Apparently, when Jesus called Art.Lebedev's Optimus Tactus keyboard "Optimus Retardus" for its lack of physical keys, the design team listened. Or not. Either way, Lebedev's latest plan is to indeed make a visual keyboard with just one full-color screen as opposed to many tiny ones. But it will overlay physical transparent keys (like on the Upravlator). In the end, you'd actually have a hard time noticing that each key isn't its own display. The goal is to get this thing into production by year's end, and to sell it for under $800—a bargain by Art.Lebedev standards. Later, the dudes will move to E-Ink or e-paper for lighter, wireless keyboards. [Optimus Project]
Next Gen Optimus Maximus Details: Sub-$800, One-Screen and Raised Keys
10:15 AM on Thu Mar 20 2008
By Wilson Rothman
5,871 views
26 comments











Comments
This thing could be a winner, but the price is going to have to drop substantially. Not even a die hard Fanboy, or either persuasion, is likely to drop $800 on just a keyboard. But if it made soft serve, I might change my mind.
Just officially rename it the Optimus Retardus already. Then I'll consider plunking down the $$$ to injure my fingers on it.
@tamoko: Soft serve eh? You might be onto something!!
I would rather buy 800 $1 hookers.
@tamoko: Tell that to the (admittedly few) people who spent over $1,000 on the Optimus Maximus keyboard.
I could see using it as a secondary keyboard for special keys, etc, but no way I'm typing on it. That also means i'm not paying $800 for it. Get it under $200 and we'll talk.
sub 800 = 799.99
$800?
I could buy a good solar panel and a regular cheap keyboard for that, and then use my existing DC equipment to set up a UPS that boosted my computer with solar power.
Which in the end would actually save me money, instead of just being a fancy keyboard.
if it has the 5-way key feature that the upravlator is supposed to have, then we're talking. although $800 is rediculous, when the regular optimus is supposed to be available for 500 dollars.
and, a really cool feature would be if it was all touchscreen, but you could attach a board with physical buttons over the screen, and convert it between a big touch screen and a tactile keyboard with a screen under the keys. but again, 5-way keys would be awesome for tactile mode, and multi-touch would be awesome for touchscreen mode, otherwise i'm never laying down 800.
@Darrone: I want to see a hooker with built in "Gesture Technology". I'd buy that for a dollar!
ATTENTION: Please ignore the previous RoboCop quote, I was having a bad 5 minutes.
@pixelfish: It's all about the soft serve.
this has turned into a bad joke...anyone else think this is retarded? I mean really? who's going to buy a concept keyboard for everyday use? I wonder who's paying for all this trial & error making of a keyboard and then expect to sell them for $800
Why is Giz missing the story of the woman actually suing the Ass. (aka FIAA), come on Giz get ur news feeds in check
check out the www.theregister.com
Day 1 with your new 23rd century kb.
Hey mom, look at this, it's really cool! Just let me get my coffee...
Oh, no! My coffee! My keyboard!
The horror. The horror.
As for who would pay $800 for this?
Can you say "Apple"? Can you say "fanboy"?
Look at me! Look at me!
I still want one...
Cool Idead, but I'm never going to drop 800 on a keyboard.
@Gary_7vn: But dude, seriously, it just a keyboard... There's no true screen, no processor...it's not a full fledged computer. No one in their right minds, or with a realistic spending budget is going to buy this thing... Besides this seems geared more for the M$ Fanboy then the Apple variety.
Regardless, give it a wide berth until it's either super cheap, or replaced all together by OLED panels or a fully customizable gesture panel like an iPhone on steroids.
I like my ghetto optimus keyboard.
key shortcuts to launch my most important apps.
FU Bitches.
Raised keys eh? They're getting close.
Well, once they release a model that comes packaged with $700 cash, I'm on board!
@awesomerobot:
They aren't Nintendo. I joke. :D
@tamoko: All, true. It is just a keyboard. What I actually need is a keyboard slave! Harder! Faster! Find that pron!
@Darrone:
$1 hookers, where?
Put an Apple logo on it and people will happily pay $800 for it AND argue all night why it's so great.
looks so much nicer... i want one, i wasn't to impressed by the recent version.
@Galley: Your moms house.
Sorry, couldn't resist.
Have they considered the fact that microsoft has a patent on a keyboard with a screen and key overlay? ... heres a link to it... [www.google.com]
i suppose if they arent using a touchscreen it might be ok, not sure how that would work though... just a thought.
Start a discussion:
Login with your username and password below. Or comment on this post via email.
Forgot your username or password? New User?