DailyTech - Optimus Trying to Gain Back Fans

Submit News

Blog: Gadgets Optimus Trying to Gain Back Fans
Michael Hoffman (Blog) - February 13, 2007 5:07 PM

E-mail

del.icio.us

6 comment(s) - last by KillerNoodle.. on Feb 15 at 9:05 AM

Art Lebedev's much anticipated 103 keyboard is one step closer to completion

Much has been written about the Optimus keyboard from Art Lebedev. Even though the company has so far failed to live up to the hype it has received, they still manage to pop up every now and then. This time around, the Russian design studio announced that production for the OLED screens for the Optimus 103 keyboard has reportedly started. Assuming that everything goes according to plan, a product release before the end of the year is a realistic possibility.

The studio expects the custom OLEDs for the Optimus 103 to come in sometime in April, according to Artemiy Lebedev, chief operator of the studio.

Perhaps this news will help the company get back some of the fans it inadvertently lost after several web sites published how much the keyboard could cost consumers -- a modest $1,200. Several readers previously mentioned how the keyboard is insanely close to officially becoming Vaporware, joining the ranks of famed devices such as the Phantom game console.

Assuming that the keyboard really won't cost a ridiculous amount, I am all about getting one. In essence, I believe that it could end up being a neat novelty item. I'll still remain rather pessimistic until the keyboard officially hits shelves.

Comments

Threshold

Username
Password
remember me

This article is over a month old, voting and posting comments is disabled

what is really expensive is

By hellokeith on 2/14/2007 10:51:32 AM , Rating: 2

The quotes below all these article & blog comment sections. Everytime I read one of those quotes, it cost me 10-20 seconds of my life that I will not get back.

DailyTech is simply charging too much for those quotes. I don't understand how they think the readers will put up with such extortion for much longer.

RE: what is really expensive is

By fk49 on 2/14/2007 11:57:23 AM , Rating: 1

I sincerely hope that you're being sarcastic

Parent

RE: what is really expensive is

By Marlowe on 2/14/2007 8:32:50 PM , Rating: 2

Hehe I was checking my tech news sites today as usual and ended up spending the rest of the day discussing hydrogen cars in the comments on this site. So much for school work :P

So yeah quite expensive. Not DailyTechs fault tho. They've made an addictive drug that's all :D

Parent

price is insane

By Anosh on 2/14/2007 5:16:48 AM , Rating: 2

Price is totally of the chart.. you'd be crazy to spend the money on something like this unless:

1) you already have an over clocked system with all the top components.
2) you're a mac-sorta user with 30" display and, don't really care what things cost as long as it looks stylish/consider it wort the cost when it comes to style and creativity.
3) you really really like small dynamic displays touching your fingers every time you switch a program.

RE: price is insane

By KillerNoodle on 2/15/2007 9:05:20 AM , Rating: 2

1) Said system is not top dog in a month.
2) NC
3) Think of it more for the multi language fields of work and for shortcut intensive applications, most notably the Photoshop series. Some can't or don't choose to remember all the command/shortcuts and it will boost productivity. For multi language fields....just think...you can have someone next to you type in zerty and then when they get up and it is your turn to type change a setting and the keyboard is back to qwerty, and it just isn't the mapping it is the actual keyboard with out needed the Previous used 4 or more Icons per key. Most likely not distributed with every system build but for customer training it might be the best thing for a teaching lab. All in all it isn't just for looks or "geek" factor it has great functionality for professionals.

Parent

Phantom was always vapor ware

By Trisped on 2/14/2007 9:38:16 PM , Rating: 2

The day after it was announced it moved into Vapor Ware status. The fact that it was advertised to be "Too good to be true" and the creators were known scam artists had the coffin ready and the whole dug, yet the stupid people with money kept investing in them, so they kept making announcements, and people kept on hopping that they weren't lying.

Personally I thought the keyboard sounded like a real possibility, especially since you can find keyboards for over $100 that are pretty simple, I thought something in the $250-500 range would do ok, but $1200 is a bit too excessive. Wait for the OLED tech to drop in price and the idea will come back. I would say 3-5 years, but that is just a guess.