Optimus Maximus official press shots
By Thomas Ricker 
posted Mar 15th 2007 8:42AM
posted Mar 15th 2007 8:42AM
Please note: If you're a current Engadget commenter, you do not need to re-register. Simply login and you will be prompted to select a username.
No kidding right?
You'd think someone is threatening their family!
I wonder what they say when they see a $250,000 Diablo driving down the street
"I could buy 10 Jettas for that price, I could buy 5 BMW's" hahaha
Its a great, new, exciting idea for a keyboard. If you can't afford it just nod your head, and move forward. Just because you can't afford it, doesn't mean it's a bad idea.
First, yay, it's finally out~!
aaaaaannnd... no.
There, I did. I ranked my own post a bad one~!
I hate the bevel around the keys. That is going to be incredibly distracting. I also don't like the font for the name, nor how its squished up against the barcode logo. Minor things maybe, but a fourteen hundred dollar keyboard that only has a lifespan of 5 years ought to be absolutely perfect in every way.
Go Chinese Knock-off, I command you guys to make a good one with ergonomic NOW!!!
I am hoping that one of the budget keyboards they release have just the shortcut buttons and the ctrl alt windowkey/apple key are the OLED buttons most of the keyboard is not required to be oled but I would like to have it switch from an apple keyboard to a windows keyboard when i switch back and fourth between the Operating Systems. And man I hope its Sub-$200
So when should we be expecting an exclusive Engadget first review ?
$10 a key, wow... $1030 just for the keys, I guess that semi-justifies the price. They still have no excuse for delaying the thing 3 years by changing the design every week. I fail to see how ANYONE can justify a $1400 keyboard. I can understand wanting a nice input device, but for that price, I could buy 7 19" LCDs, or a 30" LCD. You could also outfit yourself with a two of the latest and greatest graphics cards in SLI or Crossfire. If you are looking at input devices, thats 140 $10 NewEgg no-name keyboards, 70 IBM Model M keyboards (the best), or 7 Logitech DiNovo Edges, DiNovo Lasers, or Microsoft 7000s. Not to mention the quite well outfitted Dell or even iMac you could purchase with that kind of cash (keyboard included ;) ). I think that this keyboard is a terrible idea, not for lack of practicality or geekiness, but simply because the price is so astronomical that not even the geekiest among us can really justify the purchase (hmmm... keyboard or a week long trip to Hawaii...)
This is just a keyboard. Right? I mean does it roll sushi? Warm your coffee? What? OLED? So, maybe $149.00 but that's about it.
Gonna try to win that lottery first lol
Why yes, yes it does.
How about the price point now?
I congratulate you, Optimus Maximus keyboard, on shedding your vaporware status. Godspeed and good luck in the world.
This is still a computer mock-up... it's yet to extablish itself as a real keyboard, in the real real world.
yeah from vaporware to PAPERware
I thought they said this thing will "cost around a nice cellphone", I wonder what kind of cellphone will cost $1500...2 iPhones duct tape together?!
Hey Calm Down!!! This is no place for young and immature people like yourself to scream about how you don't like whats being posted. I mean if you don't like it, why the hell did you read about it.
anyways...
It will actually only cost $1030 to replace every 5 years, but sadly I still won't be buying it. Hopefully in 5 Years the price will drop down to around $100.
Shouldn't that be cue?
Unless you're putting them in a line, that is...
TRANSFORMERS ROBOTS IN DISGUISE, LOL. OPTIMUS MAXIMUS, WHAT A JOKE. Oh and a $1500 cell, would be a Vertu.
Now the real question is...
Is this thing even comfortable to type on? I'll stick with my M$ Nat Keyboard 4000
Are you not entertained??
We can only hope for (cheap) Chinese knockoffs.
When I heard this thing would be "the price of a good cellphone", I assumed it wouldn't exceed $400-- even that would be a bit much.
After waiting for this for so long I just realized something. The keys on this look identical to those on a Bloomberg trading keyboard in terms of how they rest in place. This could be very bad as that is not a fun keyboard to type on at all.
For that price I hope the software is better than what they have for the Mini-Three. There are so many things wrong with the current software that prevents it from being truly usable.
this is sweet! Where can i get one of these?!
Me: Honey, I just bought a new keyboard, I am soo excited!
Fiancee: Wow, it looks pretty, how much is it?
Me: Emmm, ur, $1400
Fiancee: Sorry, I could have sworn I heard you say 1400
Me: Yeah, you see it has OLED and it... ohhh, cmon honey! put the engagement ring back on! Honey!!
for this price, why bother with this actual mechanical keys? why not design and sell a completely touchscreen a la star trek TNG's UI where you can re-arrange everything?
I'll be willing to pick this up for the price. I know how much it takes to get off the ground with something like this.
I'm going to hazard a guess that you are not married.
Waiting for the accessibility police to start a lawsuit because blind people cannot see the display keys.
I love the jaggies.
For a $1000+ keyboard, I would expect some ClearType.
Me: Honey, I just bought a new keyboard, I am soo excited!
Fiancee: You are a flippin' nerd. Go clean the dog crap out of the backyard, now.
Me: Ok, but give me an hour to check out my sweet-ass new $1400 keyboard.
Fiancee: $1400!!! You f'n worthless piece of sh#@, where's the keys to the gun cabinet?
Me: Yeah, you see it has OLED and it... ohhh, cmon honey! put the shotgun down! Honey!!
BANG
The keyboard looks awesome, IMO... I'd love to have one. But as is the case with most people, I really can't justify the price. I've got some upgrades to my home theater that need to be done which also represent a much better value.
Ridiculous. Completely and utterly ridiculously over-priced.
That said, I still want one.
Well, it does look nice, but not $1,490 nice.
Well, I'll buy one. If for no other reason, I'm buying for the joy of seeing the rest of you pick these up in Target 10-15 years from now.
Yep...the bleeding edge...that's where I roll. Someone has to do it.
Meh ... might as well get one. What else am I going to spend my money on.
Boy, nothing convinces me that something exists like a 3d computer rendered image released by a company who has been repeatedly accused of producing vaporware and who keeps changing their answer to the question "When is it coming out already?"
Ah, and where are the wires? Or is this $1,500 machine powered by two double AAs and wishful thinking?
A real keyboard is focused on typing and not reading it. That's why I love my UNICOMP keyboard with the original IBM-style buckling-spring technology. $70 and worth every cent.
"Optimus Too-Expensive-For-Me Maximus"
Yes, you can buy 10 Jettas with what you pay for a Diablo, but the Diablo spanks the Jetta in performance. The Diablo doesn't just look cooler, it out performs the Jetta by a long mile.
Here are some stats:
Jetta: 150 HP; 0-60: too damn slow; how fast it will get you laid: uhmm.. good luck.
Diablo: 530 HP; 0-60: 3.9 secs. how fast it will get you laid: if the 3.9 secs is any indication.
So, unless Optimus Maximus can show it out-performs, which I don't see how it's possible, the best keyboard out there right now, I think we can safely conclude that the makers of Optimus Maximus are smoking crack.
I don't know if these "press shots" are of a functional prototype, but if the typing "feel" is as good as my Matias Tactile Pro (after all, it's meant to be typed on, not just admired), I'd consider after the usual markdown to $999. For people who type for a living, the keyboard and screen are the most important tools they have, so investing $200 a year on a keyboard is not a big expense. Try developing something like this from scratch; investors want their money back WITH interest.
you'd have to be completely brain dead to purchase such an item.
... and it's ready to play duke nuken forever?
This keyboard gives me a big stiffy, but I wouldn't spend even $300 on a keyboard, let alone $1500, no matter how sexy!
According to their LJ, they're also working on a cheaper version where only the ten function keys on the far left have screens, and the rest are just backlit or somesuch. Still going to be expensive, but if you want a more justifiable option when it comes to buying an absurd keyboard, it'll be there eventually.
Very nice. When I was single I would have picked one up for $1500 easily. Now with a wife and kids, I'm a bit more conservative with my money.
It's unique and it's beautiful. Even if it is expensive I think they'll sell enough to recover their investment and survive to make a version 2.0.
Oh don't you just hope it has that horrible high pitched wine that the mini 3 has as well? And you gotta love the shiny key surface...all the better to get dirty and show fingerprints. There's a reason most keyboards aren't shiny and white. Just look at your typical cell phone screen...and imagine an entire keyboard!
This is still vaporware as well- these could still be 3d mockup photos as far as anyone knows!
I would purchase this on the day it came out, if it cost $100. If they outsourced manufacturing, they could prabably mass produce oled's for a lot cheaper, and if it really costs that much, then they should have used led backlit lcds instead.
$1400? Wow. haha. OK.
http://www.alienware.com
all hype, no type
Not gooing to be connected to my computer even for 140$, let alown 1400$.
oh gimme, gimme, gimme
all those pretty colors, now if i only had 1500 dollars
Whoa the command key on the left and window key on the right.... guess this would be nice on multi OS pc/mac systems.
I still want one!!!
It looks good, but thats missing the point of what a good keyboard is and to illustrate my point, I direct you to the best keyboard the world has ever seen. The IBM selectric, awesome keys and when you touch one it responds with a delightfully tactile sensation. If some one could bring that to a computer keyboard, then that would be the business.
It's a cool enough keyboard. Of course it's WAY out of the common users reach price-wise. It is however the perfect example of hoe the technology is WAY ahead of the actual need for it. OLED keyboards will be common place probably within 5 years and will be reasonably priced I think.
Gotta love that firefox button :]
Agree with all above, my only addition would be that there already is a keyboard out there with fantastic 'type feel' (á la the old IBM) due to mechanical and individually weighted keys (i.e. there's less resistance in the keys you will depress with your little fingers, etc) AND a design that makes a) more people turn around and b) in a way that reflects more positively on you, the typer. It's called Das Keyboard and will only set you back $90.
I mean, seriously, is anyone of you still looking at the keyboard while you type? :-)
$1500! :o I'll stick with my zboard merc thanks.
at last!... hot chicks at my fingertips! (i'll put one on every key)