Optimus Maximus: at long last, we bring one home to test
By Ryan Block 
posted February 22nd 2008 12:06PM
posted February 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.
Typing most likely sucks because they are using what appears to be Cherry ML low profile mechanical keyswitches http://www.cherrycorp.com/english/switches/key/ml.htm rather than the full-size keyswitches http://www.cherrycorp.com/english/switches/key/mx.htm. I have keyboards with both, I can say without a doubt that the Cherry ML keyboard I have sucks rocks, which is unfortunate because they seem like the perfect thing for making a low-profile keyboard that avoids the problems inherent in membrane switch keyboards.
Do people really look at their keyboards often enough to justify this cost?
And after all the time spent they didn't even make it comfortable to type on. Hahahahaha.
Well if you can't type with it what's the point?
Damn, I hope I'm nearby when you deside to give that thing away!
horay! another fantastic product i'll never be able to afford
Does anyone know which keyboard is shown at the bottom of pic #30? The one that has 3 keyboards: Apple, Optimus and ...?
Optimus Maximus is to Engadget what the Segway is to those "industry leaders" who predicted small cities would be built around it....
Great video -- it would have been better if you seemed to have a clue what to do with the resulting "painted keys"
Configurable keyboards have been around since how long?
Oh, and pushing on with a keyboard where "Typing on it, well, sucks."
Well, for $1,400+ what should we expect, right?
Engadget is digging their own grave pimping this kind of stuff. Geez.
This is some type of April Fools post, right?
Where is the target market for this keyboard. They certainly won't sell it to the masses at this price. These people must just like to futz around with technology. Unless they can price it for middle class America, it will just be a hobby.
You mean “damnedest.” There is no word “damnd” (not even for the name of a Web 2.0 site), hence there can be no superlative “damnedest.”
that keyboard is damn expensive
quite possibly the most expensive keyboard on earth, yet typing requires too much push force?
Good to see basic priorities were taken care of in the design and manufacturing stages ;)
$1500 = ouch.
However, the weenies complaining about the tactile feedback of the keyboard are infants who have never known the joy of typing on a real honest-to-God made-in-America (ok probably not) springloaded Model M. It was the most delcious keyboard ever made. I HATE mushy membrane KB's.
I'm sure this'll catch on in the sci-fi movie/tv genre.
Is that a Tatu key I see.
I've had one of the 113 key customizables for a week and I can't get the 'Configurator' to do crap (actually, it's not mine, my University bought it and it's been passed around from person-to-person and no one can get it to work). I've tried on every OS imaginable and the thing is stuck on the default layout no matter what I do. BTW the config software available on the website looks nothing like the one in the video.
Any ideas?
Making typing on the Optimus Maximus less "sucking" as you say is possible with a little (non-destructive) work...
Find a description here:
http://www.backend-server.de/optioptimus