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Comment by crimsontech | Hacker News Reader

Probably the most special thing on my desk is a HHKB keyboard. Other than the layout I think the killer features for the latest version is that it connects to four different devices using bluetooth (it can also connect to another using USB). You switch between devices with a keyboard shortcut (CTRL+FN+1-4 for bluetooth and CTRL+FN+0 for USB).

I can type on calls without my mic picking it up, it has a custom layout saved on device so I don't need to do any configuration for any device I connect it to and it works fine on Windows, MacOS and iOS devices.

I use a JP version but with US keys on it and a US key layout which gives me a bunch of extra keys to configure. If anyone is wondering, there is a spare key on the home row to the right of the ' key which I use as backspace/del.

It wasn't cheap, but if it broke I would replace it with the same model in a heartbeat. I do have a spare but it's the standard US layout with the big spacebar.

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I was a big HHKB fan, I actually still have the first model produced with the three cables for sun, mac, PC.

If anyone is interested, I would check out not only the new HHBKB, but mechanical keyboards also, the ones you build or have someone build. The amount of programming and customization you can do on them is insane.

I moved from HHKB to a 40%, for two reasons: 1) the mouse is incredibly close to the keyboard. It is close with the HHKB, but you can save even more time with a 40%. 2) You can literally reach every single key without moving your hands at all.

I now have three or four of them, one permanently at each computer and at my work desk.

I never understood programmers who use stripped-down mechanical keyboard. I use my arrow keys, home, end, and pagedown key all the time; having to use a fn key to access those would really slow me down. Do you just tend to use the mouse more, or are you on some kind of vim-keys-everywhere kind of thing

I used a HHKB for almost 10 years, and the lack of arrow keys was probably an issue for a week. After that week, the motion of pressing fn and whatever keys then represented arrows was just effortless.

I'd still be using that keyboard now if the switches felt better. After ten years of heavy use as a programmer, they've either become stiffer, or I've become less tolerant (probably both) of the keys.

I'm on a simple Drop ALT now with key switches that remind me of the original Topre keys of the HHKB, but much smoother. I can't recall what they are exactly. No complaints after three years of use.

Mine has arrow keys because it's a JP layout, but I tend to only use them to skip forward or back in video, not when I'm typing. But yeah, I'm a vim-keys-everywhere type I guess, I use the mouse as little as possible.

I use home, end, page up/down etc but I use them without having to move my hands from the home row. This is the major advantage, I can reach every key on the keyboard without moving my hands.

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