14 DAY TRIAL // The Optimus Maximus OLED-enabled computer keyboard has quite a history. The glittering keyboard is more than a useful and common peripheral, it is a collector's item and it's extremely difficult to grab an unit unless you queue for it.
The project has been announced back in 2005. The Art Lebedev Studios estimated that the final pricing per unit was to reach that of a higher-end cellphone device. However, numerous delays and technical issues raised its price until it reached $1564.72 for a fully-fledged OLED-enabled keyboard.
Of course, there are a few people to sacrifice this amount of money for a keyboard (after all), so the Art Lebedev Studios decided to release cheaper versions of the keyboard with less features. For instance, a one-OLED key keyboard would sell for as much as $462.30. However, this version is limited and is available only via pre-orders.
Despite its bulky price tag, the keyboard has become more and more popular with PC enthusiasts, and the supply could (and still can't) match the demand in the strange device. Since it is not available for sale anymore, until the next batch kicks in, the keyboard has been subject to overpricing.
If you decide that you really have to get one of these rare units, you can always try bidding on Ebay for it. However, be advised that you'll have to pay much more than the promised higher-end cellphone. For instance, a sample of Optimus Maximus keyboard sold for a bid of $2750. The price is almost double than the official selling tag, and could easily cover for a higher-end PC system.
The auction transformed into a money battle, and bidders ended up spending much more than the keyboard is worth. The auctioned keyboard was fully OLED-enabled and came with two replacement keys. Next time, you can try posting a bid, just for fun, in order to see how much will you spend for the shiny keyboard.