When comparing Happy Hacking Keyboard Professional 2 vs Das Keyboard 4 Professional, the Slant community recommends Das Keyboard 4 Professional for most people. In the question“What are the best keyboards for programming?” Das Keyboard 4 Professional is ranked 11th while Happy Hacking Keyboard Professional 2 is ranked 13th. The most important reason people chose Das Keyboard 4 Professional is:
Das 4 Pro keyboards feature Cherry MX switches, know for their established reputation. They have excellent durability and outstanding performance. Users can choose between the Cherry MX Blue and Cherry MX Brown switches. The main difference is that the first ones are clicky and the second ones are quiet.
Specs
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Pros
Pro Compact & minimalistic
This keyboard uses a 60% layout that forgoes unneeded keys and merges the extra set of keys into the Fn layer. This mimics the behaviour found on most laptops due to size restrictions. Despite this, the more commonly used keys are left intact so that one does not feel too unfamiliar with the more compact layout. In addition to reducing the keyboard's size, it makes accessing virtually every key on the keyboard a breeze.
Pro Very well built
The Happy Hacking Keyboard Professional 2 is a very well built keyboard that uses materials that give it a tough body resistant to bending.
Pro Easily programmable and highly modifiable
This keyboard comes with the standard DIP switches to modify key behavior, but you can also completly swap out the controller board or even fork the TMK firmware to make your own keybindings in the firmware. Also available is the TMK controller board custom made for HHKB users.
Pro Designed to keep you in home row
Eiiti Wada (a Japanese computer pioneer), the co-developer of this keyboard, is a UNIX user and wanted to make life easier for programmers, particularly vim and emacs. He aimed for a keyboard layout that allowed fingers to stay in the home row most of the time. For example, he placed the Control key where the Caps Lock traditionally is. Most *nix users and general power users know that Control is used more often than Caps Lock for various shortcuts. Therefore, this key repositioning makes sense, since it makes access easier, using the pinky fingers while keeping one's hand on the "home row" of keys.
Pro Fluid key feel with Topre switches
This keyboard’s keys use Topre switches, which have a smooth, interesting feel: each key’s resistance is quickly lost once it starts being pressed. This sensation is accompanied by a unique and pleasantly organic “thock” sound. These hybrid switches have both a rubber dome and a spring which create the initial tactile bump feel and subsequent continuous action. If you want, these switches can be silenced, either by the manufacturer before purchasing or by following some DIY steps (easy to do, but time-consuming).
Pro The keycaps are made from PBT and the inscriptions are dye-sublimated
PBT plastic is a very brittle material that is able to withstand high temperatures, doesn't yellow or wear out easily. The dye sublimation process ensures the inscriptions don't wear off easily (compared to pad printed ABS, for example). This process usually requires keycaps to withstand high amounts of heat for the ink to transfer from one material to the other, something that's not possible with other commonly used plastics, like ABS. Dye-sublimated inscriptions are also better than laser, etched, or engraved inscriptions in the sense that they don't get dirt or dust as easily.
Pro Contributes to a more ergonomic workspace
The positioning of the numpad on traditional keyboards forces users to keep the mouse far on the right-hand side. With this keyboard's compact layout, a more ergonomic workspace can be created by allowing the mouse to be placed closer.
Pro The arrow keys, the page up/down keys and the media keys, among others, are easily usable via the Fn key, comfortably within reach
Even though there aren't dedicated keys for these functions, they can be easily used by pressing an easy-to-reach Fn key, placed just below Enter. Functions accessible via the Fn key are printed on the front of the keycap.
Pro Reliable and long-lasting mechanical switches
Das 4 Pro keyboards feature Cherry MX switches, know for their established reputation. They have excellent durability and outstanding performance. Users can choose between the Cherry MX Blue and Cherry MX Brown switches. The main difference is that the first ones are clicky and the second ones are quiet.
Pro Conveniently located two-port USB 3.0 hub
The location of the hub, on the top right side, makes adding a mouse very convenient.
Pro Solid, durable construction
The Das uses the best materials available to create a stable, durable board. Some parts are made of aluminum which prevents any flexing and others of resistant textured plastic, making this a keyboard that withstands damage very well. And the switches are genuine Cherry MX switches, which are durable and reliable. The keycaps text is laser etched, meaning it withstands the test of time pretty well.
Pro Beautiful design
The Das 4 Pro keyboard has a beautiful nearly-minimalist design. The volume wheel and slight protrusion on the top right help it stand out from the crowd. The front is covered with a matte aluminium finish that resists fingerprints.
Pro Ultimate version looks very slick
The Ultimate version of the keyboard looks badass with its blank keycaps.
Pro Top panel resists fingerprints and provides rigidness
It has an aluminum top panel which not only feels great, but also resists fingerprints and prevents any flexing.
Pro Comes with dedicated media controls and an oversized volume knob
There are three rectangular media keys: previous, play/pause, and next. Just above the next key there's a circular mute button, and on the right of all the other media keys is a volume knob that can be spun to adjust the volume.
Pro Very thin
Das claims that this keyboard is the thinnest mechanical keyboard available on the market.
Pro Each key has the perfect stabilizer for its size
This keyboard uses an innovative mix of Cherry and Costar stabilizers. Costar stabilizers have many advantages, but they don't work very well on large keys, like spacebars. To get the best of both options, Das uses Costar stabilizers on all keys, except on the space bar, where it uses Cherry stabilizers.
Cons
Con The USB hub only has 100 mW power
The USB hub on the HHKB only has 100 mW of power, so it might struggle to power some devices.
Con No dedicated arrow keys
The HHKB Pro JP is the only version that has dedicated arrow keys. On the HHKP2 , these functions have to be used via the Fn key.
Con The traction feet are weak and the height feet are short
The traction feet do not actually provide much traction just as the height feet do not add that much height.
Con Lacks versatility outside of typing
The Pro 2’s design focus on typing and coding results in compromises that hinders other kinds of uses. It’s not an ideal keyboard for gaming: many games use the Function and arrow keys extensively and with the Pro 2, that requires double strokes or completely reconfiguring the key binds to fit the layout. Also, when it comes to crunching numbers and spreadsheet work, the absence of the arrow keys and a dedicated number pad makes this keyboard completely cumbersome and inefficient to use.
Con Expensive
There are many potential reasons as to why this keyboard is as expensive as it is, like the use of certain materials or the remarkable build quality. However, at the end of the day, its price is still quite higher than what most people are willing to spend on a keyboard.
Con Manufacturer warranty is only valid under certain conditions
The warranty conditions specifically imply that the one year manufacturer’s warranty is only valid within Japan or if bought within the US from elitekeyboards.com. For all other countries, the warranty is considered void by default.
Con It's popular because it is ridiculously overpriced, even though it's underfeatured
This keyboard's price is much too high for the features it offers.
Con none
Con No metal backplate
The HHKB lacks a metal backplate. Most decent mechanical keyboards have a metal backplate that is usually mounted to the underside of the PCB. The inclusion of such a plate, aside from increased build quality, adds more stability by dampening vibration during use.
Con Lack of keycap/switch customization options
Due to the nature of the Topre switch, customization is very limited. On other keyboards, like those with Cherry MX switches, it is easy to swap switches. With Topre switches, this is only possible if a keyboard with the right set of rubber domes/cups is bought. This leads to a higher customization cost.
Con Has numeric keypad
If you are an accountant, a numeric keypad might be an advantage. But to those of us who want to use a mouse, it's a definite con. Moving the mouse further right opens the shoulder joint and is just bad ergonomically.
Con Not suitable for use in the dark
The Das 4 Pro keyboard doesn't have any backlighting. This means you will probably find it a bit hard to use on a dark environment.
Con Potentially uncomfortable to use, depending on your wrist placement
The edges of the keyboard are not rounded, so it can be painful if you rest your wrists on them.
Con No calculator button
There's no calculator shortcut button.
Con Not very portable
The Das 4 Pro keyboard has external dimensions of 18'' x 6.8'' x 0.8'' ( 457 x 173 x 20 mm ) and weight of 2.9 pounds (1.3 kg). Hence, it’s not an easy keyboard to carry around. This makes the fact that it’s the slimmest mechanical keyboard on the market loose value.
Con Expensive
This keyboard is quite expensive, especially if compared, in terms of extra features, to similarly priced keyboards made by other brands. It notably misses features like USB passthrough or RGB lighting, which is surprising for a keyboard with a retail price of $169.