not a keyboard, but an all-in-one input device. What is this device?
There are many keyboards being produced – ordinary and not so ordinary. Some of the devices are quite advanced in technological terms. And one of them is the HHKB Studio model. The developers claim that this is not just a keyboard, but a universal input device that makes a mouse unnecessary. It was created specifically for those users who work a lot with text or code. In this article, we will talk about it.
What is this device?
The HHKB company has introduced the latest model of a universal keyboard. It has everything you might need during work, including a trackpad, mouse buttons, and regular keys. It recognizes the device and gestures, so, according to the developers, the need for a mouse or touchpad simply disappears. In any case, in practice, of course, few people refuse a mouse, although there are such users.
It is worth noting that the keyboard is small, only 60% of the usual size. But it can be connected to a PC or laptop wirelessly or via Bluetooth. And its switches can be easily replaced with others – if, of course, there is a need for this.
An additional quality that distinguishes it from other keyboards is the cost. The price of the device is not small and starts at $329. If the user wants a keyboard with other switches (Topre is installed by default), then he will have to pay even more.
More about the design
Of course, it looks pretty good. As mentioned above, it was created specifically for users who spend a lot of time at the PC. Probably, that's why the name was chosen. The abbreviation HHKB stands for Happy Hacking Keyboard. The keyboard layout is not new – it was created back in the mid-90s of the last century. One of the features is the absence of the standard OS and Ctrl keys in their usual positions. And also – the arrows have been moved to the function row, and Caps Lock has been replaced by the left Control key.
The keyboard is technically advanced, you can connect up to four devices to it at the same time. There are touch strips along the edges of the case. They make it easier to scroll, navigate through windows, adjust the volume, etc. That is, it is quite convenient to use.
The HHKB Studio comes in a charcoal gray color scheme with matching keys that have black printed lettering. The top panel, pointer, and mouse buttons are all charcoal gray, but the keyboard has a lighter gray-silver strip along the bottom. For convenience, the keys have both primary and secondary (printed on the side, not the bottom) labels. The keyboard is not backlit, except for a power/connection LED in the upper right corner that glows white, blue, and orange. This indicates power, Bluetooth connection status, and battery status.
What is a bit strange is that the developers chose to make the keyboard with regular batteries rather than accumulators. And this is despite the fact that it can be connected to the device via a USB-C cable. The solution is a bit unusual, but the manufacturer probably had a reason to do so. The size is 305 x 131 x 44.5 mm, and the weight is 914 g.
What about working on it?
It's worth starting with the fact that the keyboard has replaceable switches. You can use Kailh or MX-style with 3 and 5 contacts of the regular profile. Users who have already worked on this keyboard find it convenient.
And, of course, it is worth remembering that it is intended not only for typing, but also for other tasks. If you get used to the keyboard, then, indeed, you can do without a mouse, although it is unusual. The trackpad, touch strips and mouse buttons help with this. By default, the left strips emulate the arrow keys: the left side is up/down, and the lower left is right/left. You can quickly get used to this.
The trackpad is also comfortable, although a bit stiff. The mouse buttons are not much different from regular keys – the clicking is about the same in feel. If necessary, the company provides software that allows you to reassign keys and touch strip assignments. The keyboard memory stores up to four different profiles.
The keyboard can connect to four Bluetooth devices at once, and you can switch between devices using Fn + Ctrl + [1 — 4].
The wireless connection works very well – no lags or any other problems.
What's the bottom line?
The keyboard is quite interesting, but it is unlikely to be very popular due to the cost. It is unlikely that an ordinary user will spend more than $300 to evaluate an unusual device. The keyboard is niche, and it certainly has its fans. Especially those who prefer the HHKB layout to all others. By the way, if you are such a user, tell us in the comments what is convenient about this layout.
But HHKB Studio has additional features and controls that many users may like. If you have such a keyboard or have worked with previous models of this manufacturer, share your opinion.
