Author Topic: Optimus Maximus (Read 20,386 times)

timns · « **on:** January 28, 2010, 09:30 PM »

Anyone interested in discussing this "beast?"

Experiences good or bad, are you considering one?

Tuxman · « **Reply #1 on:** January 28, 2010, 11:42 PM »

I consider one, but it is not cheap enough yet.

(I actually think its successor will be out then anyway.)

mouser · « **Reply #2 on:** January 28, 2010, 11:47 PM »

how about some links for those readers who aren't mind readers.

timns · « **Reply #3 on:** January 28, 2010, 11:50 PM »

Quote from: mouser on January 28, 2010, 11:47 PM

how about some links for those readers who aren't mind readers.

http://www.artlebedev.com/everything/optimus/

Sorry!

Tuxman · « **Reply #4 on:** January 28, 2010, 11:53 PM »

I love the Tactus concept.

f0dder · « **Reply #5 on:** January 28, 2010, 11:59 PM »

Heh, it ended up pretty fat... and requires an external power supply? What a joke.

timns · « **Reply #6 on:** January 29, 2010, 12:07 AM »

Genius idea, but unfortunately pretty hopeless for my requirements

If I were (a) a hardcore gamer, photoshopper or (b) switching between several languages, I think it would be "the biz"

But the downsides are that the keys are very 'clacky' and tend to stick sometimes.

I got it figuring I'd set up all sorts of nice key layouts for my IDEs, so that I'd find it easier to find and remember keyboard shortcuts etc. And to be fair it's helped me learn them.

But since I touch type and know 99% of the essentials by now, I'm left with a clack-monster. Albeit with some lovely looking keys and a very useful block of 10 function keys down the left-hand side. And I still get a kick out of pressing shift and seeing all the keys switch to caps

But I think it's going to be replaced with a Deck pretty soon...

4wd · « **Reply #7 on:** January 29, 2010, 12:51 AM »

I still think you could turn it into the equivalent of one of those huge multi-monitor displays and watch pr0n while you're programming or possibly a game , eg. Whack a Mole!

timns · « **Reply #8 on:** January 29, 2010, 02:53 AM »

There is a bubblewrap app.

Great idea, huge potential, slightly poorly engineered and with a lack of application software.

I may have to flog it - is there a DC classifieds section?

timns · « **Reply #9 on:** January 29, 2010, 02:55 AM »

Quote from: 4wd on January 29, 2010, 12:51 AM

I still think you could turn it into the equivalent of one of those huge multi-monitor displays and watch pr0n while you're programming or possibly a game , eg. Whack a Mole!

That's what my 3rd monitor is for...

But yes all the keys can be animated - about 10 fps.

nudone · « **Reply #10 on:** January 29, 2010, 10:50 AM »

oh dear...

app103 · « **Reply #11 on:** January 29, 2010, 11:21 AM »

Those 10 function keys on the left side...

I'd love to have a keypad full of them, separate from my keyboard...with at least 100 of those keys. Throw in a row of ~~number keys~~*, so I can have "pages" of them and expand that 100 to the functionality of 1000.

^{*Scratch that...forget numbers, just make them customizable "category" keys.}

tomos · « **Reply #12 on:** January 29, 2010, 12:56 PM »

Quote from: app103 on January 29, 2010, 11:21 AM

Those 10 function keys on the left side...

I'd love to have a keypad full of them, separate from my keyboard...with at least 100 of those keys. Throw in a row of ~~number keys~~*, so I can have "pages" of them and expand that 100 to the functionality of 1000.

^{*Scratch that...forget numbers, just make them customizable "category" keys.}

sounds like that scary taskbar of yours

app103 · « **Reply #13 on:** January 29, 2010, 03:09 PM »

Quote from: tomos on January 29, 2010, 12:56 PM

sounds like that scary taskbar of yours

It could serve as a replacement for that.

KynloStephen66515 · « **Reply #14 on:** January 29, 2010, 03:56 PM »

tbh, why not just buy a small touch screen monitor? serves the same purpose, and would be a whole lot cheaper, also FR would be a lot higher, keys much more customizable, and prettier IMO.

Now I agree that this option may seem a little 'weird' for some but I have tried this before, you need a decent sized desk I will admit, but for touch typing it is great (I do have a habit of changing between English, Greek and Spanish a lot), and for gaming, it is amazing.

I'll see if I can locate some pics of the old setup =D

timns · « **Reply #15 on:** January 29, 2010, 04:49 PM »

Quote from: Stephen66515 on January 29, 2010, 03:56 PM

tbh, why not just buy a small touch screen monitor? serves the same purpose, and would be a whole lot cheaper, also FR would be a lot higher, keys much more customizable, and prettier IMO.

Now I agree that this option may seem a little 'weird' for some but I have tried this before, you need a decent sized desk I will admit, but for touch typing it is great (I do have a habit of changing between English, Greek and Spanish a lot), and for gaming, it is amazing.

I'll see if I can locate some pics of the old setup =D

Sounds interesting. Why do you not have a similar setup now if I may ask?

KynloStephen66515 · « **Reply #16 on:** January 29, 2010, 04:54 PM »

Had to get a smaller setup due to room restrictions, now we have moved into the accommodation above my shop I am looking to do it again, but maybe go one step further this time, just need to buy a machine hat will handle what I wanna do

timns · « **Reply #17 on:** January 29, 2010, 05:03 PM »

Keep me posted! I would be interested in recommendations.

KynloStephen66515 · « **Reply #18 on:** January 29, 2010, 05:21 PM »

deffo, I would probs suggest having 3 graphics cards (just cause im greedy like that), im looking at having 3x 1GB ATI Radeon HD 4870 and probs 8GB of DDR3 memory...not sure which processor to go for yet tho

hopefully this beast will come together soon

nudone · « **Reply #19 on:** January 29, 2010, 05:43 PM »

hmm, a small touch screen (with multi digit sensing) could be the future. i wouldn't want a touch screen as my main "viewing" screen but something near the keyboard might be nice.

i ought to search i suppose but i wonder what's already out there. there ought to be some decent apps to change your touchscreen into a very handy multi-purpose device. something that changes key/button layout depending on the main program you are using.

i've seen specialist things for video/photo editing and they were too small and restrictive to be of any interest. whereas a touchscreen would (potentially) have a million and one uses and configurations/layouts.

Edvard · « **Reply #20 on:** January 29, 2010, 06:06 PM »

App, you mean something like this?
http://www.donationcoder.com/forum/index.php?topic=420.0
Not quite a touch-screen, but customizable it is!

Oooh, or this -> http://www.ymouse.com/xkeys/xk12884.php

wraith808 · « **Reply #21 on:** January 29, 2010, 10:28 PM »

Quote from: Edvard on January 29, 2010, 06:06 PM

App, you mean something like this?
http://www.donationcoder.com/forum/index.php?topic=420.0
Not quite a touch-screen, but customizable it is!

One of my friends has this... it's really cool... though the Logitech G13 works well enough for me.

And close to the touch screen concept - http://www.artlebedev.com/everything/optimus-tactus/

app103 · « **Reply #22 on:** February 04, 2010, 10:45 PM »

Quote from: Edvard on January 29, 2010, 06:06 PM

App, you mean something like this?
http://www.donationcoder.com/forum/index.php?topic=420.0
Not quite a touch-screen, but customizable it is!

Oooh, or this -> http://www.ymouse.com/xkeys/xk12884.php

Oh, ew, no! Why does everyone want to shove the one in your first link at me? There are no images on the keys. I like those images on the Maximus...very good for a visual person like me.

Edvard · « **Reply #23 on:** February 06, 2010, 06:34 PM »

There's always sharpies and white-out.
Ooooh, or nail polish

wraith808 · « **Reply #24 on:** February 07, 2010, 12:29 AM »

Quote from: app103 on February 04, 2010, 10:45 PM

Quote from: Edvard on January 29, 2010, 06:06 PM
App, you mean something like this?
http://www.donationcoder.com/forum/index.php?topic=420.0
Not quite a touch-screen, but customizable it is!

Oh, ew, no! Why does everyone want to shove the one in your first link at me? There are no images on the keys. I like those images on the Maximus...very good for a visual person like me.

But you can put images on it. If you look at the main page, the slideshow in the middle has pictures of Ergodex's with images on the keys.