r/ErgoMechKeyboards • u/ThiceBeno • 2d ago

[help] Most budget friendly ergo split?

Hi everyone! I'm a fairly new finder of this sub, but it seems to have been found at an ironic time. Im a software developer and we had a guy start at work that uses a split keyboard, that started my interest, so I was already looking at them.

I've been using PCs regularly for over 20 years since I was 11, and wouldn't you know it my bad habits and awkward typing/mouse angles caught up to my wrists, Merry Christmas right haha... With my recent diagnosis I decided I should seriously look at getting an ergo split to help and maybe a track ball? Problem is most of these options are way out of my price range especially the prebuilt ones and I don't even have the tools to do the DIY ones even if they are cheaper.

So I'm looking for some help. I'd love some suggestions and thought people have on ergo keyboards and mice (if mice are allowed to talk about in this sub?). Anything I can learn to help the pain in my wrists.

Also looking for what's the best option for budget friendly ergo split to help with wrist problems? This time of year is rough anyway with three kids birthday and wife's birthday all within a month of Christmas. Ideally I'd love to be around $100 but seems that is near impossible. Is there any options in that range, or something near by I could save up for (though not ideal for how my wrists are feeling), or does anyone have a decent old one laying around they'd like to part with.

Thanks a ton, you guys seems like a really cool community looking forward to hanging around!

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u/kripler7 2d ago edited 2d ago

Cheapest starting point is the cheapinov2. Wired Split with a single controller. It does not have a track ball but you could use mousekey emulation in qmk. If you need a trackball, then look into a keyball or Charybdis.

Cheapino can definitely be under $100 and pre-built from aliexpress. Keyball and Charybdis will be hard to do under $100 pre-built and even if you order everything yourself and assemble yourself I think you'll be over $100.

I use a cheapino with some MagSafe mounts to rotate them into a more ergonomic position and it's been great for me. With the MagSafe mounts you can definitely find an ergonomic sweet spot for yourself.

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u/ThiceBeno 2d ago

Ahh this is a great idea from AliExpress. I'll check this out. I'm not sold on the trackball but I have another devoper I know that swears by his so I'm curious. Have you used one? Do you enjoy it vs a regular mouse?

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u/kripler7 2d ago

I personally do not have any splits with a trackball. The mousekey implementation in qmk and zmk has been more than sufficient for me to web-browse, navigate and do some light work. It won't replace a real mouse, especially for work related tasks like spreadsheets etc but is serviceable for all other tasks.

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u/ThiceBeno 2d ago

Great info thank you! Ill do some research in the trackball keyboards and mouse keys. I didn't see much about them prior.