{"video_id":"efbHtT6WTlo","title":"$1,400 Wooden Keyboard vs. a $40 one","channel":"Linus Tech Tips","show":"Linus Tech Tips","published_at":"2018-05-06T14:53:29Z","duration_s":554,"segments":[{"start_s":0.24,"end_s":6.16,"text":"this may be the most expensive keyboard","speaker":null,"is_sponsor":0},{"start_s":3.84,"end_s":11.04,"text":"we've ever tested individually addressable RGB keys","speaker":null,"is_sponsor":0},{"start_s":9.76,"end_s":18.32,"text":"no cherry mx switches with custom keycaps","speaker":null,"is_sponsor":0},{"start_s":14.92,"end_s":21.039,"text":"no Thunderbolt free pass-through with","speaker":null,"is_sponsor":0},{"start_s":18.32,"end_s":27.279,"text":"triple OLED displays no it no it's got none of those things","speaker":null,"is_sponsor":0},{"start_s":24.16,"end_s":31.279,"text":"it's the completely wooden hand-crafted","speaker":null,"is_sponsor":0},{"start_s":27.279,"end_s":34.48,"text":"in japan keyboard from hakoa priced at","speaker":null,"is_sponsor":0},{"start_s":31.279,"end_s":36.32,"text":"nearly 1400","speaker":null,"is_sponsor":0},{"start_s":34.48,"end_s":40.48,"text":"us dollars but is it at all worth it","speaker":null,"is_sponsor":0},{"start_s":39.04,"end_s":46.8,"text":"or does it get chopped by this 40 dollar chinese","speaker":null,"is_sponsor":0},{"start_s":43.44,"end_s":48.399,"text":"keyboard that we bought on amazon","speaker":null,"is_sponsor":0},{"start_s":46.8,"end_s":52.719,"text":"speaking of things that are worth it by the way tunnelbear tunnelbear thinks the","speaker":null,"is_sponsor":0},{"start_s":50.719,"end_s":56.96,"text":"internet is better when everyone can openly access the same content so try","speaker":null,"is_sponsor":0},{"start_s":55.52,"end_s":61.15,"text":"tunnelbear for free over at tunnelbear.com","speaker":null,"is_sponsor":0},{"start_s":58.719,"end_s":69.2,"text":"LTT","speaker":null,"is_sponsor":0},{"start_s":69.2,"end_s":76.64,"text":"available in either maple or walnut from responsibly managed forests we're going","speaker":null,"is_sponsor":0},{"start_s":74.24,"end_s":83.2,"text":"to start with a look at the illustrious hakoa keyboard ki meaning both wood and","speaker":null,"is_sponsor":0},{"start_s":80.4,"end_s":88.64,"text":"tree in japanese see what they did there simply put it's a work of art the 89","speaker":null,"is_sponsor":0},{"start_s":86.24,"end_s":93.759,"text":"gently concaved keycaps are cut from a single panel of wood with their relative","speaker":null,"is_sponsor":0},{"start_s":91.04,"end_s":97.2,"text":"position preserved such that the natural wood grain pattern is visible on the","speaker":null,"is_sponsor":0},{"start_s":95.92,"end_s":102.32,"text":"finished board the keys contrast subtly with the","speaker":null,"is_sponsor":0},{"start_s":99.439,"end_s":106.399,"text":"chassis which is one solid piece even on the back where they cared enough to","speaker":null,"is_sponsor":0},{"start_s":104.0,"end_s":110.88,"text":"carve a recessed bevel so that the board is easy to pick up off the desk turning","speaker":null,"is_sponsor":0},{"start_s":109.04,"end_s":114.64,"text":"now to the poop end of the stick we've got the 40","speaker":null,"is_sponsor":0},{"start_s":112.479,"end_s":118.64,"text":"cooler tron other than the fact that this board is indeed made of wood its","speaker":null,"is_sponsor":0},{"start_s":116.96,"end_s":126.0,"text":"appearance is not that similar to the hakoa key","speaker":null,"is_sponsor":0},{"start_s":122.64,"end_s":127.52,"text":"okay hand carved sustainable bamboo","speaker":null,"is_sponsor":0},{"start_s":126.0,"end_s":133.28,"text":"sure i guess but there's no cohesive color scheme and","speaker":null,"is_sponsor":0},{"start_s":130.479,"end_s":136.879,"text":"the keys chassis pieces and the media keys have no consistency in the","speaker":null,"is_sponsor":0},{"start_s":135.12,"end_s":141.599,"text":"direction of the wood grain then making matters worse at the top of","speaker":null,"is_sponsor":0},{"start_s":139.12,"end_s":147.84,"text":"the board the wood motif is disrupted by an obnoxious cooler tron sticker and a","speaker":null,"is_sponsor":0},{"start_s":144.8,"end_s":151.36,"text":"nearly useless power indicator led that","speaker":null,"is_sponsor":0},{"start_s":147.84,"end_s":153.92,"text":"i would gladly trade in for caps and or","speaker":null,"is_sponsor":0},{"start_s":151.36,"end_s":158.4,"text":"num lock lights something hakoa managed to include and in a way that actually","speaker":null,"is_sponsor":0},{"start_s":156.08,"end_s":161.84,"text":"enhances the look of the board let's go back to the hakoa and look a","speaker":null,"is_sponsor":0},{"start_s":160.56,"end_s":166.4,"text":"little closer the laser etched letters on the tree","speaker":null,"is_sponsor":0},{"start_s":163.599,"end_s":171.2,"text":"board have amazingly sharp corners like they are they are perfect to the eye the","speaker":null,"is_sponsor":0},{"start_s":169.12,"end_s":175.68,"text":"tactile guides are both elegant and functional and the keycaps are aligned","speaker":null,"is_sponsor":0},{"start_s":173.28,"end_s":180.64,"text":"in perfectly straight rows one of the weakest points of the cheaper boards","speaker":null,"is_sponsor":0},{"start_s":178.08,"end_s":184.959,"text":"looks on top of that poor key stabilization makes the spacing between","speaker":null,"is_sponsor":0},{"start_s":182.56,"end_s":189.599,"text":"letters uneven assaulting your eyes and that impression is only made worse upon","speaker":null,"is_sponsor":0},{"start_s":186.959,"end_s":194.08,"text":"closer inspection excusing even the corrugated look of the bamboo wood grain","speaker":null,"is_sponsor":0},{"start_s":192.08,"end_s":198.48,"text":"the keycaps legend is etched with a degree of precision that i could","speaker":null,"is_sponsor":0},{"start_s":196.08,"end_s":202.4,"text":"charitably describe as serviceable except for this internet explorer","speaker":null,"is_sponsor":0},{"start_s":200.239,"end_s":205.44,"text":"looking key that won't be servicing me at all","speaker":null,"is_sponsor":0},{"start_s":203.519,"end_s":210.56,"text":"when it comes to general build quality from a more keyboardy standpoint honestly neither of","speaker":null,"is_sponsor":0},{"start_s":208.64,"end_s":215.12,"text":"them is the best we've seen i mean look at that flex hakoa","speaker":null,"is_sponsor":0},{"start_s":213.36,"end_s":219.519,"text":"though at least to their credit all the keycaps are aligned and sit at the same","speaker":null,"is_sponsor":0},{"start_s":217.2,"end_s":225.36,"text":"height by comparison check out coolertron's ragged afro and low rider","speaker":null,"is_sponsor":0},{"start_s":223.44,"end_s":229.599,"text":"style question mark while we're at it","speaker":null,"is_sponsor":0},{"start_s":226.72,"end_s":233.76,"text":"the edges are pretty rough the f9 key is randomly darker and the key guides","speaker":null,"is_sponsor":0},{"start_s":231.92,"end_s":238.48,"text":"subjectively mind you are a little too subtle to be really useful","speaker":null,"is_sponsor":0},{"start_s":236.08,"end_s":242.959,"text":"now some have complained that the legend on this one can be difficult to see","speaker":null,"is_sponsor":0},{"start_s":240.4,"end_s":248.08,"text":"particularly in the dark but cooler tron claims that the symbols become easier to","speaker":null,"is_sponsor":0},{"start_s":245.439,"end_s":251.04,"text":"read after two weeks of use presumably thanks to finger crud filling up the","speaker":null,"is_sponsor":0},{"start_s":249.84,"end_s":256.88,"text":"grooves yummy so for build quality and style points","speaker":null,"is_sponsor":0},{"start_s":254.08,"end_s":261.68,"text":"i'm giving it to hakoa it it even feels and smells way more","speaker":null,"is_sponsor":0},{"start_s":259.28,"end_s":265.52,"text":"woody than the cooler tron which might sound inconsequential but it's actually","speaker":null,"is_sponsor":0},{"start_s":263.68,"end_s":269.28,"text":"kind of the whole point here it's wood","speaker":null,"is_sponsor":0},{"start_s":266.8,"end_s":273.52,"text":"all right then what about the practical aspects of this showdown the bamboo","speaker":null,"is_sponsor":0},{"start_s":272.0,"end_s":278.0,"text":"board believe it or not is actually surprisingly decent to type on since","speaker":null,"is_sponsor":0},{"start_s":275.68,"end_s":282.16,"text":"it's one of those memcanical keyboards meaning that the switches are membrane","speaker":null,"is_sponsor":0},{"start_s":279.919,"end_s":287.52,"text":"but a small lip on the keycap gives the stroke a more tactile feel it's not as","speaker":null,"is_sponsor":0},{"start_s":285.04,"end_s":291.759,"text":"loud as a set of cherry mx blues but it is louder than your typical membrane","speaker":null,"is_sponsor":0},{"start_s":289.36,"end_s":296.639,"text":"board it's got a bit of a weird layout since it's a full 104 keyboard with a","speaker":null,"is_sponsor":0},{"start_s":294.08,"end_s":299.44,"text":"numpad but then with compact navigation keys","speaker":null,"is_sponsor":0},{"start_s":297.52,"end_s":303.36,"text":"but i might even go as far as to say that i like typing on it at least i","speaker":null,"is_sponsor":0},{"start_s":301.6,"end_s":308.639,"text":"would if it weren't for that astonishingly heavy space bar","speaker":null,"is_sponsor":0},{"start_s":306.56,"end_s":314.08,"text":"like this stupid thing takes the force of thor's hammer to press down","speaker":null,"is_sponsor":0},{"start_s":310.88,"end_s":317.28,"text":"it's shorter than normal and it sits","speaker":null,"is_sponsor":0},{"start_s":314.08,"end_s":319.919,"text":"left of center leading some typists to","speaker":null,"is_sponsor":0},{"start_s":317.28,"end_s":323.199,"text":"accidentally hit the alt key instead alright then","speaker":null,"is_sponsor":0},{"start_s":321.36,"end_s":330.08,"text":"but what about typing on a keyboard that is 35 times the price well to put it","speaker":null,"is_sponsor":0},{"start_s":326.32,"end_s":331.36,"text":"plainly this membrane is mush","speaker":null,"is_sponsor":0},{"start_s":330.08,"end_s":337.68,"text":"city people who aren't accustomed to mechanical boards might not notice but","speaker":null,"is_sponsor":0},{"start_s":336.0,"end_s":340.639,"text":"those who are and who might be considering the hikoi","speaker":null,"is_sponsor":0},{"start_s":339.84,"end_s":346.88,"text":"ki are barking up the wrong tree so to speak and this one's got a weird layout","speaker":null,"is_sponsor":0},{"start_s":345.039,"end_s":351.919,"text":"too it's like japanese but with an english legend","speaker":null,"is_sponsor":0},{"start_s":349.68,"end_s":355.52,"text":"which is great if you're japanese and you want to type in english but if","speaker":null,"is_sponsor":0},{"start_s":353.759,"end_s":360.96,"text":"you're used to a north american keyboard like i am you will be annoyed by the","speaker":null,"is_sponsor":0},{"start_s":358.56,"end_s":365.12,"text":"shortened enter and backspace keys you will have no use at all for the keys","speaker":null,"is_sponsor":0},{"start_s":363.12,"end_s":370.16,"text":"that japanese speakers use to switch between their various alphabets and you","speaker":null,"is_sponsor":0},{"start_s":367.36,"end_s":373.84,"text":"probably won't be a fan of the even stumpier space bar","speaker":null,"is_sponsor":0},{"start_s":372.08,"end_s":378.72,"text":"though it should be noted that this one was actually easier to use because at","speaker":null,"is_sponsor":0},{"start_s":376.08,"end_s":380.8,"text":"least it's centered so which one's better","speaker":null,"is_sponsor":0},{"start_s":379.68,"end_s":386.24,"text":"well truthfully in spite of the awful space","speaker":null,"is_sponsor":0},{"start_s":383.28,"end_s":392.08,"text":"bar the bambooler tron is probably the better typer so while you can get a real","speaker":null,"is_sponsor":0},{"start_s":389.68,"end_s":398.639,"text":"mechanical keyboard at this price point the novelty makes it maybe a decent buy","speaker":null,"is_sponsor":0},{"start_s":395.44,"end_s":401.28,"text":"especially since unlike the hakoa key","speaker":null,"is_sponsor":0},{"start_s":398.639,"end_s":404.639,"text":"it's wireless then again we couldn't even slide the little door shut without","speaker":null,"is_sponsor":0},{"start_s":403.12,"end_s":409.52,"text":"it breaking as for the keyboard i believe them when","speaker":null,"is_sponsor":0},{"start_s":407.039,"end_s":414.88,"text":"they say that each individual unit is made by a japanese master craftsman in a","speaker":null,"is_sponsor":0},{"start_s":412.639,"end_s":418.88,"text":"labor-intensive process at a rate of just","speaker":null,"is_sponsor":0},{"start_s":415.68,"end_s":420.88,"text":"one per day unfortunately that craftsman","speaker":null,"is_sponsor":0},{"start_s":418.88,"end_s":425.039,"text":"didn't spend any of that time on things that keyboard enthusiasts","speaker":null,"is_sponsor":0},{"start_s":422.4,"end_s":429.759,"text":"actually care about to be clear no one here hated it i'm just a little","speaker":null,"is_sponsor":0},{"start_s":427.44,"end_s":434.319,"text":"disappointed that someone could spend so much time making such a beautiful object","speaker":null,"is_sponsor":0},{"start_s":432.16,"end_s":438.4,"text":"then charge a sizeable chunk of cash for it without even doing the requisite","speaker":null,"is_sponsor":0},{"start_s":436.24,"end_s":444.56,"text":"market research to realize that for one thousand three hundred and eighty six","speaker":null,"is_sponsor":0},{"start_s":440.4,"end_s":448.0,"text":"dollars we expect a braided cable","speaker":null,"is_sponsor":0},{"start_s":444.56,"end_s":451.479,"text":"so then which one would i rather have in","speaker":null,"is_sponsor":0},{"start_s":448.0,"end_s":451.479,"text":"my home office","speaker":null,"is_sponsor":0},{"start_s":451.68,"end_s":457.599,"text":"honestly neither of them they're both kind of novelty items","speaker":null,"is_sponsor":0},{"start_s":456.479,"end_s":462.479,"text":"though at least one of them is priced accordingly","speaker":null,"is_sponsor":0},{"start_s":460.16,"end_s":467.599,"text":"i can't believe that we paid for this thing i feel like a total sap","speaker":null,"is_sponsor":0},{"start_s":466.08,"end_s":472.08,"text":"that was awful but what's not awful is ting the mobile","speaker":null,"is_sponsor":0},{"start_s":470.319,"end_s":476.639,"text":"carrier that's focused on customer service and customer satisfaction first","speaker":null,"is_sponsor":0},{"start_s":474.4,"end_s":481.36,"text":"when you call ting you do not speak to a robot you get put through directly to a","speaker":null,"is_sponsor":0},{"start_s":478.8,"end_s":486.16,"text":"person and you don't have to pay extra for that kind of service you pay only","speaker":null,"is_sponsor":0},{"start_s":483.919,"end_s":490.72,"text":"for the air time that you use with the average ting bill only 23 bucks a month","speaker":null,"is_sponsor":0},{"start_s":488.879,"end_s":495.52,"text":"per device and if you're stuck in a contract and switch to ting they'll even","speaker":null,"is_sponsor":0},{"start_s":492.8,"end_s":500.96,"text":"cover 25 of your cancellation fee up to 75 bucks they've got new lower mobile","speaker":null,"is_sponsor":0},{"start_s":498.56,"end_s":504.639,"text":"data rates data's now just 10 a gig beyond the first gig and every single","speaker":null,"is_sponsor":0},{"start_s":502.879,"end_s":508.199,"text":"ting customer will be able to reap the benefits of this new change so head over","speaker":null,"is_sponsor":0},{"start_s":507.199,"end_s":512.479,"text":"to Linus.ting.com and try out their savings","speaker":null,"is_sponsor":0},{"start_s":510.56,"end_s":517.2,"text":"calculator it'll tell you how much you'll save then sign up at our link to","speaker":null,"is_sponsor":0},{"start_s":515.279,"end_s":520.56,"text":"get 25 bucks in service credit or towards a new device we're going to have","speaker":null,"is_sponsor":0},{"start_s":518.8,"end_s":523.68,"text":"that linked below so thanks for watching guys if this","speaker":null,"is_sponsor":0},{"start_s":521.919,"end_s":527.12,"text":"video sucked you know what to do if it was awesome though get subscribed hit","speaker":null,"is_sponsor":0},{"start_s":525.76,"end_s":532.0,"text":"that like button or check out the link to where to buy the stuff we featured","speaker":null,"is_sponsor":0},{"start_s":530.16,"end_s":535.36,"text":"in the video description also linked in the description is our","speaker":null,"is_sponsor":0},{"start_s":533.519,"end_s":539.279,"text":"merch door which has cool shirts like this one our community forum which you","speaker":null,"is_sponsor":0},{"start_s":537.44,"end_s":543.2,"text":"should totally join and if you're still hanging around the video for this long","speaker":null,"is_sponsor":0},{"start_s":541.6,"end_s":547.12,"text":"because you really think the hakoa key is that amazing maybe we'll have an ebay","speaker":null,"is_sponsor":0},{"start_s":545.44,"end_s":553.16,"text":"link below too because i gotta get rid of this thing","speaker":null,"is_sponsor":0},{"start_s":549.04,"end_s":553.16,"text":"fourteen hundred dollar keyboard","speaker":null,"is_sponsor":0}],"full_text":"this may be the most expensive keyboard we've ever tested individually addressable RGB keys no cherry mx switches with custom keycaps no Thunderbolt free pass-through with triple OLED displays no it no it's got none of those things it's the completely wooden hand-crafted in japan keyboard from hakoa priced at nearly 1400 us dollars but is it at all worth it or does it get chopped by this 40 dollar chinese keyboard that we bought on amazon speaking of things that are worth it by the way tunnelbear tunnelbear thinks the internet is better when everyone can openly access the same content so try tunnelbear for free over at tunnelbear.com LTT available in either maple or walnut from responsibly managed forests we're going to start with a look at the illustrious hakoa keyboard ki meaning both wood and tree in japanese see what they did there simply put it's a work of art the 89 gently concaved keycaps are cut from a single panel of wood with their relative position preserved such that the natural wood grain pattern is visible on the finished board the keys contrast subtly with the chassis which is one solid piece even on the back where they cared enough to carve a recessed bevel so that the board is easy to pick up off the desk turning now to the poop end of the stick we've got the 40 cooler tron other than the fact that this board is indeed made of wood its appearance is not that similar to the hakoa key okay hand carved sustainable bamboo sure i guess but there's no cohesive color scheme and the keys chassis pieces and the media keys have no consistency in the direction of the wood grain then making matters worse at the top of the board the wood motif is disrupted by an obnoxious cooler tron sticker and a nearly useless power indicator led that i would gladly trade in for caps and or num lock lights something hakoa managed to include and in a way that actually enhances the look of the board let's go back to the hakoa and look a little closer the laser etched letters on the tree board have amazingly sharp corners like they are they are perfect to the eye the tactile guides are both elegant and functional and the keycaps are aligned in perfectly straight rows one of the weakest points of the cheaper boards looks on top of that poor key stabilization makes the spacing between letters uneven assaulting your eyes and that impression is only made worse upon closer inspection excusing even the corrugated look of the bamboo wood grain the keycaps legend is etched with a degree of precision that i could charitably describe as serviceable except for this internet explorer looking key that won't be servicing me at all when it comes to general build quality from a more keyboardy standpoint honestly neither of them is the best we've seen i mean look at that flex hakoa though at least to their credit all the keycaps are aligned and sit at the same height by comparison check out coolertron's ragged afro and low rider style question mark while we're at it the edges are pretty rough the f9 key is randomly darker and the key guides subjectively mind you are a little too subtle to be really useful now some have complained that the legend on this one can be difficult to see particularly in the dark but cooler tron claims that the symbols become easier to read after two weeks of use presumably thanks to finger crud filling up the grooves yummy so for build quality and style points i'm giving it to hakoa it it even feels and smells way more woody than the cooler tron which might sound inconsequential but it's actually kind of the whole point here it's wood all right then what about the practical aspects of this showdown the bamboo board believe it or not is actually surprisingly decent to type on since it's one of those memcanical keyboards meaning that the switches are membrane but a small lip on the keycap gives the stroke a more tactile feel it's not as loud as a set of cherry mx blues but it is louder than your typical membrane board it's got a bit of a weird layout since it's a full 104 keyboard with a numpad but then with compact navigation keys but i might even go as far as to say that i like typing on it at least i would if it weren't for that astonishingly heavy space bar like this stupid thing takes the force of thor's hammer to press down it's shorter than normal and it sits left of center leading some typists to accidentally hit the alt key instead alright then but what about typing on a keyboard that is 35 times the price well to put it plainly this membrane is mush city people who aren't accustomed to mechanical boards might not notice but those who are and who might be considering the hikoi ki are barking up the wrong tree so to speak and this one's got a weird layout too it's like japanese but with an english legend which is great if you're japanese and you want to type in english but if you're used to a north american keyboard like i am you will be annoyed by the shortened enter and backspace keys you will have no use at all for the keys that japanese speakers use to switch between their various alphabets and you probably won't be a fan of the even stumpier space bar though it should be noted that this one was actually easier to use because at least it's centered so which one's better well truthfully in spite of the awful space bar the bambooler tron is probably the better typer so while you can get a real mechanical keyboard at this price point the novelty makes it maybe a decent buy especially since unlike the hakoa key it's wireless then again we couldn't even slide the little door shut without it breaking as for the keyboard i believe them when they say that each individual unit is made by a japanese master craftsman in a labor-intensive process at a rate of just one per day unfortunately that craftsman didn't spend any of that time on things that keyboard enthusiasts actually care about to be clear no one here hated it i'm just a little disappointed that someone could spend so much time making such a beautiful object then charge a sizeable chunk of cash for it without even doing the requisite market research to realize that for one thousand three hundred and eighty six dollars we expect a braided cable so then which one would i rather have in my home office honestly neither of them they're both kind of novelty items though at least one of them is priced accordingly i can't believe that we paid for this thing i feel like a total sap that was awful but what's not awful is ting the mobile carrier that's focused on customer service and customer satisfaction first when you call ting you do not speak to a robot you get put through directly to a person and you don't have to pay extra for that kind of service you pay only for the air time that you use with the average ting bill only 23 bucks a month per device and if you're stuck in a contract and switch to ting they'll even cover 25 of your cancellation fee up to 75 bucks they've got new lower mobile data rates data's now just 10 a gig beyond the first gig and every single ting customer will be able to reap the benefits of this new change so head over to Linus.ting.com and try out their savings calculator it'll tell you how much you'll save then sign up at our link to get 25 bucks in service credit or towards a new device we're going to have that linked below so thanks for watching guys if this video sucked you know what to do if it was awesome though get subscribed hit that like button or check out the link to where to buy the stuff we featured in the video description also linked in the description is our merch door which has cool shirts like this one our community forum which you should totally join and if you're still hanging around the video for this long because you really think the hakoa key is that amazing maybe we'll have an ebay link below too because i gotta get rid of this thing fourteen hundred dollar keyboard"}