Art Lebedev ships first Maximus OLED keyboards
updated 04:20 pm EST, Thu February 21, 2008
Optimus Maximus Ships
Art Lebedev Studio today announced that it had at last begun shipping the Optimus Maximus. The anticipated keyboard builds OLED displays into the keys that can change depending on the context; Photoshop can replace normal letter keys with editing icons, for example. Also unique to the Maximus are ten keys designed just the Optimus' features and the ability to create custom profiles that can in turn be traded through removable SD cards. The controlling Mac OS X and Windows software, Optimus Configurator, also ships today.
The USB 2.0 keyboard currently sells for $462 and is shipping first to customers who began pre-ordering the keyboard last year; users who ordered a stripped-down version with passive keys will have to wait a month due to quality issues, the company says.
Holy Cow!
02/21, 04:39pm reply
That is like spending 400 dollars on a pair of tennis shoes. That price is a bit steep. Nice yes, but still expensive!
Guest
Fresh-Faced Recruit
Joined: Nov 1999
$400? you WISH...
02/21, 05:13pm reply
... The $400ish keyboard has _one_ OLED key: the space bar.
You want a keyboard with all the buttons with OLEDs? Try $1500!!!!!!!
I think I'll wait for Logitech or MS..
OtisWild
Junior Member
Joined: Feb 2005
As long as I can buy...
02/22, 04:52pm reply
one key at a time, it's doable. Might take a few years, but it's definitely doable.
Constable Odo
Fresh-Faced Recruit
Joined: Aug 2007
um, cost is wrong
05/20, 04:18pm reply
The Optimus is $1500, not $500.
And I don't know why they are shrinking the entire keyboard when all the 'programmable' keys are just going to be along the top. Having a full-size, normal keyboard isn't a significant expense for a just under $1000 keyboard and it's not like this is for portable use.
Guest
Fresh-Faced Recruit
Joined: Nov 1999