Optimus Maximus: at long last, we bring one home to test
By Ryan Block 
posted Feb 22nd 2008 12:06PM
posted Feb 22nd 2008 12:06PM
- The OLED displays look really good, and are bright and colorful, just like we'd hoped.
- Key changes were instant (or almost) in Windows mode, but had a slight delay in Mac mode, where some key bindings were also little out of whack. These are known issues, though, and are being worked on.
- The keyboard itself is friggin massive, and very sturdy-feeling. The thing is a tank.
- Replacing keys is pretty easy, but larger keys are more difficult to pull off. You're really only intended to replace the standard-sized keys, so far as we can tell.
- Typing on it, well, sucks. We kind of hate to say it, but this thing more than likely won't replace what ever keyboard you're writing your novel on -- it's better off used as an absurdly configurable swiss army knife for tasks like gaming, Photoshop, or just about any other productivity app that doesn't require a lot of typing.
- Okay, why does typing on the Optimus suck, you ask? Well, although the keyboard uses mechanical switches and a lot of high quality components (evident when we pulled off some keys), and there is some clicky tactility to keypresses, as a whole it just requires way too much force to depress keys. And the larger the key, the more force is required, so enter is easier than space, but harder than tab. Let's put it this way, we sit around and type all day long and this thing wore us out in about 30 seconds to a minute. Carpal sufferers, beware.
- The Configurator is everything we hoped it'd be and more. The ability to paint directly onto the keyboard maps with the image editor of your choice is most excellent. Mapping keyboards to applications and conditions is ridiculously easy. Not everything was working properly though, since we were testing early beta software.
What is that key underneath the youtube key?!?!
t.A.T.u perhaps?
I second the question, what is that key with the two girls!!!
Its the porn key. What, your keyboard doesn't have one? Time to upgrade buddy.
First thing I asked myself... Enquiring minds want to know!
huh?
It's Suicide Girls tbfh
Come on, we wont tell anybody what the icons means, it is just between us. Whats the site and what is the 'Y' next to it?
Default key config is Tatu -- I asked Lebedev about it, he said that he put it on there kind of as a point of Russian pride. I told him maybe he should have had a Tolstoy key instead.
The "Y" next to it is an analog clock.
Thanks for the clarification, Ryan. The drivespace key is neat too - but what happens when you press the analog clock key or the drivespace key?
Ryan, I am thinking you should have just lied to us and told us it was a porn key that unlocked porn from a secret lebdev data warehouse in russia.
I mean, we claim we want to know the truth, but you should know that we have no idea what's best for us!!!
It's the "Two Girls One Cup" Key
Is Tatu really still big over there? I figured they fell out of the limelight as soon as they hit legal age :P
Unanswered questions:
If a OLED key stops working, how hard is it to replace that key?
Would it not be more logicial to make a touchscreen keyboard which has software that changes the button layout on demand?
If I want to setup the Oled buttons to take me directly to porn sites...can I have different icons to fit whatever mood I'm in?
new keys will cost you $300 per key and first born. lol.
Replacing keys is very easy.
Configuring keymaps is ridiculously easy.
And finally, again, configuring keymaps (with conditions) is super easy.
You get 2 free replacement keys?
Flashpoint, I am really tired of your always negative, rarely useful comments. Ok, I'll admit they didn't answer "how easy is it to replace a key". But seriously, if you didn't know that this thing could change key images and each could map to any macro (yes, even porn sites), then you had no business getting involved. Put out a little effort next time, k? Thx.
dude, porn key ftw. Put it like right next to the any key
I love this concept, but honestly it is like the playstation 3, a anti climax, everyone was like, oh is this it? We have had the 360 that does the same thing for a year. As for tactility, keyboards need some strength to the keys, really soft ones suck, and really hard ones suck too.
Ryan, what makes you think it's good for gaming?
I mean, if it's really wears you out quickly, that's bad for any application that requires constant key use
It's not like I'm gonna press my forward/jump/etc keys once a minute...
i see the gmail key has a number for unread mail
the keys are dynamic (if thats the right term for it)?!?
I love how everyone feels the need to reply to the first comment to prevent being on the 2nd page. Especially when most of the replies aren't even relevant to the original comment.
touchscreen keyboard... check
>Optimus Tactus http://www.engadget.com/2007/12/28/art-lebedev-kills-us-with-optimus-tactus-keyboard-concept/
They have a concept of a touch screen keyboard on the site. The only problem there is you'll not have the nice tactile nature of regular keyboards.
OLED is soooooo 2007... or perhaps not
Hey, did yours come with the rubic's cube and freddy glove? I didn't get those? optimus maxianus.
Can't wait for OM 2.0.
You boys at Engadget should start using the PowerBall or whatever wrist strengthening devices are out there - typing on a keyboard may be difficult on the Optimus if your comments are to be believed but we are MEN! Men can overcome any resistance - even if it's a weighty Spacebar!
I don't get it? You from the 50's?
It honestly couldn't be any harder to type than that awful old generation Apple Keyboard you're comparing it to.
(in the photos).
P.S. - I couldn't take typing on that old Apple Keyboard any longer and got myself the new aluminum Apple Keyboard! :)
It honestly could, apparently. A keyboard that does everything well except for typing. Sheer fail.
+eleventybillion. My Mac Pro came with that crappy KB but I never even took it out of the bag, so I didn't realize how bad it was. I used a Mathias Pro keyboard I've had for years -- it's all mechanical keyswitches and kicks ass.
So when I got a hand-me-down PowerMac G5 at work with the Apple KB, I didn't know how terrible it would be. The damn thing is somehow spongy AND stiff with little key travel. Keyboards that don't have a defined 'stop' point are so hard to type on because you don't know when to stop applying pressure.
Allow me to give you a gift - a Tickle Me Elmo doll - as a token of my concern and appreciation for your comments.
You comment doesn't provide much less insight then Flashpoint's.
It IS a serious matter he's commenting on. This thing cost as much as new T-series ThinkPad! It would be nice if it could last a tad longer then it's warranty period. I don't know anyone who'd put out as much cash for a keyboard and then be happy to pay additional $100s to repair it in case keys fail. And they will fail.
Personally I'd rather go for a touchscreen myself.
Digg it!!
http://digg.com/gadgets/Engadget_Finally_Tests_the_Optimus_Maximus
Argh, that sucks about how it's hard to type on it.. I hope the second generation has easier to press keys (normally keyboards need about 55 grams of force). Is it worse than an antique typewriter?
Anyway, i hope they read engadget's feedback and fix the issues. I may still get one to support 'em just so that they may have enough sales to be able to produce version 2 with its issues fixed.
Yup, like you, I'll wait for the next iteration of this technology. Its an interesting concept, but I think it'll be the next few versions of this technology which really make it widely appealing.
Afterall, keyboards do kind of need to be easy to type on and not give you some sort of achy feeling in your hands / wrists, which it sounds as if this one does.
As a concept though, the keyboard rocks.
55 grams is not a measure of force, unless you're referring to the amount of force exerted by a 55 gram weight. I don't know where you get your numbers from, but grams is a measure of mass. Newtons, dynes, and pounds are the units of force. 55 grams on Earth at sea level is usually 53900 dynes, .539 newtons, or 0.1212 pounds. It will be different on other planets or at different elevations on Earth.
@Chris
Yes Professor Einstein, I knew that. I guess I should have used newtons so a broader audience can understand. I mistakenly assumed there weren't a majority of Martians here who didnt know the force of gravity on 55 gram mass on earth.
Hey Chris, nice try.
"Pound" is a weight, just like grams are. Just a different unit. You meant lbf (pound-force), right? It's ok, beginning physics students are always a bit confused on that.
You know what'd be cool? Giving one of these way in a Engadget contest...
or more... ;)
jks
You guys must be FREAKING OUT ECSTATIC on the arrival of that beauty! Congratulations! Have fun with that sweet ass baby.....ENVIOUS!!!
What!?!
A good tasting butt-baby?
I always wondered why you guys were lucky enough to get your very own key on the Maximus, its turns out its because you were one of the very few willing to actually pay for one! :p
I can't believe that they would put all that time and money into a keyboard, and then skip on the most fundamental feature - typing.
This is pretty disappointing as well but I guess that's what happens with all first gen devices - you have to work out the kinks.
Personally, those rubber 'covers', with the symbols printed on, that some people put over their keyboards for photoshop work seem much better now. Cheap, and you can just remove it to have a normal keyboard.
i would've got one if they werent expensive, 100 dollars would be the most i would pay for a keyboard period and thats pushing it.
Well then, good news! You're only paying $13.84 for the keyboard period on the Optimus Maximus!
When you say it is hard to type on, how does it compare to a hefty keyboard like an IBM model M?
They already answered that in a roundabout way.
IBM used to do massive amounts of research on ergonomics. Their white papers are still available on their web site. One of the things they discovered early on was that every key needed equal weighting, and that there was an ideal weighting that put the least amount of physical stress on a person's fingers. (There's another school of thought that says keys on the outside, where your pinky works, should be lighter. But that's not what IBM's research showed.)
People who haven't used IBM Model M's much always think they're heavy and hard to type on. But there's a reason why that keyboard has so many diehard fans. When you use one for a while, you realize how absolutely amazing it feels. You just cannot get tired typing on one. (Ok, maybe your ears will start to ring, but your hands won't hurt.) I know I can also type much faster. I think the physical effort required to type on it is far less than most membrane keyboards. Only the best laptop keyboards really come close.
But the point I'm trying to make is that the Model M has equal weighting for all the keys, regardless of size. It takes no more effort to press the space bar or enter key than it does to type an "M". (The space bar might be slightly heavier and have more inertia just due to the physical size of it, but the effort required to press it is no greater than the other keys.) The Optimus obviously does not follow that philosophy, meaning it has to feel much different. If the key effort varies in relation to the size of the key, well, that's going to be a big problem. Probably, the larger keys have multiple springs that are all of the same tension... meaning double the number of springs and you double the effort to press the key. Not good if that's the case.
I had to use an IBM 3151 terminal for a long time and it had a model M keyboard. A model M in black with OLED keys would be perfect. I'd even pay $400 for one. $1500 for a keyboard, no matter how cool it is, is not in my future.
Agreed, I've always been a fan of the IBM Model M. I wish there were more like it.. Maybe silence it slightly to make it more cube compatible.
I also really miss my Northgate Omnikey keyboards. If this thing has well functioning weighted keys like the Model M or Omnikey I might be sold.
I type at a keyboard for 10-14 hours a day, thankfully half of that is on the wonderful thinkpad keyboard.
This things looks really old fashioned and chunky now that apple bought out this new aluminium board. I love the idea of this thing but the reality seems strangely disappointing, and, at the same time mesmerising with all those little screens you can put what you like on. Imagine if it were as thin as the new apple board but with OLED’s, that would be great. OLED will be everywhere over the next few years and by the look of it we are going to have a bit of expensive fun with it.
What would be real great for me is a simple Key Binder board with maybe 20 of these OLED keys and a shift cycle roller so you could get about a hundred shortcuts on the one pad. Then again when you use key binders you don’t need to look a the board after you get used to the layout, that’s the point. Nostromo N52 springs to mind.
It's just a f"#$%ng keyboard. Get real.
Correction. It's a keyboard that, apparently, is no good for typing. A real winner.
i'm curious is it hard to type on because you are used to softkeys on ms style keyboards and never used a modem m before? or a better question might be how is the typing compared to a model m?
SO who gets to keep all these toys when you guys are done reviewing them?
nice gallery. i notice it says "made in taiwan" on the bottom. i was wondering about that.
yes the keyboard is made in Taiwan....
it just that nobody sure what company made it, not even engadget traditional chinese
(which is in Taiwan)
The keyboards are shipping from "All Business Asia, LTD" Can't fingure out who they are.
I still like that 2-chicks-at-one-time button :D
Wow. Honestly, this thing is ugly. The border around the keys just looks cheap. The extremely low resolution of the micro-screens also suck.
c'mon you all need to admit it. this is like the coolest keyboard on earth.
If only we could afford it.
No it isn't.
WOW, I need a keyboard with a "Lesbos" key!
Nice keyboard. I remember reading about this like 2.5 years ago, lol
no support from optimus from their website... no one answer questionno solution to solve the problem! think it carefully before you buyit...
I hate to say it, because it's a cool concept, but I think this is a seriously ill-conceived gadget that is destined to fail. It is a solution looking for a problem. It should never have gone past the concept/prototype stage.
I think a few would find it useful, and some of them may have enough play cash to try this out.
As for mass-market, this device was never built for it. However, I think a lot of people would really like this thing if it was in the price range of other keyboards. Right now it's priced for conceptual design and possibly some research uses (e.g. "Who'd really benefit from something like this?")
I'd be interested in seeing an e-Ink version of this thing :-D You'd never even notice that it was a dynamic-display keyboard until it changed!
The quickest example that comes to mind is finally showing something useful on those F1-F12 keys. Good god. Also, photoshop and gaming come to mind. Very useful idea if the price went down.
So... what happens when you press the t.a.t.u button? Does it summon hot lesbians?
I had posted this comment in the last Optimus post, but was late by a couple days and noone read it (that or noone likes me! waah)... My two cents on the Optimus and keyboards in general.
Keyboards age. They have lots of moving parts, they get dirty (no matter how clean and tidy you are), and though most keyboards can be cleaned thoroughly by removing the keys, most key designs make it so the keyboard changes when you remove and put back keys (the tactile feel / sounds will change). So no matter how much you spend on a keyboard, and how well you maintain it and care for it, in a year or two it will start degrading. The Optimus doesn't have magical "everlast" technology; it's a keyboard. It will get crappier to use with time. If they had figured out how to circumvent that, they'd have made it one of their selling points.
The idea of per-key macros is awesome. The idea of programmable key "screens" is even better. But honnestly, you can do per-key macros with free software off the 'net. But do you? I mean the option is out there, but is there really a need to have so many macros, per-program, on your keyboard? Personally, I end up setting up personalized shortcuts in my applications and games, and learning them. It's not a big deal. So the whole macro thing for the Optimus is really just a driver thing that you can get for free with any keyboard out there.
The screen keys? Now that's awesome. But do I want my letter and number keys to change? No, I probably wouldn't, I mean yeah having arrows for WASD in games is kind of neat, but in most games I play I'll still want to type text. And I know what WASD do. Changing the face of the twelve function keys would be semi useful, but think about it -- all software and games will still refer to the function keys by their name. Press F9 to quicksave. Press F1 for help. Sure it's prettier to have nicely lit icons instead of the old austere text labels, but I'm thinking it would also make it a bit confusing.
I think this whole Optimus thing is really just the brainchild of someone who has the resources to implement his dreams. I doubt commercial success is a criteria for these guys. They'll release the keyboard, make news, make "history", and move on to the next big thing. Some (few) people will buy the keyboard (or the stripped-down version, which I think makes more sense but is still not a sound purchase), show it off, play with it, then change it after a couple years as it starts to age. It's just a "toy", it will be cool to have and show off, but not very practical in the long run.
Lastly -- the one thing I personally always do before buying a new keyboard is to try it out in a store. See how it feels, see how it sounds. Are you guys really going to order a ridiculously expensive keyboard without trying it?
Who's this "noone" guy you keep talking about?
Model M's have been going strong for more than two decades.
Should priority number 1 of building a better mouse trap be to catch the mouse?
A keyboard that sucks at typing does not a better mouse trap make.
Whats that under the youtube key? Looks like a couple of lesbos. Wonder whats mapped there....
Freaking read.
From the ebay auction (likely copied from marketing docs):
How does typing feel?
Tactile sensations are good: we use mechanical micro-keyswitches with a key travel of 2.5 mm. The activation force is, if you are interested, 50 ± 20 g.
Possibly the keys just need to be worked in a bit or something?
Of course they're gonna say that. What do you expect? "How does typing feel? Feels like crap, but buy our keyboard anyway!"
Like I said, marketing speak - but it means at some point they did consider the force to press the keys (assuming it was just a copy/paste of official marketing).
Question... with the provided software, is it possible to have letter/number keys change font to match a font you've selected in photoshop or illustrator (or any program for that matter?)
Like, if I'm designing something and working on font choice, that would be a great way to get a quick preview of an entire font. Or even better for symbol fonts. (Opening the glyph's box would most likely be just as easy actually)
Keyboard with 1 active key costs you nearly $500
Keyboard with 113 active keys costs you over $1500!!
I cannot find any description on their website of what a passive versus active key is. I'd imagine one key is a display, and the others are just... i dunno... blanks? If that is the case, it's way too expensive. If the other keys are just... like... stationary screens that I can customize, then perhaps I could see spending around $500 on that... that seems reasonable.
Anyone have any idea what they mean by passive vs. active? is this passive matrix, versus active matrix? Should that be the case, I think I understand. Thoughts. Sorry about the random, ADHD type post. Thanks.
I own a Optimus Mini Three and after about one year the screens are MUCH dimmer. After owning it I would definitely not drop the money on this thing. Great idea but if the keys are going to burn out after a year and I have to keep replacing them well um I say NO. Hell no.
This really isn't a keyboard after all, I mean it's more for the photoshop/gaming crowd to use as hotkey commands, I guess it could work but price is not justified and they probably already have commands down in their head
A keyboard thats good for things other than typing.
LOL.
I know right lol
Well, I never thought that it would ship...so I publicly apologize to Art here and now.
That said, a keyboard that tires the user after 30 minutes misses the boat...and the dock. Hell, it misses the coastline. I can buy a relatively comfortable keyboard on Newegg for $5(US). Yes, I understand the innovation offered here...and the challenges that the design team must have faced...but it IS supposed to be a keyboard...right?
Perhaps they should have expanded on the Optimus mini three and created a 10x10 grid keypad that could be used in conjunction with a standard keyboard. Sure, that wouldn't help folks who want a keyboard that moves between Katakana, Hiragana, and/or Cyrillic, but it would be useful for quite a few western users as an adjunct to a range of applications. Perhaps not Quake, but certainly Photoshop...as well as a range of custom-developed applications.
Oh well, even if it was as comfortable as a Lazyboy recliner, I would not be jumping on board at this point...and not due to price. The Optimus mini three has been plagued by a range of technical issues...due to both quality control and design...and I wouldn't be surprised if its big brother has similar growing pains.
I suggest waiting for v2...or v3...unless you are liquid enough to not see a significant difference between the price of that $5 Newegg keyboard and this sexy beast.
$0.02
cant wait for a chinese knockoff!!!!
i luv this concept but not forking out 3 months worht of house rent on it.
Optical Maximum - Made in China ....any1 ????
hang on...the website says its only for 462 $ ?? thats like a months worth of rent.... id still wait on those chinese frends :)
FAIL
Do the keys change when you press a modifier key? For example, I think all the letter keys should display the lowercase letter until the moment I press the shift key, at which point, they should all display the uppercase level.
Or if I'm in an application and push a modifier key, does it change the letters to symbols or words or something indicating the function for that key. For example, when I push control down, does the V key change to either say "Paste" or at least a paste icon?
Keyboard letters that change to the font you're typing with can be another useless but cool use of this keyboard :)
What the heck?! The typing sucks??? So the most overhyped keyboard in known history doesn't do the very basic thing it's suppose to do...input text characters into a CPU box. That's just messed up! I mean, if you're gonna take over a year to build this thing, and I admit, it's BEAUTIFUL, but not pay attention to the standard QA process of testing how typing feels, then it's just a fancy piece of art with no functionality to it.
Golly.
I'm so looking forward to this becomes standard on all keyboards. It is very useful, and will save huge amounts of production costs and save the environment. (Since every keyboard is produced in at least one version per country now).
Will not really save the environment. Stick-ons have been used for a long time.
Classic russian way of doing things.
a) great concept
b) wonderful idea
c) unusable for its main purpose
Oh my God!
Ryan says it's no good for typing so I'm so going to hate it!
Ryan is a professional typer and so if the be all and end all of keyboard reviewers!
Jesus people, did you think it would actually feel like anormal keyboard once they crammed and mother fucking OLED screen into it?!?!
This isn't blade runner or minority report! This is a a revision 1 keyboard, it'll get better in the future and so far all you have is Ryans word on it, which lets be fair if it had an Apple logo on it he would be saying it was the best thing ever!
Who looks at the keyboard when they type?
sexy!
I haven't understood this keyboard from day 1 - it just doesn't make any sense.
The objective to learning how to type is so YOU DON'T HAVE TO LOOK AT THE KEYBOARD.
Why would someone make a keyboard which features an extraordinarily expensive color display on something that, ideally, you should never be looking at in the first place?
Not only are people going to get carpal tunnel from the seemingly completely ignored 'actual typing' experience, they are going to get neck cramps from looking up and down all the time at their pretty keys.