Happy Hacking Keyboard Lite 2 for Mac touts Apple key, demotes Caps Lock

We know, the Apple purists out there will probably insist that your Mac dies a little bit each time you plug a non-Apple branded peripheral into one of its ports, but hey, if OS X can handle a Microsoft keyboard, we're sure this fella from Fujitsu is more than fine. Making a triumphant return -- albeit on the Mac side of things this time -- is the Happy Hacking Keyboard, but instead of rolling sans markings, this one is specifically tailored to play nice with all those Appleicious shortcuts you've burned into your muscle memory. The Happy Hacking Keyboard Lite 2 for Mac looks to come in both American and Japanese arrangements, in black (pictured after the jump) or white, and even touts Universal support for whatever its worth. Furthermore, the USB 1.1 board boasts two extra onboard ports with enough juice to handle "low-power devices," and should withstand "up to 10 million keystrokes" as well. Oh, and for those who are dedicating their every breath to getting the Caps Lock key axed, bust out the champagne, as your least favorite key has been demoted to a function of the Tab key on this here $64 device -- huzzah!

[Via AkihabaraNews]

[Keith Sheehan @ Jan 26th 2007 5:56PM]

The PCjr keyboard lives!

[CT @ Jan 26th 2007 5:57PM]

I FOR ONE LOVE MY CAPS LOCK KEY!

[boss sauce @ Jan 26th 2007 8:27PM]

Me too! PhotoShop demands it!!!

[zorg @ Jan 26th 2007 6:12PM]

I have had one of these at home since 1999 and bought a second one for the office in 2005. I love the small footprint, the comfort and the elimination of the dreaded caps-lock. Mine don't have the Mac keys (that's really new), but both seem to work perfectly with Macs and one also worked *pretty* well as an external keyboard for a Sharp Zaurus (never got all the mapping to work before selling the Zaurus). I just wish they'd produce a version with a built-in mouse replacement (trackpoint or trackpad or both). Lenovo has one, albeit vastly larger. I also wish it was Bluetooth now.

[Neebs @ Jan 26th 2007 6:16PM]

Why do people hate the CAPS LOCK key to the point of removal? Its part of my typing. I just can't hold shift and hit three keys.

[Matt @ Jan 26th 2007 6:22PM]

I USED THE CAPS LOCK KEY TO TYPE THIS AND NOT THE SHIFT KEY CAUSE THAT WOULD BE A PAIN IN THE ASS

[Leoedin @ Jan 26th 2007 6:34PM]

Am I alone in prying out my capslock key because its just annoying and I never use it?

[Ulysses @ Jan 26th 2007 6:36PM]

People don't hate the caps lock key, they just never use it. And since they're hackers, having the control key in a convenient location helps prevent their little finger from falling off after typing a million or two emacs key combos.

That said, the happy hacker keyboard can be quite painful if your (my) hands aren't small.

[asher @ Jan 26th 2007 7:01PM]

I have no problem with the caps lock. Yes I personally find it about useless. I was more commenting on the fact that the author of the article seems to have an inability to distinguish between the Control Key and the Apple/Command key.

[Veritas II @ Jan 26th 2007 6:41PM]

Double Bucky in the hizouse.

[Sean D. @ Jan 26th 2007 6:47PM]

Huh. Weird, I never knew people had a problem with the caps lock key. I certainly haven't. Surprisingly, some people actually use it. Some programs, such as After Effects and Maya actually take advantage of it. The "Windows logo" key, on the other hand, is really annoying.

I do like the look and compactness of this keyboard, tho I'd never be able to use it due to it's lack of dedicated 'Page Up,' 'Page Down,' home, and delete keys.

[nikster @ Jan 27th 2007 4:16AM]

i never use caps-lock. i do use the windows-logo key a lot though. for example, win-E to open a new explorer window - how people open explorer windows without that mystifies me. double-click on "my computer"?

win key as a much extended role in vista as well...

[Filtrator @ Jan 26th 2007 7:08PM]

Happy Hacking keyboards are nice, but personally I always preferred Cherry G84-4100 keyboards, they are much better!.

http://www.classykeyboards.com/d_images/g84-4100.jpg

[Austin @ Jan 26th 2007 7:22PM]

Hahahaha... these guys obviously have never used a Mac... It has NO F9-F11 keys... meaning NO EXPOSE! (and no F12 for dashbord, but I don't use that) Useless.

[kevin @ Jan 26th 2007 10:25PM]

these guys have obviously used more macs than you!

they even have the F13-F15 keys (as opposed to Print Screen, Pause, etc.)

OBVIOUSLY

as in, OBVIOUSLY caps lock is useful.... kindof. i wouldn't be any bit saddened to have to use a Fn key when it's right next to the shift anyways.. I only use capslock for midi keys in logic.

[TVGenius @ Jan 29th 2007 6:19PM]

You know, you can remap the keystrokes for Expose...

[Joshua @ Jan 26th 2007 7:39PM]

You get the F keys when you hold down Fn and hit a number. I have two of these now. They already work fine on mac, you just use the meta key as the command key. Maybe they will add an extra button for eject or something (though the Fn key can get you that button already on the current ones)

[Brian @ Jan 26th 2007 7:45PM]

i couldn't see using this keyboard on my mac, first off i'm happy with the laptop's board, plus i have an apple kb already. however the lack of true function keys and misplaced capslock is just annoying

[Kristopher Tate @ Jan 26th 2007 9:34PM]

Uhh, you've got your link set to translate the page into Korean when it's actually Japanese -- someone might want to change that.

Otherwise, this looks like a good deal.

[ezKiel @ Jan 26th 2007 10:13PM]

"The Apple purists out there will probably insist that your Mac dies a little bit each time you plug a non-Apple branded peripheral into one of its ports"

Oh wow! Another engadget writer bashing Apple for absolutely nothing. The item is a Keyboard with an apple key. Whoop-di-do.

I think that was Apple joke #99999 one more till 100k awesome writing guys keep up the tremendous effort to pull Apple into an equation anyway you can.

But seriously, I can't commend your journalistic abilities enough Engadget. Oh biggotted, admonishable, Engadget; you alone are great.

Oh and as an added touch you should post my email on some special day of signifigance.

[Kiel @ Jan 26th 2007 10:15PM]

continued...

[jimmie @ Jan 26th 2007 10:32PM]

I have one of the original Happy Hacking, which cost about $300 when it was introduced, and actually I'm using it to type this.
This one has much better key bed than cheaper "Lite" version (thus the high price) and it has Apple keys from the first. It is designed to be able to connect to PC or Mac or Unix (requires different cable tho).

Original intention of HHK is to have a UNIX keyboard which can be used on PC(and Mac). For those people who regularly use Vi editor or Emacs, having ESC key where left pinkey can reach without much effort and having Control key as the same place in Unix keyboard is indispensable.

If your first computer was already Windows 95 or later, you may not know this kind of thing. That's where it's from.

[Lonnie McClure @ Jan 27th 2007 1:11AM]

I expect the caps lock key would be less annoying if it worked as it did on typewriters; hit the shift key, and it unlocks.

[F @ Jan 27th 2007 7:49AM]

I happen to like the Caps Lock key. I use it often. The only problem I have with it now is when I am using Microsoft Excel 2000. If the Caps Lock key is on (because I prefer all caps for the particular spreadsheet I am using), the MACROS will be activated by keyboard shortcuts. (Excel 97 did not have this problem.)

Does anyone know of a way to keep the Caps Lock on, but still allow for the activation of macros through keyboard shortcuts?

[F @ Jan 27th 2007 7:56AM]

I happen to like the Caps Lock key. I use it often. The only problem I have with it now is when I am using Microsoft Excel 2000. If the Caps Lock key is on (because I prefer all caps for the particular spreadsheet I am using), the MACROS will be activated by keyboard shortcuts. (Excel 97 did not have this problem.)

Does anyone know of a way to keep the Caps Lock on, but still allow for the activation of macros through keyboard shortcuts?

[Lee @ Jan 27th 2007 6:02PM]

The value of keyboards like this is ergonomics -- removing the number pad on the right allows you to keep your mouse or pen tablet closer, relieving strain on your shoulder joint.
I tried using a similar small keyboard but found that the keyboard case was too thick, raising the keys up too high for comfortable typing. Hopefully this one is not uncomfortably thick. How can we find measurements?

[Fabienne Serriere @ Jan 27th 2007 8:12PM]

i have a hhk2 lite in black, use it on my mac and linux machines with synergy, love it. i'm not sure i care about the extra keys, but i will give it a try. i use my hhk with custom mapping everywhere otherwise synergy between debian and os x and freebsd is pretty pointless.

[Andy @ Jan 29th 2007 9:44AM]

one of the programs that i use at my job still runs in DOS and requires caps lock to be on (unless you don't mind holding shift for the entire time you're using it) so i actually NEED the caps lock key.

[Darren @ Feb 16th 2007 1:35PM]

I can't imagine why anyone would buy such a thing, but apparently people do.

It has essentially the same footprint as the Apple laptop keyboards, yet a bunch of keys are in non-standard locations, including hacker-friendly characters like \, |, `, ~, delete, and escape.

In other words, it's a poorly designed laptop keyboard. For $65.

If you want a truly robust keyboard, go find yourself an IBM Model M keyboard for the 80s and early 90s. It's a tank.