Hands-on: Typesticks

Seeing this title, I have to bring up this pair of mysterious, exquisite little pieces of junk I paid a premium for from Japan.

What is this thing? I wonder if you can guess.

This is something I bought on a whim from Japan last year for 2,000 yen. The way you use it is so abstract that it’s been sitting in my drawer gathering dust for a long time.

Today I finally got a chance to take it out and try it. After opening it, the packaging is still quite refined.

It even has a perfectly fitted magnetic design—you can easily snap them together into one unit. The build quality is actually very good.

And now it’s time to reveal what it’s for…

Let’s put it on the keyboard… you’ll find grooves inside that perfectly avoid the keyboard keys, becoming a new support… The supporting part also has a rubber pad design so it won’t wear down the machine.

Then you can place the keyboard on top, and you can use the built-in mechanical keyboard, or any keyboard, on your laptop.

This thing is called Typesticks in Japan. I don’t know if the name was influenced by “Chopsticks”—I think it probably was, because this thing looks especially like those chopstick rests.

I used this thing for a day or two. If you say it’s not good… I actually think it’s pretty good. First, the build is refined, it’s easy to carry, and it’s magnetic, so it’s super easy to store—more portable than a matchbox. It sits very stably on the keyboard, and you don’t have to worry at all about touching the keyboard itself while typing. In terms of solving a specific pain point, this thing is indeed a decent product.

As for whether it’s worth spending 2,000 yen on… that depends on whether you think it’s worth it. If you think it’s worth it, then it is. I’ve seen many Japanese users pair it with originally abstract Japanese keyboards, or use it with a Macbook Pro—bringing an HHKB and placing it on top to type, the effect is quite good.

I can only say that Japan really does mass-produce these “exquisite little pieces of junk.” Of course, for those who need them, they aren’t junk either.