Optimus keyboard box design, pre-order date
updated 05:20 pm EST, Fri November 23, 2007
Optimus Maximus details
Art. Lebedev Studio has announced an official shipment date for its Optimus Maximus OLED-based keyboard, and an official box design has surfaced after just one model appeared on display at the Wired Store in SoHo, New York. The long-awaited custom-configurable keyboard obtained a spot on Wired's Vaporware '06 list – vaporware being a term applied to a much-anticipated product that never sees the light of day – but now, ironically, is on display at the publication's store in SoHo, New York. While the keyboard is designed for anyone, Art. Lebedev says that the keyboard will cost approximately $1600US when it is officially released, making it too expensive for most people to consider.
The Optimus Maximus is a keyboard constructed entirely of small LCD panels, one for each key on the keyboard, that are each capable of displaying 65,000 colors. Users are able to configure the keys to display any number of different images, from different language sets, to game icons and Photoshop tools. They keyboard will ship with a 512MB flash card for users to store key sets, and can be swapped or carried around to other Optimus keyboards. Pre-orders for the luxury keyboard will allegedly begin on December 12th, and it is compatible with Macs and PCs, with 10.4.8 and XP/Vista being the respective minimum requirements.
Hmmm?
11/23, 09:27pm reply
Could you clean the Optimus Maximus with the Shaggymac OptiMist Prime? http://www.shaggymac.com/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=2&products_id=73
Twelvepoints
Fresh-Faced Recruit
Joined: Oct 2006
Tired of hearing about it
11/23, 09:53pm reply
This keyboard is a really cool idea, but to be honest I'm really tired of hearing about it. It costs so much money it's irrelevant for most of us anyway...
JohnPlantada
Fresh-Faced Recruit
Joined: Nov 2007
Re: tired of hearing abou
11/24, 12:07am reply
Just because it's expensive - does not mean it's irrelevant. Is Final Cut Pro irrelevant? FCP is too expensive for many people. Is the iPhone irrelevant - soma there.. I could go on and on. - by your same thinking, you should be DEAD TIRED of hearing about the iPhone, not this keyboard.
The keyboard, by the way will be absolutely awesome for professionals using FCP, and music editing environment.. actually if someone does both - it will be perfect. I think it's kick a** and innovative. I mean - press the option key.. and actually SEE what the options are on the keyboard! Brilliant.
bennco
Fresh-Faced Recruit
Joined: Sep 2007
There better be...
11/24, 08:56pm reply
...the power of a Commodore Amiga inside that wedge case. There ain't no way I'm paying $1500 for a keyboard with a bunch of colorful LED keys without a snazzy computer inside to boot!
DudeMac
Fresh-Faced Recruit
Joined: Sep 2002
Man
11/25, 03:22pm reply
You all missed the true excitement of this. There's an official box design! This has got to be the greatest news that has happened in the entire era of personal computers. And its OFFICIAL! It is something to admire. I'm sure the box alone is worth the price of this device!
testudo
Fresh-Faced Recruit
Joined: Aug 2001
I didn't say it wasn't
11/25, 04:38pm reply
cool, or useful for some. If I had $1600 to burn I would buy one.
Let's think about this rationally for a minute. The Mac Pro tops out at almost 18k with all the bells and whistles. If you have a rig that expensive spending another $1,600 for a keyboard isn't a big deal especially if you're a hardcore video editor.
What if you bought and iMac for $2,000 to surf the internet and work on the occasional iLife project? Do you think you would buy a $1600 keyboard no matter how cool it is?
JohnPlantada
Fresh-Faced Recruit
Joined: Nov 2007
you're all jaded
11/26, 12:28pm reply
That keyboard is definitely cool. I won't get one, because of the price, but I think it's an awesome thing to behold. Can't we all just have that "Christmas Day" excitement about anything anymore? What a bunch of bummer people on here.
tindrum
Fresh-Faced Recruit
Joined: Apr 2004