Optimus Keyboard - The Keyboard that costs more than a 40" lcd

Makes a sudden appearance!

Sorry, I don't have any actual "news" on this piece of ultimate geekery. I found out earlier today through one of thinkgeek's monthly subscription emails. For those that know nothing or forgot about this interesting piece of technology:

Originally Posted by wikipedia

The Optimus Maximus keyboard, previously just "Optimus keyboard", is a keyboard developed by the Art. Lebedev Studio, headed by Artemy Lebedev. Each of its keys is a display which can dynamically change to adapt to the keyboard layout in use or to show the function of the key. Pre-orders began on 20 May 2007 for a limited production run from December 2007 to January 2008, with a second batch expected to arrive in February 2008. It first started shipping the week of February 21, 2008.

want to know more?
Art. Lebedev Studio website

And to make sure it wasn't a stupid late April Fool's joke ThinkGeek made a demo video of it in action.

YouTube Video
Get the Flash Player to play this youtube video file.

Yes. I'm impressed. Seeing what that video did to it almost makes me want to fork out more than 300 dollars for an input device like that. But not 1,500 dollars! I got better things to save up for. Like a trip to a foreign country or a mighty fine lcd tv. Along with Solid State Hard Drives I hope these kind of keyboards will be a regular staple in PC setups... in 5 or 10 years down the road.

So who's buying one? If so, pics or it didn't happen.

edit:
What the hell?
It seems the makers of the keyboard is selling the keyboard at a much more affordable 462 dollars. Now they're making me think about it~ Nah, still too much for something I would only use to type with!

That 460 dollar pricepoint is for a version of the keyboard with one active OLED button (the spacebar). There are a few other OLED layouts after that and each gets you closer to the $1500 mark. ArsTechnica had a hands on with this a while back and, despite the awesome look of the thing, proved not too hot to actually type with.

Bah, I knew I should've clicked on the purchase link to see that little detail. Haha, so they're charging roughly 10 dollars a key? With that kind of payment plan I might be able to have the full keyboard in three or four months! Provided I don't buy any other useless crap in that same amount of time *yeah ok.*

Personally, I think it has great cool factor, but I really don't look at my keyboard that much when I'm typing.

I'll be interested when it costs less than a good computer.

Um, err, so WHAT make this so nice? I really wasn't that impressed.

Very useful if you want to type in multiple languages. Or Dvorak.

Also when you're playing games, you can make the keyboard change the 'E' key to actually say "Use" and Ctrl would say "Crouch" and so on, instead of trying to remember which key does what.

Although I have to say the idea of a keyboard actually needing to boot up is pretty ridiculous.

If you're typing in Dvorak to get the promised increase in typing speed, one would hope you're at the level of being a touch typist.

I bet these keyboards will look wonderful after they're built up a nice layer of that mysterious keyboard-gunk that's always on well-worn keyboards.

I've probably glanced at my keyboard one or twice over the past few years. The keyboard seems counterproductive to the entire typing philosophy.

Originally Posted by Cetra

I've probably glanced at my keyboard one or twice over the past few years. The keyboard seems counterproductive to the entire typing philosophy.

It is, infact it might be better viewed as a piece of art or overpriced accessory. Like dressing your PC tower in an array of LEDs and florescent tube lights. It's pointless but it is awesome to look at every now and then. Sort of. Except this keyboard does have some valid uses, like alternate layouts.