Optimus 103 keyboard demands $1,200 pricetag -- yes, you read that right

For as much feature slashing and resulting public outcry involved in getting this thing out the door for a "reasonable price," it sure didn't amount to much: Art Lebedev just announce its uber-hyped Optimus 103 keyboard will debut in May of 2007 for $1,200. That's twelve hundies, for those keeping track at home, ten times the current price of the Optimus mini three 1.5. Sure, nobody expected this thing to be cheap, but $1,200 might be asking a bit much. Luckily, prices will be dropping to a "mere" sub-grand in September of 2007, and at that rate we'll be able to afford one of these things right around the time that thought-based typing becomes the input method of choice. Well, at least our dreams of keyboard heaven were fun while they lasted. If you're just crazy enough to try it, you can pre-order the keyboard on December 12th.

[Thanks to everyone who sent this in]

[(Unverified) Posted Nov 29th 2006 5:27PM]

Design keyboard concept that everyone wants.....$1000
Place internet ads and articles to generate buzz for your company and product...$2500
Remove all the cool features from your product days before announcing preorders...-$2000
Announce pricing for buzz product- Optimus 103 keyboard 1@$1200
Driving your business into the ground while the world laughs hysterically..... Priceless

[(Unverified) Posted Nov 29th 2006 5:42PM]

Leave it to Art Lebedev to create a revolutionary way to let everybody down.

[(Unverified) Posted Nov 29th 2006 6:40PM]

Colin, a Volkswagen Toureag costs over $60K, a Volkswagen Phaeton is over $100k. In Europe, they cost even more.

[(Unverified) Posted Nov 29th 2006 8:28PM]

It's simple. Lebedev is underfunded. He is making a common mistake in manufacturing - pricing a product based on his prototype bill of materials. A properly funded company can sell for below cost initially to ramp volume up to the point where the product is profitable. Deals are made with vendors for higher quantities, etc. It's a risk management thing only made possible with enough money in the bank to gamble on a product.

[(Unverified) Posted Nov 30th 2006 12:37AM]

hahahahaha
the funniest part is that a lot of people on here, BELIEVE that this will be the final price....His post from the first word is SARCASTIC in nature...

He said the price would be revealed on 12-12-06...people were giving im crap...so he jokingly added fuel to the fire...

and ART the one eyed pirate.....BURNT YOU....he has you making credible posts that you actually believe this to be the final price...in an OBVIOUS sarcastic post...hahahahahaha

ART 2
Mindless Users 0

[(Unverified) Posted Nov 29th 2006 8:00PM]

$1200!?!?! what a literal BUZZ-KILL

[(Unverified) Posted Nov 29th 2006 8:14PM]

let's see... i will buy 5 sets of cheap keyboards , and one keyboard switchers. i will change the label to any label that feet my stuff. seems to be less than 100 bucks

[(Unverified) Posted Nov 29th 2006 9:43PM]

Suddenly the PS3 sounds like a Bargin

[Mile Posted Nov 29th 2006 9:23PM]

C'mon people! Let's give these guys a break. They had a vision for something great and they tried their best to make it happen. Not every business succeeds, in fact almost all fail. They had the guts, the vision and the nerve to be great.

[(Unverified) Posted Nov 29th 2006 11:31PM]

I am going to buy one for my dog and one for me. I will use mine in the bathroom when things get really stinky.

[(Unverified) Posted Nov 30th 2006 1:32AM]

Did anyone seriously think these guys were anything but rediculous? All that attention and look - even if it's ever build I'd consider it a hoax

[moijk Posted Nov 30th 2006 5:56AM]

Noone have tried the completed product and everyone is bashing it? Yes, 1200 usd is way way way more than I would ever pay for a keyboard. I wouldn't have paid that if it was full color, full key and scratched my back when i wanted to. But I still see no reason why to be so negative.

Just look what some people pay for white truffle. Does $160,406 for a freaking mushroom say anything? People pay for exclusivity. So I don't doubt people will buy to have a unique keyboard, and it's nothing wrong with that. Beside, it's technology in development.

[(Unverified) Posted Nov 30th 2006 10:11AM]

Yeah, assuming we're not in for a hoax here and they really mean $1200 and not $120...

good bye, Optimus Keyboard. I considered this an item to actually use, I wouldn't have thought that it would matter THAT much that a designer developed it. I decided not to buy one when they killed the colour. But THIS is just insane.

What's the problem? You can't manufacture your keyboards and now desperately try people from ordering? Then why not sell the patents to people who are actually CAPABLE of producing this keyboard for a reasonable price!

I think I'll build one myself. Might not be THAT stylish and stuff, but can't be too complicated... at least not more complicated than working to get $1200 together for a KEYBOARD!

[(Unverified) Posted Nov 30th 2006 10:30AM]

in Russia, a country where it's considered normal to drop close to a grand for a cell phone, this piece of crap will sell enough units to keep the ridiculous AL "design studio" in the money.

[(Unverified) Posted Nov 30th 2006 2:46PM]

3600$ for the colour model !

[(Unverified) Posted Dec 1st 2006 4:36PM]

For me to buy that Keyboard it would have to:Make me food,money and also suck my cock for life...Fuck for that kind of money you can get your self a good Pc...

[(Unverified) Posted Dec 1st 2006 4:37PM]

Ohh YES!!!I just got a word from my boss.We getting these keyboard for FREE!!!!Heheh the CIA is the best place to work at.

[TrueDis Posted Nov 30th 2006 8:28PM]

Can anyone say "Phantom" ?

[(Unverified) Posted Dec 1st 2006 6:23PM]

Call me when it's in color for $50...

HAHAHA, what a stupid company.

[(Unverified) Posted Dec 2nd 2006 5:40AM]

I'd rather take that $1200 and get me a hooker.

[(Unverified) Posted Dec 4th 2006 3:41PM]

$1200 for a hoocker, jesus... She better do shit I can't even think of

[(Unverified) Posted Dec 4th 2006 3:41PM]

*hooker

[(Unverified) Posted Dec 6th 2006 9:38AM]

Oh FUCK NO!!! $1200 !?!?!

I need something like 4 different keyboard layouts, but since wired Apple keyboards are priced at 29�, I have snowballs chances walking through hell with gasoline boots on, that I'll ever buy Optimus.

I guess I'll just have to wait for a while (>2 years)... ...or buy 4 different keyboards.

[(Unverified) Posted Feb 5th 2007 8:30PM]

I thought we were over the days of black and white screens for over 40+ years now, and now $1,200?? someone needs to be slapped. Go buy a touch screen, a video card that can display two monitors (one for you touch screen), and design / run a keyboard application on your touch screen, for under half the price easy.