The reason for it using AA instead of a built-in battery is for the sustainability of the keyboard itself because the rechargeable battery will die eventually. HHKB can last more than 10 years. Personally have an HHKB Pro 3 mod with deskey's silencing rings. Love them to death.

Didn't realize until now that "squishy" is actually a great description of how the keys feel! haha I spent about a year also in deciding on buying the HHKB Type-S. It was mainly the unique sound and layout that sold me and I've been really happy with mine!

I had so many keyboards in the past, HHKB Type S and regular version, Realforce, Drop Alt, keychron, etc.. I ended up in G915 TKL and think it’s the most efficient I’ve ever used. I can’t denied HHKB is the prettiest, due to my two year experience with HHKB caused me to change cap key to ctrl every keyboard I use afterwards🤣

Welcome to the HHKB family. Enjoy the "good feeling of oneness with cup rubber"

A built-in battery would reduce the lifespan of the product or at least create more of a logistical hassle when users keyboards inevitably no longer hold a charge and need to be replaced. I think using user replaceable standard AA was the smartest choice. And since you don’t need to replace but once every few months it shouldn’t be an inconvenience. Definitely get some rechargeable cells though. You can get them fairly inexpensive these days. I use some from ikea (made in Japan) that work great- I get just over 2 months with them on my hhkb with heavy use.

I've used this keyboard for years now and I absolutely love the layout, but when I went to a Macbook, I also had to change. In Linux/Windows/etc the control key is used like the Command key on mac, so I swapped the two in my mac OS configuration so command is in the Control (normally Capslock) spot. That works well and now I can still use the keyboard elsewhere and use the same muscle memory for most shortcut keys across computers.

Using two HHKB Pro 2s (wired versions) for 10 years (office+home). Flawless. Wrist pain gone, no longer twisting to reach a mouse. Love them, my best IT investment, and expect them to last another 20 years.

I've been using the HHKB type-s pro for a year. It’s really impressive although it took me a month to actually get used to the layout. Overall, It’s hard to switch back to normal keyboards :)

THE BLANK KEYCAPS OR GETTING ON NERVES SO MUCH

I have the same exact keyboard. I have gotten it with the printed keys at first, then after learning the layout, which did not take long at all! I changed to the blank key caps as it is much more aesthetically pleasing. Also it acts as a security mechanism keeping people in my company away from it. Yes numbers and symbols was quite challenging until my company implemented 2FA, which helped me learned the numbers, and I just remember which number contains which symbol.

OMG!! I'm really happy that I could finally appeard on your channel!! Thank you!!

If you dont like the layout as much and want something wired with the same mechanical switches I highly recommend the Leopold FC660 (preferably with silent switches), I have these and they are incredible, none of the keys are awkward so it's very easy to adjust to. HKB may be better if you can adapt to the layout as it is more optimal for things like programming and has extra keys like the 2 meta keys near the keyboard. I just got the hkkb they are nice but take some time to get adjusted to.

I love this keyboard. I have the classic, non-bluetooth version, the classic non-Type-S, too. Love it. The give of the board inside is heavenly for my fingers. Great for long-term typing.

"Spend money on the things you touch everyday." And you've done just that.

Would love to try topre switches! Also blank keycaps make keyboard look just so much cleaner - don't worry, you'll get used to location of numbers and symbols soon ❤️ I have black Anne Pro 2 with blanks and I love the aesthetics! It's also 60% USB-C and bluetooth so might be a cheaper alternative to get if someone wants this one but can't justify the price (and it also comes in white! 😊)

my HHKB is one of my desert island objects, i've had it for years and hope to have it forever. there's just something about it that always makes me feel cozy.

Was introduced to HHKB about 5 years ago, haven't looked back, but I also ended up making the mistake with the blank key caps and getting printed key caps after. Glad you enjoy it as well.

The topre switches are some of the best to type on. I absolutely love my HHKB 2 and use it quite often. I did just build a custom keyboard that is an HHKB layout.

Love those blanks. I'm about to buy the Kara from Rama Works which has a HHKB layout and put some blanks on it, cuts down on the amount of people casually using my computers lol

i love this board especially on a mac. Its one of those where at first i'm like "meh" then i keep coming back to it. 2 years later its one of my favorites for work lol

My brother loves your channel (he is a software engineer himself) and has now gotten me obsessed with your channel.

Nice catch on the Apple vibe! HHKB is actually inspired by the Apple M0110 keyboard dating back in the 80's. It was also Steve Job's idea to take away the arrow keys.

Welcome to the HHKB family. Can't explain why but the whole package just comes together so well.

It took me a while to get used to the slow rebound of the topre switches, but overall, it is very unique and comfortable to type on this keyboard.

You should hit up Taeha for a custom keyboard :))

If you like the feel of the switch and want to go with a layout you're already familiar with, rechargeable battery, take a look at the Niz keyboard, they also use EC switch (kinda cloned from Topre), and available in the 75% layout similar to the K2 among other choices. Small bonus point is that you can replace the keycaps with any Cherry compatible keycaps unlike HHKB. Typing this from the same HHKB model as yours and went through another niz. I actually prefer the HHKB layout over the standard layout, and replaceable battery. just wish it has shorter spacebar so more keys available at the bottom row.

I never had an issue with the caps lock and ctrl change since usually HHKB layout boards have caps lock as FN + Tab or FN + Ctrl and it takes like no time to hit those keys in combination, plus I found that the ctrl at the caps lock is nicer for my hands since I don't have to stretch as much but yes it does take some getting used to :) . Additionally I love the split backspace and honestly any custom board that I look out for that is a must for me if it supports split backspace.

Great review! Got introduced to Topre keyboards years ago. Started with a Leopold FC660C and ended up collecting more (Realforce 87U & a Coolermaster Novatouch). Love them all. Not gonna lie, kinda tempted on a Bluetooth one.

Black HHKB Type-S user here. Best keyboard I’ve ever used. If I ever get bored and try a different one I just end up coming back to this.

Very good review, thank you! I’ve been using HHKB since 2008, mostly because of the layout (I’ve started my carrier on Sun machines and got used to this layout). Those keyboards are indeed very long lasting, my first HHKB Pro 2 from 2008 is still alive and I use it every day. Another note on switching to other keyboards: I just stopped doing that. I have a piece of plexiglass that I put on top of the laptop and just put my keyboard on it. I think it’s called Sonshi-style in Japan. Happy hacking!

Me writing LaTeX like uhhhh no backslash gonna be a problem lmao

I've been using HHKB since 1997. The current setup is HHKB Professional 2 Type-S (without BT, wired, US layout) since 2016 or so. :)

I write everything in Latex and could never live without my backslash

That elephant battery tray on the hybrid was holding me back to upgrade from my pro 2 type S. Cmon Fujitsu, it's 2022... lol

flipping the spacebar 180 will get you that 10/10 comfort

10/10 would be a custom keyboard tailored to all of ur preferences :)

HHKB classic is best for me. I bought type-s first, but a little bit boring, so I got classic and it's much more fun to type and perfect for me.

I have three. Best keyboard in existence.

Damn, love the vibe of all your vids Mayuko!!!

Yesssssss, I can't believe you made a HHKB video!! LIKE LIKE LIKE!!

In my opinion, Eneloop black rechargeable batteries are more environmentally friendly: you get hundreds of recharges and each charge will last quite a while. But if the HHKB had an internal battery and that battery eventually dies, and it will, then... well... that would be a pain in the butt to fix, if you are able to fix it at all. And as some of the comments have already mentioned, the HKKB keyboard will last way longer than the internal battery.

I was so shocked when you were talking about tobalog. then i realized you are japanese lol. love ya both

Hey! I was kinda thinking when watching this... You'd probably like my "other" keeb (not this one, this one is black - I like it, but I suspect you wouldn't). My "other" keyboard is a Keyboardio Model 01, with unpainted keys. So... what's the skinny? It's a "split" keyboard, and it is completely symmetrical. The keys are arranged in columns, and they form arcs (because fingers are different lengths). They move a lot of functions to the thumbs, and put a lot of the important "pinky keys" into the centre. The keys are organic shapes. The body of the keyboard is wood, lovely blonde wood. It has nice wrist rests integrated. The two halves can be connected (it takes on a kind of butterfly appearance - the company have a butterfly as their logo because of this) or split (I use it split). You can attach "octopods" that have slopes to tent the keyboard... I have the quiet one, they also made clicky. So, build wise - it's wooden and organic looking with custom shaped keys with USB-C. I've swapped out the supplied cables for braided. But yeah it's pretty nice. Comfort wise - they have built it for human hands, it has very sculpted keys. The Matias Switches are a little like the ones on old Mac keyboards (well a little). This is a very comfortable keyboard indeed. Usability wise - there is quite the learning curve, especially if you've never used a non-staggered layout. However, the layout is rather better thought out that it at first appears. It will really help if you are a vim user. But, the changes are logical and pull the most used keys closer pushing less used keys away on the pinky keys. Everything can be reprogrammed. However, the thing is not commute friendly (I have one here and one at the office, the office one has painted keys for my co-workers; however this doesn't seem to help them much). Delight wise - it looks like a butterfly! The wood and organic shapes are really delightful. I really love it with the unpainted keys, but it still looks fantastic with the standard painted keys. This is. keyboard that is highly adjustable, and you can make it your own. What could be more delightful than that? Now this is keyboard that you can't actually get anymore - but fear not! Keyboardio are making an even better one. [YAY!] So the changes are: the option of walnut wood, hotswap MX type switches, and more refined keycaps (I think the changes are minimal, I love the original ones already). The new one is called the "Keyboardio Model 100" - I suspect you'd love it.

a comfortable keyboard is the one which gives me hands massage every hour or so :p

I wanted to try an HHKB as I find it's layout interesting but now I moved on to a custom ortholinear keyboard and I don't think I'll go back to staggered keyboards. The ortho layout made so much sense to and I find it a lot easier to type numbers and symbols without looking at the keyboard and I found it very comfortable to use, so much so that I built a second one to have a different feeling/looking one, with a different keycap profile and different switches. You should give an ortholinear a try.

A slightly cheaper alternative that has a very similar aesthetic and switch feel - the Epomaker NiZ Plum Atom68. It also has a more conventional layout :)

As a Linux user who constantly uses neovim as my text editor and who has capslock binded to control because It's easier to use nvim I felt a BIG relieve when go this keyboard. Magnificant!

Just wait until she fully embraces the mechanical keyboard hobby

Niz Plum Atom 68 is a solid topre alternative, best stock experience (no modding needed, stabs are properly lubed) at half the price, and arguably sounds better than topre (at least stock). Just bought one for my girlfriend with a set of ePBTxGOK BoW R1 keycaps and gel wristrest, looks fantastic. And it's a 65%, so no problem adjusting to the layout.

Being a HHKB user for the last 21 years. Earlier days of my college, it was a bit off and on but never used it that much. But been using ONLY HHKB exclusively (and blank) version for the last 11ish years since. Also, this is one of those keyboards where once you really learn it well, you won’t absolutely need to look at the keyboard. In fact if you are a person who needs to look on keyboard once in a while, this keyboard will make you go nuts. I don’t have any other keyboards and I can say that once you become super comfortable with this keyboard, no other keyboard will work for you. This doesn’t mean other keyboards are not as good. It is just that while learning this keyboard as a programmer was reasonably difficult, “unlearning” it is extremely difficult. Once you get used to this it is super hard to go other way. Over the last 10 years, I had to get 2 of these, one at home, one at office. It doesn’t mean I can’t use others, but just that fingers feel really suboptimal in other layouts now. To people who are worried about quality, these are some well built keyboards. I can tell you that the oldest one I have is the one I bought about 11 years ago and it still works without any issue. Up until about 1-2 years ago, I sold the then 16 year old one and got the hybrid one. Even that was running fine. I can’t yet comment on how good the hybrid one is.

"Hello! Welcome my name is Mayuko"❤️

it match with your shirt and background of keyboard, simple and elegant.

If you're handy, you can replace the batteries with a li-on battery that you can recharge or just pop in rechargeable batteries

Great review! And can I just say, your brows are flawless hahaha

ctrl+space is how you swap languages on a mac, I also type japanese. I'm hhkb before a mac user though, so the first thing i did was swap caps lock and ctrl keys.

so, two things. I have yet to try a hhkb type s, but I have a keychron k2 pro (they have hot swap now!) with silent alpaca and double shot caps. I highly recommend it. I am also building a keyboard from scratch using a hhkb-layout PCB (with underglow), a frosty translucent case, durock v2 stabilizers, silent alpaca switches, double shot caps. I think it's going to turn out alright, but I will let you know. I buckled under pressure and just got the drop+tokyo hhkb-layout board, which will have everything from drop except silent alpaca switches. As you can see, I am a huge fan of silent alpacas. They're just the best silent linear switch and feel great. I *do* want to buy a true HHKB type s, but I am trying to save up money right now and went a bit crazy. I was *trying* so hard NOT to get this invested into keyboards because I figured ... ah ... I only have a couple computers and once I find something quiet but good enough I can stop, but then ... sigh ... I can't stop. HELP. Anyway, nice video. Love the content. Keep it up.

Yep in my white tee, yup in my white tee Yep in my white tee, yup in my white tee I click in my white tee, I clack in my white tee All on the stream spittin game in my white tee

Tips for typing numbers on printless keyboard, use colorful keycap to identify "0".

your review has further fuelled my enthusiasm to get that Topre Realforce 23U numpad. Different keyboard, but a relative of HHKB, same Topre switches.

the fact that my so said mechanical keyboard cost only around 30-40 bucks really had me

Finally you buy a HHKB =)

you should try to dive into the custom keyboard world and build one exactly for your needs!

aaaAAAaa this does NOT narrow down my choices for my next keyboard upgrade

eventually... everyone comes around to HHKB.

TKL for the win. The only 4 keys on there that I don't use: scroll lock, pause break, the delete key, and the right alt key. Doing any layout less than TKL just sounds annoying as hell to me personally.

i love the feed back of the 45g silence keys, but just can't get used to the layout, so i got a fullsize Realforce PFU with the same switch instead. Love it!

nice video mayuko!!

I look forward to that job hunting tips video for college students :)

Got 2 of these. Love em. However, using this with Windows is messing with my head due to the crtl key. Fine with Mac, though. Just so you know, they released a special version in snow white just recently. I feels somehow even more satisfying to type on. Could be subjective, however.

Thank you, because you are a programmer, then your opinion counts a lot. A thank you again, because you mention or answer thing to make to my mind, like labeled printed and you were honest, no trying to make very smart and that is a great point for you. After seeing a lot keyboards videos, you make buy this and also because I have little hand too. Daamn, is too damn expensive!!!.

I love listening to you talk BAHA

Could you review a razer keyboard? I wonder how a programmer will review a gaming keyboard. I am programmer and I have owned a lot of razer keyboards during the years. I usually do not game on my pc but I really like the mechanical noise and the feedback of the Razer Blackwidow v3 Mini Hyper speed. I wonder what do you think about it on the professional matter. I am ok with it to be honest. I like the feedback and the response and you can also pair it with up three devices using Bluetooth, it has an usb-c cable and also a WIFI dongle. So I will like to know your opinion about it. I am not really fan of the RGB, I put my keys set on white color or or yellow. I ordered a leopold recently, Everybody said that keyboard of HHKB or Leopold feels very different to type, so I want to know. I didn't went for the topre switches, it was like double the price of the keyboard. I went for red silent.

Very helpful mayuko!

topre is king, though I think the epomaker niz plum atom68 would've also fit your requirements really well (soft ec switches, bluetooth, whitish design)

I just saw you on a scam charger ad. Apparently your name is Lisa Phan? LOL

T H O C K

9:53 You absolutely could and should. Get some Eneloops that will last many years with a decent capacity. Custom internal batteries (they all use standard cells, but are packaged in a custom way) are not only poor for consumers in terms of device longevity, they are bad for the environment.

I recommend and use USB Charging AAA batteries (the USB charging is build into the battery itself and I love them for this keyboard.)

Sounds like a raindrop.

Hi Mayuko, you can have rechargeable battery on this board by swapping out the daughter board with an after market one called HHKB BLE. Look it up if you're into modding :) Well, beyond the stock experience, lies an abyss of a rabbit whole for modders of this tiny board.

lol.. just pulled out my Logitech K810 Bluetooth.. Also using a Razor Blackwidow Tournament clicky keyboard and a Microsoft wireless butterfly. I will probably buy the HHKB in a couple of years if $$$$ is not an issue in 2024....

The Leopold silent with purple sliders is way more silent... I own both also the typing on the Leopold feels way less cramped, AND the key caps are higher quality along with the overal weight and build. But the HHKB has it's charm. You should mod the HHKB and lube it not only does it feel better but sounds better and less like LEGO, the Leopold tho has 0 rattle out of the box

HHKBの打鍵感はクセになりますよね

Onboard batteries, so that when they eventually wear out; you can't change them easily. Thumbs up.

Got an old version HHKB lite2 for 100 yen (1 dollar), very happy with it!

I wish they made this in a standard layout

Mayuko I got a haircut same as yours, you're our stem queen Love from India

I think Mayuko has not heard of r/mechanicalkeyboard yet. It seems she is just about to deep dive into the rabbit hole. UPDATE: she just released a video building her first mechanical keyboard (Sep 21, 2021) :D

wireless boards using AA batteries will last a lot longer than those with Lithium batteries.

Just like how you tell all of your story

strong flex not having the legends. I can type a few sentences but I do find it less stressful to look down from time to time

Great review! I have 3 topre switch keyboards and I absolutely love them. An RF 104UG HiPro for my PC, a white printed HHKB Pro Hybrid for my Mac at home, and a snow unprinted HHKB Pro Hybrid Type-S that stays with me. Much better feeling and sound than MX mechanical switches IMO. Please don’t argue with me if you think the other way. If you think so, you’re right :) The only complaint I’ve ever had is the lack of tactile feedback on the F and J keys in my RF 104UG HiPro.

To me, the IT engineers who don't use tilde, backslash and pipe often, are like untrained soldiers. Sorry to say, BSD and Linux like UNIX system, the software engineer must use Terminal where you type commands and shell-script. When one begins programming, he would get why the control key is next to the A and CapsLock key is useless to engineers and operators. You can't cheat them what you are saying is VERY controversy to what iOS developer tutor does.

Mechanical keyboards are the best thing ever!

i use color keycap on the 5th and 10th keycap. it solved the symble and number typing problem for me.

The funny thing is I found out about this keyboard from toruborugo as well hahahaha

Damn I've been waiting for a review like this

Idk why, but I like sound from Niz Plum keyboard.

i would love a good keyboard that just had the mac layout, so i don‘t have to get used to something new.. :) But it‘s cool that you can actually map keys with some keyboards. Maybe that would be the way to go for me. Thanks for the video:)

Yes! I love the blank caps on my HHKB Pro 2, but I go to the MacBook keyboard for passwords haha.