Blacked out Charybdis

Specs

• Charybdis MK2 by Bastard Keyboards
• Case: Prusament Galaxy Black PLA
• Switches: MX Linear (Gateron yellow)
• Keycaps: Ducky Blank Black MDA Profile Singleshot PBT
• Trackball: SANWA 34mm/1.34in Black
• Bearings: MR63 roller bearings
• TRRS cable: UGREEN 3.5mm Braided 4-Pole TRRS Hi-Fi Stereo Jack Shielded Male to Male AUX Cord

Thoughts

The two main features that attracted me to the Charybdis were its curved keywell and integrated trackball. But while the trackball is very useful compared to using a separate standalone trackball device, I definitely understand why people often dislike thumb-operated trackballs like this. The way the Charybdis is designed to be used is with the fingers in the home row position and thumbs alternating between the thumb cluster keys and operating the trackball as needed. The problem there is that during long sessions of a pointer-heavy task, operating this trackball with my thumb as designed makes my right forearm sore. For whatever biomechanical reason, operating a trackball with my fingers is just much more comfortable than doing so with my thumb. I can mitigate this issue on the Charybdis a bit by simply adjusting my hand position on the keyboard only during pointer-heavy tasks.

When it comes to key-heavy tasks (e.g. writing code, drafting email), I use the keyboard as designed, like the mock-up above. Of course, during these key-heavy tasks, I do occasionally need to make a small movement with the trackball, so I can just move my thumb over onto the trackball as needed. For small occasional pointer adjustments like this, operating the trackball with my thumb is no problem.

But during pointer-heavy tasks (e.g. photo editing, web browsing), I move my right hand down so that my middle finger now rests on the trackball and my index finger and thumb operate the thumb cluster, like the mock-up above. When in this position, my left hand handles all the clicking, modifier keys (control, shift, etc.), and most of the occasional alpha keys that I need to press. Just like how I occasionally need to make small pointer adjustments during a key-heavy task, I do occasionally need to briefly adjust my hand into the normal home row typing position during pointer-heavy tasks.

This concept of moving my right hand between these two positions is still much better than the more traditional method of moving my hand between a keyboard and separate mouse/trackball. With a separate mouse/trackball, I have to move my entire arm several centimeters to the side each time I want to go between pointing/typing. But with the Charybdis, alternating between my two different hand positions is just a matter of moving my fingers down a couple of centimeters. This takes less time, and more importantly, less effort.