HHKB Pro 2

[cookie]

I usually code java with the eclipse IDE and I use the arrow cluster non stop. The point atm is that I have more trouble with the ansi layout then the arrows so at this point I can't really say that the missing cluster is slowing me down. And I do all the good jazz as well, like move lines, cut, copy, duplicate and navigate throught the whole project with page up/down.

I give myself a few month to get used to the ansi and hhkb layout so I can tell for sure if the missing arrow cluster is really a problem. What I definately love is the small form factor.

I hope that once you geht used to this, you will do all arrow navigation without thinking about.
Thankfully the arrow cluster is on the left hand, otherwise I couldn't pull off a lot of eclipse combinations. WASD arrow cluster woul'd be a pain!

[matt3o]

you mean right-hand?

[Muirium]

Yes. I duped the HHKB arrows for my right hand and use ESDF on left. Both in the same layer, so I've never far to go.

[matt3o]

I'll give it another shot, but I don't like the 45gr that much, probably that's the reason why I didn't give it a second chance.

[cookie]

Yes ofc.. I mean the left hand. My mistake.
I like the 45 gramms! I like verry light switches in generall!

I really need some silcone or rubber feet to fix this slippery feeling.

[Muirium]

Trev wrote about slip prevention in his thread:

http://deskthority.net/keyboards-f2/my- ... t5497.html

[cookie]

Those pads are exately what I need! Thanks Mu

Here some pictures:







Sorry for my messy desk and yes my monitor stands on an old amazon cardbox

Now is the time to pimp my desktop a lillte bit!

[matt3o]

beware! those rubber pads damage the keyboard plastic. try with this instead http://uk.farnell.com/jsp/search/produc ... KU=1960820

[cookie]

Hehe I like the scoth silicon rubber pads not the anti slip mat.

I played a game right now and it's verry decent fot those things too... I think there is no gaming switch it's all a matter of taste and what you get used to.

[Muirium]

Absolutely. Anything that feels good is good.

Especially once you've got the layout aced. I'm reading your early typos as excess enthusiasm or more midweek drunkenness!

[ne0phyte]

I hope that once you geht used to this, you will do all arrow navigation without thinking about.
Thankfully the arrow cluster is on the left hand, otherwise I couldn't pull off a lot of eclipse combinations. WASD arrow cluster woul'd be a pain!

You seem to do exactly the same as I do with my HHKB and like I said before: there is no difference for me anymore and the arrow cluster feels natural by now. No need to think about finger placement and even stuff like ctrl+alt+del or common F-shortcuts on Windows are no problem anymore after a few months.

Just don't switch between your HHKB and other keyboards until you learned the layout

[JBert]

It's not the arrow cluster per se but the combos to navigate and select text. When I'm developing I'm constantly navigating through the code, select text, cut, move around, paste... etc... this translates into a lot of ctrl+shift+arrows or ctrl+shift+home/end. If you don't have a dedicated arrows you need one additional key ctrl+shift+FN+whatever.

Consider that when you code you navigate more than you actually write (since the IDE helps you completing text with macros and auto-completion). So when I code a dedicated arrow cluster and home/end are really-really helpful for me.

I "palm" the Fn key (it sits on the "Menu" key, or Caps lock on an XT) and have the cursor / home-end keys embedded near the homerow as IJKL / U-O, so I find that it reduces hand movement a lot during coding. You still have your left hand free to press Control + shift, and if you use your mouse on the left you can navigate pretty fast.

Same with the HHKB, once you get used to it, the nav cluster is simply there.

[matt3o]

I "palm" the Fn key (it sits on the "Menu" key, or Caps lock on an XT) and have the cursor / home-end keys embedded near the homerow as IJKL / U-O, so I find that it reduces hand movement a lot during coding. You still have your left hand free to press Control + shift, and if you use your mouse on the left you can navigate pretty fast.

Same with the HHKB, once you get used to it, the nav cluster is simply there.

This makes sense, especially if you have the arrows in the IJKL or IJKM. Not sure I can easily reach the arrows (and home/end) with my palm pressing FN on the HHKB, though. Have to try it.

Edit: okay I just tried, to be really comfortable the arrows should be in the OKL, or OKL; . I can't really reach them in the [;'/ position pressing FN with the palm. With little finger it somehow works but I can't say I'm fast using it. Maybe it's just a matter of getting used to it.

[cookie]

The only thing I would swap is the position of the home\end and page up\down.... They are verry far away from your FN key.
But this is the second day with my hhkb. So I will sure somehow get used to it. I must say that I absolutely don't miss the control key on the bottom left for gaming. I play a lot of League of Legends and Dota2 and Counter Strike 1.6, Counterstrike GO. And I really like the position of the control key.

I am going to short the mouse cable and use it via the USB Hub This will look great!

[matt3o]

I probably should build a custom controller for the HHKB... too many ongoing projects

[cookie]

Too many parallel procect at once can be very demotivating
I have several keyboard projects at home and what can I say, not one is finished right now... TIme is the biggest problem :/

[Muirium]

I probably should build a custom controller for the HHKB... too many ongoing projects

A capacitative matrix! I remember when you had similar plans for your Topre Leopold. If you do get around to it, you must show us how to handle a capacitative matrix, Matt. That's where all the cool switches are at!

[ne0phyte]

http://geekhack.org/index.php?topic=12047.0

[cookie]

Coding is totally pain in the ass right now, hopefully this feeling of beeing super slow will go away soon

[Muirium]

Thanks. GH used to have details of (experimental) Bluetooth mod for the HHKB too, but it was lost to whatever natural backup disasters they're prone to over there. I'd better save myself a copy of this one…

You know how it is Cookie. Do not think of the HHKB. BE the HHKB! You must be at one with the Realforce. (Ahem.)

[cookie]

Yeah maybe you are right but I am ISO the HHKB is ANSI, that is the problem right now haha

[JBert]

I probably should build a custom controller for the HHKB... too many ongoing projects

Well, hasu has done most of the work for you:
(EDIT: this is an alternative of the mod, here he basically translated signals from the matrix scan chip to the controller, meaning you can do some limited remaps while keeping the USB hub)
HHKB pro2 layout changer

And here it was later duplicated by Soarer and HelgeG:
(EDIT: a Teensy adaptation of the GH thread ne0phyte was linking to)
Hardware dvorak HHKB.

EDIT:

http://geekhack.org/index.php?topic=12047.0

I mixed up the links, see my edits above.

[cookie]

@Neo How long did it take you to get used to the arrow cluster?
The Home/End position is really awkward for me right now.

[matt3o]

@Neo How long did it take you to get used to the arrow cluster?
The Home/End position is really awkward for me right now.

thanks I KNOW!

[ne0phyte]

@Neo How long did it take you to get used to the arrow cluster?
The Home/End position is really awkward for me right now.

The arrow keys came naturally to me after 2-3 weeks. PgUp/PgDn and Home/End took one or two weeks longer.

[cookie]

The biggest improvement for me would be something like this:

Fn key mapped to the big key next to the spacebar on the right side, with that together:
p = up
; = down
l = left
' = right
o = home
[ = end
. = page up
/ = page down

That would feel much more like a normal arrow cluster plus the positioning of home/end is much more natural.
So your thumb would be on the fn key while your normal finger could do all the good navigation stuff on the keys, what you guys think?

[ne0phyte]

Did you experiment with the DIP switch settings yet? You can put FN on the big key.

[cookie]

As far as I can tell you can only put the fn on the left big key and that wouldn't help me right now.
I turned 1, 3, 5, 6 on the rest is off... I think I will just stick with it and get used to it.

Did I mentioned how great the keycaps are? NO? They are really great, I am super curios how fast they will start to shine.
I never saw someone complaining about RF or HHKB to shine fast, time will tell

[ne0phyte]

Did I mentioned how great the keycaps are? NO? They are really great, I am super curios how fast they will start to shine.
I never saw someone complaining about RF or HHKB to shine fast, time will tell

Been using mine for 4 month 8-14h a day 7 days a week. Except for the ABS space bar absolutely no shine

[Muirium]

The space bar is definitely the weakest link. (It was like that on the Apple Extended II, too. Some people got decades of use out of those, but always wore the ABS space bars.) Anyone make PBT alternatives?