Happy Hacking Keyboard Hhkb Lite2 For Mac

The Happy Hacking Keyboard is a small computer keyboard produced by PFU Limited of Japan, co-developed with Japanese computer pioneer Eiiti Wada.^[1] Its reduction of keys from the common 104-key layout down to 60 keys in the professional series is the basis for its smaller size while retaining full key size. It returns the control key to its original position as on the early 84-key PC AT and XT layouts. The current models^[2] in production are the Happy Hacking Keyboard Professional 2,^[3] Professional JP,^[4] both in either dark or light colorways, Type-S silenced variants and blank key cap variants, and the Happy Hacking Keyboard Lite 2 with an additional Macintosh-specific variant and a blank variant for each.

HHKB is a semi-personalized keyboard and it has 3 modes (HHKB mode for LINUX users, Lite Ext. Mode for Windows users and Mac mode for Mac users).  The 2x USB downstream ports (USB HUB) on the back side supply a current of 100 mA on each port.

Common features[edit]

Some of the Happy Hacking Keyboard design tenets, as dictated by Wada, include a minimal 60-key design, no cursor or function keys, and standard keyboard pitch, all optimized for use in UNIX environments.^[5]

Happy Hacking Keyboards lack a numeric keypad, and keys outside the typewriter key area are mainly accessible through the Fn key. The keys are arranged in a layout resembling the Sun Type 3 keyboard. Specifically:

• The control key is found where most keyboards place the caps lock. This is the only control key on the keyboard.
• The esc key is located to the left of the 1 key; the tilde key normally found there is at the right end of the same row.
• The delete key is located directly above the enter key; the key normally found there is the second-rightmost key on the row above it. Furthermore, this is an actual delete key, not a historically named backspace. Backspace is accessible through Fn+Delete though its function can be interchanged with the backspace key using a DIP switch, using this setting, the delete key is accessed via Fn+`
• The meta keys are located between the space bar and the alt keys.

On the far side of the keyboard there are DIP switches. These may be used to:^[6]

• Turn the delete key into a backspace. Fn+Delete remains backspace, and Fn+` (top-right key) remains delete.
• Swap the alt and meta keys.
• Enable/disable downstream USB ports on USB models.

Its size fits half the size of a DINA4 paper.

Features by model[edit]

See also[edit]

References[edit]

1. ^'IIJ Research Laboratory - Researchers'. Internet Initiative Japan. Archived from the original on 2016-03-05. Retrieved 2011-04-27.
2. ^'Happy Hacking Keyboard (Japanese manufacturer's site)'. PFU Limited. Retrieved 2013-01-16.
3. ^'HHKB Professional2 (Japanese site)'. PFU Limited. Archived from the original on 2015-09-10. Retrieved 2008-02-19.
4. ^'HHKB Professional JP (Japanese site)'. PFU Limited. Archived from the original on 2009-03-02. Retrieved 2009-04-22.
5. ^'Wada Eiiti-Computer Museum'. Information Processing Society of Japan. Retrieved 2011-04-27.
6. ^'DIP switch functions'. PFU Limited. Archived from the original on 2010-08-20. Retrieved 2007-05-08.
7. ^ ^ab'Happy Hacking Keyboard Specifications'. PFU Limited. Archived from the original on 2013-01-07. Retrieved 2008-07-31.
8. ^'PFU America releases 'Happy Hacking Keyboard Lite' for all PC/Linux users and power users'. PFU Limited. 1999-06-01. Archived from the original on 2000-01-23. Retrieved 2008-07-31.
9. ^'Happy Hacking Keyboard Lite'. PFU Limited. Archived from the original on 2001-10-24. Retrieved 2008-07-31.
10. ^'PFU America Releases 'Happy Hacking Keyboard Lite 2''. AllBusiness. 2001-03-15. Archived from the original on 2010-10-12. Retrieved 2008-07-31.
11. ^Murph, Darren (2007-01-26). 'Happy Hacking Keyboard Lite 2 for Mac touts Apple Key, demotes Caps Lock'. Engadget. Retrieved 2008-07-31.
12. ^'HHKB/Features/High quality keys'. PFU Limited. Archived from the original on 2010-08-03. Retrieved 2007-08-19.
13. ^'Happy Hacking Keyboard Professional 2'. AkibaLive. 2006-03-16. Archived from the original on 2008-06-16. Retrieved 2008-07-31.
14. ^'HHKB Professional HG Specs'. PFU Limited. Retrieved 2008-08-12.
15. ^'The 3300 euros keyboard for PC'. Akihabaranews. 2006-10-12. Archived from the original on 2009-12-16. Retrieved 2008-08-12.
16. ^'HHKB Professional HG JAPAN Specs'. PFU Limited. Retrieved 2008-08-12.
17. ^'HHKB Professional 2 and JP Type-S press release'. PFU Limited. Retrieved 2011-09-11.
18. ^'Happy Hacking Keyboard HHKB Professional BT PFU'. PFU Limited. Retrieved 2016-04-12.

External links[edit]

I've just recently gotten into mechanical keyboards but I've been using a Lite2 for almost a decade and, for a rubber dome, keyboard I think it's actually pretty good. Not great but good.

For me the reason for buying it was the compactness and the pro-Emacs layout. If HHKB were to introduce a version of it with either Topre or Cherry switches I'd buy it in a heartbeat because the Pro2's layout is just a little too hardcore for me. I make heavy use the arrow keys on the Lite2 in combination with the Alt and Meta keys to move around quickly.

Having to add the Fn key (which is only included on the right side of the Pro2) to do the same thing is more than I can ask of my hands. Ibm netvista x40. Maybe if it weren't $300 bucks. Archiss ProgresTouch Retro - Gateron Yellow Topre Realforce 104UW - 45g Silent Topre Type Heaven Beige Filco Ninja 104 - MX Red Das Keyboard - MX Brown Poker II - MX Red Race II - MX Brown Matias Quiet Pro - Matias Dampened ALPS Logitech K840 - Romer G Cherry MX Board 2.0 - MX Red Cherry G84-4100 - ML IBM Model MRoccat Kone Pure Logitech G203 Logitech G303 Logitech G302 Razer Naga CM Storm Xornet Razer Goliathus Mobile Stealth Razer Goliathus Control Artisan Hien Artisan Hayate Artisan Shiden.