This is hands down the best review of HHKB on KZfaq, especially the finger size vs. key size. Thank you, you just won a sub and keep up the great work sir.

Loved this, been considering an HHKB and you’re clearly someone knowledgeable on the topic that can articulate their thoughts well. Thank you :)

Fellow programmer here. When I first started coding it blew my mind how fast instructors could navigate their code. For me taking my hand off of home row to the arrows would throw me off every time. I found HHKB and purchase the Hybrid Type-S. The HHKB default layout did not work for me at all. I didn't like the position of control, function, or arrows. So I remapped it with the HHKB tool. Control is now where right command would be (I've never used right command in my life so no loss there for me), Function is now where Control was, and I mapped arrow keys to ijkl. I've been using this layout/keyboard for 8 hours a day programming for the last year and I can't image ever going back to a normal keyboard. I can program so much faster, being able to traverse my code without lifting my fingers off the home row is a game changer. I'm a Front End Web Developer show JavaScript is my language of choice. If you still have this keyboard I highly suggest trying to map it to work better for you.

great video. the sub count surprised me. you dont see that ratio of subs to quality that often. keep up the great work

I have a bunch of GMK sets and just love the HHKB keycaps from the Professional Classic / Hybrid line. The Black on Black is great. Gives me the looks of almost blank, but if pressed or if someone else is using the board, they still have a chance.

Exactly what I needed, thank you so much! Subscribed. I was debating on getting a HHKB, and everyone tells me its the best for coding but I just couldn't see it, and thanks to your recommendation I am probably going to invest my money elsewhere.

First off, awesome review. I actually considered hhkb about a year back when getting into custom keyboards. It actually was for the key layout. I've been using Ctrl on home row for so long i honestly do not remember it ever not being deeply ingrained muscle memory. Due to price and availability issues i ended up getting a custom 60% mechanical and imitating this layout (or to be more accurate: the 60% portion of the original Sun type 6 UNIX layout this seems to be based on, with 2 minor changes - caps lock is Fn and Compose is Fn+double tap to toggle Fn layer). I hadn't seen your video at the time but my fears were similar -arrow keys and the whole split backspace deal. Funnily enough the arrow keys (which i have mapped to hjkl and wasd at the Fn layer) didn't take me long at all to adjust, hjkl and wasd is a bit harder to reach from either Fn (Caps Lock or Compose in the original Sun type 6 UNIX layout) but both those keys are trained in my muscle memory to be direction keys (whole gaming and using vim respectively ofc) so it wasn't actually that hard. Honestly the only thing that took me longer than a day or two was the pipe key not being the rightmost (the move up one level wasn't so bad, but i was so used to hitting "right shift+rightmost key a few rows up" for pipe it was messing with me). Tilde was a bit less of an issue, for a time i considered putting esc on Fn layer and tilde there too but it wasn't really needed. I'm not sure I could ever get used to not having as many keys on the bottom row though. Even if i could split both shifts (like is done on the right side in hhkb) for Fn on both sides i use both Alts, and both Metas (ie the Super/Win/Cmd key) a lot (shortcuts from both windows and Mac use that key so much - Mac especially)

I think this keyboard will be very good if you use emacs (the cmd key in both sides of spacebar are great), other than that, like many other people talked about, it will be hard to get used to.

The layout here is based on the Unix layout seen on the Sun Type keyboards. It might not be for everyone, but especially the escape and control placement is very handy for vim and emacs. Another layout you could check out that is slightly smaller than TKL, but not compromising as much as the 60%s is 75%. Niz has some in this range (Micro 82/84) with topre clones, where it is roughly this compact size, but with function keys and navigation keys.

I've heard a couple of times that HHBKs are great for programming. Is that true? I have a normal full size mechanical keyboard. I wanted to know if it is worth buying an HHKB or not and is there much difference? what do you think.

hello, for the corporals that are used for dialogues, that is these: «» do you use the right Alt key plus the curly bracket keys? this is the combination using my current leopold 750. Thanks

the best hhkb review on this site

after a long time with this keyboard, i think there is one slight improvement that would improve the hhkb, position bumps for backspace. like how the f and j keys have bumps to help the hand position on the letters, it would really help to have a bump on the backspace, especially for the hhkb where it can be mistaken for enter, but also just in general, it can help with the cluster that the right pinky is responsible for as well.

12mm kecaps size are that not like usual?

I own an Anne Pro 2 for a year. I am a programmer but I still don't get used to lack of function keys. In Anne Pro 2, there is a tap mode for arrow keys so it works fine but not great. I look forward for your Keychron K2 review.

I need serious help how can i use backspace without the Fn key? I have to hit the Fn key to use backspace?

Cool review. I'm very curious about Topre configurations as I heard they sound like a dog eating. I guess there are different configurations with Topre. I'm guessing that is a switch configuration?

Contrary to you I love the keycaps! With these I can do my most accurate typing without ever missing a key. That's a huge reason why I love HHKB. With every other keyboard, especially those with OEM profile keycaps, I simply can't type as fast or accurate.

Not yet ready to move to mechanical keys? These switches are an upgrade! I had a Poker II with Cherry Blues back in the day and I just did not like 60% just like your complaints with the HHKB. I have now been daily driving a NiZ plum 84-key with Topre clones for the last 4 years. I love, love the feel of electrocapactive rubber domes switches and 84-key gives you the function key row above and Home/PgUp/etc. as a column on the right and it the perfect size for me. It could be worth a look if you're wanting to try something electrocapacitive that a) doesn't break the bank (as much) and b) offers the keys you expect from a TKL while saving a tad more desk space bringing the mouse/trackball close.

so how to do directions press？

Great review, a side by side comparison with the pro 2 would’ve been nice though

you should remap fn on cmd left and remap arrows key in hjkl as vim!

T O P E R

I use emacs keymaps everywhere and really fucking unsure about that shift and alt placrment. Just switching the two could work though. But right now I havr a brand new model f anyway that is fully programable. I can use it at work and sometimes I just unplug it and moan while pressing random keys

Small keys? My IBM model M keys look like the same size compared to my fingers. And they are standard 1u size, I'm sure the HHKB is too.

there's a reason it is promoted as one professional keyboard. While it sounds so attractive it is certainly not proper for casual users and typists who daily use extra keys and do not need speed for their work and entertainment. Finally it becomes a matter of habbit and practice, not all writers appreciate the layout and compact size, not all coders too.

Sucks they stopped making a classic Type-S. I have a modded Pro 2 Type-S with 55g Realforce domes. Makes it a ninja board it's so silent. This classic version seems like it will definitely need lube right out of the box to really get the Topre feel. As for the layout, it may not be for everyone once you start, but definitely will become second nature after you start using it for a few weeks. I can longer have CAPS LOCK on any keyboard. I have to immediately re-assign that key to Control. It is by far one of the most intuitive features of this board, and makes complete sense. Who in the world in the year 2022 still uses CAPS lock for anything? It's a nuisance.

That return key is throwing me off, slanted af !

How is your muscle memory the keyboard's problem?

TOPER?

If you use emacs or unix user on a daily basis then this keyboard makes sense!

I only had problem home and end buttons. I like the ctrl on the left, now I have problems to return ctrl in the bottom xD

type test ??? ....

Not to be that guy but I think it's pronounced TOE-PRAY. I didn't know until I heard it either.

They should have named it vikb

Hey Tech Bytes I've been going back and forth on whether to get this keyboard or not. This will be my first mechanical keyboard. While the switches, from what I hear are great, I'm not sure it's the best fit for me as regular keyboard user. I would rather hit the ground running and skip the learning curve. I appreciate your review to help guide me in my decision. Thanks!

Agree. I think HHKB is suitable for those programmer or writer who don't use arrow or function keys very much. Not that comfortable for general keyboard users.

can't speak for the new ones but for me the actuation force is way too much and the bottoming out on the topre switches won't do your fingies very good after using it all day for long. not really an ultimate programmer board with a typewriter key layout. ultimate is more like; ortholinear layout, flashing custom key layouts to the board firmware with multiple layers, macros, switches you've chosen for your own specific taste etc.

To be honest, I don't understand why they made the layout the way they did. I have not found a reason why. If it was to be quirky and cool and it brings no value, why do it?

I'll never understand why keyboards that cut down keys are called "Feature Rich". Like clearly, even a blind person can tell that it won't be as functional or as "Featureful" as a tkl or a full sized or even a 75%.

I would not even recommend it to software developers. Keyboards are not what slow you down during development, developers spend most of the time on thinking about the problem than typing. If you're stenographer then maybe it is for you.

My ideal programming keyboard is the most compact version of the following: 1) flawless wireless (already no contenders) 2) sounds nice 3) open sourced macro software with hardware saves 4) pleasant backlight (or fully configurable rgb with hardware saves) 5) linear silent switches 6) durable keycaps 7) usb-c 8) easy to clean 9) moding friendly This one has none of that.

doesn't have arrow keys. What kind of programmer doesn't use the arrow key? poser...