Happy Hacking Keyboard Studio, Snow

I own multiple mechanical keyboards and only used mechanical keyboards in the last ~10 years. This is definitely the BEST ONE and I am extremely happy with it. I have been using it with MacOS. PROS: - The build quality and overall feeling is amazing, with well-designed details and functionalities. It seems specifically designed for productivity. - The trackpoint (pointing stick) is extremely convenient. It's very similar to what you find on Thinkpads (and other business laptops). There is a small learning curve getting used to it, but then it becomes very natural, and it's great for quick mouse/click actions without moving the hands from the keyboard. It would be great to see more mechanical keyboards implementing it. Important: some early reviews complain about this specific aspect. However, there is a new firmware from April 2024 that largely improved pointing stick functionality, so REMEMBER TO UPDATED THE FIRMWARE after receiving the keyboard. - I really like the switches. I know that some people are not happy with this keyboard not having Topre switches. However, these are really good, and honestly I like that they are hot swappable (better longevity, more options for future changes) and that they have more options for different keycaps. - It's great to have options for wired or bluetooth connections. Additionally, it's great that it doesn't have an internal battery, as it improves longevity and avoids potential problems. - The software is great, a lot of options for customization. At the beginning, there were a few things in the keyboard I wanted to change, and I was able to do everything very easily through the integrated software and/or other OS options. I couldn't find major CONS. Maybe, just that the "gesture pads" (there are 4 of them) are not that useful, at least for my use cases, and I end up now using them. For scrolling, I like the pointing stick much better. It's also a bit too expensive, even though I can understand the price given the tech and innovations. Overall, 100% recommended.

I honestly cannot rate this product low enough. For the absolutely eye watering price that HHKB wants for this thing, I expect a pretty premium product. The factory key switches are garbage. They're silent, sure, but they're mushy and feel terrible. But frankly, that's the absolute least of its issues. The keyboard itself has a strange layout, which I thought I could adjust to, but I cannot. But again: that's not the biggest issue. The biggest issue is that this is straight up not a quality product. Connectivity just randomly comes and goes as it sees fit. It's literally cut out on me twice writing this review (I haven't put it back in the box to return yet as I haven't had time). The gesture pads are not responsive *at all*, and work when they feel like it. If you're lucky. Frankly, at this price tag, I expect near perfection. This keyboard isn't even good.

I have to admit: I purchased this keyboard twice. I've been looking for better ways to scroll because I hate scroll wheels, and the integrated trackpoint seemed like a good idea, but I just wasn't ready to adapt to something without visible arrow keys. That was my bad. It's not difficult at all to customize a function layer to have arrows, or in my case, I realized I don't use the right-side modifiers at all, so I remapped them to arrows on the top layer. For the Topre switch fans, the linear switches this bad boy comes with are REALLY good. Very similar feel to Topre that I actually prefer. I also tried the TEX Shura and the HKKB Studio is way better, the Shura feels like a toy compared to this keyboard, I really love it. I have clicky switches in it and they sound great, the keycap material is really nice feeling and the keycap profile is tightly contoured to create a nice slope of the keys from front to back. If you need to look to type, the white is probably a better option since the dark keycap legend is really hard to see. I don't need to look at my keys while typing so the dark version works for me. Can't say I'm hacking anything with it, but it does make me happy, and my scroll wheel finger is loving it the most because it gets to take a break from scroll wheel clicking detent torture. Thanks, HHKB!

I have used an HHKB Professional 2 daily since 2017. I bought the Studio because it offers a pointer stick, which allows me to keep my hands close to the home row. It pairs perfectly with what I already consider a nearly perfect key layout. The gesture pad is a nice option; I currently only use it for page scrolling. You can also use the mouse middle function key to toggle the pointer stick as a page scroll. Why the Studio is for me: I experience wrist pain when using a traditional mouse. Over the years, I have tried or considered alternatives, including trackballs, vertical mice, touchpads, and RollerMouse devices, alongside my HHKB Pro 2. When I saw the Studio, it immediately made sense to pair a pointer stick with the HHKB layout. It’s excellent and has reduced my wrist pain. I use the pointer stick for precise mouse movements during long programming sessions, while still relying on a trackball (X-Keys L-Trac) for larger movements. Using both input methods helps break up repetitive strain from relying solely on one or the other. Yes, I would have preferred Topre switches, but the custom Kailh silent keys are very quiet and feel cushioned and comfortable—I have no complaints. It's also worth mentioning that the mouse switches are Gateron low profile and are also swappable along with the main Kailh box switches. I only gave the keyboard 4/5 stars because it does not use Topre switches. If a future version includes Topre switches, I will buy it immediately and almost certainly rate it 5/5.

When it doesn't... it's maddening. I get phantom keypresses and mouse movements and ignored keypresses even connected via USB. This applies on MacOS, desktop Linux, and Android, on four different systems, so it's not a fault on the OS side. Either I got a complete lemon or this product is trash.

This was expensive and suited my needs (I wanted to have a mechanical keyboard with an integrated trackpoint or trackpack) and types very well with great key presses (despite the hate it gets from being non-TOPRE), but once or twice a day in normal typing whether on Linux or Windows becomes non-responsive and requires power off and power on again. It's a shame there's only one function key and one control key. I could use their keymap software, but this keyboard goes between several different machines, including Raspberry Pis, linux servers and a Windows machine. The location of the Control key is very desirable for those who use vim and the shell frequently and I love not having to bring an external standalone mouse along with me. I don't understand the purpose of a charcoal keyboard with black key text as there is not only no practical value (yes I touch type mostly anyway) but requires you to squint to use non-frequent function key combos.

I originally own a type-s, but it is with the studio that I decided to get the same model in a different color (for a change of mood, aesthetics for my desk). I do not travel with keyboards. The studio has a much sturdier build, and I especially like the elongated area for the three clicks in the studio model for resting (something that I think is missing for the type s). I have small hands and I like the tactile feel of the rims of the keyboard. The trackpoint and the gestures pads are curious features, could be useful and fun to use. Also i feel like the studio types more quietly than the type s. Took me a while, I now enjoy typing on the studio than the topre type s.

I have spent way to much money on mechanical keyboards over the years and I always come back to the HHKB, it's just a pleasure to use and I have had multiples that have lasted me years. I know they are expensive, but once you start to use them, they make sense. The new "Studio" edition is no exception, it's an amazing keyboard and I find myself using the scrolling feature a lot more than I expected. It's expensive but really worth it and good value on how well these last.

Love the Keyboard, but it came with some scratches. Probably someone returned, thus it is not BRAND NEW. Disappointed.