Video: $1,600 keyboard saves you whole fractions of a second
posted at 9:22 pm on April 23, 2008 by Allahpundit
I’m tempted to call this the dumbest geek toy since Foleo but that simply can’t be right: Even at $1,589.99 a pop, they’ve already sold out. Explain to me what I’m missing here, techies. Yes, yes, it’s very cool that there’s a tiny little screen on each key. That lets me do … what, exactly? Drop my Quick Launch icons onto individual buttons so I can open applications in .3 seconds instead of the .5 it normally takes to click on them with my mouse? Watch YouTube videos at half the size of a postage stamp? Do whimsical little flourishes with Photoshop like the one near the end of the vid and then get bored with them after 30 seconds? For the same money, I can get an iPhone, an iPod Touch, an Xbox, and a Wii. Sell me on this.
Update: Am I missing the whole point here, that in fact this is aimed at Silicon Valley millionaires who already own every other cutting-edge gadget on the market and are looking for a new and especially nerdy status symbol?
Update: Ah, here’s some good thinking. If you’re bilingual, this would indeed come in handy. Weird that they’re not pitching it that way.
Blowback
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Perspective.
misterpeasea on April 23, 2008 at 9:26 PM
Uh, dude–I didn’t even see a single pr0n key. How teh ghey is that. I’ll pass.
robblefarian on April 23, 2008 at 9:26 PM
My little old “normal” laptop keyboard works just fine. I can think of far better ways to spend (or save) $1,600.
kc2ige on April 23, 2008 at 9:27 PM
You can turn the keyboard into a Chinese, or Japanese or Arabic or Farsi keyboard by just changing the graphics … in other words, select the language at boot and the keyboard morphs into that language. Probably pretty handy at airports and hotels.
As for saving fractions of seconds, I learned that the harder you hit the “return” key, the faster the data gets to where it is going. Try it sometime. I think keyboards are hydraulic.
crosspatch on April 23, 2008 at 9:28 PM
Game over.
Roebuck on April 23, 2008 at 9:29 PM
Why the hell do I need those languages?
Roebuck on April 23, 2008 at 9:30 PM
The same reason people buy a tricked out Hummer, etc, money to burn, wanna have the coolest toys.
bbz123 on April 23, 2008 at 9:31 PM
F’nA, now I’ll be able to fit in a shower a day.
ninjapirate on April 23, 2008 at 9:31 PM
I’m bitter, so I’ll cling to my QWERTY.
SouthernGent on April 23, 2008 at 9:32 PM
It’s a giant etch-a-sketch.
Vntnrse on April 23, 2008 at 9:32 PM
…one that costs Way too much!
Vntnrse on April 23, 2008 at 9:33 PM
Works on keeping monitors and hard drives in line too. Tough love always works for my computer.
Cold Steel on April 23, 2008 at 9:37 PM
Saves time to work on one’s prostate health, I suppose.
mikeyboss on April 23, 2008 at 9:37 PM
This product is not for HotAirheads.
I can’t count the number of times I saw someone say, “You owe me a new keyboard.”
fogw on April 23, 2008 at 9:37 PM
Techno-Psycho-Babble
redrock on April 23, 2008 at 9:40 PM
You can actually set any custom batch script/image to any key on the keyboard. And you can maliciously bludgeon someone to death with it.
Pent. on April 23, 2008 at 9:40 PM
Dvorak is where it’s at.
Pent. on April 23, 2008 at 9:42 PM
I’ve never seen a keyboard that didn’t have uppercase keys. Does that mean that little screens on this keyboard normally display lowercase letters and then switch to uppercase letters when hitting the SHIFT key? If so, I’m sold. I’m sick of these heteronormative keyboards that force us to look at patriarchal uppercase letters.
Bill Ramey on April 23, 2008 at 9:44 PM
Correct.
Pent. on April 23, 2008 at 9:46 PM
Bill Ramey on April 23, 2008 at 9:44 PM
Down with the “man” keys.
Cold Steel on April 23, 2008 at 9:46 PM
They way you have to look at this is not as a product per se but a technology that people will find uses for as it matures. It’s the first iteration of a potential new tool. If people find uses for it, it will gain traction, mature and prices will fall. If they don’t it’ll just be a solution that couldn’t find enough problems.
TheBigOldDog on April 23, 2008 at 9:47 PM
Many very tech-oriented programs require lots of hotkeys. Software like Maya, Pro Tools, CAD, etc., set-up their software so instead of drilling through endless menus you can quickly and easily use combinations of keys to do frequent operations. Having representation of these hotkeys mapped to the actual keys makes the learning curve not so steep.
hisfrogness on April 23, 2008 at 9:48 PM
There are lots of vertical markets that could use a keyboard that can be instantly switched to a different input-method mode. While doing say video editing with symbols on the keys that can be turned back to letters while in Email, for example.
But, yeah, this company basically makes unique high-end art pieces for geeks. Kinda like the desk made from LEGO, some people will pay for owning one, 99% will wonder why?
Neo on April 23, 2008 at 9:48 PM
And from what I understand you can have the keyboard change based on the program you have running in the foreground.
hisfrogness on April 23, 2008 at 9:49 PM
You can also spend under US $100 for a set of keyboards that will cover a half-dozen or so different alphabets. Maybe a little more if you require ergo keyboards.
If you missed it on the first go-around, it appears that you eventually picked up on it, AP.
Alex_SF on April 23, 2008 at 9:51 PM
This is way to Techno,like over my head,as in
an F-14 with its afterburners on!
And at $1,589.99 does it come with a complimentry
Japanese comfort robot!
canopfor on April 23, 2008 at 9:51 PM
That makes sense, although it seems awfully pricey just to flatten that curve a bit.
Allahpundit on April 23, 2008 at 9:52 PM
My last keyboard is still awaiting a bath in the dishwasher. I just need a dishwasher.
Connie on April 23, 2008 at 9:54 PM
I kept waiting for Barry White to start singing, “Oh keyboard, let me touch you-ooo-oooo-ooo”
But really, it is very cool. Very nice for composing music and attaching note groupings and phrases, and very awesome for flight sim controls. There are so many levels of cockpit controls that I lose focus, but the visuals for assigned keys in a game like IL2 would be tempting to get the keyboard.
Hening on April 23, 2008 at 9:54 PM
I think this is a cool function:
terryannonline on April 23, 2008 at 9:55 PM
That was my initial thought too.
I also thought it could be handy for reconfiguring a keyboard layout better suited to various games.
But $1600 for the privilege? It’s for those with more money than sense, methinks.
LimeyGeek on April 23, 2008 at 9:57 PM
If it can’t be done in a hex editor, you’re a lamer noob
;)
LimeyGeek on April 23, 2008 at 9:59 PM
Dude, it’s a keyboard with little tiny screens in it! Of course it’s $1600.
Still, useless.
SouthernDem on April 23, 2008 at 10:00 PM
Bite your tongue, AP. I’ve been waiting for these to show up for about 4 years.
MadisonConservative on April 23, 2008 at 10:04 PM
Okay, but why?
Allahpundit on April 23, 2008 at 10:10 PM
First adopters == stupid tax payers
spmat on April 23, 2008 at 10:17 PM
A potential use is on other, smaller devices like cell phones, PDAs and sophisticated multi-function calculators if they can ever get the size and price down. Keys on devices like that are usually highly dependent on the task the device is performing at the moment.
TheBigOldDog on April 23, 2008 at 10:18 PM
I can see a use for this… The people at McDonald’s are going to go ape over this technology.
They plug this into their POS system and never have to buy new hardware again. All they have to do is map all of the keys to menu items. *wait* haven’t they already done that? I’m confused.
Claypigeon on April 23, 2008 at 10:18 PM
Possible best usage: assign a Quicktime version of Rick Astley’s “Never Gonna Give You Up” to every single key.
Pent. on April 23, 2008 at 10:19 PM
Well, for one, it’s good for multi-language users. But mostly, the hardcore media makers and creators can use it to replace all of these with one keyboard:
http://www.editorskeys.com/shortcut_keyboards.asp?currency=usd
Video editing, Pro Tools, high-end CAD and CGI, etc. Having a keyboard that changes based on the software in use can help with the multitude of keyboard shortcuts that get mapped.
That and it looks cool and costs a lot.
raiderdav on April 23, 2008 at 10:20 PM
My whole damn system at home only cost about $400 and $10 a month for ISP!
Are some of these people freaken nuts?
MB4 on April 23, 2008 at 10:20 PM
You don’t need any of those languages Gringo, but you will need Spanish soon after my hombre Juan becomes el Presidente America del Norte. Maybe you could get something like that for less pesos for just the one language though. You should probably shop around before you buy.
VinyFoxy on April 23, 2008 at 10:25 PM
You need one of these Allah.
But seriously, its a great idea, or at least I could make very good use of it. I use macro programs to automate many different task, I can program any key to do any number of things and it saves a lot of time and lets the machine do the work for repetitive task.
But the problem is, if I go too long without using a particular set of macros I forget what keys I have programed to do what. Looks like this keyboard could display a word or symbol on any key to remind you each keys’ function. Is that worth $1,600.00? Of course not.
But I’d buy one… if it was in the hundred dollar range. But in the meantime I think I can live without it.
Maxx on April 23, 2008 at 10:26 PM
Uhm…no thanks! I’m too lazy to relearn how to type!
SouthernGent on April 23, 2008 at 10:30 PM
Apart from the obvious e-peen, the ability to switch languages at will is a great resource. Also, this will be a boon for some gamers. Some games still refuse to allow re-binding of keys, so this will be a nice workaround. Also, the ability to re-bind for programs like Paint Shop can come in handy.
…but can I afford it? Not yet…
MadisonConservative on April 23, 2008 at 10:30 PM
Oh great, something else to ruin my eyesight.
Zaire67 on April 23, 2008 at 10:30 PM
Heh. Sonar shack in a submarine and some other similar Navy equipment used to have keyboards–big squares of keys in a block–with keys that had indicators that changed using some kind of slide projector in the back, this being 1960s type tech.
They’d probably love a keyboard like that.
That said, that’s about the only use I can think of for this thing. My other language keyboard was thirty bucks from Amazon…
Chap on April 23, 2008 at 10:32 PM
I don’t care how much it costs, the fact that they were playing Oingo Boingo on the little key-screen means I have to have one.
Wait…am I dating myself by referencing that group?
Bishop on April 23, 2008 at 10:36 PM
Seriously, it’s the development of the OLED technology that I’m stoked about.
spmat on April 23, 2008 at 10:37 PM
The future is a dark and scary place.
Pent. on April 23, 2008 at 10:40 PM
Simple, Mac Fanboys are used to paying top dollar for underpowered toys, just to say they own it.
badpenguin on April 23, 2008 at 10:43 PM
OLEDS on clothing? We are all going to look pretty stupid walking around with backpack batteries while our pants display our latest vacation photos.
Is that the Leaning Tower of Pisa or are you just happy to see me?
Bishop on April 23, 2008 at 10:47 PM
Next year it’ll buy a half tank of gas and a bowl of rice.
ronsfi on April 23, 2008 at 10:49 PM
Individual keys could show alert signals, and there is a button right there to do something about it.
Maybe you’ve got a map or some detailed diagram and when you move the mouse around, the keys show a different aspect of the object(s) your mouse is over. So you pick the one you want to work with. You can do that with a popup menu, but it is annoying to constantly be going up and down menus with the mouse.
pedestrian on April 23, 2008 at 10:53 PM
They have stores in Russia and to date they have sold one (1) keyboard offline. I can’t imagine who needs this. Anybody really look at the keyboard when they type?
freevillage on April 23, 2008 at 11:00 PM
Trading.
Anything that saves fractions of a second is money in the bank.
Bill C on April 23, 2008 at 11:04 PM
Unfortunately, however, it’s in someone else’s account…
jasnell on April 23, 2008 at 11:12 PM
Not $1,600 handy. I’m thinking that they’re going for the “cool” crowd and hoping that just one in the crowd has an idea so awesome, it’ll make the keyboard the next Apple II (which, if you recall, didn’t take off until Visicalc came along). There’s certainly potential to do something cool here. (Like, pick your favorite song from a library of 100,000 songs with only three keystrokes. Well, that but cooler and more useful.)
I only hope it’s indestructible, because otherwise I picture some very unhappy customers.
calbear on April 23, 2008 at 11:31 PM
I am bilingual. Blind typing is where it’s at.
freevillage on April 23, 2008 at 11:39 PM
Yeah, And I STILL mess up from time to time.
Guardian on April 23, 2008 at 11:40 PM
That each key could be it’s own tip calculator is quite amazing but the keyboard itself would be to large to take to an eating establishment.
BL@KBIRD on April 23, 2008 at 11:44 PM
They have been talking about this thing for years. Nobody really believed it would actually be released. $1600 is really steep, though. From the manufacturer site, you can get it with just one “active” key for only about $500. You can upgrade keys as you get the money.
http://www.artlebedev.com/everything/optimus/
But, really, the Tactus is where its at. think of a keyboard sized ipod that acts as your keyboard. Think of the possibilities.
http://www.artlebedev.com/everything/optimus-tactus/
zaphoid on April 23, 2008 at 11:54 PM
I want one for the bilingual aspects. The various keyboard mappings for the Arabic alphabet available in the west are either not at all like what they use in the middle east (it’s more like a transliterated keyboard) but the ones they do use over there aren’t easy to memorize when you don’t have labels on the keys.
They have little stickers you can get to put on your keyboard but there’s no way I’m doing that, nor would it help given the number of computers I use on a given day.
cameo on April 24, 2008 at 12:34 AM
As someone who has been following the Optimus project since its conception, I’ll be the first to admit I was disappointed when they announced the price.
The above users are right: This is a fantastic keyboard for any professional video editors and graphic designers. But anyone else? We need a price drop before it’s worth it.
TheNolan on April 24, 2008 at 12:46 AM
AP, I played with it at CES this year – Freakin Awesome! Getting the Russians to talk with you about details, painful.
The touch of the keys is a bit harsh, so I dink it for that. Personally, I’m of the CHEAP keyboard club, and when it gets jicky or crusty I toss that crap in the garbage and pull a new one out of the 5 pack. They usually last about 1-2 years. I have keyboards for about 6 years I figure!!
SkinnerVic on April 24, 2008 at 1:14 AM
Gaming, Photoshop, Aperture (any pro app that has a lot of complicated keyboard shortcuts and hotkeys).
For $1,600 I won’t even consider it. But if they edged it closer to $300 I’d be tempted.
Mark Jaquith on April 24, 2008 at 3:49 AM
I can see the point.
I’d assign hotkeys to certatin key phrases: “pwned”, “lolz”, and of course “Someone set us up the bomb” and “All your base are belong to us” for instance.
Yes, this is a device whose time has come.
Ares on April 24, 2008 at 4:17 AM
$1600 is a little steep.
I’ll have to wait until next month…
I should just get Direct Deposit at ThinkGeek.com. I love that site!
gridlock2 on April 24, 2008 at 5:59 AM
Oh great…..I was perfectly satisfied with my brand new $500 laptop till I saw this….*sigh*
Mr. Excitement on April 24, 2008 at 6:27 AM
I work a PC Support Desk and I can tell you that I have more than enough problems trying to navigate some moron through how to use his $200 Blackberry. Last thing I need to deal with is some goof with a $1600 keyboard.
pilamaye on April 24, 2008 at 7:33 AM
I heard Cadillac is coming out with an accessory to mount it near the dash. If you assign different tips ratios based on the type of establishment (coffee shop, Kenny Rogers, Baboo’s American Restaurant, early bird specials) someone can always run out to the car while the check is being figured out.
Hening on April 24, 2008 at 7:46 AM
Great, the Los Angeles school board will order a few thousand for their bi-lingual program.
right2bright on April 24, 2008 at 8:27 AM
Simple, a bunch of lcd screens is pretty expensive. But if you like to, I don’t know, use the features to switch between languages or typing layouts (like I do) it would be the ultimate Gadget. Right now ‘alt-shift’ makes the whole keyboard turn out greek; alt+shift+2 makes it go dvorak, etc.
Small number of folks, I think, but dedicated to the cause.
RiverCocytus on April 24, 2008 at 9:42 AM
Keyboard?…
How quaint.
mojo on April 24, 2008 at 10:18 AM
How much is the ergo version?
thomashton on April 24, 2008 at 11:24 AM
I’LL FINALLY BE ABLE TO FIND THE “ANY” KEY!!!!!!!
Darth Keller on April 24, 2008 at 11:34 AM
Imagine what this would do for control rooms and like video editors and gaming and . . .
- The Cat
MirCat on April 24, 2008 at 2:11 PM
finally, something to spend my tax rebate on
TheCulturalist on April 24, 2008 at 4:52 PM