Happy Hacking Keyboard Professional: look ma, no letters

QWERTY, QWERTZ, AZERTY, DVORAK, XPeRT, dozens of non-Roman-based language layouts, this keyboard doesn't care. It's all over it, man, advanced. But you have to be advanced yourself if you want to remap it properly; plus, we gotta say, we're all turbo-fast touch typists (naturally) but you've got to be pretty hardcore to fly totally blind like that. Guess that's why they call it the Happy Hacking Keyboard Professional though, eh?

[russell @ Dec 19th 2005 1:04AM]

awesome. I use the happy hacking keyboard lite 2 (USB) on my mac. perfect for programming. but I don't see an inverted T on this one for arrows

[Jason Deraleau @ Dec 19th 2005 1:04AM]

I had one of the HH keyboards, but it was PS/2, so I ditched it when I went to the Mac. Great little keyboard if you could get used to holding down a function key to get access to your arrow keys. This one looks pretty minimalist. As long as it has the raised dots on the F & J keys, I bet I could wing it :)

[Peebert @ Dec 19th 2005 1:04AM]

A keyboard without letters? Not such a foreign idea to those of us who bought a Virtually Indestructible Keyboard (http://www.grandtec.com/vik.htm) and found that heavy use eventually wears off the purportedly-permanent character labels. Don't get me wrong- the VIK kicks all kinds of ass(silent keystrokes make me a coding ninja that kills with impunity)- but I've been flying blind for as long as I can recall. I'd complain about the delibility of the paint on the keys, but it's done a million wonders for my typing speed.

Well, not a million necessarily... but easily several hundred thousand...

[Peebert @ Dec 19th 2005 1:04AM]

Of course, I craft a remark about how great a touch typist I've become, and I find a typo as soon as it's posted. I could blame the breaks in the textarea on my omission of a space, but that'd be, you know... lame. Looks like the best tools can still only polish a turd so much. I guess it's suicide again for me...

[Nicholas Paredes @ Dec 19th 2005 1:04AM]

Is this news? But, I'd really like a bluetooth version, as my aging usb version has felt out of place on the Mac for a long time.

[James @ Dec 19th 2005 1:04AM]

It also comes with the instructional pamphlets "Neckbeard Care for Dummies", "How to Work Angband into Everyday Conversation" and the best-selling "1001 Witty Things to Say During Meetings That Aren't Really Witty and Will Lower Everyone's Opinion of You"

[Rick @ Dec 19th 2005 1:04AM]

Why is the backspace key so small (in upper-right corner)?

[mizna @ Dec 19th 2005 1:04AM]

You know, it's called professional because of the "circular cone spring system" and the "electric capacitance system" (keytop-printed version available). http://www.pfu.fujitsu.com/en/hhkeyboard/hhkbpro/leaflet.html
If you only like the UNIX key layout, go with Lite2 (~US$50).

[Carmi @ Dec 19th 2005 1:04AM]

Technical masterpiece, ergonomic nightmare. My first thought when I saw the form factor was of a bunch of Doctors who specialize in treating Repetitive Stress Injuries gleefully rubbing their hands while they think of the influx of patients they'll have if this thing ever takes off.

Carmi
http://writteninc.blogspot.com

[victor @ Dec 19th 2005 1:04AM]

This looks just like the keyboard on my iBook-- the one I bought a year ago...

[onu @ Dec 19th 2005 1:04AM]

"Why is the backspace key so small (in upper-right corner)?"

Because it's not a Backspace, it's a DEL key. There is no Backspace on Happy Hacking keyboards... Well, unless you count the dipswitch on the back that turns DEL into Backspace... I keep it off personally. Check out the non-blank but still professional model at the pfuca store:
http://store1.yimg.com/I/pfuca-store_1822_223788

Even though I should get off the arrow keys for greater vi empowerment, I just can't deal without them in other apps, so I got the Happy Hacking Keyboard Lite II.

[Slaven @ Dec 19th 2005 1:04AM]

They're great for those of us that need to crank out a lot of text and code non-stop. I agree, probably not the most ergonomically sound layout but Happy Hacker has had a loyal following in the programmer community for quite a few years. Still, I went with DiNovo with my last keyboard upgrade!

[c0br4 @ Dec 19th 2005 1:04AM]

Perfect for keeping my little sister and mum away from my computer, they wouldn't get past typing in their username and password however destroying windows and installing linux also keeps them away

[dmw @ Dec 19th 2005 1:04AM]

I bought one of these (the blank one) almost 2 years ago. Since I use the dvorak layout, the labels on my keyboard never match what I'm typing anyway, so this was just the next logical step. I thought it was the coolest thing, but everyone I showed it to just didn't get it. Where's the letters? Duh.

Oh, btw, the backspace key is right above the return key. The key in the upper left is not backspace.

[Wasim @ Dec 19th 2005 1:04AM]

not really related to article (so why r u posting) but I was gonna say the keyboard needs to be changed completely - I don't mean QWERTY layout but the whole concept of keyboard. We need to start looking at voice recognition or a new way to input information onto screens (ironic as I'm using a keyboard) just one thing along with many that needs changing in this world.

Maybe its too much Star Trek and futuristic films - i,Robot + the Audi RSQ - keyboards and computing are good but we need to move foward. It's silly that the age we live in, people still get RSI and computing needs to be more user-friendly, not just the software.

Touch screens + stuff...we were all promised great things and I'm disappointed (what do you want other people to do - just aplogise and go away)

Sorry for wasting your time

[Bud Landry @ Dec 19th 2005 1:04AM]

I took typing class back when computers were the size of several refrigerators, and a blank keyboard is the absolutely best way to learn... no peeking at the keys. I typed twice as fast and accurate (WPM) until they reassigned seating, and I got a typewriter with letters on the keys.

The biggest customers for these keyboards will probably be for cash registers and other specific use kiosks, rather than people that want to switch to dvorak from querty and back.

[Keith S. @ Dec 19th 2005 1:04AM]

Now where have I seen this before? Hmmm... oh yeah! The PCjr!

http://www.oldskool.org/shrines/pcjr_tandy