HHKB Studio Review: The Programmer’s Mechanical Keyboard

It’s not typically that one thing as properly often known as the Happy Hacking Keyboard will get reworked from the bottom up. And when it does occur, these modifications often draw criticism from longtime followers. Have a look at Porsche’s change from air-cooled to water-cooled engines within the 911, or Microsoft’s transition to a extra tablet-like interface for Windows 8. If persons are used to one thing, they received’t recognize seeing it change drastically, no matter whether or not these modifications are finally good or unhealthy.

The newest iteration of the Joyful Hacking Keyboard (HHKB) makes giant modifications to the mannequin’s almost 30-year-old legacy, and it could possibly simply be seen in the identical mild. Apart from the format, virtually each side of this keyboard has been altered. Fortunately, fairly a couple of of those modifications do really feel like enhancements.

The HHKB Studio is a hot-swappable 60 p.c mechanical keyboard with Bluetooth connectivity, built-in touchpads, a built-in trackpoint, and a singular programmer-oriented format. The Studio has a PBT plastic case and keycaps, multidevice connectivity, and key map customization by the corporate’s proprietary Keymap Tool software. However earlier than we dive into this new iteration, we’d like to check out the legacy.

A long time-Previous Legacy

The Joyful Hacking Keyboard has been round for many years. It was designed across the thought of a singular, specialised, long-lasting keyboard that might be used throughout a number of computer systems and working programs (again when such an thought was novel and new). It has been often upgraded since to additional refine its distinctive format and multidevice utility.

The primary mannequin of HHKB pioneered its distinctive format, slicing keys from the underside corners, shifting the Backspace/Delete key and including a second key within the high proper, and buying and selling the Caps Lock key for a Management key, which was simply accessible to the pinky. In following iterations, the keyboard moved from a standard rubber-dome format to Topre electro-capacitive switches, added USB pass-through, and finally launched Bluetooth connectivity. Nevertheless, throughout each era, the distinctive format has remained a continuing. Whereas the most recent mannequin has stayed true to the format, virtually each different side of the keyboard has been modified.

One of many defining features of the HHKB was the Topre electro-capacitive change, a gentle tactile change with a rounded bump created by a rubber dome on high of a conical steel spring. The HHKB was one of many solely keyboards obtainable with these switches, which was each a blessing and a burden. They have been uniquely pleasing to kind on, however on the similar time, Topre switches’ rarity and distinctive building made modifications to the switches or keycaps far tougher. As an alternative of with the ability to take away and change particular person switches, any modification would contain taking aside your entire keyboard.

Now, the HHKB Studio has adopted the MX-style change that has turn into virtually ubiquitous in trendy mechanical keyboards, bringing it nearer to the world of modular keyboard designs. However as a substitute of sticking with an current mechanical change, the corporate has designed its personal MX-style change in collaboration with Kailh, a widely known aftermarket change producer.

Different noteworthy modifications embody the brand new trackpoint within the middle of the keyboard, low-profile mouse buttons beneath the house bar, and touch-sensitive “gesture pads” on the entrance and sides of the keyboard. The HHKB Studio additionally maintains the wi-fi performance of the earlier era and preserves the in depth use of PBT plastic within the case and keycaps. The Bluetooth performance is enhanced by an LED bar within the top-left of the keyboard, and the quick-adjustment dip switches on the again are actually hidden behind a battery cowl.

Typing Really feel

The HHKB Studio’s change from Topre to MX-style switches is a controversial change: One may argue it “bought out” by shifting to MX-style switches. Nevertheless, that may be ignoring an necessary element. These switches are implausible to kind on. They mix the distinctive sound and really feel of Topre tactile switches with the smoothness of a contemporary linear change, making a silenced linear that produces a gentle, deep, and satisfying bottom-out. I’ve by no means felt one other change prefer it. And, for followers of Topre switches, I do assume that is the perfect linear equal potential.

Taking aside the switches, they look like constituted of an analogous building as Kailh’s clicky switches. Particularly, the design is harking back to Field Navy and Field Jade switches. The one main distinction is that the precise clicking mechanism (a small spring referred to as a “click on bar” that provides a tactile bump and produces a sound when pressed) has been removed, and a sound-dampening pad has been added to the underside of the change housing.