Optimus mini three Keyboard

Preview
April 7, 2006

At the pinnacle of Art. Lebedev Studio, five very talented individuals have designed products for a variety of major manufacturers over the years. Approximately 150 total employees make up Art. Lebedev Studio. Established in 1995, Art. Lebedev Studio is the largest design company in Russia. A special touch to creating products by Art. Lebedev Studio, is giving them an artistic and elegant presentation but yet still posessing functionality. In this preview we'll be taking a look at the Optimus mini three Keyboard.

Optimus mini three Keyboard

The Optimus mini three Keyboard is Art. Lebedev Studio's latest creation. It will be available around the middle of June 2006. Pre-orders can be taken. What exactly is this device? Well, it's a 3-button "auxillary keyboard" which has three 96x96 OLED screens, capable of displaying animation at 5 frames per second (5fps). Suppose you wanted one key to type your name and other info on certain emails. Simply program the Optimus mini by entering the information beforehand, and whenever you finish an email, tap the button you programmed. The Optimus mini can be set for different applications, so theoretically, you could have dozens of special commands for that application. Art. Lebedev Studio says the mini is dependent on the amount of "open" applications. What this means is if you're a company who keeps your software a secret, your consumers and users can't use this really slick tool. And if you're the consumer, this sucks. If your favorite application has plug-ins, chances are the mini three will work just fine.

Optimus Configurator for Windows

To customize your Optimus mini, you need to use the Optimus Configurator. This is basically a similar program you would see for customizing your mouse or keyboard or even a digital graphic tablet. The amount of customization depends on the application's "openness" to having outside apps use it's special hot keys. Currently, there is only a Windows configurator, but other operating systems are coming, says Art. Lebedev Studio.

Optimus mini three Configurator for Windows

What A Great Device!

The Optimus mini appears to be related to the Optimus Keyboard in that it is VERY customizable. While the Optimus Keyboard is not expected until the end of 2006 (probably around Thanksgiving or Christmas), if you want to have a taste of what the keyboard will be like, the Optimus mini could give you some surprises in its functionality and convenience.

Black Or Silver

The Optimus mini comes in two colors: black and silver. The black version is shown above.

Specifications

Optimus mini three Keyboard

Size Of Keyboard

Width 118mm

Depth 51.8mm

Height 18mm

Key 32×32mm

OLED Keys

Technology OLED (Organic LED)

Viewable Area 20×20mm

Resolution 96×96 pixels

Animation 5 frames per second

Colors 262,000

Viewing Angle 160°

Compatibility

Connection USB 1.0

Control Optimus Configurator software

OS Windows (other OS's will follow)

Price

Price $120 (as of this preview)

Color Availability

Colors Black or Silver

Preliminary Thoughts

The Optimus mini three appears to be an exciting addition to your current computer system. In fact, the mini three may breath life in your current information overloaded environment. What makes this device special is its customization. Most "really cool" devices tend to die out quickly on the market because they have proprietary features and functions. Create a device which can emulate your own personal applications and you have a true product which could last many years. In fact, I can already see the eyes raise from even website designers and programmers who could press a button for specific code. Even PC Gamers could benefit from this.