Peripherals

OCZ Sabre OLED Keyboard (Unofficial Codename: Optimus Budgetus) Priced At $135

The OCZ Sabre asked us to compromise, featuring a sharply limited number of display-integrated keys, so we asked it to do the same: dip below $US200, or else. Today, ZipZoomFly is listing the Sabre at a reasonable $US135.00.

For comparison, ThinkGeek sells the Optimus Maximus, the great grandpappy of the OLED-in-a-key concept, for a staggering $US1600. Obviously, the OCZ doesn’t match up to Art Lebedev’s Cheeto-resistant masterpeice—fewer keys, limited colours, plainer styling—but come on, is it really 8.5% the keyboard the Optimus is?

The item isn’t listed as shipping yet, though OCZ says they’re on their way to retailers. [ZipZoomFly—Thanks, Justin!]

Comments (AU Comments | US Comments)

  • tsdexter
    @Metkis: normal hot keys can't change the picture on them for every program you open for ease of use... I'd say it's worth 135$

    tsdexter

  • Dragzonox
    So this is the first OLED product to be sold?
  • VenomIreland
    @VenomIreland: Ok I've encountered a bug in the comments, in my comment above the paragraph seperaters have vanished and in this comment the image has vanished.
  • TysonNardwuar

    What I need is a keyboard that can change the keyboard layout, for different scripts, so changing the keys A-Z, 0.9 and some special char keys. The other keys don't interest me. So for me, this keyboard is actually 0.0% the keyboard the Optimus is!

    TysonNardwuar

  • VenomIreland
    @WaffleTeamStrike:
  • VenomIreland

    I'm dissapointed after reading OLED and seeing this, I normally love OCZ and think this is alright but for $135 I'd expect a few more Display keys. It really does plae in comparison to the Optimus Maximus though, that thing costs more than my estimated computer costs.

    EDIT: Didn't know it had 9 screens, that's pretty damn good for the price. I love this edit button!
  • Sticks Calhoun
    @Metkis: I agree the Art keyboard is leaps and bounds ahead of this thing, but I can't consider anything that costs $1,600 to be "novelty."
  • Metkis
    @Sticks Calhoun: The OLED screens are mono-chromatic and the blue LEDs are just too tacky. I just think that the thing is ugly and a keyboard with hotkeys would work just as good for half the price. This is may be novelty, but at least Art Lebedev does novelty right.
  • WaffleTeamStrike
    Those don't look like OLED screen-keys...hmm. Any better pics than this?

    WaffleTeamStrike

  • Sticks Calhoun
    @Metkis But how close does it really have to be? $135 bucks for 9 customizable screens is pretty decent considering optimus wants what, $150 for a mini-three or so?

    But...yeah. that thing is still damn ugly. they could at least ditch the blue LEDs.
  • Metkis
    "Obviously, the OCZ doesn't match up to Art Lebedev's masterpiece." It's unfortunately extremely obvious.
  • bitgod
    I'm not interested in having that keyboard, but what might tempt me would be if they had just the 9-button section as an add-on for say $70

    bitgod

  • roflwaffles is terribly unfunny
    Fun fact- Pc power and cooling owns OCZ. and not the fps doug "it OWNS" kind of owning.
  • Con Seannery
    @ottermann: Or a BILLY MAYS key?

    Con Seannery

  • Benjammn
    @WaffleTeamStrike: They are OLED, but they are limited to one color to keep the price down. It is almost like e-ink, which actually is a pretty novel idea for keyboards. $135 is a good price that I would pay for this keyboard. Good job OCZ.
  • godwhacker, your incandescent le
    @godwhacker, your incandescent leader!:

    http://gdgt.com/logitech/g19/
  • godwhacker, your incandescent le
    @Kayonesoft: look around for the new g-19, it may well be the keyboard to move me from my current g-15. better layout more g-keys that the 2nd gen g15. http://gdgt.com/logitech/g19/
  • alexmg2420
    @VenomIreland: That's okay. The whole new commenting system is buggy. I love the edit button, don't get me wrong, but I have to WAIT for the onscreen text to catch up with my typing, like a laggy word document. Also, if you accidentally click anywhere on the same page outside of the comments box (or scroll up and open the link in a new tab) EVERYTHING you've just typed is *poof* gone. And my comments are lengthy. I'd much rather not have to retype this entire comment in a laggy-as-hell text box.
  • World iS Mi iPhone!!
    OCZ, sounds like a disorder. Like maybe a "spend too much on gadgets" thing. I know I have OCZ! About time these dropped in price, not the original obv. But we know how well those sold ;-)

    World iS Mi iPhone!!

  • alexmg2420
    Ugh, why are all the cool/fancy keyboards standard? Can't they make ANY of them ergonomic? I love all of these keyboards, and have the means to buy, but after using an ergonomic keyboard, I can't even stand standards anymore.
  • ottermann
    Does this mean I can change a key to become the "Any" key?

    ottermann

  • Purple Umpteenth
    Was it for the sake of technology they made the OLED keyset significantly larger than actual typing keys? I don't see this being any more interesting than having solid, boring hotkeys built in.
  • Kayonesoft
    I hate to nitpick, but I suppose when it's the keyboard I'd be using a majority of the time I have to nitpick. I'm not a fan of the Delkey shape (I like the standard 2 rows 3 buttons) and the lack of individual key backlighting like the Logitech G15 is a turnoff for me. However for an OLED keyboard, I'm rather impressed with the price point they have now. I hope they release a version 2 with backlit keys, and they'll have another sale from me. (I buy a lot of OCZ products.

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