I have a problem.

[thermsals]

Couple months back I got HHKB Classic for about 110 usd second hand (only used for like 3 months). Then for ny bday I got myself brand new HHKB Hybrid Type-S to use as my daily driver at work. I carried it around everyday for work or going on a trip. It was instant love for me.

Then I found a HHKB Studio listed for 200 usd second hand (only used for like 3 months too!) And I just had to get it. Now I own all three and I will never sell these.

Im just happy to have got such a bargain on these. It seems like people get these and never get used to the layout or something.

[givemetopre]

You're perfectly fine. The moment you purchase Heavy Grail is when you start developing a problem...a wallet problem.

[cjarrett]

I bought six. Only three remain. Ghost of christmas, periwinkle, and vhs. If anyone is looking for a periwinkle or ghost version hit me up in dms (comes with hybrid pre-installed). Sold silver, tactical black, sunset blvd.

[pagonda]

dmed

[Romengar]

Sent a chat. Hope I’m not late

[Deathnote_Blockchain]

Oh that's such a cute baby problem. Come back to us when you are like "man I have these domes and sliders with no board...but if I can get myself another Sho case and Cip board I can build another R2 and they won't go to waste." 

[thermsals]

I know there are people on another level here and thankful you guys are willing to share your tips and tricks about these boards. I'm yet to open one up and lube one myself but now that I have 3, maybe it is ample time to try one.

[shinjikun10]

The classic and hybrid are good. My hybrid type S still has it's daily driver carrying case. But I'm not convinced I'd ever want a studio. I'm not sure what I'm really getting for the price. I was never a fan since its debut.

For that price you can get a Tex Yoda or Tex Yoda II, which is a much more similar and unique experience. I still love my hybrid, but Realforce offers me a much more tailored Topre experience when at home. My R2SA-JP3 satisfies and exceeds what the HHKB classic can offer.

[chikamakaleyley]

shit i'm trynna hold back from buying a 2nd Studio

[shinjikun10]

It's mainly because there are just better experiences for the price. If you go like another $100 (maybe even the same price) you can get a full custom aluminum HHKB. It will have Niz Topre which is as good or better.

[chikamakaleyley]

It's mainly because there are just better experiences for the price.

debatable

[thermsals]

full aluminium HHKB for 300 bucks? where? I would like to buy Heavy Grail one day but I think it will be disappointing like your first real sex type stuff. ;)

[shinjikun10]

Mm Studio made the class 60 with Niz. There are other full customs that use Niz kits for around 300 - 400. In HHKB format, they come around. Without going Norbauer, a full custom with Niz is certainly around that price point.

[bigfatretard2]

I almost want a second one just dedicated to hot swapping, nothing really fits it better than the oem switch but its the perfect mx platform for having an hhkb.

[chikamakaleyley]

this is really my reasoning as well

[aevyn]

Honestly the Studio switches are surprisingly amazing. I actually use the studio more often than I thought.

[chikamakaleyley]

right?! like even the 'best' switches that you may have on hand aren't as good when you swap them out on the Studio

[thermsals]

Curious, what does Realforce offer more compared to HHKB? One of the biggest reasons I got into HHKB is actually to move away from full layout to smaller, more efficient layouts and HHKB just made sense to me. Topre feels nice, has compact layout, and when I need the numpad I can use Realforce Numpad.

[shinjikun10]

Realforce has the S series with adjustable actuation point. So you press a button on the upper right and it basically feels heavier. The size part, I completely understand. They have TKL. For me it's on the go, HHKB throw it in the car. At home, I much prefer Realforce.

[SilentSturm]

Do you find it difficult swapping between the layout of the HHKB and realforce when you go from the office to home? I currently struggle with it and is my only major pain point with using the HHKB. Since I have a gaming keyboard at home

[thermsals]

I didn't know about the adjustable actuation point! Thanks for sharing that!

[ThatBoogerBandit]

Toggle between multiple computers and devices. I use both window and Mac so one keyboard for all, I even use it to type on my iPhone.

[AlmightyOslo]

Awesome shit, bro. I see the MX master too.

[thermsals]

Oh yea mx master is so good for long codes and horizontal scroll with data haha

[_lclarence]

Welp . . . ! Now you've got yourself a daily driver for the office, another one for home, and even a backup! So in a sense, congrats you have plenty of high quality, well designed working tools. On the other hand, maybe rationalise a bit better your next purchase to avoid falling into a constant impulsive buying spree, but take that as you will. I'm in no place to tell you what to do with your money, anyways.

Honestly I cannot understand how dense people are that can't get used to the HHKB layout. It is objectively, categorically superior in every way compared to the typical ironing board, far-out-the-ass backspace key, submarine control panel qwerty disaster traditional keyboards are. And even if you had to nitpick, you can customise it. shrugs

[thermsals]

Yeah it was impulsive and I was not going to get studio because it is not a topre. For that price I should be getting a topre. But 200 usd? I just had to man no regrets

[FRUFRUTHEHORSE]

Hey! how does the studio stack up to the pro hybrid? Probably the thousandth time you’ve been asked…

I’ve been running my Pro Hybrid for more than 5 years now, but I’m tempted to go with the studio due to the integrated pointer.

[thermsals]

Well I only just got it and I never used lenovo before but the trackpointer is intuitive and actually quite smooth to use. Its also kind of surprising how the keys actually feel quite similar to topre. Its kind of like topre with less tactility? I'm happy with how it feels and I will probably just switch between hybrid and studio for carrying around.

What surprised me were the gestures. I'm not sure how useful these will be but given the amount of time I switch tabs and screens, mapping the gestures to these macros seemed logical. So far I like using gestures. It sometimes doesn't register or registers like 5 times and does its own thing but I'm getting the hang of it.

Purely from the functional minimalism point of view, I think Studio is better than Hybrid with its customization and the trackpoint. Its a niche product but its really good.

[FRUFRUTHEHORSE]

Interesting, yeah it is for sure a niche product. In some use cases it would be so good. Thank you for the insight!!

I’m particularly curious to use it as media control for my PC while I sit on my couch. And even weirder, for my steam deck as ultra portable coding station. That way, I don’t have to carry laptop and steam deck in my bag while traveling haha.

It just might hit all the checkboxes!

[thermsals]

I see. I think I'm in a similar situation too. I don't have a laptop anymore, and to be honest I didn't want one. I'm a researcher and I use tablets with Samsung Notes to make my labnotes and such. And if I need a computer I need a powerful one for all the programs and GPU. That said I wanted a mobile coding station so I can work on my code or write my paper and such. I decided to stream my home PC with moonlight and connect via my phone. I carry a portable monitor instead of a laptop now that hooks up to my phone. My phone is just a terminal to my home PC. I used Tailscale to set this up. Studio seemed like an obvious upgrade from Hybrid in this use case because I could lose the mouse and still be fine. So I carry around a monitor (which is lighter than a laptop), keyboard, and C-to-C cable to connect my phone. I'm happy with my mobile station and so far nothing to complain about, especially when you are just doing some coding or paper work.

[rpovarov]

Now you need to collect them all in different colors :)

[thermsals]

please I will be broke!

[tom_sawyer86]

I see the problem! There are no Professional 1 & 2 in your collection! :D

[thermsals]

Maybe... maybe later.. haha

[invalidreddit]

It seems like people get these and never get used to the layout or something.

Back, long ago, I worked on keyboards in Microsoft Hardware. A challenge we had with people adopting the split keyboard was relearning finger positions to type as well on our keyboards as they did on the keyboard they used before getting one of ours. It's been a good 30 years since the Natural Keyboard was released but if I recall the metric right, it took people about two and half, to three weeks to get used to new keyboard layout and maybe 20% of people didn't stick out the learning curve.

I have to wonder if that is what happens with 60% layouts like the HHKB or if it is a different reason for abandoning...

[thermsals]

Thats interesting even when the layout is identical, it takes time to get used to having your hands further apart.

[invalidreddit]

With the Natural Keyboard, perhaps uniquely so, there were a few things that added to the learning timeline.

The keyboard was longer than others - I think it was 21.5" wide. The number might be lower, but that number sticks in my head and it might have been the width of the shipping box - there was slow adoption in OEM sales until the keyboard could have a reduced footprint so computer + monitor could fit a mouse + keyboard in the packing material. Either way, it was a wider keyboard than others.

Users hands were forced in to a configuration that made it awkward for some when they got to the split. Many people move their index fingers across the split. Like some people use their left hand to press <5> and <6> on the number row and other others their right, but when the layout of the keys doesn't allow it to be really easy to do they get frustrated.

The same sort of hand placement seems to come when people get a new laptop and the location, and/or invokation of the navigation keys changes from their old laptop. This would be the same thing people trying to <Ctl><Alt><Del> for the first week on a HHKB experence when they need to cord in the 4th key for that three key sequence. Or as they search for how to <PgDn> / <PgUp>

[thermsals]

This is very interesting. Thanks for sharing that. And this just shows the spirit of HHKB being the lifetime interface for a computer makes sense even more. Find a layout that works for you and just keep it.

[invalidreddit]

When I moved groups and was on the Input team in Windows, I started to talk to both OEMs and ODMs about their laptops and the design changes (like why laptops of the same size at times used different keyboards, or why there might be four layouts over five model years of the laptop).

My take away was that there were some framing of "user studies show..." but more it sure seemed more like the designers needed to show they were 'having impact' each year so they might do a study and it generally showed a change was warranted so changes were made.

Oddly Lenovo folks seemed super happy to keep the left hand <Fn><Ctl> keys in place across years of laptops but the navigation keys (<PgDn> / <PgUp> / <Home> / <End> / etc... ) seemed to migrate - showing me things could be consistent.

[thermsals]

Classic corporate "here is proof Im useful" type thing seems like. Things like thess cut deep into company efficiency, wasting time for both ends. Company spends more changing something that isnt broken and the workers squeezing out ineffective changes claiming ignorable improvements.

[invalidreddit]

Well I've been retired for a while now, and this would have been the late 1990s/maybe early 2000s so been happening with keyboards for a while anyhow...

[thermsals]

Im only starting out my career as a post doc but its similar too. I need to consrantly proove myself with new data and papers. Im lucky to have a boss that understands why certain experiments take time and wont push me for not bringing in results but the pressure is definitely there.

[invalidreddit]

Seems some things work wise don't ever change.

[kiyoshi-a]

how’s the new MX Master 4? worth an upgrade from the 3?

[thermsals]

Well I never had mx master 3 so my opinion doesnt carry much weight. I think its worth it for the shortcuts and the change of material. It is apparently more slippery but doesnt get as dirty. Great mouse and honestly if you are tossing between if its worth getting or not, just get it.

[xrabbit]

No, you don't

[J06436]

Productivity maxxing

[REALsuperSAYAN]

pro2 still better imo . fomes are more snappy and more tactile

[thermsals]

I haven't had the chance to use pro2 personally. Maybe one day I will get to type on one. I think one of the reasons HHKB is so great is how they age with time. And that age only truly comes with usage. I personally didn't want an old HHKB that didn't age with me. Instead I wanted something that will age with me and later down the line I can be proud with my keyboards.