Bastard Keyboards Charybdis

Charybdis - It can work if you beware the trackball

I spent some time with the Charybdis from Bastard Keyboards, and it's quite an interesting piece of kit. The standout feature is definitely the integrated trackball on the right half of this split keyboard. The keyboard has a curved key well design for better ergonomics, and while typing on it was enjoyable, there were some notable quirks to consider.

The trackball functionality worked surprisingly well - I could keep my hands on the home row and use my thumb to control the cursor, with mouse clicks mapped to the opposite hand's thumb cluster. I found it particularly useful for video editing tasks where click-and-drag operations are common. The keyboard also features some RGB lighting and the ability to use the trackball as a scroll wheel.

However, the lack of a palm rest and some ergonomic considerations with prolonged trackball use made it less than ideal as a daily driver. The keyboard came with Kailh Speed switches, which I modified with O-rings to reduce travel distance and improve comfort. But this was not enough to make it a perfect fit for my workflow. If you want typing comfort, better stick to the Glove80.

Pros

• Integrated trackball works smoothly and intuitively
• Curved key well design improves typing experience
• Great for niche use cases like video editing

Cons

• No built-in palm rest
• Limited configuration options in GUI software
• Expensive compared to competitors
• Prolonged trackball use can cause thumb strain