Amazing Keyboard

[fivetoadsloth]

http://www.artlebedev.com/everything/optimus/

Man, comes out this year. Each key is a tiny stand alone dispaly showing what it is controlling. Based on the application it changes.

[Mac'Mo]

looks very sleek and sexy

[taytho]

dang.... thats a good looking keyboard.

[dllavaneras]

Yeah, it's awesome... too bad it's been promised for about 3-4 years. I'll post the vaporware list when I find the link

EDIT: It was promised for 2006. Link (http://www.wired.com/news/technology/0,72350-0.html) to the vaporware list

[840quadra]

Yeah, it's awesome... too bad it's been promised for about 3-4 years. I'll post the vaporware list when I find the link

Agreed!

The other issue is the LED technology that lights up the keys. It is known for it's high failure rate, and high cost.

[vniow]

Vapourware indeed. It's finally coming out this year but at a price of around $1,200 or so, more than twice as high than its initial projections. It's a neat concept and all but far far too expensive for consumer or even prosumer use.

[fivetoadsloth]

Vapourware indeed. It's finally coming out this year but at a price of around $1,200 or so, more than twice as high than its initial projections. It's a neat concept and all but far far too expensive for consumer or even prosumer use.

Eh, Hadnt seen that :o , though I was guessing the price to be ridiculous. i still however still find the concept very cool.

[dllavaneras]

Vapourware indeed. It's finally coming out this year but at a price of around $1,200 or so, more than twice as high than its initial projections. It's a neat concept and all but far far too expensive for consumer or even prosumer use.

Then it'll be perfect for those cost-conscious (sp?) people buying mac minis... :rolleyes:

PS: The nerve! On their site they have a release date of 14.07.2005

[Aniej]

this thing looks absolutely awesome and such a well reasoned solution. Minus one issue, of course. what happens if you are someone who works in one application and routinely switches to other applications e.g., typing in word and want to check email and then go onto macrumors? this might be addressed somewhere, but I sure didn't see it. I see the set of keys that show the different modes, but that seems a bit cumbersome, although not too bad. I was just wondering if it did this intuitively based on the application you have running in the front of the screen.

[MacBoobsPro]

Ive been following this for about 2 years. I got bored and I am not bothered about it now. The price also doesnt impress me.

[Mac'Mo]

this reminds me of that ultra sleek, ultra thin keyboard from logitech. but im not paying 200 for a keyboard

[Sesshi]

I've been waiting for this for a while. I've ordered a couple of the 3-key units and will order the keyboard when it comes out.

[wozzlewoozle]

That's a pretty cool keyboard, with many useful possible applications. however, it's gotta sell for quite a bot less than $1200 before many get one...

[monke]

I've been following this for a while now. When the price was announced I was turned off instantly. $1200 for a keyboard. Sure having the keys change from program to program is cool but you could buy a MacBook for that price. For me to pay $1200 for a keyboard it would have to do a lot more.

[j26]

Beautiful, but too much to pay for a keyboard.

[Aniej]

the price listed is insane. is this a really solid number here or is this the kind of product that could easily have a much lower price mark? if it is to get used even by professionals 1200 is completely over the top because lets say, for the more extreme example, you are a serious pro graphic designer, you are only going to need it to change the keyboard layout so many times based on the applications you are using. the point is that the utility does not come close to the price.

[Cloudgazer]

this thing looks absolutely awesome and such a well reasoned solution. Minus one issue, of course. what happens if you are someone who works in one application and routinely switches to other applications e.g., typing in word and want to check email and then go onto macrumors? this might be addressed somewhere, but I sure didn't see it. I see the set of keys that show the different modes, but that seems a bit cumbersome, although not too bad. I was just wondering if it did this intuitively based on the application you have running in the front of the screen.

Good question.

If the keys don't change as you alt+tab through applications it will be stupid and a complete waste.

[Sesshi]

I've been following this for a while now. When the price was announced I was turned off instantly. $1200 for a keyboard. Sure having the keys change from program to program is cool but you could buy a MacBook for that price. For me to pay $1200 for a keyboard it would have to do a lot more.

The main end-user market for this is undoubtedly the geek, but it's not the sort of geek who has to choose between this and a laptop ;)