price

Happy Hacking Pro

Switches:

Topre 45 gram, Topre Silent

About:

The happy hacking keyboard is an interesting %60 keyboard, it uses a layout aimed at old school unix users (60-Key modified US ANSI Layout in the case of the American market ). All Happy Hacking Keyboard Professional keyboards come with a DIP switches on the back of the keyboard. While the keyboard is non programmable some users have soldered in a different controller in order to get full programmablity. The standard Happy Hacking Keyboard Professional 2 uses Topre 45G uniform switches. It has a USB hub. A silent version called the Happy Hacking Keyboard Professional2 Type-S is available for those who want to be extra quite in the office, although the normal Happy hacking Professional2 should be quite enough for office use. A Bluetooth version exists. The Japanese layout of the happy hacking pro has an arrow cluster and is on Amazon. Has a plastic case which some feel is not right considering the price you pay for the premium name and craftsmanship of the HHKB. Some say the keys can rattle due to bad QC.

Pros:

  • Can accept Topre real-force key caps
  • Normal version is mac friendly
  • Silent version
  • Street cred (A E S T H T I C)
  • Topre switches
  • USB hub
  • Wireless version is an option

Cons:

  • Expensive
  • Layout may take time to get used to due to no arrow cluster
  • Not fully programmable
  • Plastic case
  • Some have complained about QC (keep in mind this is one of the most popular keyboard's in the hobby so there are bound to be a few people unhappy)

Additional Comments:

  • Because keyboards are accessories to PC makers, they focus on minimizing the manufacturing costs. But that’s incorrect. It’s in HHKB’s slogan, but when America’s cowboys were in the middle of a trip and their horse died, they would leave the horse there. But even if they were in the middle of a desert, they would take their saddle with them. The horse was a consumable good, but the saddle was an interface that their bodies had gotten used to. In the same vein, PCs are consumable goods, while keyboards are important interfaces. -Eiiti Wada (one of the creators of the Happy Hacking Keyboard)
  • There is a none mechanical version of the happy hacking keyboard called the “Happy Hacking Lite” the Lite variants has a non-detachable cable. Unlike almost all the other Happy Hacking Keyboards, the lite has an arrow cluster. The current lite even has a USB hub! There is even a HHKB lite for mac. The Lite for Mac substitutes the Super key (labelled as "◇") for Command key (labelled as "⌘") and adds an extra label "Option" on the "Alt" key. In addition to all this the keyboard is offered in a unique colour known as "Snow White". The lite also has a smaller space bar.