Bakeneko 65
My friend Max gave me an unexpected gift this week, a lavender Bakeneko 65 with purple switches and a lovely DSS Easter keycap set. I wasn’t shopping for a new keyboard given that I only recently picked up the Keychron Q2—but I had mentioned offhand to Max that in the future I would really love a lavender case, and here we are.
How does it compare to the Q2? I sent Max these quick observations:
- Everything feels…tighter than the Q2. That’s probably due more to the switches/stabs than anything else, but everything just feels a bit more solid.
- It’s less bouncy to the touch than the Q2. It’s an O-ring mount, and I’ve never typed on one before. To be honest I’m not sure how much I care about having a super-bouncy keyboard. I notice it on the gasket-mount Q2, but more in a neutral “this keyboard is kinda flexy” way as opposed to “I wish every keyboard was like this”.
- These Gazzew Linear Thock switches are not appreciably louder than the Gateron Yellows in the Q2, but they’re definitely lower-pitched. So if typing on the Q2 is all tic-tic-tic, this is more on the toc-toc-toc end. The springs in these switches are definitely stiffer, I’m seeing if that’s going to make my RSI flare up or not.
- I like the DSS profile on these keycaps. I noted to Max that I missed having F and J homing keys, and it turns out they were included with the set and I had just missed them. They don’t have a ridge but the profile is slightly deeper than the other keys, like my SA Chalk keycaps.
Overall verdict so far: fun! The Q2 is going in to the office next time I commute in to Philly, to replace the Topre Realforce I’ve been using there.