You are forgetting a few groups of people that will love the programmability of it: gamers and developers.

Each game I play has a different set of keys for the different functions, and many of them give me the ability to not only create new functions but to re-map anything and everything.  I can tell you that when I play, for instance, WoW, I use over 50 movement, interface and shortcut keys and key combinations.

Anyone that uses an IDE frequently usually ends up writing their own mappable macros and such, too.

A highly programmable keyboard is a panacea from that aspect... the ability to phase in and out of specific setups depending on the game you're playing or the type of code you're writing.

However, the one thing that has always been a show-stopper for me with the Optimus (it's been "in the works" for several months now) is that it's a typical layout and the company behind it has no plans for an ergonomic version.  I simply cannot do without the ergonomic design.

If I were going to blow a few hundred dollars on a programmable, ergonomic keyboard it would be this one:

http://www.kinesis-ergo.com/Merchant2/merchant.mv?Screen=PROD&Store_Code=KS&Product_Code=KB510USB-met

I just can't bring myself to spend $359 on a keyboard.

Brian

On Sat, 2006-01-14 at 12:34 -0800, Sebastian Smith wrote:
Call me stupid, but I don't get the cell phone bit.

Anyway, I think the keyboard is a neat idea, but of little benefit.  I 
think it would be very difficult to change between different keyboard 
styles on the fly i.e. going from standard qwerty to a keyboard 
specifically arranged for firefox (especially if the keys were mapped in a 
non-standard manner).  Plus, having to switch keyboard layouts mid-stride 
so that you can type normally would also be a pain -- probably only 
applicable to people who cannot touch type.  Finally, how many of you have 
transitioned to different keyboards where keys are shaped differently, or 
completely rearranged?  If you touch type, it's a pain trying to hit keys 
that are in weird locations, or oddly shaped (think shift+pageup if 
pageup/pagedown are not in their normal location).  Now, imagine 
transitioning from your fully customized home keyboard (say Dvorak style 
-- an extreme example) to a standard qwerty.  I'll gaurantee that you'll 
wish the LCD keyboard came with a carrying case so that you could plug it 
in wherever you go.  I say:  stick to standards, it will make you more 
productive (not to mention save you a few hundred dollars).

- Sebastian


On Sat, 14 Jan 2006, Josh Scilacci wrote:

> It is not an American company. Currently the keyboard is in US Patent
infringement so if they were US based there would be no chance. I believe
that it is a Russian company.

I think that the keyboard looks cool but I don't know about typing on it. I
am not sure the keys look too comfortable to use. And I have a feeling that
we are looking at something around $400 for it as that was the retail price
on my last good cellphone. Just a guess though.

On 1/13/06, Austin Stanhope <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote:
>
> I saw that keyboard a few months ago.  Somebody at work showed it to
> me.  I keep visiting the site to find it out if/when it will/has been
> released.  I'm wondering how much they would cost considering everyone
> has a different opinion on a "good mobile cell phone."  If the price was
> right, i would consider buying one.  I was also wondering if this was an
> American company.  I'm much fonder of buying things in the country.
>
> -Austin
>
>
>
> n a wrote:
>
> >
> > has anyone seen this?
> >
> >  http://www.artlebedev.com/portfolio/optimus/
> >
> > this is awsome!
> >
> > Nick
> >
> > _________________________________________________________________
> > Express yourself instantly with MSN Messenger! Download today - it's
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> >
> >
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>
>
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