Optimus Maximus Keyboard Review

Posted by John P. on October 28th, 2008 Comments Printer-Friendly

In a recent review, I knocked the Das Keyboard for having a high price point. Little did I know that I hadn’t seen the beginning of an expensive keyboard. Today we review the Optimus Maximus Keyboard, with a MSRP of around $1600 USD. However, how good of a keyboard is it for that price? Read on to get the scoop.

After hearing that price point, you may be wondering what makes this keyboard so special. Well, the answer lies within the keys, literally. Embedded into each key is a tiny, 48×48 pixel, OLED display, capable of producing up to 10FPS video. This display is fully programmable from the Optimus Maximus Configurator software, which works on both OS X and Windows. Depending on which application is active on your computer, the Optimus can change the displays according to what you set. For example, you could have a regular QWERTY layout, but and when you open Photoshop, the keyboard could automatically load a layout that is specifically designed for the application, with icons for specific hot keys, or whatever other customizations you prefer. Another option would be someone who frequently types documents in mutliple languages, and would like to be able to go between both rapdily. When the Optimus detects that the language has been changed in it’s host operating system, it changes the layout to the default layout for that language. I tested this option in windows, and it was extremely fast, especially with the language option in the toolbar, just a click away.

As you would expect from a product that was developed by a studio who specializes in industrial, graphic, web and interface design, this keyboard is extremely ascetically pleasing. The sleek, clean design draws attention to the magnificent keys. Even without all of the fancy key changing, and specialized layouts, the keyboard looks stunning. The OLED keys look spectacular; in fact this is one of the only products that you can find OLED displays in, save for a few specialized applications and a Sony TV (which runs for about $2500 for a 11″ display, which makes the Optimus seem like a bargain.) The attention to detail on the hardware of this keyboard is also nice. An ambient light sensor changes the keyboard brightness depending on the light in the room. The switch to reset the software on the keyboard is even hidden away in a spot that I have never seen before, inside of the the Kensington Security Slot. The hardware however, is just the tip of the ice burg. The software is also elegantly designed, and extremely simple to use but extremely powerful. In the software, you have the option to individually program each key, import an Optimus layout file, or even import just a plain image file, which will then be tiled across the keyboard. Also, the option is given to open a blank layout in a photo editing software, which then can be applied to the keyboard.

Up to this point in the review, despite the price tag, this seems like an amazing keyboard. This is what everyone I have shown the Optimus Maximus thinks, until they attempt to type on it. This is the major downfall of this keyboard. The OLED displays are inside of the keys, with a clear plastic coating over it, so you aren’t physically pressing down on the displays. This makes sense, but the plastic coating seems slippery to me, and it seems to slow down how fast I can type. Also, it seems that the mechanical switches arent strong enough to support the weight of the keys. Unlike keyboards like the Apple Aluminum keyboard, or the Das Keyboard, the keys feel sticky and soft, as compared to solid and clicking when you press the key down. This is a major downfall for anyone who would plan to type on this keyboard as their main keyboard, but it could be used for things like video editing, or photo editing where you may need specialized layouts for each application.

However, despite the hefty price tag, I have noticed some faults with the keyboard that I don’t see as acceptable for any item that costs so much. So far I have gone through 2 of these units with none working perfectly. Perfect for me has a loose definition when it comes to quality control. As long as it works to all specifications, it is fine for me. The first unit I received had 2 dead keys, and one key that periodically distorted the image. The second unit had one dead key, and the Configurator software on multiple computers would not detect the keyboard. This was fixed by digging into restoring the firmware, after I had to hunt on Google for the instructions. When the keyboard works well, it is fantastic, but I cannot recommend buying this keyboard without first being informed about the potential problems.

The Optimus Maximus is available for $1681.77 directly from Art.Lebedev Studios online, or at their retail store in New York City.

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