Happy Hacking Keyboard
Support and FAQ

Generic

Q.

Where is the [CAPS LOCK] key?

Q.

Can I use the [Delete] key as a normal [Backspace] key?

Q. How can I use the [Delete] key if the [Delete] key is set as a [Backspace] key?
Q. Wouldn't the keyboard be easier to use if there was a [Fn] key on the left-hand side as well?
Q. Do I need to reboot the computer when I change the Dip switch?
Q. Can the keyboard be connected to several different machines at the same time?
Q. How did we implement a full keyboard function on just a 60 key Happy Hacking Keyboard?
Q. What is the purpose/function of the keys on both sides of the space bar ?
Q. Can I purchase the additional cables?
Q. If the interface of the keyboard is converted from PS/2 or USB to others, does it work alright?
Q. Are there the USB version of Happy Hacking Keyboard ?
Q. How do I use numeric key pad as the need arises?

Windows

Q. Which type of the Windows OS is compatible with the keyboard?
Q. What types of codes are produced by the keys on the left and right-hand sides when the keyboard is connected to a PC?
Q. When I receive the pop-up message, 'You've got a mail' on Hewlett-Packard Machine, I was unable to type.
Q. How can I login into the Windows NT and 2000 environments?
Q. Can I connect the keyboard to my notebook PC?

Apple Macintosh

Q. Does it work on Macintosh?
Q. Can I use the keyboard power supply key function?
Q. What type of connector work with the conversion from ADB to USB?
Q. I use HHKB Pro/Blank Key Top, Lite 2 on G4 Mac, but I get 'unknown device' message. What can I do?
Q. I use combination of iMac and IntelliMouse and get 'unknown device' message. What can I do?
Q. Can I use Apple Pro Mouse on HHKB Lite2 downstream?
Q. Can I use Power-on/off, Eject Keys, Multi media Keys?

Sun Workstation

Q. Is the HHKB compatible with SUN?
Q. After I connected my Happy Hacking keyboard to a SPARCstation 2, it failed to restart.
Q. Can I use the Type 5 keyboard power supply key function when I connect to a Sun SPARCstation?
Q. Can the Happy Hacking keyboard be used with the Sun Ultra as well?
Q. Can I use the [L1-A] function when the Happy Hacking keyboard is connected to a Sun SPARCstation?
Q. Does the Happy Hacking Keyboard support the special Keys such as Cut and Paste on Sun Type5 Keyboard?

PC UNIX

Q. I get an "out of range" error message when I try to map the key to a meta key using the xmodmap command in Solaris 2.5.1 for X86. Can't I assign this key in this way?
Q. How do I need to configure the keyboard in the Linux environment?
Q. How can I change the resolution on XFree86 without Numeric Keys on the keyboard?

Spec./Others

Q. Is there the keyboard coming out with the Dvorak key layout.
Q. How long is the additional Cable for the keyboard?
Q. How much current do the Happy Hacking Keyboards draw?
Q. How much current do the Happy Hacking Keyboards Lite2 support on the USB downstream port?
Q. Where can I get Happy Hacking Keyboards?
Q. What kind of color is available?


Generic

A.

There is no [CAPS LOCK] key. The Happy Hacking Keyboard development concept was to rigorously limit the number of keys to a bare minimum. The elimination of keys that change the input mode (keys such as the [CAPS LOCK] and [NUM LOCK] keys) has the benefit of preventing the input mode from being changed inadvertently when one of these keys is stuck in error during typing.

Based on development concept described above, there is no dedicated [CAPS LOCK] key on these models. However, you can use [CAPS LOCK] function in combination of [Fn+TAB]. To use this function on HHKB pro/Blank Key Top or HHKB Lite models, you need to activate the function using dip switch setting.

A.

The dip switch on the back of the keyboard can be set so that the [Delete] key can be used as a [Backspace] key. (This function is not supported for the Macintosh-compatible computers)

A.

The dip switch on the back of the keyboard can be set so that Fn+"`" can be used as [Delete] key.

A.

The Fn Key is located on the left-hand side of the keyboard.

A.

It is safe to change the dip switch without rebooting.

A.

[HHKB Lite2(USB)]Yes, We suggest using a keyboard switch box to switch between machines that are in operation.
[HHKB Lite2]No. It is not possible to connect to different machines at the same time. When you switch the machines, please make sure shutting down the machine. Consider about using a keyboard switch box to switch between machines that are in operation.

A.

We eliminated dedicated CAPS LOCK, Windows key and numerical key pad. About function keys, we overlaid them on numerical keys. Some other keys such as PageUp, PageDown, Home are also overlaid on some keys on the right half of the keyboard. To generate these key codes, please keep holding "Fn" key located right below RETURN key and press appropriate keys.

This model has 65 keys because of addition of arrow keys and Fn key at left side of keyboard.

A.

If you use Happy Hacking Keyboard Pro/Blank Key Top, Lite2 with PC running Linux or some other UNIX like OS, the keys on both sides of the space bar work as META keys. On Windows, the keys work as Windows keys. On Mac, the keys work as Command keys. You can change the mode with DipSW on the back of the keyboard.

A.

No. Cable comes from keyboard directly and is not able to be replaced

A.

[HHKB Lite2(USB)]We do not recommend any conversion from USB. Please do it by your responsibility. We can't gurantee it at all.

[HHKB Lite2(PS/2)]The conversion from PS/2 to USB is available.

A.

Happy Hacking Keyboard Lite2, Pro/Blank Keytop have USB model.

A.

[HHKB Lite2(USB)]You can connect a generic key pad to one of the down stream port (HUB) of the keyboard.

[HHKB Lite2(PS/2)]You can connect a generic numeric key pad to Happy Hacking Keyboard by using Y-key key (tm) connector from P.I. Engineering.

Windows

A.

[HHKB Lite2(USB)]Happy Hacking Keyboard Pro/Blank Key Top, Lite2 USB model are compatible with Windows 98, Windows Me, Widows 2000 and Windows XP.(These OS support USB.)

[HHKB Lite2(PS/2)]HHKB Lite2(PS/2) is compatible with every Windows OS version.

A.

[HHKB All models]
Key
Scan Code Set 1
Scan Code set 2
Scan Code Set 3
Left key
0x7B
0x67
0x85
Right key
0x79
0x64
0x86

A.

When 'HP extend Keyboard' is running, the problem occurs with Happy Hacking Keyboard. Please use the following steps to shut down HP Extend Keyboard software.
1. Go to "control panel" -> "Device"
2. Open HP Extend Keyboard.
3. Select "Startup"
4. Click the cancel button
5. Reboot PC

A.

Login with Ctrl+Alt+Delete when the [Delete] key sets up as Del. Login with Ctrl+Alt+Fn+` when the[Delete] key sets up as BS.

A.

[HHKB Lite2(USB)]Yes. The keyboard can be connected to the USB port of notebook PC. Also Just only for Lite2, you can use USB down stream port on Lite2 to connect the keyboard and a mouse at the same time.

[HHKB Lite2(PS/2)]Yes. The keyboard can be connected to the PS/2 port of notebook PC. Also you can use splitter cable to use the keyboard and a mouse at the same time. Splitter cable is available at retail.
* Depend on the Notebook PS/2 port interface implementation, the keyboard and a mouse can not be used simultaneously.

Apple Macintosh

A.

[HHKB Lite2(USB)]Yes, it works with Mac which has USB port, such as iMAC.

HHKB Lite2: It does not have any power button, use power button on the machine.

In this case Alt key works as option key and  key works as Command key. But for a apart of key on Pro/ Blank Key Top, you should download this site. For details, see here.

[HHKB Lite2(PS/2)] No. HHKB Lite is available for PS/2. PS/2 interface does not work on any Macintosh models.

A.

No, it does not have the power-on button. Please use power button on the machine.But it has the power-off button as power.

A.

We have confirmed iMate works fine with Happy Hacking Keyboard. Please check Griffin Technology's web site for more details
A. It occurs if the version of USB driver is lower than 1.4.6. Please update the USB driver or use Mac OS version 9.1 or later.
A.

Please make sure that your environment satisfies following conditions:
Mac OS version is 9.1 or later.
iMac Firmware 1.0.1 or later.
Mac Update 1.1 or later
USB Driver 1.4.6 or later.
IntelliPoint Driver 1.1 or later.

A.

Sometimes, the Apple Pro mouse can be recognized on MAC OS 9/10. If you use
PowerMac G4,
Cube/450,
eMac/800,
please don't connect Apple pro mouse onto downstream of HHKB Lite2.

A.

[HHKB Lite2] On Mac 8.6 over, you can use the Eject key on HHKB Lite2. But you can not use Power-on/off and Multi media keys
Power-on/off
Eject
Multi media
Mac OS 8.6 over
N/A
F12
N/A
Note) F12 means key combination, Fn key and "+ "key.

Sun Workstation

A.

[HHKB Lite2(PS/2)]
No. HHKB Lite is only available for PS/2 and does not work on any SUN machines.

[HHKB Lite2(USB)]
No. These models support USB interface but does not work on any SUN machines.

A.

The SPARCstation 2 has the same connector for the keyboard port as for the serial port. Make sure that the keyboard cable is plugged into the correct port (the keyboard port).

A.

Yes, there is a power supply key in the middle of the back of the keyboard.

A.

The Happy Hacking keyboard can be used with the Sun Ultra as well.

A.

Press the function key plus the right key plus A.

A.

The Happy Hacking Keyboard supports Power button and Stop Key. Not others.

PC UNIX

A.

The key can be set using the following process.

On the OpenWindows environment:

  1. uncompress</usr/openwin/share/etc/keytables/US101A_x86.kt.Z >~/.keytable
  2. Change the MAXSCANCODE in the ~/.keytable from 129 to 132.
  3. Use xmodmap to bind keycode 138(the left-hand ),139(the right-hand) to Meta keys.

Or the ~/.keytable can be changed directly.
e.g.
clear Mod1
clear Mod4
keycode 67 = Meta_L
keycode 69 = Meta_R
keycode 138 = Meta_L
keycode 139 = Meta_R
add Mod1 = Meta_L Meta_R

On the CDE environment:

  1. uncompress</usr/openwin/share/etc/keytables/US101A_x86.kt.Z > /usr/openwin/share/etc/keytables/keytable.map
    (Backup "/usr/openwin/share/etc/keytables/keytable.map" if you need)
  2. Change MAXSCANCODE from 129 to 132 in /usr/openwin/share/etc/keytables/keytable.map.
  3. Use xmodmap to bind keycode 138 (the left-hand ) 139(the right-hand )to Meta keys.

Or /usr/openwin/share/etc/keytables/keytable.map can be changed directly.

e.g.
clear Mod1
clear Mod4
keycode 67 = Meta_L
keycode 69 = Meta_R
keycode 138 = Meta_L
keycode 139 = Meta_R
add Mod1 = Meta_L Meta_R

A.

In the /etc/sysconfig/keyboard set KEYTABLE variable to "us"(KEYTABLE="us")

A.

Please use "xvidtune -prev" or "xvidtune -next" command to change the resolution.

Spec./Others

A.

No, we do not provide the keyboard with the Dvorak key layout.

A.

The cable is approximately 6'7" long (2m).

A.

Maximum: 100mA Actual: 30mA

A.

[Downstream of HHKB Lite2(USB)]supports 100mA.

A.

Please refer to Distributor page on our web site.

A.

Available in Black/White.