Video: Optimus Maximus caught on tape at CES
By Darren Murph 
posted Jan 8th 2008 6:10PM
posted Jan 8th 2008 6:10PM
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First!! Erh...ok :)
Is Veronica playing "ask the obvious" ?
First he makes Tetris, and now this?!?
Anti-fail.
he makes a stupid keyboard and everyone just somehow forgets that his brother killed Apollo Creed
What does what his brother did have anything to do with him?
@Jesse
If you watched more boxing movies from the 1980's, you would get the joke. :)
In the words of his other brother; Great Success!!
Why again are we so enamored with this thing?
Because of....well, it can....so you can show it off to your friends that can't afford an over-priced keyboard. In theory, for specialized jobs, this keyboard may be great, but this keyboard really seems like overkill to me. Buying a key or two at a time is very unusual. Did he say the cost of this keyboard starts at $400 and goes to a $1000. Wow!
Imagine needing to change key color backgrounds. Man is that ever useless except for some color-blind users.
ODO, because some of us use computers for work, not just as entertainment. so when you 'work' on your pc for 40+ hours a week, $1200 for a good keybaord that can be customized in after effects, 3ds, photoshop, etc, is not a big deal. assuming that's what you do for work. and not just office typy typy.
it's more intended for people (or their employers) who may have just spent $4000 on a workstation, not someone with a $500 laptop that wants to show off.
leave VeRoniCA alone!!!
His English is pretty good. I like to hear him say "Configurator"
In mother Russia the keyboard types you!
shut up with these horrible jokes. I do not even get how that can happen now anyway.
jeez.
*Soviet Russia.
really. you have to at least get the reference right.
this technology is not that advanced. why doesn't logitech just copy it and make it better and sell it for 100 dollars like it should be?
logitech probably will once the price for OLED displays comes down. It doesn't take a genius to know that the market for a $1500 keyboard is limited.
logitech keyboards are pretty price too, except one the price is more justifyed, you know what your paying for costs a lot to make.
not bashing logitech or anything, there stuff is very nice
You see the problem with this world?
A guy comes up with a nifty idea I'm sure TONS of folks at peripheral companies have had, actually executes it, and we want some massive corp to just swoop up, take his idea, and make the profits. Puhhleeessse.
I wish Art all the best, and hope he becomes a stinking rich millionaire.
I'm not trying to take away from art's idea. it's just that he's trying to do this on his own which means he doesn't have the R&D to make this thing cheaply and has to charge 1500 dollars which is idiotic because he won't sell any of them. I wasn't merely wondering why logitech hasn't copied him, not that they should. Also why OLED and not regular LCD? Could he make one for 100-150 dollars using lcds?
@Ethan, So I guess him not selling any of them is reason why they've been sold out everytime he allows people to pre-order. keywords. Pre-Order, Sold-Out
Ethan, using LCD would mean incorporating backlighting as well. OLED is its own lighting source, so there is no need for a backlight.
ok james i didn't mean he would sell literally zero units. but this is not going to be a mass market device at this price. thanks pal.
I'm with JJ.
It's a super cool idea pulled off for real by a small company. I applaud them.
@Ethan:
LCDs are also not feasible because LCD displays require a big ol' bezel around them. Not much room for a bezel on these displays, so the one-two punch of no backlight and no bezel on the OLED displays really kicked it off.
I love Art, and I would love to give him $1500 and a big ol' hug. This will do me wonders at work. Also, I'll have a cooler keyboard than the guy in the cubicle next to me.
C'mon, it´s just a keyboard with tiny lo-res screens in a world full of tablets and touch-sensitive handheld devices.
which takes us onto his next envisioned keyboard... mmm mmm
Well until they put practical tactile feedback on those touch control devices, physical buttons/keys will always find its way on any electronic products. Simple rumble feedback when you touch won't do the job. There's also a reason they used the mechanical key stand from Cherry and not cheap membrane ones that lots of keyboard makers use.
finally get to see it in action, but how about loading some of those "tasteless colors" on the keyboard itself? All we got on that vid was the 10 multi-function keys, which never changed, and the color cycle startup.
Pretty cool that you can play minesweeper on it, though.
That's how technology should be presented. We already knew all about the maximus, but I bet most people watched the video anyway :)
Cool to see that it works on Macs too :-)
Cool to see that it works on Macs too :-)
huh? it's being demonstrated on a Mac.
That's why. These gadgets usually only get software support for Windows and as you can see it's running Mac OS X.
I think that's his point, Rob.
Huh? What?
Does anyone know if it works for PC's as well?
Just wanted to double check.
Haha.. his shirt says XYU (if u look closely), which translated from Russian means P_NIS!
Haha I just noticed that, it took me a while when i watched the video again to realize it tho. Хуй
Ups, sorry for the dupe post.
You apologise for double posting, and therefore triple post.....logic...has...gone.
This guy was really nervouse while on tape...
BTW this keybord is awsome
You could tell he got more and more comfortable as the interview went on.
I think the one where its one big touch sensitive screen with no buttons is a lot cooler.
Ant it will be
http://www.artlebedev.com/everything/optimus-tactus/
A transparent touch keyboard with a display under the class. Yes.
He's probably a geek and was just nervous around the pretty girl.
engadget button!
I need to start washing dishes at McDonalds.
No Joke. I washa de dishes and make $100 and get 10 keys. But how much special tool called key remover cost? lol. He's fucking hilarious though how he just slips that shit in.
Yeah, I love his target market - Mcdonald's dishwashers hehehe
Since when did McDonalds even have dishes? I could swear that Big Macs are served in cardboard boxes. =P
btw, this is a Mr. Lebedev
lol
one of the comments on youtube said that his english sucked, i thought it was pretty good! dont you think?
Are people still caring about this garbage? The most awesome detail about this thing is its price.
After watching the video, I felt a pang of gadget envy, then reminded myself that OLED displays fade over time. If blue is your favorite color, you may need to replace your keys in less than a year (of constant use).
I'm assuming this is still a problem? If so, that makes me feel better about not building my Maximus one key at a time. (That's the only way I could sneak it past the Mrs.) ;)
Sweet! Everything I wanted to see a graphical keyboard do...except function as a graphical keyboard. Yes, I'd much rather see that the keys can be removed with a custom made dental-flosser than be convinced that the displays actually work and are cool looking.
I got to put my grubby hands on one in the WIRED Manhattan store, and I must say it feels/looks pretty slick.
When did Chloe leave CTU to work on Engadget?
She looks much less angry at her new job. Getting to play with cool new toys instead of hacking the Gibson to save the world is obviously more fun.
..wait
You know what I haven't seen enough of on Engadget the past few days? Veronica Belmont.
The sad thing is I'm not being sarcastic.
dude, I need this like, yesterday...
the fact that you can upgrade it is also very cool.
though it is very unacceptable that longer keys, like the spacebar, still have a 48x48px screen...
awesome product from an awesome mind, forgive the need to state the obvious.
I'm waiting for the one that's four feet long.
This thing is really, really ugly!
Wow, I can't believe she gave him 6mins of fame on a non functional keyboard at the moment. Sounds interesting but thumbs down for not having it ready to demonstate in person.
I thought he was about to turn red and die of embarassment.
I think this will be really cool once the technology is so ubiquitous that it costs the same as a really good gaming keyboard (~$100). There are tons of uses for it, but I feel no need to devote that much of my money to it.
I think he was nervous because Veronica is a little hottie. Werd. It is a sweet keyboard, but I think I'll wait until Apple or Logitech rips it off. I give it a year. I do hope he sells a boat load of them in the meantime. They do really great industrial design there. Much respect.
By the way, did anyone see his next keyboard concept?
http://www.artlebedev.com/everything/optimus-tactus/
Pretty sweet. Probably cost less to make than the Optimus
Yep.. I saw the tactus. I'm more enthused about that one than the maximus really. I hope that the tactus is cheaper to boot (so I can buy one.) If he can get that one out barring any major problems, I suspect that the tactus will out-sell the maximus BIG TIME.
I wish you mush luck and success Mr Lebedev!
...couldn't the just call it a touchscreen monitor???
BTW, have ya'll seen this:
http://www.fairlightau.com/
click on PRODUCTS then XYNERGI
If I was a graphic designer or even a video or music editor, I would use this thing alot. I'd also buy it if the base configuration was only $100 and then i could upgrade keys as I go. But $00 - $1500 is just out of my range, sadly. Good luck to him, though. His software looks pretty good in its current state and obviously the keyboard works, but the software just needs to get finished. I'd love to try one out some day.
Un-fucking-believable. Does somebody want to actually show the keyboard with a couple different configurations? The software is not what you are spending that kind of money on.
IF you actually WATCHED the vid you would hear him state the software ISN'T READY YET and therefore he was not able to demonstrate the keys changing their appearance on a whim.
Whats with all the 12 year old's posting here?
I'm a 12 year old because I don't give a flying frack about the software that allows the Maximus to do its thing. Got it, thanks for the 411.
I'm going to say it again.
Anyone who can justify spending $1400 on a keyboard probably spends enough time on the computer to never need to look at the keys.
I am thinking this will happen. People will buy the 400 dollar keyboard and start to buy counterfit keys for 10 dollars to replace the whole keyboard with oled keys
Since when are things recoreded on TAPE in 2008? Or in 2007 for that matter!
They kept the porn button!
You don't have to say it, I already realize I need a life. :'(
Hmmm...maybe I can make thumbnails of all my porn and assign each video to a button.
And maybe I can put categories on the side buttons like, lesbo, atm, 2g1c, etc.
Yes...now I'm sold.
My firewall doesn't like Youtube. :(
Everytime I see that keyboard I think it's convered with a keyboard protector. At least this keyboard will fulfill my dream of having a keyboard made up entirely of Wingdings! Keyboard!
I played with one at the Wired store in SoHo. It's pretty awesome.
LoL, Love his T-Shirt, the longest technews video of anyone with an indecent logo on their chest.
"McDonalds dishwasher" is funny.Poor guy grew up in the East!But what a great product and I can't wait for prices to drop.On their way guys!
Sounds like an intelligent guy. Wish I had $1500 to pop this.
Because he sounds like an intelligent guy?
If i start making pee infused ice cream and rant on and on about it, in a very intelligent manner mind you, would you buy my product for let's say 1500$?
The idea is great, the design isn't bad. But at 1500$ this isn't worth it.
I used a period "." , bee-arch!
Lebedev is thief.
In russian:
http://www.dagtech.ru/russian/chameleon/index.html
And translation:
http://www.google.com/translate?u=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.dagtech.ru%2Frussian%2Fchameleon%2Findex.html&langpair=ru%7Cen&hl=en&ie=UTF8
I like Russian/American interviews. I tell you, one way I'm gonna configure this keyboard is with the layout from the 1995 Hackers film...
Sweet. I've always wanted to have "Clock on a spacebar!"
I have worked with programmable keyboards. I take it that this one has programmable keys as well as programmable key tops. If not you could just purchase a programmable keyboard to have beside your regular keyboard. The programmable keyboard may be set up with various over lay's, and you can have several layers with programs built into the keyboard, allowing you to switch layout with a key stroke depending on what program you are using. I used these keyboards to design my own PC based cash registers. that was in 1996. The keyboards we used where modular, one could have anything from 64 keys and up to just about as much as you could handle, just by adding modules to the keyboard. there where also modules for card readers. The optimus keyboard has it's uses, and the technology may even replace the keyboards we have today, as the price drops. Besides that it isn't any real revolution.