Don't hold your breath for OLED key alternative: United Keys guy has a history

It all looks innocent and feasible on the surface, but behind the scenes we have no idea how realistic this gaming keyboard from United Keys is ever going to get. Sure, word of a manufacturing deal with FoxConn is good news, but it turns out a key employee has a bit of a history with false product launches. The man is Valdi Ivancic, of Medison fame -- that $150 laptop that never was. Valdi spent seven months with United Keys in 2005, and then went on to purportedly found his own company named "Swedish Keys." What's unclear is the relationship between the two companies, but we're not going to get our hopes up for much product from either until it shows up on store shelves. Oh, we almost forgot: Valdi's last big move was considering his candidacy for Prime Minister of Sweden. Yeah, really reassuring.

[Thanks, Michael N.]

[DJWhiplash2001 @ Jan 25th 2008 10:38AM]

Small OLEDs are a little more realistic than PM of Sweden. So what if the guy is a dreamer - he might be able to come through with this.

[John Bailey @ Jan 25th 2008 10:51AM]

Not so good when he not only announced a pipe dream laptop, but hung on and refused to admit it was never going to reach any customers. I seem to remember that he even lied about it being delivered at one point. Dreamers are fine. This guy is a con man.

[Richard @ Jan 25th 2008 10:39AM]

Stop toying with my emotions Engadget!

[aeo @ Jan 25th 2008 10:46AM]

Well okay, but at least the guy has goals!

[coffee @ Jan 25th 2008 10:56AM]

Art's keyboard wasn't exactly flying off the factory line when expected, either.

[daedalus @ Jan 25th 2008 11:01AM]

"I want to be President of Calendars!"

[Karl HacksWell @ Jan 25th 2008 11:07AM]

Valdi Ivancic is not just a dreamer. He is a liar, an extortionist, a con artist, and a theif. I followed him very closely with the medison scam earlier this year along with medisonscam.info

Valdi Ivancic not only should not be trusted, he should be in jail.

[tekdroid @ Jan 25th 2008 11:54AM]

just the thing to go with my Steorn portable limitless energy device (please be patient, we are still fixingz da bearingz; we will demo soon).
http://www.steorn.com

[subvelocity @ Jan 25th 2008 12:39PM]

Not to mention that picture is just a photoshopped Microsoft Internet Keyboard circa 1999-ish...

http://www.audiotronics.es/images/products/500_025403_1.jpg

[Superevil @ Jan 25th 2008 1:38PM]

I totally forgot about the medison laptop. I guess when the EEE was getting closer to launch I just kind of shut out the scam laptop.

[IndiaTech @ Jan 25th 2008 3:02PM]

Does this mean he not going to ship my pre-order?

0_0

[chakra @ Feb 10th 2008 8:33PM]

Anyone familiar with Optimus Maximus keyboard?
http://www.artlebedev.ru/everything/optimus/demo/
Already on sale:
http://store.artlebedev.com/computer_add-ons/optimus/
or with Optimus Tactus?
http://www.artlebedev.ru/everything/optimus-tactus/

[CaptCaveman @ Jan 25th 2008 7:57PM]

So it sounds like this keyboard will be shipping with the Phantom game console. Sweet!!!

BTW, have they announced a IPO yet?

[F-Forward @ Jan 26th 2008 6:57PM]

Ive written a more complete story on this subject on my blog, check it out if you want sources:
http://www.medisonscam.info/2008/01/united-keys-valdis-imaginary-keyboard.html