Optimus LED keyboard to debut on February 1?

Iria · Jan 10, 2006, 05:14 AM

Westlake Village (CA) - The much anticipated Optimus LED keyboard may be available next month, if we are to believe the Art Lebedev Studio's website. Keys will have an LED array that can be customized to display icons like the Internet Explorer "e" or Quicktime's signature icon.

Speculation about a possible availability of the device has been building over the past several months, but a recent, somewhat cryptic "Good Things Come in Small Packages - February 1, 2005" announcement has popped up on the company website.

The website had received immense press coverage last year with dazzling pictures of keys with clear, crisp and colorful icons. It's easy to see the utility of such a keyboard for Photoshop artists and video editors who often have to customize key combinations to be able to work more effectively. Supposedly, the keyboard will be open-sourced and users can customize their own key images and bind their own keystroke combinations.

Is such a keyboard technically possible to produce? Jagdish Rebello, Senior Industry Analyst for iSuppli and LED expert, told TG Daily that it's "definitely possible". He adds that the most important part is not the actual LED, but the electronics behind it. "From an LED perspective it's not a big deal, but the key factor is the drive circuitry, which pushes color to each pixel," says Rebello.

The Art Lebedev Studio's website states that the Optimus keyboard should cost less than a "good mobile phone". With phones costing $600 or more these days, this doesn't give us much of an indication. but Rebello says the cost for materials for just the LEDs won't be high. "Assuming they buy it in large volume, the BoM (bill of materials) shouldn't be more than one dollar per key," says Robello. From this perspective, the keyboard could cost less than $300.
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Source: TG Daily

Tipstaff · Jan 10, 2006, 05:54 AM

Saweeett!! The news I've been waiting for!

I've already got my money aside for one of these babies.

Dark Lord · Jan 10, 2006, 06:37 AM

very cool, but im gonna have to wait and see what kind of price tag these suckers have before i get one.

BWX · Jan 10, 2006, 08:32 AM

Yeah that thing is sweet.

Tipstaff · Jan 10, 2006, 11:14 AM

Expensive or not, I can see alot of uses just with the things I do all the time.

First of all, let's compare it to a certain competitor: the Z Board. The Z Board will run you about $50.00 US, and each template around $20.00 US each. Buy templates for the 5 top games you play, plus the board, and you are already up to $150.00 easily. With this puppy I don't have to buy templates, nor find a place to store them.

Secondly, if it is highly programmable I could potentially use it with programs I use all the time. For instance: A specialty keyboard for Photoshop alone would run you $80.00-$100.00 US. One for Premiere, same price. One for Avid Xpress, same price. To buy just those 3 boards would put me at the expected price of this board. Sure, I could use template, but they wear out very quickly, tear, or are useless after a month of use.

With this baby, anything and everything can be programmed for it... possibley even a scrolling "Don't Touch Me You TWIT!" sign across it's keys (or something more.. vulgar).

I want one, badly.

No_Style · Jan 10, 2006, 05:18 PM

Not to mention the eye candy and bragging rights.

So what's the estimated MSRP? I'm thinking $150 ~ $200 USD. $200 and up isn't attractive enough.

Jan 10, 2006, 05:14 AM	#1
Iria DriverHeaven Extreme Member Join Date: Apr 2004 Posts: 7,275 Rep Power: 89	Optimus LED keyboard to debut on February 1? Westlake Village (CA) - The much anticipated Optimus LED keyboard may be available next month, if we are to believe the Art Lebedev Studio's website. Keys will have an LED array that can be customized to display icons like the Internet Explorer "e" or Quicktime's signature icon. Speculation about a possible availability of the device has been building over the past several months, but a recent, somewhat cryptic "Good Things Come in Small Packages - February 1, 2005" announcement has popped up on the company website. The website had received immense press coverage last year with dazzling pictures of keys with clear, crisp and colorful icons. It's easy to see the utility of such a keyboard for Photoshop artists and video editors who often have to customize key combinations to be able to work more effectively. Supposedly, the keyboard will be open-sourced and users can customize their own key images and bind their own keystroke combinations. Is such a keyboard technically possible to produce? Jagdish Rebello, Senior Industry Analyst for iSuppli and LED expert, told TG Daily that it's "definitely possible". He adds that the most important part is not the actual LED, but the electronics behind it. "From an LED perspective it's not a big deal, but the key factor is the drive circuitry, which pushes color to each pixel," says Rebello. The Art Lebedev Studio's website states that the Optimus keyboard should cost less than a "good mobile phone". With phones costing $600 or more these days, this doesn't give us much of an indication. but Rebello says the cost for materials for just the LEDs won't be high. "Assuming they buy it in large volume, the BoM (bill of materials) shouldn't be more than one dollar per key," says Robello. From this perspective, the keyboard could cost less than $300. ____________ Source: TG Daily

Jan 10, 2006, 05:54 AM	#2
Tipstaff HardwareHeaven Extreme Member Join Date: Jul 2002 Location: Real capital of Canada: Torauna Posts: 6,773 Rep Power: 191 System Specs	Saweeett!! The news I've been waiting for! I've already got my money aside for one of these babies. __________________ Portal: The Flash Version _________________________________ Brain: So, you sacked the cocky khaki Kicky Sack sock plucker? Mr. Sackett: The second cocky khaki Kicky Sack sock plucker I've sacked since the sixth sitting sheet slitter got sick.

Jan 10, 2006, 06:37 AM	#3
Dark Lord HardwareHeaven Extreme Member Join Date: Jul 2004 Location: Grand Rapids, MI Posts: 5,945 Rep Power: 125 System Specs	very cool, but im gonna have to wait and see what kind of price tag these suckers have before i get one. __________________

Jan 10, 2006, 08:32 AM	#4
BWX unplugged Join Date: Nov 2002 Location: USNY Posts: 19,669 Rep Power: 110 System Specs	Yeah that thing is sweet. __________________

Jan 10, 2006, 11:14 AM	#5
Tipstaff HardwareHeaven Extreme Member Join Date: Jul 2002 Location: Real capital of Canada: Torauna Posts: 6,773 Rep Power: 191 System Specs	Expensive or not, I can see alot of uses just with the things I do all the time. First of all, let's compare it to a certain competitor: the Z Board. The Z Board will run you about $50.00 US, and each template around $20.00 US each. Buy templates for the 5 top games you play, plus the board, and you are already up to $150.00 easily. With this puppy I don't have to buy templates, nor find a place to store them. Secondly, if it is highly programmable I could potentially use it with programs I use all the time. For instance: A specialty keyboard for Photoshop alone would run you $80.00-$100.00 US. One for Premiere, same price. One for Avid Xpress, same price. To buy just those 3 boards would put me at the expected price of this board. Sure, I could use template, but they wear out very quickly, tear, or are useless after a month of use. With this baby, anything and everything can be programmed for it... possibley even a scrolling "Don't Touch Me You TWIT!" sign across it's keys (or something more.. vulgar). I want one, badly. __________________ Portal: The Flash Version _________________________________ Brain: So, you sacked the cocky khaki Kicky Sack sock plucker? Mr. Sackett: The second cocky khaki Kicky Sack sock plucker I've sacked since the sixth sitting sheet slitter got sick.

Jan 10, 2006, 05:18 PM	#6
No_Style Styleless Wonder Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: Ottawa, Ontario Posts: 6,034 Rep Power: 0	Not to mention the eye candy and bragging rights. So what's the estimated MSRP? I'm thinking $150 ~ $200 USD. $200 and up isn't attractive enough. __________________ "The Best Style Is No Style" Specifications Here