HHKB Lite

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HHKB Lite
HHKB Lite 2.jpg
Manufacturer PFU
Layouts
  • 60-key modified US ANSI
  • 65-key modified US ANSI
  • 68-key modified JP JIS
Keyswitches Rubber dome over membrane
Interface PS/2 or USB
Weight 620–680 g (depending on model)
Years of production 1999–present (check model)

The Happy Hacking Keyboard (HHKB) Lite is a range of Happy Hacking Keyboards that use membrane rubber domes switches. The Lite range was introduced in 1999.

Description

The primary visual distinction between the HHKB Lite series and the HHKB Professional series, is that the Lite keyboards feature a rather incongruous placement of notebook-size inverse-T cursor keys. The Lite keyboards also feature a non-detachable cord that goes from keyboard to the machine/computer, unlike the Pro keyboards that feature a detachable USB cord.

Lite2 range of the HHKB introduces USB hubs similar to that of the Professional 2 range of the HHKB. However instead of being USB2.0 compatible, the Lite2 USB hubs are only USB1.1 compatible. Both Professional 2 as well as Lite2 can output 100mA per USB port attached to the HHKB.

Lite2 for Mac substitutes the Meta key (labelled as "◇") for Command key (labelled as "⌘") and adds extra label "Option" on the "Alt" key. In addition to all this the keyboard is offered in a unique colour known as "Snow White".

Unlike Professional series whereby Japanese JIS variants are clearly labelled by their full name, both Professional and Lite share the same attribute for only variation with part numbers.

The Lite range introduced both Japanese legended and unlegended variants. Japanese legended variants have Japanese legends printed alongside with the English alphanumeric legends. For instance, the letter "Q" is printed with "た". The unlegended Japanese variants in this case will only have the letter "Q" printed as it is. Japanese legended variants has been discontinued even though the JIS layout is still available. This was possibly due to the lack of demand on kana printed characters alongside alphabet.

Happy Hacking Keyboard Lite series

PFU Model Number Model Name USB Hub Number of Keys Layout Connector Key Weight Total Weight Enclosure/Key Colour Key Label Colour Alt. Label Release Date Availability
PD-KB100NW Happy Hacking Keyboard Lite No 60 Modified US ANSI PS/2 50g 620g White Black No 13-10-1999 Not readily available.
PD-KB200W/P Happy Hacking Keyboard Lite2 No 65 Modified US ANSI PS/2 55g 680g White Black No 21-03-2001 Not readily available.
PD-KB200B/P Happy Hacking Keyboard Lite2 No 65 Modified US ANSI PS/2 55g 680g Black White No 21-03-2001 Not readily available.
PD-KB210W/P Happy Hacking Keyboard Lite2 No 68 Modified JP JIS PS/2 55g 680g White Black hiragana 21-03-2001 Not readily available.
PD-KB200W/U Happy Hacking Keyboard Lite2 Yes 65 Modified US ANSI USB 55g 680g White Black No 21-03-2001 Available Japan US
PD-KB200B/U Happy Hacking Keyboard Lite2 Yes 65 Modified US ANSI USB 55g 680g Black White No 08-08-2001 Available Japan US
PD-KB210W/U Happy Hacking Keyboard Lite2 Yes 68 Modified JP JIS USB 55g 680g White Black hiragana 08-08-2001 Not readily available.
PD-KB210B/U Happy Hacking Keyboard Lite2 Yes 68 Modified JP JIS USB 55g 680g Black White hiragana 12-08-2002 Not readily available.
PD-KB210B/P Happy Hacking Keyboard Lite2 No 68 Modified JP JIS PS/2 55g 680g Black White hiragana 12-08-2002 Not readily available.
PD-KB220W/U Happy Hacking Keyboard Lite2 Yes 68 Modified JP JIS USB 55g 680g White Black No 10-06-2004 Available Japan
PD-KB220B/U Happy Hacking Keyboard Lite2 Yes 68 Modified JP JIS USB 55g 680g Black White No 10-06-2004 Available Japan
PD-KB220W/P Happy Hacking Keyboard Lite2 No 68 Modified JP JIS PS/2 55g 680g White Black hiragana 10-06-2004 Not readily available.
PD-KB220B/P Happy Hacking Keyboard Lite2 No 68 Modified JP JIS PS/2 55g 680g Black White hiragana 10-06-2004 Not readily available.
PD-KB200M/A Happy Hacking Keyboard Lite2 for Mac Yes 65 Modified US ANSI USB 55g 680g Snow White Black No 25-01-2007 Available Japan
PD-KB220M/A Happy Hacking Keyboard Lite2 for Mac Yes 68 Modified JP JIS USB 55g 680g Snow White Black No 25-01-2007 Available Japan

HHKB Lite

HHKB Lite was a low cost keyboard that had only PS/2 connector available in comparison to HHKB which depending on the variant has a total of three different connectors.[1]

In addition to featuring only one connector variant, the label "Happy Hacking Keyboard Lite" was printed as opposed to "Happy Hacking" that was printed on the Happy Hacking Keyboard.

Happy Hacking Keyboard Lite was released on October 13 1999 in Japan[2] with no indication on when it was discontinued. It was priced at ¥7,880 (Japanese Yen).

PFU Systems (formerly PFU America) announced Happy Hacking Keyboard Lite on June 1 1999 and was released on June 7 1999.[3]. It was priced at $69 [4] but was subsequently discounted to $49.[5]

The following information was made available on PFU Systems:

On November 15 - 19, 1999 at ZDEvents COMDEX/LINUX Business Expo Penguin Playoffs in Las Vegas Hilton, Nevada. PFU Systems won an award.[6][7]

Accessories

In addition to most accessories that are and were available for Happy Hacking Keyboard series and Happy Hacking Keyboard Lite being compatible with most of the accessories,[8] PFU Systems has offered Dvorak key caps for Happy Hacking Keyboard Lite.[9]. However it is as noted for Dvorak keycaps that the keyboard is still mapped internally (via firmware) as Qwerty.

HHKB Lite2

HHKB Lite2 was announced on March 21, 2001 and was released on April 02, 2001. It featured inverted "T" layout for arrow keys as well as USB models for owners running on Mac but finds PS/2 unsuitable for their use. In addition an extra Fn key was added to the HHKB Lite2 on the bottom row on the far left (as opposed to a single Fn key on the far right, second last row on HHKB Lite/HHKB Pro).

HHKB Lite2 with USB features USB1.1 compliant hub whereas HHKB Lite2 with PS/2 does not have any hubs.

At the time of introduction (March 21, 2001), four models were released with the price of ¥7,800 (Japanese Yen)[10]:

  • PD-KB200W/P :- Discontinued on December 22, 2008
  • PD-KB200B/P :- Discontinued on December 22, 2008
  • PD-KB200W/U
  • PD-KB210W/P :- Discontinued on December 22, 2008

On August 08 2001, two more models were released with the price of ¥7,800 (Japanese Yen)[11]:

  • PD-KB200B/U
  • PD-KB210W/U :- Discontinued on March 21, 2012

On August 12 2002, another two more models were released [12] with unknown price tag. These were released possibly to celebrate a popular Japanese game Final Fantasy XI. At the same time two Happy Hacking Keyboard Lite keycaps were announced (released from middle of September 2002) as optional accessory along with MacOS drivers for Apple Macintosh owners:

  • PD-KB200MKB :- Black, discontinued on October 01, 2008
  • PD-KB200MKW :- White, discontinued on October 01, 2008

Two new models that were released are as follows:

  • PD-KB210B/U :- Discontinued on March 21, 2012
  • PD-KB210B/P :- Discontinued on December 22, 2008

On June 10 2004, four more models were released [13] with the price tag of ¥5,880 (Japanese Yen). These models lack any hiragana engraving on the keys as it was to prevent confusion:

  • PD-KB220W/U
  • PD-KB220W/P :- Discontinued on December 22, 2008
  • PD-KB220B/U
  • PD-KB220W/P :- Discontinued on December 22, 2008

Some of the information pertaining actuations[14] along with historical specifications on Lite 2[15] as well as photos[16]were provided on PFU Systems.

PD-KB220W/U

  • Box

  • Box, top; note the use of "Lite 2" in contradiction to the PFU website

  • Box, front

  • Box, bottom

  • Keyboard

  • Top

  • Front

  • Back

  • Bottom; the label gives it as model KUH0010 and product PD-KB220W/U

HHKB Lite2 for Mac

The HHKB Lite2 for Mac was introduced on January 25, 2007 [17] with the price tag of ¥6,300 (Japanese Yen).

Initially HHKB Lite2 Mac owners had to make do with whatever HHKB Lite2 came out as until August 12 2002.

On August 12 2002, PFU realised there were Mac users and so they released two keycap sets (which were made available from middle of September 2002) along with MacOS drivers. These keycaps were not available as standard but as an accessory to Mac owners who wanted Macintosh specific legends such as the Meta key (labelled as "◇") for Command key (labelled as "⌘") and added extra label "Option" on the "Alt" key. On the same date of announcement another two more models were released [18] with unknown price tag. On October 01, 2008 these Macintosh keycap sets were discontinued. The two keycap sets were:

  • PD-KB200MKB :- Black, discontinued on October 01, 2008
  • PD-KB200MKW :- White, discontinued on October 01, 2008

On January 25, 2007 HHKB Lite2 for Mac was released as a complete keyboard, however without hiragana engravings on the keys. In addition to all this the keyboard is offered in a unique colour known as "Snow White".

See also

External links

References

  1. ↑ (Wayback machine) pfuca.com - News - RELEASES "HAPPY HACKING KEYBOARD LITE"
  2. ↑ PFU website - What's New: Happy Hacking Keyboard Lite (Japanese only)
  3. ↑ (Wayback machine) pfuca.com - News - RELEASES "HAPPY HACKING KEYBOARD LITE"
  4. ↑ (Wayback machine) pfuca.com - News - RELEASES "HAPPY HACKING KEYBOARD LITE"
  5. ↑ (Wayback machine) pfuca.com - PFU America Index
  6. ↑ (Wayback machine) pfuca.com - Happy Hacking Keyboard Lite
  7. ↑ (Wayback machine) zdevents.com - Linux Business Expo
  8. ↑ (Wayback machine) pfuca.com - Accessories Index
  9. ↑ (Wayback machine) pfuca.com - Accessories Dvorak Keycaps
  10. ↑ PFU website - What's New: Happy Hacking Keyboard Lite 2 (Japanese only)
  11. ↑ PFU website - What's New: Add new models to Happy Hacking Keyboard Lite 2 (Japanese only)
  12. ↑ PFU website - Press release: Happy Hacking Keyboard Lite2 series expansion (Japanese only)
  13. ↑ PFU website - Press release: Happy Hacking Keyboard Lite 2 no kana engraved model (Japanese only)
  14. ↑ (Wayback machine) PFU Systems website - High Quality Keys
  15. ↑ (Wayback machine) PFU Systems website - Specifications
  16. ↑ (Wayback machine) pfuca.com - Photo (archive)
  17. ↑ PFU website - Press release: Happy Hacking Keyboard Lite 2 for Mac (Japanese only)
  18. ↑ PFU website - Press release: Happy Hacking Keyboard Lite2 series expansion (Japanese only)
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