Topic Optimus Maximus keyboard at CeBit, 32x32 pixels full-color OLED keys!

-HAL-

Optimus Maximus, or the "god of keyboards" as some calls it, has been "unveiled" at CeBit ..
Well, that's almost true since the keyboard itself isn't ready for the public yet, so they just have an info booth there with a huge model of it..

But the concept looks really impressive anyway..



About the Optimus Maximus keyword/system:
It's a 114-key keyboard.
It has 10 extra keys on the left for all the controlling/monitoring functions.
Every key, including the space bar, has a display.
Each display is 32x32 pixels full-color OLED.
Each key is user-replaceable.
It's a mass-storage device, so you can edit and upload layouts into it.
It's intended for a wide range of professionals - from linguists to video editors.
http://community.livejournal.com/optimus_project/

Really nice, eh??

But here comes the bad news...
They will start taking pre-orders later this month for "just" 1,490 US$.
And each key costs around $10 to replace..

But rumors has it that they have a couple of additional keyboards in the works with fewer programmable keys and a sub $1,000 price tag

Me wants one..

Donkey

I cant wait until these get heavily mass produced (like they probably will) and the price comes down, hopefully a year after release they will become to be affordable to the general public.

-HAL-

They've posted a few more images in their blog now:
http://community.livejournal.com/optimus_project/

I'm not sure if I like the keyboard design or not yet, it looks a bit "plain" and not very ergonomic(?)...

bigcanada813

oh man, that keyboard looks sweet! if i wasn't a broke college student i would definitly be pre-ordering. but hopefully, as donkey says, they will get massed produce and a year from now won't be too expensive.

Donkey

To be honest I could care for the ergonomic keyboards, just give me a wrist rest thing and I'm happy...I like the one on my saitek eclipse because you can adjust it...

I don't see how you can say the keyboard is plain when each key is more less a screen...I bet you could get animated icons on it...lol...that could get crazy....

bigcanada813

oooh, keys that flash when you press them, that would be too cool. of course, i might just end up staring at the colors on the keys than at the screen.

wifiry

Its a sweet keyboard certainly not the kind you'll want to bash when something goes wrong LOL

francesc

That looks sexy! And I'm not exaggerating...it looks so slick! But at $1490...I mean jeez...that is a ton of money...and each key takes around $10 to replace...well...we can clearly see that is a wealthy persons tool...