Logged
My keyboards: Filco Cherry Blue Tenkeyless(daily home), Compaq MX11800 (modded to blacks), Compaq "MX 84u",  Wellington\'s Dampened Endurapro, Pinkalicious Filco Blue Cherry, Chicony KB-5191, Chicony KB-5181, Desko MOS 5023 UP "elbowglue" spos (modded to blues), Siig Minitouch (monterey blue), SMK-88 (blue cherries), Ricercar SPOS
Smallest to biggest keyboards in inches (Length X Height) - Length is most important for a midline mouse position
KBC Poker: 11.6 x 3.9 - HHKB: 11.6 x 4.3 - Siig Minitouch (Geekhack Space Saver): 11.6 x 6 - Deck/Tg3 82: 12 x 6 - Noppoo Choc Mini 12.4 x 5.3 - Compaq "MX 84u": 13.1 x 7.5 - Filco Tenkeyless: 14 x 5.3 - Cherry "ricercar spos" G86-62410EUAGSA: 14 x 7.75 - Topre Realforce 86u: 14.4 x 6.65 - Desko "elbowglue spos" MOS 5023 UP: 14.5 x 8.4 - IBM Model M Spacesaver: 15.3 x 7 - G80-1800: 15.9 x 7.1 - Adesso MKB-125B: 16 x 7.3 - Compaq Mx11800, Cherry G80-11900: 16.25 x 7.5 - Filco Standard: 17.3 x 5.4 - Unicomp Endurapro: 17.9 x 7.1 - Adesso MKB-135B: 18.3 x 6.0 - Cherry G80-3000: 18.5 x 7.6 - IBM Model M, Unicomp Customizer: 19.3 x 8.27

Offline ch_123

  • * Exalted Elder
  • Posts: 5860
MY old HHKB Pro has just died :(
« Reply #6 on: Tue, 27 April 2010, 02:47:11 »
Quote from: elbowglue;176491
Do you have any pictures of how the board failed?


He said the USB port snapped off.
Logged

Offline Otterclock

  • Posts: 144
MY old HHKB Pro has just died :(
« Reply #7 on: Tue, 27 April 2010, 03:52:30 »
You'll spend another $250 on a new one and you'll like it, darnit.

How old was it? Really I don't see why a keyboard that price wouldn't have a spectacular warranty. If it were a $20 Logitech you'd have a brand new one by now, why they heck can't these "premium" board makers give premium warranties. Goshdarnit to heck. If I spend that much on a keyboard and it breaks within 5 years they better hand deliver a new one along with a basket of French pastries.

(I hope it wasn't 15 years old or that'll suck the whacky indignation right outta my post)
« Last Edit: Tue, 27 April 2010, 03:56:48 by Otterclock »
Logged
ABS M1|IBM Model M|Lite-On 1788|Cherry G83 6744LUAUS| Logitech S510| Scorpius M10| Cherry 11900.

Offline kishy

  • Posts: 1576
  • Location: Windsor, ON Canada
  • Eye Bee M
    • http://kishy.ca/
MY old HHKB Pro has just died :(
« Reply #8 on: Tue, 27 April 2010, 08:53:19 »


Logged
Enthusiast of springs which buckle noisily: my keyboards
Want to learn about the Kishsaver?
kishy.ca

Offline ch_123

  • * Exalted Elder
  • Posts: 5860
MY old HHKB Pro has just died :(
« Reply #9 on: Tue, 27 April 2010, 09:03:18 »
Really what it needs is some gigantic ****-off aviation plug coming out of the back...
Logged

Offline itlnstln

  • Posts: 7048
MY old HHKB Pro has just died :(
« Reply #10 on: Tue, 27 April 2010, 09:15:35 »
Needs moar XLR.
Logged

Offline kishy

  • Posts: 1576
  • Location: Windsor, ON Canada
  • Eye Bee M
    • http://kishy.ca/
MY old HHKB Pro has just died :(
« Reply #11 on: Tue, 27 April 2010, 09:17:10 »
Searching for an image of a "giant plug" found buttplugs. Excellent.
Logged
Enthusiast of springs which buckle noisily: my keyboards
Want to learn about the Kishsaver?
kishy.ca

Offline itlnstln

  • Posts: 7048
MY old HHKB Pro has just died :(
« Reply #12 on: Tue, 27 April 2010, 09:38:14 »
I don't mind the side location so much since it's easier to access than the back, but having it on the right side of the keyboard is pretty dumb as that is where most people have their mice.
Logged

Offline itlnstln

  • Posts: 7048
MY old HHKB Pro has just died :(
« Reply #13 on: Tue, 27 April 2010, 09:45:17 »
They need to start from scratch on that thing.  The just need to come out with a Das-branded Filco and leave all the other bull**** behind.
Logged

Offline itlnstln

  • Posts: 7048
MY old HHKB Pro has just died :(
« Reply #14 on: Tue, 27 April 2010, 11:23:44 »
Troll or not, you're exactly right.  They market themselves as having the most elite keyboard on the market on top of being a software company.  That said, they should have something like the HHKB out there and rake in the dough.  The Das looks more gamer-focused than elite-programmer focused.
Logged

Offline itlnstln

  • Posts: 7048
MY old HHKB Pro has just died :(
« Reply #15 on: Tue, 27 April 2010, 11:33:14 »
The obvious choice.  I don't really think that anyone on that list except for him is a real troll.  *******s, maybe, but not trolls.

I am on my HHKB right now.  I am going to give it one more shot before I sell it (or don't) and my G80-1863HUMUS-2 shows up (Thursday, hopefully).  I think I figured out how it was hurting my fingers, though.  I have been typing a little differently today, and they are not as fatiguing as they were.  They're still not that great, IMO, mind you, but they aren't as bad.  I still like the Realforce better.
Logged

Offline microsoft windows

  • Blue Troll of Death
  • * Exalted Elder
  • Posts: 3621
  • President of geekhack.org
    • Get Internet Explorer 6
MY old HHKB Pro has just died :(
« Reply #16 on: Tue, 27 April 2010, 14:15:11 »
So the $10 IBM keyboard once again outlives the $200 one...
Logged
CLICK HERE!     OFFICIAL PRESIDENT OF GEEKHACK.ORG    MAKE AMERICA GREAT AGAIN MERRY CHRISTMAS

Offline itlnstln

  • Posts: 7048
MY old HHKB Pro has just died :(
« Reply #17 on: Tue, 27 April 2010, 14:16:32 »
Really?  MS didn't make the troll poll?
Logged

Offline kishy

  • Posts: 1576
  • Location: Windsor, ON Canada
  • Eye Bee M
    • http://kishy.ca/
MY old HHKB Pro has just died :(
« Reply #18 on: Tue, 27 April 2010, 15:34:01 »
Quote from: itlnstln;176661
Really?  MS didn't make the troll poll?


It must not have been as officiol as we thought.
Logged
Enthusiast of springs which buckle noisily: my keyboards
Want to learn about the Kishsaver?
kishy.ca

Offline ricercar

  • * Elevated Elder
  • Posts: 1697
  • Location: Silicon Valley
  • mostly abides
MY old HHKB Pro has just died :(
« Reply #19 on: Wed, 28 April 2010, 19:40:03 »
Quote from: ripster;176611
shove pic in their face in blatent attempt to elicit emotional response.


Isn't that sort of like a blatant attempt, but misspelled?

Quote from: itlnstln;176619
*******s, maybe, but not trolls.


I'm a ****, not a troll or *******. 3.14159265358979323846264338327950288 (turn down the volume)
Logged
I trolled Geekhack and all I got was an eponymous SPOS.

Offline ricercar

  • * Elevated Elder
  • Posts: 1697
  • Location: Silicon Valley
  • mostly abides
MY old HHKB Pro has just died :(
« Reply #20 on: Wed, 28 April 2010, 20:39:22 »
Quote from: ripster;177137
Wait, your Avatar says "blackhearted turd"

Now how did that happen?




Ha ha you edited your post after I snapped the pic.
Logged
I trolled Geekhack and all I got was an eponymous SPOS.

Offline ch_123

  • * Exalted Elder
  • Posts: 5860
MY old HHKB Pro has just died :(
« Reply #21 on: Thu, 29 April 2010, 06:21:21 »
Quote from: microsoft windows;176660
So the $10 IBM keyboard once again outlives the $200 one...


Ripster - that's the way to do it!
Logged
Pages:  [1]     Go Up
« previous next »