It’s not usually that one thing as well-known because the Joyful Hacking Keyboard will get reworked from the bottom up. And when it does occur, these modifications often draw criticism from long-time followers. Take a look at Porsche’s swap from air-cooled to water-cooled engines within the 911, or Microsoft’s transition to a extra tablet-like interface for Home windows 8. If persons are used to one thing, they received’t respect seeing it change drastically, no matter whether or not these modifications are in the end good or unhealthy.
The newest iteration of the Joyful Hacking Keyboard (HHKB) makes massive modifications to the mannequin’s almost 30-year-old legacy, and it will probably simply be seen in the identical gentle. In addition to the format, nearly each side of this keyboard has been altered. Fortunately, fairly a number of of those modifications do really feel like enhancements over earlier iterations.
The HHKB Studio is a hot-swappable 60% mechanical keyboard with Bluetooth connectivity, built-in touchpads, a built-in trackpoint, and a novel programmer-oriented format. The Studio has a PBT plastic case and keycaps, multi-device connectivity, and keymap customization via the corporate’s proprietary Keymap Software software program. However earlier than we dive into this new iteration, we want to try the legacy.
Many years-Previous Legacy
The Joyful Hacking Keyboard has been round for many years. It was designed across the concept of a singular, specialised, long-lasting keyboard that may very well be used throughout a number of computer systems and working techniques (again when such an concept was novel and new). It has been commonly upgraded since to additional refine its distinctive format and multi-device utility.
The primary mannequin of HHKB pioneered its distinctive format, chopping 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 conventional 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 relentless. Whereas the newest mannequin has stayed true to the format, nearly each different side of the keyboard has been modified.
{Photograph}: Henri Robbins
One of the crucial defining components of the HHKB was the Topre electro-capacitive swap: A comfortable tactile swap with a rounded bump created by a rubber dome on high of a conical steel spring. The HHKB was one of many solely keyboards out there with these switches, which was each a blessing and a burden. They had been uniquely pleasing to kind on, however on the similar time, Topre switches’ rarity and distinctive development made modifications to the switches or keycaps far tougher. As an alternative of having the ability to take away and substitute particular person switches, any modification would contain taking aside your entire keyboard.
Now, the HHKB Studio has adopted the MX-style swap that has turn into nearly ubiquitous in fashionable mechanical keyboards, bringing it nearer to the world of modular keyboard designs. However as a substitute of sticking with an current mechanical swap, the corporate has designed its personal MX-style swap in collaboration with Kailh, a well known aftermarket swap producer.
Different noteworthy modifications embody the brand new trackpoint within the heart of the keyboard, low-profile mouse buttons beneath the spacebar, 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 at the moment are hidden behind a battery cowl.
Typing Really feel
The HHKB Studio’s swap from Topre to MX-style switches is a controversial change: One might argue it “offered out” by shifting to MX-style switches. Nevertheless, that may be ignoring an essential element. These switches are unbelievable to kind on. They mix the distinctive sound and really feel of Topre tactile switches with the smoothness of a contemporary linear swap, making a silenced linear that produces a comfortable, deep, and satisfying bottom-out. I’ve by no means felt one other swap prefer it. And, for followers of Topre switches, I do suppose that is one of the best linear equal attainable.
Taking aside the switches, they seem like constructed from the same development as Kailh’s clicky switches. Particularly, the design is paying homage 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 eliminated, and a sound-dampening pad has been added to the underside of the swap housing.