Optimus -- Engadget

New Optimus Aux shots show a sexier vision

by Paul Miller posted Sep 19th 2008 at 5:19PM

Yeah, barebones shots are fun and all, but we're never ones to turn down some cleaned-up press renders. The newly-redubbed Optimus Aux (farewell, Pultius) has had its keys scrunched together for optimum hotkey action, and we've got a shot of the rear port configuration after the break, in addition to a comparison to the Maximus to round things out nicely. Face it, Art Lebedev loves you very much. Also, your wallet.

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Optimus Pultius becomes Optimus Aux, new prototype shows up

by Donald Melanson posted Sep 19th 2008 at 10:56AM

Feeling held back by the Optimus Maximus' 113 OLED keys? Then you've no doubt been anxiously anticipating Art Lebedev's Optimus Pultius keypad, which the design firm now says will be dubbed the Optimus Aux whenever it's actually released. So as to not leave us completely hanging, the firm has also revealed the new prototype pictured above, which is just enough to make us a little wistful of the early days when the Maximus first flickered to life. Head on past the break if you need a reminder of what the final product is supposed to look like.

Continue reading Optimus Pultius becomes Optimus Aux, new prototype shows up

Art Lebedev opens minimus Optimus Store in New York

by Thomas Ricker posted Aug 11th 2008 at 2:33AM

There it is, Art Lebedev's new Optimus Store in New York, NY. It's not so much a store as it is a kiosk sitting inside of RCS Computer Experience at 575 Madison Ave. Guess they're just waiting for demand of the ~~$1,500~~ $1,877 keyboard market to pick-up before busting out the trowel and mortar.

Art Lebedev shows off Optimus Popularis keyboard mock-up

by Donald Melanson posted May 20th 2008 at 3:14PM

It hasn't been all that long since the Optimus Maximus emerged its long, long journey from idea to actual, ridiculously expensive product, but it looks like we're already off on the next round of teasers and wild speculation courtesy of Art Lebedev, with the firm now offering up the first glimpse of its forthcoming Optimus Popularis keyboard. True to from, however, there's not much more than the mock-up above to go on at the moment, with Art Lebedev only saying that the keyboard won't use OLEDs but will instead be based on a "totally different principle," and that it'll be priced "below $1,000."

Optimus mini 3.0 could sport Bluetooth, touchscreen

by Paul Miller posted Mar 10th 2008 at 8:10PM

Those crazies over at Art Lebedev are starting work on a new Optimus mini 3.0 device, which will likely include Bluetooth for wireless operation and possibly Tactus-esque touchscreen capability. The plan is to have one display divided into three or possibly more zones, but right now it sounds like they're still planning on having the device be AC-powered (boo, hiss). Apparently the current Optimus mini is getting a lot of use as a PowerPoint controller. Who knew? Pictures will be forthcoming, says the official blog.

How much would you pay to be the first Optimus Maximus owner?

by Nilay Patel posted Jan 29th 2008 at 2:18PM

We wouldn't have expected the first opportunity for consumers to pick up an Optimus Maximus to be in the wild frontiers of eBay, but hey, we'll take what we can get. Currently at $300 with 14 bids, but seeing how fast our pathetic bid was shot down, it looks like there's going to be quite a frenzy when the auction winds down on February 4th.

Video: Optimus Maximus caught on tape at CES

by Darren Murph posted Jan 8th 2008 at 6:10PM

Mahalo Daily's Veronica Belmont was able to catch up with Art Lebedev at CES 2008 and spend nearly six minutes checking out the oh-so-captivating Optimus Maximus keyboard. If you've managed to resist heading past the break and clicking play as hastily as humanly possible up 'til now, what on Earth are you waiting for?

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Apple patents a Maximus-alike keyboard, iMac MacBook dock

by Paul Miller posted Jan 3rd 2008 at 8:56AM

Apple's always enjoyed patenting the near-absurd, just to get us speculating in the wrong direction or to give its thousands of patent lawyers something to do during a slow design cycle. We can't really imagine Apple has this pair of "products" prepped and waiting in the wings of Macworld, but it's still fun to look. First off we have a MacBook dock that conveniently looks just like an iMac. Not much explanation is needed, you just slide the laptop into the side of the iMac and start desktoping away on the big screen. The second patent deals with a quite familiar keyboard concept: OLED screens in every key. It's not the first time an Apple patent has overlapped with a Lebedev design, but who knows how it'll go down if Apple tries to build one of these Lebedev-ish ideas -- Apple patented this keyboard concept about a year after the Maximus concept was first shown off.

Read - iMac MacBook dock
Read - Apple Maximus

Final Optimus Maximus box design revealed

by Donald Melanson posted Nov 22nd 2007 at 5:36PM

Well, it looks like Art Lebedev's slow drip of information about its Optimus Maximus keyboard even extends to the product's packaging, as it now turns out that last box we saw wasn't the final version -- the one above is, supposedly. Not that it likely make a bit of difference to the select few actually able to get their hands on one, that is.

Optimus Maximus changes layouts on video

by Darren Murph posted Nov 12th 2007 at 5:42PM

Don't feel bad, we're getting just as tired of hearing all about the Optimus Maximus. Granted, all that will hopefully change once we actually get one in our hands, but we digress. The latest posting on the Optimus Maximus site shows the oh-so-admired keyboard (in black and white, mind you) changing layouts before our very eyes. Unfortunately, the clip is only bound to make you more frustrated with the wait, but c'mon, it's not like you're gonna hold off or anything. Check it out after the break.

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Sub-$500 Optimus keyboards in the works, and other newsimus maximus

by Donald Melanson posted Nov 5th 2007 at 4:07PM

Those following every twist and turn of the Optimus Maximus keyboard have plenty to sink their teeth into on the always dependable optimus_project LiveJournal today, including the tantalizing detail of a soon-to-be-announced sub-$500 model. More details on that (and a sub-$1,000 model) will apparently be coming next week, when each will also supposedly be available for pre-order. The blog also dropped word that the first lot of Optimus Maximus keyboards has been sold out, and will start shipping in December or January, with the second lot set to arrive in February. Those first few keyboards will apparently be "somewhat functionally limited," however, with firmware updates planned "every month or so in the beginning" to bring them up to speed. Lastly, comes word that Art Lebedev will be introducing a "couple of new Optimus concepts" this year, with another model set to be released sometime next year, no doubt starting this whole long, drawn out process all over again.

Optimus Maximus box design: will the madness end?

by Darren Murph posted Oct 9th 2007 at 12:21PM

You've already caught a glimpse of what the innards of the Optimus Maximus box should look like, so if you're intrigued, you can now take a peek at the outside. Additionally, the folks laid out a number of previous concepts, but it sounds like they're going with the white shown above to match the keyboard's color. We know, it's just more teasing, but click on through if you're able to endure it.

Continue reading Optimus Maximus box design: will the madness end?

Optimus Maximus to ship in white?

by Nilay Patel posted Oct 5th 2007 at 7:41AM

At this point we're pretty firmly on the seeing-is-believing bandwagon with the Optimus Maximus, but this picture on user optimus_project's LiveJournal pretty clearly shows the Ultimate Keyboard with a white frame as opposed to the silver one we've previously seen. Oh, also it's titled "Optimus Maximus to be shipped in white," so there's that. We're kinda getting the render vibe from the image, but as always, we'll leave that up to you to hash out in the comments.

First Optimus Maximus hits Moscow

by Donald Melanson posted Sep 14th 2007 at 11:01AM

It's been a long time coming, but the first Optimus Maximus OLED keyboard has finally shown itself in Moscow and, as you can see in the picture above, it's already being put to good use. Of course, the lucky few that got in on the first batch of orders will still have to wait a while longer to get a taste of all that excess first hand, with the keyboards apparently still on track for a release by the end of the year. We somehow suspect there will be plenty more pics to whet the appetites of the rest of us in the meantime though, and if you just can't wait for that inevitability, you can hit up the read link below for a slightly larger version of this one.

Optimus Maximus gets price and date

by Ryan Block posted Apr 27th 2007 at 12:34AM

After some OLED display supply issues and a few setbacks, it looks like Lebedev and company have finally settled on a launch date and price for the king of keyboard, the Optimus Maximus. Hold your breath, it'll be due late November (the 30th, to be specific) for $1536 US ("Shakespeare's birthday"). Bad news, we know, but the worst news is still to come: only 200 keyboards per month for November and December, and 400 keyboards are scheduled to be made next January. (On second thought, at over $1500 apiece, maybe that's not so few keyboards.) Ok, exhale, it's going to be alright.