It’s not precisely one of many greatest gaming keyboards, however the HHKB Skilled Hybrid Kind-S is perhaps a contender for one of many greatest wi-fi keyboards — in a really area of interest class.
The HHKB Skilled Hybrid Kind-S is a compact 60 p.c keyboard that includes the distinctive HHKB format, which swaps Caps Lock for Management and Backspace for Delete and has a symmetrical backside row (amongst different tweaks). This format was designed within the mid-Nineteen Nineties by Japanese pc scientist Eiiti Wada, and has considerably of a cult following amongst keyboard fanatics (particularly: builders who use loads of Ctrl-based shortcuts).
Along with its distinctive format, the HHKB Skilled Hybrid Kind-S additionally has distinctive switches: Topre switches, that are electrostatic capacitive rubber dome switches made by the Topre Company in Tokyo, Japan. Topre switches are tactile, quiet and really clean; they are not technically mechanical, however positively extra refined than the standard membrane keyboard.
The HHKB Skilled Hybrid Kind-S is out there in three colours: white (which is nearer to traditional PC beige), charcoal (darkish grey) and the newly-launched snow (pristine snow-white). All colours might be bought with both clean or stamped PBT keycaps. The keyboard is out there now for $357 (in Snow) and $337 (in white and charcoal).
Design and Building of the HHKB Skilled Hybrid Kind-S
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The HHKB Skilled Hybrid Kind-S is an ultra-compact keyboard, preferrred for individuals who journey or have very restricted desk house. It’s housed in a plastic case that measures 11.5 inches (292 mm) lengthy by 4.75 inches (120.6 mm) broad (at its widest level — with out the battery bump, the keyboard is 4.25 inches/108 mm broad). It has an angled profile, measuring 0.67 inches (17 mm) thick on the entrance and 1.25 inches (31.8 mm) thick on the again; it additionally has two units of plastic flip-out toes for 3 ranges of top adjustment.
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The keyboard could also be small, nevertheless it’s fairly sturdy, weighing roughly 1.28 kilos (580 g) with two AA batteries put in. The keyboard has 4 small strips of textured anti-slip materials on the underside, however they’re too small to be efficient — the burden is principally what retains the keyboard in place when you sort.
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Additionally on the underside of the keyboard is a small door, which protects six DIP switches. These DIP, or twin in-line, switches are binary {hardware} switches that allow you to manually configure among the keyboard’s settings. You need to use the DIP switches to alter the keyboard’s setting mode (e.g. Home windows/Mac) or change sure key codes (e.g. Delete/Backspace). A change information is printed on the again of the keyboard, close to the switches.
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The again of the keyboard homes a USB-C port, a battery compartment, and an influence/Bluetooth button. Though the HHKB presents each wired and wi-fi connectivity, it doesn’t come packaged with a cable — only a pair of AA batteries.
Specs
| Switches | Topre |
| Lighting | None |
| Onboard Storage | Sure |
| Media Keys | Fn keys – Mac solely |
| Recreation Mode | N/A |
| Connectivity | Bluetooth, USB-C |
| Extra Ports | 0 |
| Keycaps | PBT |
| Building | Plastic |
| Software program | Completely happy Hacking Keyboard Keymap Software |
| Dimensions (L x W x H) | 11.5 x 4.75 x 1.25 inches / 292 x 120.6 x 31.8 mm |
| Weight | 1.28 kilos / 580 g (together with batteries) |
| MSRP | $405.00 |
Typing Expertise on the HHKB Skilled Hybrid Kind-S
The HHKB Skilled Hybrid Kind-S presents a distinct (to say the least) typing expertise, because of its compact dimension, distinctive HHKB format, and Topre switches. The HHKB format is designed for programmers — not writers — however when you’re switching from a conventional format it should take some getting used to regardless. A number of the format adjustments, comparable to swapping out Caps Lock for Management, are HHKB-specific; others, comparable to placing the Esc key subsequent to the 1, are widespread on compact (60 or 65 p.c) layouts.
Format studying curve apart, typing on the HHKB Skilled Hybrid Kind-S is a surprisingly nice expertise — and that is coming from somebody who strongly prefers clicky switches (ideally, as loud as attainable). The HHKB Skilled Hybrid Kind-S makes use of Topre switches, that are electrostatic capacitive non-contact rubber dome switches, i.e., not mechanical. And these switches do really feel like rubber dome switches (albeit, very well-made rubber dome switches).
The Topre switches on the HHKB Skilled Hybrid Kind-S are tactile and smooth (and really quiet, for these of you who share an workplace). They’ve a small bump close to the highest of the keypress and clean journey with a light-weight (and ever-so-slightly mushy) backside out. They’re constant and responsive, with little or no bounce — however they’re not ‘snappy’ like mechanical switches, and are a bit too smooth and clean for my private desire.
Options and Software program of the HHKB Skilled Hybrid Kind-S
There are a few methods to modify up the format on the HHKB Skilled Hybrid Kind-S. You need to use the DIP switches on the underside of the keyboard to alter some key codes — you possibly can change Delete to Backspace, the left Command key to Fn, or swap each Command keys with each Alt keys. When the keyboard is in Home windows mode, the Command keys default to Home windows keys.
If this isn’t sufficient customization for you, it’s also possible to remap many of the keyboard’s keys utilizing the Completely happy Hacking Keyboard Keymap Software. To make use of this software program, you’ll want to attach the keyboard on to your PC with a USB cable (hopefully you’ve gotten one mendacity round, because it does not include one). You possibly can remap all keys aside from the unique Fn key. The keyboard additionally has some default media management keybinds that can’t be remapped (the keys might be remapped, however the media controls can’t be assigned to different keys). These media controls additionally solely work with Macs, however not Home windows.
Battery Lifetime of the HHKB Skilled Hybrid Kind-S
The HHKB Skilled Hybrid Kind-S presents each wired (through USB-C) and wi-fi (through Bluetooth) connectivity. The keyboard might be paired with as much as 4 units concurrently; you possibly can change between paired units utilizing a keyboard shortcut: Fn + Ctrl + [number key]. It comes with two AA batteries, which ought to energy the keyboard for round three months, relying on use.
The Backside Line
It did take me a while to get used to the HHKB format, however that’s not a ding in opposition to the HHKB Skilled Hybrid Kind-S, particularly because it offers you loads of methods to customise the format throughout the transition interval (or endlessly). And, as my good friend who makes use of the HHKB as his every day driver identified, it’s a 60 p.c keyboard — Fn shortcuts are a part of the deal.
The HHKB Skilled Hybrid Kind-S is well-built, compact, and customizable — and the brand new ‘Snow’ colorway is gorgeous. Its largest downside is its worth: $357 at time of writing (and it does not even include a USB-C cable!). The opposite colours, white and charcoal, are solely barely cheaper at $337. That’s lots to pay for a keyboard you don’t love every thing about, and the HHKB Skilled Hybrid Kind-S has loads of very distinctive options.
When you love the dimensions, format, and Topre switches, the HHKB Skilled Hybrid Kind-S Snow is a beautiful and well-made choice. However when you’re not a particular sure on all three of these elements, there are different keyboards — such because the Drop Tokyo60 keyboard equipment, which options the HHKB format and a hot-swap PCBA, or the SteelSeries Apex Professional Mini, which is compact, well-built, and has a traditional format — which can be cheaper and fewer area of interest.