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It's fashion more than anything - and it's fun to play with something you use on a regular basis. I like the HHKB because of its default layout and how it feel

It's fashion more than anything - and it's fun to play with something you use on a regular basis. I like the HHKB because of its default layout and how it feels in addition to the way it looks. I wouldn't use these smaller ones, but I understand why people like to play with them.

filoleg 7y ago
Agreed. I feel like HHKB hits that sweet spot where it is minimalistic, but still very usable without messing with layers. If it had just a few more buttons (left Ctrl + arrow keys; though I personally don't care for left Ctrl, as I have remapped it to CapsLock, just Like I do on every keyboard), then I wouldn't even need to use the Fn key at all either.
- fossuser 7y ago
  Part of the reason I’ve stuck with the HHKB for a few years now is that I like its default arrow key layout better than regular arrow keys. Using your right pinkie to hit function and then having the arrows right there is nice. I also use caps lock as control and it’s nice to have it as a hardware default in the HHKB too.
  - filoleg 7y ago
    Oh yeah, totally agreed, I absolutely love how the arrow keys work on HHKB. I would be lying if I said there wasn't a learning curve to it, however. First few weeks, i was definitely missing the correct keys, but once it got into my muscle memory, it became great.
archarios 7y ago
It's not for me. I like fewer keys because I find that it's easier/more comfortable to use layers rather than have to do a weird reach for some key I need.
- Waterluvian 7y ago
  Maybe it's my big lanky adult male meat stick hands but "weird reach" isn't a concept I would have ever perceived as being a thing. That's interesting. Is it uncomfortable or painful or just weird?
  - archarios 7y ago
    Well, I think that any keypress that requires you to move your wrists in any way is weird basically. How do you reach 5, 6, or 7 on your number row for example? what about 1 or ` or esc? I like making it so that I can reach all of these buttons without moving my wrists and with the "correct" fingers.
    - Waterluvian 7y ago
      Today I realise that I have mutant hands. None of those things require much movement at all from me.
- fossuser 7y ago
  I find the cognitive load of having to memorize multiple functional layers outweighs any perceived benefit. I type pretty fast (100 wpm or so), but when programming typing speed is rarely the bottleneck. I suspect people just rationalize fashion to themselves by pretending it’s also better, but everyone is different so maybe some people actually prefer the complexity.
  - archarios 7y ago
    It's not about typing speed. It's more about comfort and accuracy. Also the cognitive load is really not a thing once you're used to it. Maybe you should learn to accept that some people might be more mentally flexible or skilled than you are rather than assuming people are lying to themselves.

filoleg 7y ago

Agreed. I feel like HHKB hits that sweet spot where it is minimalistic, but still very usable without messing with layers. If it had just a few more buttons (left Ctrl + arrow keys; though I personally don't care for left Ctrl, as I have remapped it to CapsLock, just Like I do on every keyboard), then I wouldn't even need to use the Fn key at all either.

fossuser 7y ago
Part of the reason I’ve stuck with the HHKB for a few years now is that I like its default arrow key layout better than regular arrow keys. Using your right pinkie to hit function and then having the arrows right there is nice. I also use caps lock as control and it’s nice to have it as a hardware default in the HHKB too.
- filoleg 7y ago
  Oh yeah, totally agreed, I absolutely love how the arrow keys work on HHKB. I would be lying if I said there wasn't a learning curve to it, however. First few weeks, i was definitely missing the correct keys, but once it got into my muscle memory, it became great.

archarios 7y ago

It's not for me. I like fewer keys because I find that it's easier/more comfortable to use layers rather than have to do a weird reach for some key I need.

Waterluvian 7y ago
Maybe it's my big lanky adult male meat stick hands but "weird reach" isn't a concept I would have ever perceived as being a thing. That's interesting. Is it uncomfortable or painful or just weird?
- archarios 7y ago
  Well, I think that any keypress that requires you to move your wrists in any way is weird basically. How do you reach 5, 6, or 7 on your number row for example? what about 1 or ` or esc? I like making it so that I can reach all of these buttons without moving my wrists and with the "correct" fingers.
  - Waterluvian 7y ago
    Today I realise that I have mutant hands. None of those things require much movement at all from me.
fossuser 7y ago
I find the cognitive load of having to memorize multiple functional layers outweighs any perceived benefit. I type pretty fast (100 wpm or so), but when programming typing speed is rarely the bottleneck. I suspect people just rationalize fashion to themselves by pretending it’s also better, but everyone is different so maybe some people actually prefer the complexity.
- archarios 7y ago
  It's not about typing speed. It's more about comfort and accuracy. Also the cognitive load is really not a thing once you're used to it. Maybe you should learn to accept that some people might be more mentally flexible or skilled than you are rather than assuming people are lying to themselves.