14 DAY TRIAL // The Optimus Maximus glittering keyboard was the main attraction in the peripherals' world this year. It was way more expensive than a professional, state-of-the-art gaming keyboard; in fact, its price was more suitable for a whole high-performance computing system or a fancy mobile phone than for a shiny keyboard. Enthusiast and generous buyers have been waiting since 2006, yet the final version of the OLED-enabled keyboard is slated for late February 2008.
The Optimus Maximus keyboard by Art Lebedev design studio has reached a functional stage, if we consider the hardware aspect. Pressing specific keys will send commands to the computer, but that is where the Optimus Maximus miracle ends. And this is quite frustrating for a keyboard that sells for $1585. The device lacks both proper firmware and software, which translates into OLED displays not functioning as planned.
Moreover, installing the new firmware can be quite a pain for the inexperienced users who managed to grab an unit already. The other customers are still waiting for the desired peripheral, yet the Art Lebedev Studios can not ship them any soon.
"At the moment the first lot of Optimus Maximus keyboards has been produced, but unfortunately we cannot ship them due to the delays in developing firmware and software. [?] If you can wait to receive your Optimus Maximus, we can offer to deliver it the end of February," said Artemy Lebedev, head of the design studio, in his letter to Optimus Maximus customers.
The troubles in writing the keyboard firmware are the result of Philips' having released a processor with faulty documentation. Therefore, The Art Lebedev studios developers have no choice but write the software using the trial and error method. The first batch of OLED-enabled keyboards may also be reluctant to firmware upgrades.
"If experience and patience is not a problem for you, we are ready to offer prompt delivery of Optimus Maximus. The fact is that easy update of firmware will be possible only as the next version [of firmware] appears. So before that replacing the current firmware version with the next one is likely to present certain difficulties. If you do not have professional skills you may run into troubles installing and updating software. That is why we mention experience and patience," continued Artemy Lebedev.