* I'd really like it if this was a TKL.
* I really don't care for the sound.
* It feels pretty nice, but my Realforce R2 PFU is much better.
* So is my nopre.
* It still is a pretty good keyboard and comes in at #5 of the keyboards I currently own.
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Professional Classic. PD-KB401W. I bought open box at about $30 off.
First impression: It's trash.
That has been my review of the HHKB Professional Classic. Have a great day!
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(Note that I own a Topre Realforce R2 and a nopre Abko K935p v2. Like the HHKB, they're all weighted at 45g. The Realforce and the Abko are, currently, my two favorite keyboards.)
More seriously, I really did have that as my first impression. It feels an awful lot like my BTC 5100C and that's a dome/slider keyboard that costs about $30 on ebay. I also think the HHKB sounds like a cross between a Topre and Cherry MX blue and I don't think that's a good thing. I know there are silencing rings out there, though. Some may have come with either my Realforce or Abko, so I'll see if I can find those boxes. $220 keyboard and you've gotta spend another $20 to make it shut up ...
This is the first keyboard where I've complained about the sound, though.
I don't really care one way or another about where the Control key is (it's placed where the Caps Lock key usually is), because I've owned sufficient quantities of vintage keyboards that have that placing. I actually don't even care about the Delete key and `~ key placement, because I think I can change those keys functions via a dip switch or with software. Again, I'm used to 1U backspace keys because I've owned sufficient quantities of vintage keyboards. However, I would really like it if the Alt and Command ("diamond") keys were moved even a 1/4U more to the left or right (depending on which side of the spacebar). My Realforce is connected to my Mac and the middle key (Windows key) is my Command key. That just feels more comfortable to me.
When you go in to buy an HHKB, you already know it's a 60%. I have a fairly nice numeric keypad/calculator replacement, so I'm good. I do think it'd be nice if the HHKB was TKL. I still wouldn't mind if the F keys were in a layer, as they currently are, that is, if Topre needed to save a few $ on the HHKB.
One of the things I was wondering was what that little hole between the - and = keys was. It's the Caps Lock LED.
Typing ... well, that's an interesting story.
I don't type like a typist or a coder. Three to four fingers on my left hand and one or two on my right. I can probably do about 60 wpm. I initially just connected the keyboard to my work machine and proceeded to work. I rarely have to write long sentences, though. So, most of the day was just the bad sound grating on me as I type out a couple letters for various macros to run. However, late in the day, I had to do a procedure writeup for someone. That was a couple paragraphs and I did hit that 60 wpm max. The HHKB excelled and felt great doing so. The bad sound was still present, but not as noticeable.
So, how does it feel? I had a few folks tell me how the HHKB was superior in feel to the Realforce because the HHKB has a plastic mounting plate. What do I think? I think I prefer the Realforce. I'll keep playing with the HHKB for a week or so and if I still think it's not any better, I'll sell it. Maybe I'll try a Leopold
.BTW, after typing the above wall of text, I'm pretty consistently hitting the Delete key without a problem, so I might not need that dip switch setting.
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So, it's been 11 days. Let's take a look back.
After a few days, I got used to the clack/thock/noise of the keys and/or I turned up the music I usually have going. It was a bit unfair of me to compare the sound to MX blues. Maybe closer to Futaba MA? That might be a good comparison because the click is mostly on the upstroke.
I think the tactility is much higher on the HHKB than the Realforce. This might be because the key travel on the HHKB Professional Classic is 4mm and my Realforce R2 PFU Limited Edition is 3.0mm. I also can set the actuation height on my R2. (The key travel on the other currently manufactured HHKBs is 3.8mm.)
I did try typing tests on both my HHKB and Realforce and got the same score.
The thing that most annoyed me was the lack of a left arrow (as in "move cursor to the left") key. I mentioned I do have a numeric keypad, but I kept forgetting that I had num lock on, so I'd have to delete two mistakes. However, the HHKB has a really tiny bezel on the right, so if you want to put your number pad on the right, you've got more room before you smack your hand against your trackball or mouse. I liked that. I probably could get used to it, but it would obviously take me more than 11 days.
I did get used to the left Command/Diamond/Windows key after a bit. I had earlier mentioned that it would be nice if it was shifted a bit more to the left, but it wasn't bad. I don't use the right Command/Diamond/Windows key at all. I did sometimes hit the Alt/Opt key, thinking that it was the FN key.
So, what do I think about going back to the Realforce after playing with the HHKB? My fingers are being massaged again! It's so lovely! I'll never leave you, Realforce!
Well, I really didn't feel quite like that, but the Realforce does feel a lot better to me. So does my nopre, although I'm now thinking I like my Realforce better than my nopre again, but I've been going back and forth on that for months. I really would like to try the Leopold, as that's supposed to have the highest build quality of the Topres, and the NiZ x87, as that's supposed to feature the highest build quality from NiZ. Fujitsu and NiZ, if you're reading this, send me some keyboards!
My top few keyboards I still own...
#1. Realforce R2 PFU Limited Edition. 45g Topre switches. Tactile.
2. Abko K935p v2. 45g NiZ switches. Tactile.
3. Wang 725-7951. Amber Omron. Clicky.
4. SteelSeries Apex Pro. Hall Effect. Linear.
5. HHKB Professional Classic. 45g Topre switches. Clicky/tactile.
I've owned and sold over 100 different keyboards. If I wasn't listing keyboards, but switches, I'd mention that I'm very fond of brown Alps tactile and Alps plate spring. Those would take #3 and #4, respectively. No, I haven't tried beamsprings. I also have several keyboards that are good, but I don't include in my normal rotation, or need repair and/or tinkering.
