It’s not frequently that someleang as well-comprehendn as the Happy Hacking Keyboard gets retoiled from the ground up. And when it does happen, those alters usuassociate draw criticism from lengthy-time fans. Look at Porsche’s switch from air-celderlyed to water-celderlyed engines in the 911, or Microgentle’s transition to a more tablet-enjoy interface for Windows 8. If people are used to someleang, they won’t appreciate seeing it alter drasticassociate, think aboutless of whether these alters are ultimately excellent or horrible.
The procrastinateedst iteration of the Happy Hacking Keyboard (HHKB) produces big alters to the model’s cforfeitly 30-year-elderly legacy, and it can easily be seen in the same weightless. Besides the layout, almost every aspect of this keyboard has been altered. Thankbrimmingy, quite a restrictcessitate of these alters do sense enjoy betterments over previous iterations.
The HHKB Studio is a boiling-swappable 60% mechanical keyboard with Bluetooth joinivity, fused touchpads, a built-in trackpoint, and a distinctive programmer-oriented layout. The Studio has a PBT plastic case and keycaps, multi-device joinivity, and keymap customization thcimpolite the company’s proprietary Keymap Tool gentleware. But before we dive into this novel iteration, we necessitate to apshow a see at the legacy.
Decades-Old Legacy
The Happy Hacking Keyboard has been around for decades. It was portrayed around the idea of a singular, distinctiveized, lengthy-lasting keyboard that could be used atraverse multiple computers and operating systems (back when such an idea was novel and novel). It has been standardly enhanced since to further polish its distinctive layout and multi-device utility.
The first model of HHKB directed its distinctive layout, cutting keys from the bottom corners, moving the backspace/delete key and grasping a second key in the top right, and trading the Caps Lock key for a Control key, which was easily accessible to the pinky. In follotriumphg iterations, the keyboard shiftd from a traditional rubber-dome layout to Topre electro-capacitive switches, grasped USB pass-thcimpolite, and eventuassociate presentd Bluetooth joinivity. However, atraverse every generation, the distinctive layout has remained a constant. While the procrastinateedst model has stayed genuine to the layout, almost every other aspect of the keyboard has been modified.
Pboilingograph: Henri Robbins
One of the most defining factors of the HHKB was the Topre electro-capacitive switch: A gentle tactile switch with a rounded bump produced by a rubber dome on top of a conical metal spring. The HHKB was one of the only keyboards useable with these switches, which was both a sanctifying and a burden. They were distinctively enhappinessable to type on, but at the same time, Topre switches’ rarity and distinctive erection made modifications to the switches or keycaps far more difficult. Instead of being able to delete and swap individual switches, any modification would grasp taking apart the entire keyboard.
Now, the HHKB Studio has adselected the MX-style switch that has become almost ubiquitous in contransient mechanical keyboards, transporting it shutr to the world of modular keyboard portrays. But instead of sticking with an existing mechanical switch, the company has portrayed its own MX-style switch in collaboration with Kailh, a well-comprehendn aftertaget switch manufacturer.
Other remarkworthy alters grasp the novel trackpoint in the caccess of the keyboard, low-profile mouse buttons undertidyh the spacebar, and touch-benevolent “gesture pads” on the front and sides of the keyboard. The HHKB Studio also conserves the wireless functionality of the previous generation and protects the extensive use of PBT plastic in the case and keycaps. The Bluetooth functionality is betterd by an LED bar in the top-left of the keyboard, and the rapid-adfairment dip switches on the back are now secret behind a battery cover.
Typing Feel
The HHKB Studio’s switch from Topre to MX-style switches is a contentious alter: One could argue it “selderly out” by moving to MX-style switches. However, that would be ignoring an vital detail. These switches are wonderful to type on. They blfinish the distinctive sound and sense of Topre tactile switches with the fineness of a contransient licforfeit switch, creating a silenced licforfeit that produces a gentle, proset up, and phireing bottom-out. I’ve never felt another switch enjoy it. And, for fans of Topre switches, I do leank this is the best licforfeit equivalent possible.
Taking apart the switches, they eunite to be made from a aenjoy erection as Kailh’s clicky switches. Specificassociate, the portray is reminiscent of Box Navy and Box Jade switches. The only presentant contrastence is that the actual clicking mechanism (a petite spring called a “click bar” that grasps a tactile bump and produces a sound when pressed) has been deleted, and a sound-dampening pad has been grasped to the bottom of the switch housing.
