First Optimus Maximus hits Moscow
By Donald Melanson 
posted Sep 14th 2007 11:01AM
posted Sep 14th 2007 11:01AM
It's been a long time coming, but the first Optimus Maximus OLED keyboard has finally shown itself in Moscow and, as you can see in the picture above, it's already being put to good use. Of course, the lucky few that got in on the first batch of orders will still have to wait a while longer to get a taste of all that excess first hand, with the keyboards apparently still on track for a release by the end of the year. We somehow suspect there will be plenty more pics to whet the appetites of the rest of us in the meantime though, and if you just can't wait for that inevitability, you can hit up the read link below for a slightly larger version of this one.
How many interface devices can one person POSSIBLY need?
I see a standard keyboard, the Optimus Maximus, what looks like it may be a mini 3, an X-Keys USB keypad, a tablet of some sort, AND just for good measure, a Griffin PowerMate!
Wow...
...but he can't afford a mouse
Maybe with all of those magic keys on the Optimus you don't need one?
Tablets come with a mouse...
@ Jesse S
It was a joke...Ha ha...
Sorry, long day, hard to detect humor on tubes, etc...
there's a mouse there.. the ultimate gaming mouse.. its at the top left of the keyboard. http://gamingmouse.com/
there's a mouse there.. the ultimate gaming mouse.. its at the top left of the keyboard. http://gamingmouse.com/ At least. I think that's it.
Yeah, but check out that noncordless phone too! So old school and classy. Anyway, I have to say this lighted keyboard looks awesome in the dark. But I will miss the Optimus jokes once it ships... :::sniff:::
I'm from Russia, Moscow.
And i haven't see this here!
It's a joke! Fools.
This design company - "Art Lebedev" - they're selling air and nothing else... making some stupid projects and criticized any and everyone, like they're design gods.
If it really exist - they will sell 20 items and then take this idea to some rich company, like Logitech or even worst - Griffin for $100K.
Duraki chertovi. Poka, kakashki.
mistake - not Griffin - i mean Genius company - taiwanese based company that produce bulky peripherals.
The closest input device to him is a $3 ink pen.
Just look closely!
He's put the desk lamp to the behind.
SO YOU CAN'T USE IT WITH DIRECT LIGHT, or in the lighted room - only in the dark!!! (if it's real prototype).
Your eyes doesn't thank you for this.
I don't see any second keyboard.
@Nonono
Look underneath the LCD monitor. That is the second keyboard...Looks like a Microsoft natrual keyboard or some other "ergonomic" keyboard.
@Glazun
That is not the Ultimate Gaming Mouse, it is a Griffin PowerMate. I see no "traditional" mouse in this picture. One poster commented on the bar above the monitor being some sort of retinal tracking system...I'm guessing that may have been sarcasm but if not that would be extremely cool and would fit well with the rest of this guy's input gear.
i'm assuming the reason he has 2 keyboards is because he just plugged in the optimus and just pushed the old one back, i've done it
Forget the keyboard, I want an lcd like that.
Well that looks like all kinds of awesome. I can't wait for the prices of these sorts of things to hit a normal level, it'll become the coolest of computer accessories.
Is this really a working version? Why is it Tetris mode? It just looks like a more complete version of their test pad http://www.engadget.com/2007/08/10/optimus-maximus-gets-a-numeric-keypad-test/
It's only 1 picture, and its not even a close up!
They have a long way to go if they are trying to reproduce the hype that Apple produces. But ya-know... I do enjoy any news coming from these guys. Keep it coming Engadget!
:D
has anyone else commented that all these recent things showing the optimus or the building of it shows the keys in solid colours, rather than the wonderful logos and custom icons/text shown in the pre-production things? when are we going to see them looking as they should?
Yeah - great, there's a far-away shot of a "keyboard" with solid color keys. I could make a fake like that myself in a few hours with parts from Home Depot. Until I see keys with changing logos actually inputing text to the computer and changing context based on programs in use, I'm still calling vaporware. At best, it's "seriously delayed, seriously overpriced"-ware. I'm surprised a Chinese company hasn't caught on and created a better knockoff by now, they've had years.
1250 Euro .... crazy
LMAO...the keyboard is more expensive then that huge monitor :o
Just noticed, hes reading Engadget too
yup... and just for the sake of it, this is the article on the screen :D
http://www.engadget.com/2007/08/03/optimus-maximus-oleds-finally-tested/
yay go me! dorks rule!
pretty lights *eyes glaze over*
It's beginning to look a lot like Christmas.
That dude needs to sit back into his 'spensive chair. Gonna mess up his back.
On paper I envy this guy..then I look at him...I'm Ok.
where is the final 100 gadget contest?
In it's current state with flat colours on the keys, that keyboard reminds me of the prop computers they had in 60's sci-fi shows.
lmao... full thrusters ahead... beam me up scotty... sir our sheilds are down.... we can only take one more magnetic photon blast and were space dust.... will they make it throught the final battle?.. Tune in next week...
I just clicked on the larger pick (I think) and it led me to all these fantastic pics of the trial & error construction process:
http://community.livejournal.com/optimus_project/
It looks like a new verions of the Rubiks Cube!
That keyboard doesn't make you leet. But this one does. http://www.daskeyboard.com/
I've got it, i'm leet right? riight?
/broken smile
Hey now I don't feel so bad about all the cluttered up shit on my desk. "In Soviet Russia, desk clutters you!" (I couldn't resist.)
Looks sweet but its just too expensive for me.
I guess I'll stick with my keyboard for now.
That really makes me want to buy a clear keyboard and put multicolour LEDs under each key.
Straight up Star Trek!
Looks like he's typing on a Lite-Brite.
With extra keyboards he can do Bugs Bunny or Bozo the Clown!
With all those damn colors it looks like a space ship interior from a 60's sci fi.
Looks like the project is very close to completion.
Congrats to the guys at art lebedev.
This is old news... see? People have been using this for millions of years.
http://images.google.com/imgres?imgurl=http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/thumb/6/6f/Land_of_the_Lost_(1974)_-_The_Marshalls_at_a_crystal_matrix_table.jpg/180px-Land_of_the_Lost_(1974)_-_The_Marshalls_at_a_crystal_matrix_table.jpg&imgrefurl=http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Land_of_the_Lost_(1974_TV_series)_geography_and_technology&h=134&w=180&sz=7&hl=en&start=2&um=1&tbnid=bjHTeTKeXy7T-M:&tbnh=75&tbnw=101&prev=/images%3Fq%3Dsleestak%2Bmatrix%26svnum%3D10%26um%3D1%26hl%3Den%26client%3Dsafari%26rls%3Den%26sa%3DN
The next version turns in a MAC Truck! Prime...!!!!
finally the future, combined with the 60's idea of what the future should look like.
hail the klingon ship miss uhura.
It is reasonable to assume the display controlling hardware and/or software is not yet complete. The solid colors for testing are probably surrogate hardware that simply gives them something to look at. This is arguably going to be the most complex part of the project though, so hopefully it won't hold it off too much. They have had some experience with the Mini-3 though so that will help I'm sure.
This guy needs to get laid.
Hey baby check out my keyboard.. Thats right sit on my laptop!
I'm sure he does with this keyboard...
This guy looks like Artemy Lebedev, but you can't say for sure. He's the damn boss of Art.Lebedev 'course he's got that much of gadgets...
However, the monitor - looks like a 30" Apple Cinema - is still not that cheap ;-)
If it's real, how come each key is lit with a single color and there are only four or five colors in the entire board? If it were real, I would be trivial to give each key a unique color with those OLEDs.
But I'm sure it'll be great for playing Duke Nukem Forever
The Apple stuff in Russia is most expensive - like usa price +$600 to any Apple display, or even +$1000 for top notebooks.
Many companies in Moscow, especially "Art Lebedev design bureau" buys this stuff only for some sort of "glamour", like they're very rich and so on...
All the Russia with government works by Microsoft, which had here a big office and using russian programmers and mac users looks here very weird.
Macs are using here only for entertainment.
"Macs are using here only for entertainment."
Like on this picture, where he's surfing a web by Safari, using Powermate to volume in iTunes and picking the nose.
Just stupid.
FUGLY, I think it needs even MORE colors!!! Lame. not to mention cost.
I think the 1st thing that all Russians, including me, will be asking when this thing finally comes out is "Dorogoi, gde ti bil?"
Nope...that's no gaming mouse. It is a Griffin PowerMate :
http://www.griffintechnology.com/products/powermate/
Who can afford it and would but it? specifically in russia?
Let me offer a guess: spammers that run spam empires?
Hmm..
In Russia???
Do you know how many "awful rich" fools live in Russia?
Thousands!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Apple iphone 8Gb is sells here very well two weeks ago (before pricedrop) FOR $1100. And you can sell 5-8 items REALLY FAST for that price - even just from one internet forum.
Moscow - is the second city in the world by the number of millionaires, which live here.
Russian millionaires have earned all money by the good contacts with very influential people and by the bribes. Who's needed knowledge today? No-one.
Oh I see
See that long bar at the top of the monitor, it's a retinal tracking mousing system that he uses to place the curson. Right wink= right click. Blink= double click!
If you have a bright LCD, you use bias lighting to help your eyes, otherwise you get dry eyes from a bright unbalanced light which goes directly to a dark area.
Jump off a cliff instead of jumping to conclusions :)
Why am I not surprised that it was a mac fan that gets the first one? I guess they are so used to paying through the nose for stuff from the Apple store, $1100 for a keyboard doesn't seem unreasonable.
As Mr. T. says, "Pity the fool.."
it does seem wasted on a mac...
Hehe, did you guys notice how huge is that thing-bigger than the LCD :-))) and probably isnt working at all-just a piece of plastic with some led lights :-) which will make you blind if you use the keyboard in complete darkness - i guess.
Would be great for WoW - put keybindings on all kinds of keys and have keys actually display the spell icon and switch over along with stance changes and such. Also could have dedicated buttons for healing players that display a health bar on them and become yellow at 75% and red at 40% health. There are all kinds of uses when you really think about it.
Is Optimus Maximus the first one or is it Xynergy?
http://www.fairlightau.com/