Happy Hacking Keyboard

The Happy Hacking Keyboard is a small computer keyboard produced by PFU Limited of Japan, codeveloped with Japanese computer scientist and pioneer Eiiti Wada.[1] Its reduction of keys from the common 104-key layout down to 60 keys in the professional series is the basis for its smaller size while retaining full key size. It returns the control key to its original position as on the early 84-key IBM Personal Computer/AT and XT layouts. The current models[2] in production are the Happy Hacking Keyboard Professional 2,[3] Professional JP,[4] both in either dark or light colorways, Type-S silenced variants and blank key cap variants, and the Happy Hacking Keyboard Lite 2 with an additional Macintosh-specific variant and a blank variant for each.

Happy Hacking Keyboard Lite 2 with 68 labeled keys

Happy Hacking Keyboard
A white Happy Hacking Keyboard Professional 2 with 60 blank keys
Part no.PD-KB02/S

PD-KB02/P

PD-KB02/M
ManufacturerPFU Limited
KeyswitchesMembrane, capacitive
InterfacePD-KB02/S Sun connector

PD-KB02/P - PS/2 connector

PD-KB02/M - ADB connector
Weight520 g
Introduced20 December 1996 (1996-12-20)
Discontinued10 December 2006 (2006-12-10) (original version)
Websitehhkeyboard.com

Common features

Some of the Happy Hacking Keyboard design tenets, as dictated by Wada, include a minimal 60-key design, no cursor or function keys, and standard keyboard pitch, all optimized for use in Unix environments.[5]

Happy Hacking Keyboards lack a numeric keypad, and keys outside the typewriter key area are mainly accessible through the Fn key. The keys are arranged in a layout resembling the Sun Type 3 keyboard. Specifically:

  • The control key is placed where most keyboards place the caps lock. This is the only control key on the keyboard.
  • The esc key is located to the left of the 1 key; the tilde key normally found there is at the right end of the same row.
  • The delete key is located directly above the enter key; the key normally found there is the second-rightmost key on the row above it. Further, this is a true delete key, not a historically named backspace. Backspace is accessible via Fn+Delete though its function can be interchanged with the backspace key using a DIP switch, using this setting, the delete key is accessed via Fn+`
  • The meta keys are located between the space bar and the alt keys.

On the far side of the keyboard there are DIP switches. These may be used to:[6]

  • Turn the delete key into a backspace. Fn+Delete remains backspace, and Fn+` (top-right key) remains delete.
  • Swap the alt and meta keys.
  • Enable/disable downstream USB ports on USB models.

Its size fits half the size of a DIN A4 paper.

Features by model
Model name Model # Color Switch type Interface Blank keycaps Introduced EOL Other features
Happy Hacking Keyboard PD-KB02 White Membrane PS/2, Sun, ADB No Dec 20, 1996 Dec 10, 2006[7] Buzzer (Sun), Power supply switch (Sun/Mac)
PD-KB02N
Happy Hacking Keyboard Lite PD-KB100W White PS/2 Jun 7, 1999[8] Un­known Was also available in black and white unlabeled versions[9]
Happy Hacking Keyboard Lite 2 PD-KB200W/P White Mar 15, 2001[10] Dec 19, 2008 Arrow keys, 2-port USB hub. Available in Japanese and English layouts.
PD-KB200B/P Black
PD-KB200W/U White USB
PD-KB200B/U Black
PD-KB210W/U White
PD-KB210B/U Black
PD-KB220W/U White
PD-KB220B/U Black
PD-KB220MKW White Mac version, has command and option keys in addition to the other Lite 2 features.[11]
PD-KB200MKB Black
PD-KB200MA White
PD-KB220MA White
Happy Hacking Keyboard Professional PD-KB300 White Capacitive[12] Apr 24, 2003 Dec 10, 2006[7]
PD-KB300B Charcoal gray
PD-KB300NL White Yes
PD-KB300BN Charcoal gray
Happy Hacking Keyboard Professional 2 PD-KB400W White No Mar 24, 2006[13] 2-port USB hub
PD-KB400B Charcoal gray
PD-KB400WN White Yes
PD-KB400BN Charcoal gray
Happy Hacking Keyboard Professional JP PD-KB420W White No Nov 10, 2008 HHKB Professional 2 with Japanese layout and arrow keys
PD-KB420B Charcoal gray
Happy Hacking Keyboard Professional HG[14] PD-KB500W White No Oct 12, 2006 Special 10-year anniversary models[15]
PD-KB500B Black
PD-KB500WN White Yes
PD-KB500BN Black
Happy Hacking Keyboard Professional HG JAPAN[16] PD-KB500J Wajima-style lacquer
Happy Hacking Keyboard Professional 2 Type-S PD-KB400WS White No June 29, 2011 with Silencing[17]
PD-KB400WNS White Yes
Happy Hacking Keyboard Professional JP Type-S PD-KB420WS White No
Happy Hacking Keyboard Professional BT[18] PD-KB600B Charcoal gray Bluetooth No Apr 12, 2016
PD-KB600BN Charcoal gray Yes
PD-KB600W White No
PD-KB600WN White Yes
PD-KB620B Charcoal gray No Japanese layout
PD-KB620W White
Happy Hacking Keyboard Professional Classic CG01000-296201 White, white keycaps (printed) Capacitive USB-C No January, 2020 3rd generation

See also

References
  1. "IIJ Research Laboratory - Researchers". Internet Initiative Japan. Archived from the original on 2016-03-05. Retrieved 2011-04-27.
  2. "Happy Hacking Keyboard (Japanese manufacturer's site)". PFU Limited. Retrieved 2013-01-16.
  3. "HHKB Professional2 (Japanese site)". PFU Limited. Archived from the original on 2015-09-10. Retrieved 2008-02-19.
  4. "HHKB Professional JP (Japanese site)". PFU Limited. Archived from the original on 2009-03-02. Retrieved 2009-04-22.
  5. "Wada Eiiti". Computer Museum. Information Processing Society of Japan. Retrieved 2011-04-27.
  6. "DIP switch functions". PFU Limited. Archived from the original on 2010-08-20. Retrieved 2007-05-08.
  7. "Happy Hacking Keyboard Specifications". PFU Limited. Archived from the original on 2013-01-07. Retrieved 2008-07-31.
  8. "PFU America releases "Happy Hacking Keyboard Lite" for all PC/Linux users and power users". PFU Limited. 1999-06-01. Archived from the original on 2000-01-23. Retrieved 2008-07-31.
  9. "Happy Hacking Keyboard Lite". PFU Limited. Archived from the original on 2001-10-24. Retrieved 2008-07-31.
  10. "PFU America Releases "Happy Hacking Keyboard Lite 2"". AllBusiness. 2001-03-15. Archived from the original on 2010-10-12. Retrieved 2008-07-31.
  11. Murph, Darren (2007-01-26). "Happy Hacking Keyboard Lite 2 for Mac touts Apple Key, demotes Caps Lock". Engadget. Retrieved 2008-07-31.
  12. "HHKB/Features/High quality keys". PFU Limited. Archived from the original on 2010-08-03. Retrieved 2007-08-19.
  13. "Happy Hacking Keyboard Professional 2". AkibaLive. 2006-03-16. Archived from the original on 2008-06-16. Retrieved 2008-07-31.
  14. "HHKB Professional HG Specs". PFU Limited. Retrieved 2008-08-12.
  15. "The 3300 euros keyboard for PC". Akihabaranews. 2006-10-12. Archived from the original on 2009-12-16. Retrieved 2008-08-12.
  16. "HHKB Professional HG JAPAN Specs". PFU Limited. Retrieved 2008-08-12.
  17. "HHKB Professional 2 and JP Type-S press release". PFU Limited. Retrieved 2011-09-11.
  18. "Happy Hacking Keyboard: HHKB Professional BT: PFU". PFU Limited. Retrieved 2016-04-12.
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