Monstargear HHKB

rpiguy9907 · February 17, 2021, 3:00pm

Looks like the company is going to release an HHKB style 60% - I cannot tell from the video whether it is top mount or tray mount.

In any case, the affordable board competition is really heating up.

pixelpusher · February 17, 2021, 3:26pm

Screw holes in bottom means it’s 2 pieces so almost certainly top mount. Thanks for sharing.

Eloi · February 17, 2021, 5:04pm

I don’t know why I am automatically dismissing any mx ‘hhkb’ keyboard.

There something about the original that makes the others feel fake.

dwarflemur · February 17, 2021, 5:43pm

I like the shape of that a lot

pixelpusher · February 18, 2021, 4:25pm

Found it on GH. It’s a gasket mount:

jtsay · February 18, 2021, 4:29pm

Some images from their Discord (looks like standard ANSI and WKL will be options as well) -

skepp · February 18, 2021, 4:39pm

There is a geekhack IC for it. =)

I really like the design.

luluna · February 18, 2021, 4:46pm

Other than the obvious switch feel difference, I dislike that most (if not all?) MX HHKBs have a 7u spacebar. Why not 6.25u when the original was 6u?

#firstworldHHKBproblems

dwarflemur · February 18, 2021, 5:57pm

I actually havent been this interested in a new board in a while, def in for a WKL of this one

rpiguy9907 · February 18, 2021, 5:59pm

For symmetry

i.e., form over function

mwb · February 18, 2021, 8:43pm

respectfully, I don’t think that a 6.25u has any functional advantage over a 7u. They are certainly easy to find mainstream kits that include 6.25u spaces though (though there are tonnes that include 7u).

I do agree that the main draw of a 7u spacebar is aesthetics though. I like Topre HHKBs but the unbalanced bottom blockers is not as appealing to me as MX HHKBs.

Rob27shred · February 18, 2021, 9:25pm

Pretty interesting, love the weight design myself! Kinda curious as to how stiff this will be, that’s a lot of fin & gasket area, but it does have relief cuts between the fins & main plate? Overall at $295 it seems worth a shot to me!

jmdaly · February 19, 2021, 3:02pm

I thought my collection of 60% cases was “complete”, but this looks great! I’d definitely consider it.

fatalruin · February 21, 2021, 8:20pm

The standard ANSI version reminds me of the Tind.

casastorta · February 21, 2021, 8:48pm

Isn’t anyone bothered by the MX “HHKB” keyboard which doesn’t have split backspace?

pixelpusher · February 21, 2021, 9:12pm

Nope. I find it to be the most easy to use and visually appealing layouts out there. I have 7 keyboards like this

rpiguy9907 · February 21, 2021, 9:21pm

I always built my HHKBs with full backspace.

skepp · February 21, 2021, 10:06pm

There is room for split backspace on the plate. U have to provide pcb by yourself.

casastorta · February 21, 2021, 11:56pm

That’s really odd, I didn’t expect 3 people to agree with what they call “HHKB”. I mean, for me HHKB is exactly that split spacebar, everything else about the layout can be reprogrammed on any custom board (or even more; for example CTRL on Caps Lock I’ve used since forever anyway, via remapping in OS before I got into custom keyboards), keys which would be on spacers on the bottom could be simply not used on any remotely regular 60%.

Since I got my first HHKB I can’t even type anymore on keyboards with full backspace, I am about to resolder few of my keyboards I want to use still (just waiting to have some free time for it).

pixelpusher · February 22, 2021, 2:15am

I started out with 60% ansi. Got used to that layout for a few years. Then I found the amazing HHKB split right shift arrow/nav layout. Not too picky about the bottom row, and I can take or leave control at the caps position. I still usually program it to function on hold.

I do have 5 HHKB layout boards with backspace on the pipe key. It usually only takes me a few minutes to adjust, but I still prefer it in the top right.