Art Lebedev's CES 2008 booth tour

Let's get this straight: Lebedev by no means only does the Optimus Maximus, and his studio is one of the most prolific design firms in Russia. But Art and his crew were at CES for one reason, and one reason alone -- not that we have a problem with that. Don't forget to check out our Optimus Maximus video.

Gallery: Art Lebedev's CES 2008 booth tour

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[Joseph @ Jan 9th 2008 9:43AM]

I want to know what the tatu button does.

[Josef @ Jan 9th 2008 9:54AM]

Once you press it, the keyboard starts typing itself while you sit there and feel awkward and think to yourself how this wasn't like you imagined it would be.

[Tim @ Jan 9th 2008 9:57AM]

"The Optimus Maximus keyboard allows custom Girl-on-Girl shortcut buttons."

[bob sakamano @ Jan 9th 2008 9:50AM]

is that picture the keyboards actual size?

[Josef @ Jan 9th 2008 9:52AM]

"Lebedev by no means only does the Optimus Maximus"


He doesn't even do that!!!

[majortom @ Jan 9th 2008 10:08AM]

thank you. I was beginning to think it was only me that thought the opening sentence was poorly constructed.

[Bernard @ Jan 9th 2008 9:53AM]

Hope it looks better in the flesh than in the pictures I have seen so far, it has a cheap glossy look.

[sp00ks102 @ Jan 9th 2008 10:18AM]

nono, that's artistic, brotha...you pay for that look.

[Adoniteking @ Jan 9th 2008 10:34AM]

i just hope the warranty on Optimus Maximus is at least 2-3 years before i go Decepticus destructorus on it!!

[morkuma @ Jan 9th 2008 9:58AM]

still want that set of speakers, only problem is i would always need it to be sideways.. to see the wicked looking design... and i have no idea how they sound

[Joseph @ Jan 9th 2008 4:58PM]

I have them, they are, sooooo great and quality too is amazing, great for gaming... and you have a lot of suprise when you buy it, its now your normal computer speeker, its even more ;)

[Nils Leven @ Jan 9th 2008 10:04AM]

Can someone please explain me why engadget keeps on hyping Art Lebedev which is practically not producing anything?

[Joseph @ Jan 9th 2008 10:19AM]

For every article they post, he gives them a key. They almost have a full keyboard.

[Nils Leven @ Jan 9th 2008 10:25AM]

Amazing. The keyboard must have over 300 keys then.

[Sirius @ Jan 9th 2008 10:32AM]

Yea.. you see that lone key in the 7th foto in the gallery? That's for this post :)
Art gets free ads, and Engadget gets free ads (Engad logo shown on practically every press shot) *and* a key.

[sockatume @ Jan 9th 2008 10:59AM]

You would rather that a gadget blog did not report news on an interesting if borderline insane new gadget? Seriously, the only things Engadget post about them are their trade show appearances and their news releases through the project's Livejournal page. It's hard to imagine how they could post less about the company without actively ignoring them.

[Nils Leven @ Jan 9th 2008 1:17PM]

Why oh why do I sense some Russian *accent* in the previous comment?

[Tom @ Jan 10th 2008 9:21AM]

"Practically not producing anything"
What!? How is this practically not producing anything? Do you build teleportation chambers in your basement in your spare time and simply consider groundbreaking tech like this to be below you? Wow, well in that case making this keyboard is certainly almost like not producing anything in comparison to your work.

I happen to not have such high standards for new products being produced, so I enjoy the posts updating me on Art's progress. In fact, I look forward to giving that charming Russian designer my $1500 so that I can be more productive on my workstation (well, and so I can have a cooler setup than the pompous bastard in the cubicle next to me).

[Dan @ Jan 9th 2008 10:05AM]

"...Art and his crew were at CES for one reason, and one reason alone.."

OK, Mr. Pseudo journalist, how about going ahead and telling us the info you seem to have as to why Lebedev and company are at the show. Real journalists don't pull the sorta garbage you just did. Wake up and do right, or go flip burgers.

[Brandon @ Jan 9th 2008 10:22AM]

Uhhh, to promote the Optimus Maximus? Maybe you should take your own advice if you can't follow...

[omf @ Jan 9th 2008 10:25AM]

Yuck! Half-cooked burgers. Bleah.

[Fara @ Jan 9th 2008 10:26AM]

Am I the only one who noticed the engadget button?

[Dan S. @ Jan 9th 2008 1:16PM]

No.

Welcome to three years ago -- there's been an "engadget" key since the mockup illustrations.

[Gordy @ Jan 9th 2008 10:44AM]

I love this keyboard. Wish I had the cash.

[James ferretti @ Jan 9th 2008 10:46AM]

Strange that in both the big pictures they have on the wall and the real keyboard on display it reports 745MB free, was the demo a real version? Or just coinsidence maybe?

[Henrik @ Jan 10th 2008 6:16AM]

I asked Mr. Lebedev and he said: It's nothing it's just a completely random accident , did I say accident, I mean event that has happened and completely not a piece of paper behind the glass. There is no connection at all. No.

[Tim @ Jan 9th 2008 10:58AM]

I guess when you make a $1500 computer keyboard, everyone who has heard of it is going to write an article or 2 or 30 about it. It's as if the price pays for the advertising itself.

Still I think this thing is a waste of money.

[kevjohn @ Jan 9th 2008 11:11AM]

This thing is starting to lose its all-spark.

bah-dum-dum!

[Juice @ Jan 9th 2008 12:27PM]

What's going to be sweet is when chinavasion starts selling these for 29.99 w/free shipping!

[Juice @ Jan 9th 2008 12:28PM]

Make that $26.72!

[Ipaq3115 @ Jan 9th 2008 1:02PM]

Gotta love that Engadget shortcut key!

[natholio1249 @ Jan 9th 2008 1:24PM]

Anyone else think the maximum optimus is the world's first commercially available desktop class multitouch display (low res multi-touch input with tactice feedback and segmented display)? So, it deserves its press coverage.

[elevatorRIDE @ Jan 11th 2008 12:40AM]

see me personally. i love the conept and would personally invest in one. not of the fun and customization options avaiable with that keyboard. im also a film maker and a keyboard like that would be so valuabe to me with shortcuts and the various programs i run and work with.

[elevatorRIDE @ Jan 11th 2008 12:41AM]

see me personally. i love the conept and would personally invest in one. not of the fun and customization options avaiable with that keyboard. im also a film maker and a keyboard like that would be so valuabe to me with shortcuts and the various programs i run and work with.

[elevatorRIDE @ Jan 11th 2008 12:44AM]

see me personally. i love the conept and would personally invest in one. not of the fun and customization options avaiable with that keyboard. im also a film maker and a keyboard like that would be so valuabe to me with shortcuts and the various programs i run and work with.

[allanrubin @ Jan 28th 2008 3:56PM]

My Optimus Maximus keyboard arrived today. These guys are so darn proud of the packaging that they actually put bubble wrap around the box and then shipping paper over that.

Now do I actual use it or eBay?