Fans of ultra-expensive keyboards can look forward to the Optimus Popularis, an upcoming keyboard with LCD keys. This keyboard was first shown off in May 2008, and it will be somewhat cheaper than the Optimus Maximum keyboard with OLED keys, although with a sub-$1,000 price tag this new model will still be extremely expensive.
They’ll still be full color, we’re told, just not OLED. That seems to suggest that Art Lebedev will be using LCD in some manner, but we’re still not entirely sure on any hardware details; the company is promising more of those – together with some new images – in June.
As for the launch, mass production is tipped for later in 2010 with the Optimus Popularis not going on sale until sometime in 2011. Back in 2008 the company was talking about a sub-$1,000 price tag, in contrast to the Optimus Maximus’ considerable $1,500+, but it remains to be seen whether they can achieve that.