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Update on the Optimus Keyboard

Posted by Hemos on Mon Jul 18, 2005 10:45 AM
from the more-information dept.
Hardware Technology
paulius_g writes "It seems that Art Lebedev has reposnded to the Slashdotting that occured to their page about the ' Optimus Keyboard'. They have included a FAQ at the middle-right of the page stating some of the questions that Slashdotters were wondering. A few interestign ones were ' It will be real', 'We hope it will be released in 2006', 'It will cost less than a good mobile phone', 'It will be OS-independent', and finally 'It will most likely use OLED technology (e-paper is sooo slow)'. They've also included some common answers abotu Russia and it seems that they are as well searching OEMs (From the FAQ: OEM will be possible (why not?), Contact us for hi-res images, or interview inquires). It will be very interesting to see how this technological marvel will be created. Sign me up! I'll be ordering one in 2006."
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[+] Optimus OLED Keyboard Pre-Orders Start Dec. 12 289 comments
Jupix writes, "After almost a year and a half of public development, the Optimus OLED keyboard is nearing completion. According to the project blog, pre-orders for the Optimus-103 will start on December 12. The price is unspecified at this time, but Art Lebedev has said the keyboard will cost 'less than a good mobile phone' (probably about $400). Don't expect to see those 10 programmable function keys on the left on this first version, though, as they will not make their debut until the Optimus-113, released later."
[+] Entertainment: Optimus Keyboard Starts Shipping 309 comments
Tom's Hardware is reporting that the Optimus keyboard that everyone was so anxious for (although maybe less so when they saw the price tag) started shipping this week. "According to an announcement made on the Optimus project blog, keyboards are now shipping to customers who pre-ordered the $1564 keyboard nine months ago. Keyboards with passive keys are delayed and will be shipping in about a month, the manufacturer said. [...] Earlier this month, one of the first Optimus Maximus keyboards was sold for $2750 on Ebay." Engadget even got the chance to test one of these expensive toys out.
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Update on the Optimus Keyboard 50 Comments More /

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  • Define a good mobile phone (Score:4, Insightful)

    by turtled (845180) on Monday July 18 2005, @10:47AM (#13094238)
    'It will cost less than a good mobile phone'

    I have gotten a good one, and it was free. Then there are the phones that cost upwards of $250~$300

    This keyboard will be great for mapping keys for games =)

  • Before they get slashdotted...Again (Score:5, Informative)

    by RamboIII (899894) on Monday July 18 2005, @10:49AM (#13094267)
    The FAQ:

    Frequently Answered Answers about the Optimus keyboard
    It's in initial stage of production
    We hope it will be released in 2006
    It will cost less than a good mobile phone
    It will be real
    It will be OS-independent (at least it can
    work in some default state with any OS)
    It will support any language or layout
    Moscow is the capital of Russia
    Each key could be programmed to produce any sequence
    It will be an open-source keyboard, SDK will be available
    Some day it will be split ('ergonomic')
    It will most likely use OLED technology (e-paper is sooo slow)
    Our studio is located two blocks from the Kremlin
    It will feature a key-saver
    Keys will use animation when needed
    It has numeric keypad because we love it
    There's no snow in Moscow during Summer
    It will be available worldwide (why not?)
    OEM will be possible (why not?)
    Contact us for hi-res images, or interview inquires

    We want to thank everyone for the support. Stay tuned for our next projects

    • It will be an open-source keyboard, SDK will be available
      Keys will use animation when needed

      SDK + animation = mini games on your keyboard! And with the layout for different languages, I really hope this thing doesn't get as vapotware as the Phantom gaming console.
    • open source? "key saver" functionality? sweeeeet.

      you know they could write some very simple games for this thing, that would be really neat ... imagine a whack-a-mole type game, where all your keys are blank, and one will light up with some mole image or whatever, and you have to hit that key before it changes. the possibilities are endless.

      • Re:Before they get slashdotted...Again (Score:5, Interesting)

        by glesga_kiss (596639) on Monday July 18 2005, @11:20AM (#13094692)
        imagine a whack-a-mole type game, where all your keys are blank, and one will light up with some mole image or whatever, and you have to hit that key before it changes. the possibilities are endless.

        Good point. For kids this could be really useful, educational etc. Could teach typing, memory (the match the symbols game), and a whole other load of stuff.

        However. Do you want your kids playing wack-a-mole with your expensive OED keyboard? Mine will be ALL mine!!

          • Isn't the point of learning to type not to look at the keys anymore?

            How many keyboards can force you to do that, by blanking the keys for you? They could also do exercises, e.g. you have to hit the one that flashes, then return to the home row, improving your acuracy. Only obvious problem I can see is that the wrist blocks your view of most of the keyboard when you are in the home row!

  • We have things like:

    Moscow is the capital of Russia

    There's no snow in Moscow during Summer

    I'm afraid to find the comments that spawned those replies. But it does sound like /.

  • Question Missing from the FAQ (Score:4, Funny)

    by Zane Hopkins (894230) on Monday July 18 2005, @10:50AM (#13094285) Homepage
    One question they haven't answered ... Whats the point of a keyboard where every key is a screen ?

    Are they trying to force touch typists to look at the keyboard like everyone else has to?

    • Re:Question Missing from the FAQ (Score:5, Insightful)

      by aftk2 (556992) on Monday July 18 2005, @11:38AM (#13094917) Homepage Journal
      Heh, apparently you missed the days of those cardboard layouts that went over keyboards. I distinctly remember one back when we had a PS/2, that showed Wordperfect 3.x's (I think) may keyboard commands. Granted, this isn't as important now, but it'd still be interesting, if for no other reason than it'll lead to more than a few "Oh! I didn't know you could do that by pressing that, in Photoshop."

  • Seems expensive (Score:5, Insightful)

    by mfloy (899187) on Monday July 18 2005, @10:51AM (#13094300) Homepage
    The idea that it costs as much as a good mobile phone is vague. Do they mean $300 models or $800 high tech top-of-the-line phones? A keyboard would have to be absolutely revolutionary, fantastic and wonderful for me to spend $300, let alone $800. Well, only time will tell.

    • Re:Seems expensive (Score:5, Insightful)

      by Xzzy (111297) <sether@NOSPAm.tru7h.org> on Monday July 18 2005, @11:07AM (#13094529) Homepage
      I've never understood why people are unwilling to shell out money for a good keyboard, but will cheerfully plop down money for the hottest CPU or latest video card. I'm not saying the OP in specific is this type of person, it's just something that gets said a lot, 'no way am I paying more than $20 for my keyboard'.

      Granted, I ain't paying $300 for a keyboard either, but I did pay about $100 for my buckling spring keyboard.

      The keyboard is still the primary input device for a majority of computing tasks, to me logic would suggest spending as much on it as you can afford. They don't become obsolete, either. Get a good keyboard and it might even outlast you. ;)
        • An expensive keyboard doesn't typically provide the same value as "the hottest CPU or latest video card".

          I know several journalists and other professional writers who would argue that. All the latest video card does is display my manuscript, so long as it can display the resolution I want, they are all the same.

          A good keyboard means the codes get translated correctly at high typing speeds, gives the feedback the user needs to maintain those speeds, and lowers stress on the fingers enabling them to type

        • Re:Seems expensive (Score:4, Insightful)

          by Tim Browse (9263) on Monday July 18 2005, @04:13PM (#13097973)
          An expensive keyboard doesn't typically provide the same value as "the hottest CPU or latest video card".

          About ten years ago (or thereabouts) I started to get slight pains in my wrists from typing (I'm a professional programmer). It worried me, and at the time, Microsoft had just launched their ergonomic keyboard. At 100ukp, it was expensive, but I liked the sound of the idea, and thought it might help, and considered my hands were probably worth it.

          After about 2 weeks, the pain was completely gone. Of course, you can argue (as with Qwerty to Dvorak change) that it was just because I was using different habits/muscles. However, since then, I've always used Microsoft ergonomic keyboards (along with a few friends, I've built up a small stockpile for when Microsoft totally fuck up the keyboard layout and stop selling decent keyboards [guyswithtowels.com]), and the pain has never come back.

          I'd say saving me from pain/RSI/compulsory career change is pretty good value. Certainly better than being able to run Half Life 2 at a slightly higher resolution, anyway.

          I have similar views on mice - I generally buy good ergonomic mice, and am prepared to spend more than 15ukp on them, unlike some people. It just seems worth it for something I'm going to use for 8 hours a day.

          However, I have no doubt that this keyboard will suck big time from an ergonomics point of view (even though they're just renders, they look nasty - flat, limited key travel, not split, etc) so I'd have to agree that this is really a gimmick and doesn't provide "a $300 value" as they say these days. They might make it a good ergonomic keyboard, but it seems unlikely.

          A good keyboard can provide good value, but I don't see it in this one yet. It's a nice feature, and I can think of lots of nice uses for such a keyboard, but for $300? No.

          But in general, most people who use computers a lot should spend more than they do on keyboards, mice and chairs. (And for Cliff's sake, stop using the laptop's built-in keyboard!)

    • Re:Seems expensive (Score:4, Informative)

      by MrNonchalant (767683) on Monday July 18 2005, @11:22AM (#13094720)
      In an interview linked to by Gizmodo (http://www.gizmodo.com/ [gizmodo.com]) he said $200 is very optimistic and $300 is just optimistic. If it had enough application support I might buy it.

  • What would be really badass... (Score:5, Interesting)

    by Anonymous Coward on Monday July 18 2005, @10:51AM (#13094301)
    I think it would be incredibly badass if, when you press down on the shift key, the lowercase letters change to capital letters, and the numbers change to special characters, etc.

    Also, when you hold control, the word 'copy' appears on the C-key, 'paste' on the V-key, etc.

    That would rock.

  • This calls for... (Score:3, Interesting)

    by Alcoyotl (157542) on Monday July 18 2005, @10:52AM (#13094308) Homepage Journal
    Let's open an "Ask Slashdot" topic named : best programmable keyboard. Any ideas (ergodex, POS keyboards, XKeys...) ?

  • Unanswered Questions (Score:5, Informative)

    by TPIRman (142895) * on Monday July 18 2005, @10:52AM (#13094322)
    This keyboard looks like a great way to easily explore the capabilities of powerful apps especially for beginner users. But the 10-key area on the left for application, while it looks pretty sharp, worries me.

    Would this keyboard require you to switch modes manually? Power users might jump between apps a lot when putting together, say, a music video in Final Cut or a pamphlet in InDesign. Am I going to have to hit the appropriate key every time I switch apps? This could get drudgerous pretty quickly.

    Then again, someone who has their workflow down likely doesn't need OLEDs to remind them of keyboard shortcuts, so my complaint might be mootwrong target market. It still seems that the board would be more of a "killer app" type of thing if it were context-sensitive and didn't require prompting from the user.

  • Power Consumption (Score:3, Interesting)

    by d3m057h3n35 (695460) on Monday July 18 2005, @10:53AM (#13094334)
    How much power would this thing draw (and can we even guess at that accurately)? Would it need to be plugged in to its own outlet, or would power over USB be enough?
    • Not only power concerns, but the first thing I thought when I saw those keys is, "That's not going to clean up very well." And we thought grimy keys were noticible now, just wait until you actually have to see the lettering on them to be sure you're pressing the right thing...

  • Thoughts on the "Enter" key... (Score:5, Insightful)

    by whyde (123448) on Monday July 18 2005, @10:56AM (#13094373)
    They say: "Enter" key is big in size and nearly square in form.

    I say: It had better be, since it is in a completely different zipcode from the home row keys. What's up with the extra 2 keys on the home row between JKL; and Enter? It's impossible to hit their Enter key without moving your right hand off the home row.

    Industrial designers are like Architects: they design something idiotic, then let an Engineer figure out how to make it work in a useful way.

    If all keys are visually remappable, then they really need fewer keys. I'm still disappointed at all the junk (arrow cluster, numeric pad) on the right side of the home row between me and my mouse.

    If this came in a "Happy Hacker" footprint, then they may get my attention. Right now, it's too many colorful, expensive, redundant, unnecessary buttons.

    What I've found pleasant in the meantime is a laptop-style keyboard with a marble-mouse beside it. From the mouse, I can reach the PgUp/PgDn keys on the small-footprint keyboard with my thumb, like getting two extra buttons for free.

    • Industrial designers are like Architects: they design something idiotic, then let an Engineer figure out how to make it work in a useful way.

      whoa whoa whoa buddy. Back up a bit. Not to get defensive here, but this is a totally falacious statement. Its regrettable that the current high profile architects are to some extent rediculous devotees to the "big blob" school of arch, but I assure you thats not how we operate on the whole. Architects, like all designers, are trained to identify a need and conceptua

    • What's up with the extra 2 keys on the home row between JKL; and Enter?

      As others here pointed out, this keyboard is to be compatible with international keyboards. Comparing to a Finnish keyboard there is one extra key after JKLÖÄ' and two on the row above after OPÅ + umlaut. But I agree that the Enter-key is a problem. Comparing with my keyboard it has moved one row down and quite a bit to the right in the place where right shift should be, which isn't good. Also, the left shift should

  • If I spill my drink (Score:5, Interesting)

    by ZeroExistenZ (721849) on Monday July 18 2005, @10:56AM (#13094377)

    Will they keyboard remain operational with the occasional spill? I can imgine these displays to be very sensitive to such a thing.

    What about smoke, food, pubes, and other things that one might encounter in the average robust keyboard?

  • e-paper slow? (Score:5, Interesting)

    by TCM (130219) on Monday July 18 2005, @10:58AM (#13094405)
    Just how slow is it? It's not like you'd be running animations on the keyboard, although that would increase the coolness factor.

    Most of the time, though, you would have a single update in seconds instead of several updates per second.

  • Look at the size of the escape key! Yeah, baby.

  • Screen technology on an input device (Score:5, Funny)

    by Albanach (527650) on Monday July 18 2005, @11:08AM (#13094546) Homepage
    Now I'll be shouting at folk not to leave their greasy fingerprints on my keyboard too!

  • Apple... (Score:3, Interesting)

    by avalys (221114) on Monday July 18 2005, @11:11AM (#13094583)
    I bet Apple will snap this up, at least as an option on some of their models. Hell, it already looks like Apple designed it, the style is the same.

    Hopefully it will be wireless.

    Personally, I'd want one of these just for the cool factor. And the opportunity to finally try Dvorak.

  • Disadvantages of OLED technology (Score:5, Informative)

    by sEEKz (113902) on Monday July 18 2005, @11:22AM (#13094717) Homepage
    Curious to know what OLED technology is, i went over to Wikipedia [wikipedia.org] and saw there where some disadvanteges with this technology:

    Quoted from Wikipedia [wikipedia.org]:

    The biggest technical problem left to overcome now is lifetime. Red and green OLED elements already have life-times of well over 20,000 hours but blue OLED life-times lag significantly behind at 1,000 hours.

    According to Kodak, which is developing small molecule OLED, lifetime problems are not so significant for that type of OLED, mainly as a result of doping the base material of the OLEDs, which, they claim, has led to much better device performance both electrically and optically. Universal Display for example have produced a blue OLED that has a lifetime of 10,000 hours.

    There are still a number of problems to overcome though, and one of these is intrusion of water into displays which damages and destroys the organics, as well as outcoupling, which can result in the loss of much of the light in waveguided modes within the substrates.

    In May 2005 Cambridge Display Technology announced a blue OLED with a lifetime of over 100,000 hours. Commercial development of the technology is also hampered by intellectual property issues since even the basics of OLED technology is heavily patented by Kodak and other firms, requiring outside research teams to acquire a license.

  • Finally! (Score:3, Funny)

    by Wescotte (732385) on Monday July 18 2005, @11:34AM (#13094855)
    We'll have the ability to provide people with an "Any" key!

  • Take it with a grain of salt (Score:4, Insightful)

    by kuzb (724081) on Monday July 18 2005, @12:14PM (#13095288)
    While I hope everything they speak of makes it in to this package (i mean, damn, it's a sweet idea!), things here should be taken with a grain of salt.

    Why? Because their team so far only consists of concept designers, and has no engineers. So, it's very likely that what they say, and what is actually feasable in the end may differ greatly.

    Here's to hoping that my words are just paranoid ramblings :)
    • Uh...not only is it non-QWERTY, it's layout independent.

      I guess I don't understand your logic. The uses for this keyboard are practically endless. Think about the academic applications. For instance, my dad is currently working on his doctorate in Septuagint [wikipedia.org] studies. He could click a button and instantly switch his keyboard over to Koine Greek and back to English instead of having to remember what English letters are mapped to which Greek letters.

      Let's say you use Photoshop. You could eliminate a

    • shaddup (Score:5, Insightful)

      by odigity (266563) on Monday July 18 2005, @12:17PM (#13095320)
      If there's one thing I hate worse than vaporware, it's hype. Show me, don't tell me.

      Quit your bitching. They didn't come to us, we linked to them, slashdotted their site, and posted tons of questions about them. They were cool enough to take the time to respond to them, and the answers were somewhat informative - in other words, not just marketing babble (not surprising, since they're inventors, not marketers).

      I like to know what might be coming down the pipe, even if it never materializes. *Especially* if it never materializes, because then at least they contributed to the human idea pool, which might inspire others to build the same or related products.

      Besides, its not like these guys don't have a track record of delivering.

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