Optimus Mini Three Keyboard
We reviewed back in October that a keyboard was being developed by the Art Lebedev Studios in Russia that would consist of OLED’s for keys giving the ultimate in flexibility in designing and creating your own keys on your keyboard. This was the Optimus OLED keyboard.
We all got very excited when a notice appeared on the Art Lebedev website which had us all believing that the Optimus OLED keyboard was going to be released very soon.
Today they have released, not the OLED keyboard, but the Optimus Mini Three keyboard. This keyboard measuring 118mm x 51.8mm x 18mm has three OLED keys incorporated in it, that can be customised to suit you. Each OLED screen is 20mm x 20mm and is 96 x 96 pixels. The Optimus Mini Three Keyboard is available to pre order this week and will cost $100 (under £60). After the 2nd April the price is set to increase and the first batch of the product will be available from the 15th May.
The Optimus Mini Three keyboard can be used horizontally or vertically and the image on the keys can be turned accordingly, using the Optimus Configurator Software. This keyboard connects to your PC by a USB connecter. A programmer would be able to create their own configurator and as more plug ins are created for the Optimus Mini Three then it becomes more versatile. The keys can display static or animated images and are programmed to control a specific control function, or alternatively can be set up to substitute a sequence of keys that are regularly used. Additional functions can be programmed in using normal keyboard keys in conjunction with the Optimus Mini, such as Shift, Alt and Control. This is great for gadget lovers and programmers alike as it will enable the flexibility needed to make you use your keyboard more efficiently.
The Optimus OLED keyboard is set to be released at the end of 2006, but at least we can pre order the Mini 3 now.
February 1st, 2006 at 5:01 pm
now that IS nice isn’t it? hehe, lovely gadget
February 1st, 2006 at 5:30 pm
I’ve been holding off getting a new keyboard to wait for the release of the Optimus OLED keyboard. I have been torn between the Optimus and the DAS keyboard (the one techlounge reviewed that has blank keys).
The launch of the Mini 3 is a bit dissappointing … but a step in the right direction to complete the development of the full Optimus keyboard.
February 1st, 2006 at 5:32 pm
For anyone interested in the DAS keyboard that Hetty mentioned you can find the review here…. DAS keyboard review
Techlounge