Yet another HHKB2 review

[Spikebolt]

This review is not meant to be objective, it's a very personal and biased view of the keyboard.

Background

My name is Cosme, I'm 26 years old and this is my second Topre keyboard. My first topre keyboard was a Realforce 88UB and I liked it so much that I decided to invest in another Topre keyboard. I chose the HHKB because everyone talks about how great of a board it is. I had been wanting to try it for a long time and finally got the chance to buy it about a month ago.


Build Quality

The first impression is that the keyboard is quite underwhelming. It has no rubber feet in the back and the rubber feet on the front are really bad. Too small, bad grip. Of course this isn't a huge problem, but when you're paying so much for a board these little details hurt my "ego". I paid premium and expected a premium product.

Another factor about the HHKB2 is that it isn't plate mounted. You can't actually pop the switches like a PCB mounted mx board, but they aren't actually mounted into a metal frame. This raises some concerns regarding the durability of the product but the HHKB2 feels solid, no creaks or anything. Overall decent build.

It comes with a detachable cable, which I always love (Pexon here I go again).




Keycaps

As far as stock keycaps go these are probably the best yet. Medium thick PBT dyesubbed legends, pretty much all you can ask for. I originally had the blank keycaps, but I ended up swapping for the legend keycaps. I think this keyboard looks prettier with legends, really!

As this is a Topre keyboard you will find that the aftermarket for keycaps is extremely limited. There are barely any Topre sets available, specially if you are in EU




Layout

I have always been a ISO user and always loved ISO. That's why I got a Realforce 88UB first, I love ISO. It really is the most comfortable way of typing in Portuguese. Switching to this 60% ANSI-esque layout has been a serious challenge.

First major problem: the delete placement. Being used to the big enter key, I was banging the delete key pretty much all the time. ALL. THE. TIME. Eventually I got used to it, though it would take longer but after a day or two it was fine. If you actually think about it, it makes a lot of sense. I like it.

Second major problem: everything symbol is in a different place. I thought this would be a big deal but it was actually fine. Unlike other ANSI keyboards the "~" key (which is used in every other sentence in portuguese) is in a place that actually makes sense, typing in portuguese is no longer this oh-so-painful experience. It is still significantly worse than typing with an ISO layout, though. I really like the ANSI symbol placement for software development, it could hardly be beaten. The only thing that I truly dislike is that the parentheses are one key to the right where I'm used to, so I still make that mistake rather often. Didn't take too long to get used to the symbol placement.

Third major problem: caps lock was replaced by the Control key. This is fine and makes perfect sense: who the hell uses caps lock? No one, that's who. The control placement is a lot more ergonomic, but I constantly make this mental confusion with Control and Shift. Operations such as shift+select followed by Control+X confuse me, I have to actually think about what I'm doing. It's slowly improving, but after a month of usage I still make these basic mistakes.

Fourth major problem: lack of arrow cluster. I thought I didn't use the arrow cluster that much, but I used it all the time. It has been very painful to adjust to the HHKB's arrow function layer. Some people report that's actually more comfortable to use after you get used to it but I don't feel the same. I have grown used to it, but I don't love it. It's an inconvenience to use and not very ergonomic. I think I would prefer a FN+WASD combination, though I'm not sure about it because it would require two hands to operate.




Typing experience

I already had my first Topre experience with the Realforce 88UB (45g) so I knew what to expect about the typing experience.

It's hard to describe Topres for those who have never tried. I'd say they feel a bit like clears but the bump is less pronounced, softer, smoother, better. It's a great feeling that makes you wanna type forever (I admit, it is the reason I'm writting this short review heh).

The HHKB2 feeling is amazing. Absolutely fantastic. It has a lighter and smoother feeling than the 88UB. I'm gonna say it's due to the fact that the HHKB2 is plastic mounted (instead of plate mounted) but it's just a guess. The keystrokes feel softer, specially when you bottom out. It's quite addictive to type on the HHKB2, once you start you don't wanna stop. They feel perfect.

It's weird that I had so many problems adjusting to the layout but I still kinda like the 60% form factor. When I type in my TKL boards they feel too big. I'm no longer used for a keyboard to occupy so much space in my desk.


Sound

I like the sound of the HHKB2, if feels slightly more silent than the 88UB as well. I got the non-silent version of the HHKB2 but I feel like the keyboard isn't noisy at all. I wouldn't bother getting the Type-S version or doing silent mod. The keyboard is fine.


Gaming

I tried to play some games and it felt okay I guess. Dota2 and Starcraft were decent though I did miss the F1-F4 keys for a while. I tried playing Civilization 5 but since I'm super used to the arrow cluster for moving around the map the experience was very painful. Would rather game on my Filco Majestouch 2 with reds.


Veredict

It's very hard to rate this keyboard. My main problem with it is the layout. Every time I go back to typing on an ISO board I feel like it's way more comfortable, it feels right. I like the arrow cluster, even though I still have this ilusion that I never actually use it

On the other hand the keyboard feels fantastic. Way better than any other keyboard I own. Way better. It has changed me in a way: I remap every Caps lock to Control now, I no longer press the right key when choosing the autocompleted URL in chrome and I am more efficient and self conscious about the use of the arrow cluster. Positive changes!

I think this board isn't for everyone and that should be very clear. Before considering buying this keyboard you should stop looking at how pretty it is and start noticing how much you use your arrow cluster and imagine yourself living without it.

Overall I'd say that 60% is probably not my thing, but maybe a FC660C is. Gotta wait for them Zensuji. deals

Pros:
* Lighter Topre Switches
* Detachable cable
* Very light
* Best feeling ever

Cons:
* Sub-par rubber feet
* Layout is very hard to get into
* Very expensive, no EU retailer
* Doesn't stop me from typing crap

[Muirium]

I sense an HHKB JP in your future!



You beat me to my review. I've had my HHKB Pro 2 Type-S since February, and used it a whole lot in that time, but still no µReview! It'll be a while yet, as I've got this here Matias Ergo Pro to cover first before I send it on tour. In that time I also picked up a Realforce TKL, but 55g instead, so there's a lot for me to talk about when it comes to Topre. And I've been in that habit since long before I touched one!

Intriguing to hear from someone who isn't a fan of the HHKB's layout. Your observations about its feel, especially compared to a Realforce, chime with mine quite nicely. But I love that little layout so much. You should see all the backslashes I'm deleting here when typing on something else, especially as radical as this split keyboard.

I have the advantage of typing only English, so ANSI is elegant for me. And I trained for the HHKB's navigation layer using my other keyboards first: one of which was a custom I designed in the HHKB's image, no less! When I fiiiiiiinally did get around to buying the genuine article, I was already home. Indeed, the HHKB was surprisingly small, light and immediately easy to use thanks to that. I'd already been through the learning phase elsewhere.

Learn that layer. You'll be pleased you did. It comes in useful on lots of keyboards besides the HHKB. I even use it on my Kishsaver!

[zts]

Nice review, Spikebolt! It's really hard to find a better feel & spacesaver keyboard than HHKB. The feel is fantastic and the size is amazing. Learning the layers is a key to mastering it. Unfortunately, for some of us who use more than one KB daily, the learning process is never complete. When I just write with no time constraints or deadlines, I prefer HHKB, but when I need to create something fairly quickly I'm more efficient on Leopold FC660C. Also, I use HHKB with Mac more often and FC660C with Wintel. I guess, the best layout choice comes down to a personal preference, but, IMO, if you are looking for an extraordinary type feel then Topre with those awesome dyesubs is the way to go.

[Eszett]

I think the missing rubber feets is a minor Con, since you can buy them pretty cheap. One major Con is that you can't assign the scancodes freely to the keys. Though I've read hasu offers a custom controller for HHKB, here.

Get this controller, create your custom layout. And then you'll probably need other keycaps, too, since the legends are wrong, then Then look how much dollars you've spent for all this This is the biggest Con.

[Khers]

Yup, hasu makes an alternative controller for the HHKB. As a matter of fact, I should have the BT version of that one with me shortly

Hasu's alternative controller thread on GH

[Spikebolt]

I sense an HHKB JP in your future!

Thought about it as well but JIS seems a bit weird to me. The HHKB2 has this symmetric form which is so great to look at, while the HHKB JP is all over the place with funky button placements. If one shows up in the Marketplace I might bite it

I've tried to get used to the layout, and in a way I did. I wanted to love the layout because I love the feeling of the HHKB2. After a month it's still a work in progress but the HHKB2 will continue to be my main board at work. I find it great for software developing and will continue to make an effort to get used to the arrow layer, hoping that someday I will feel it as an improvement.

Nice review, Spikebolt! It's really hard to find a better feel & spacesaver keyboard than HHKB. The feel is fantastic and the size is amazing. Learning the layers is a key to mastering it. Unfortunately, for some of us who use more than one KB daily, the learning process is never complete. When I just write with no time constraints or deadlines, I prefer HHKB, but when I need to create something fairly quickly I'm more efficient on Leopold FC660C. Also, I use HHKB with Mac more often and FC660C with Wintel. I guess, the best layout choice comes down to a personal preference, but, IMO, if you are looking for an extraordinary type feel then Topre with those awesome dyesubs is the way to go.

I actually made an effort not to use other keyboards because the constant switch between TKL to 60%, ISO to ANSI was driving me nuts at the beginning. It didn't help that Windows stores the layout definition PER PROGRAM. This might be useful for someone but in my opinion that is a major annoyance.

The HHKB2 is without a doubt the best keyboard in terms of feeling that I ever tried. And these dyesubs are amazing

I think the missing rubber feets is a minor Con, since you can buy them pretty cheap. One major Con is that you can't assign the scancodes freely to the keys. Though I've read hasu offers a custom controller for HHKB, here.

Get this controller, create your custom layout. And then you'll probably need other keycaps, too, since the legends are wrong, then Then look how much dollars you've spent for all this This is the biggest Con.

It is a small thing, probably a nitpicking thing. But when a keyboard retails for 230$ I don't expect having to go search for rubber feet. I expect a premium product because I paid a premium price. Do you have any rubber feet you can recommend me buying, by the way?

I can see the potential of a custom controller (I'd like to add media controls, for instance) but for now AutoHotKey will have to do. I don't have any experience with custom controllers and I just don't feel like risking it . I am going to try modding an AEK2 soon, maybe then I'll feel more confortable.

[Muirium]

The HHKB does have some media keys in the Function layer, by the way. Fn + A, S and D controls volume. And on OS X at least, Fn + O = screen brightness up and Fn + P = screen brightness down. (Might as well do something with those otherwise useless Scroll Lock and Pause/Break keys!)

But sure, if you really want customisation, Hasu's the way to go. Especially Bluetooth! I'd love to make my HHKB wireless some day. But my SSK's going first!

[Spikebolt]

Volume controls are for Mac only Mu

[Muirium]

Really? I don't understand why that would be. Media keys are in the USB HID spec, and the media layer on Ducky and CM boards works perfectly well on OS X as well as Windows. This should be entirely cross platform.

Tried flipping the Mac mode switch to see if they work then? If so, PFU's being odd to disable those keycodes when that DIP switch isn't engaged.

[Spikebolt]

Yeah, I have it on Mac mode all the time. Doesn't work unfortunately. You can read it on EK webpage: "² Macintosh only; requires driver",

[Muirium]

No driver installed here. I loathe those things and avoid them in general. The HHKB works the moment you first plug it in.

Not that I've ever plugged mine into a pc! But it's fine on all my computers. The Realforce TKL, meanwhile, isn't quite as dependable. The integrated numpad doesn't work, and the keyboard won't wake Macs from sleep while remaining usable! I suspect that's the Topre for Windows users while the HHKB is Mac optimised.

[Spikebolt]

I tried on my iMac at work and it works perfectly, no drivers needed. On the Windows bootcamp it doesn't work. Weird implementation choice but what I need is Play/Stop and Next song

[Muirium]

Does your music app support system wide hot keys? Have you tried using the Windows equivalent of Karabiner?

I don't use playback keys much, as you can tell. I'm way too fussy about what song comes up next!

[Spikebolt]

I actually haven't tried auto hot keys with function keys but standard combinations work great.