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In the modern world, a computer is an essential product to have in your household. Whether it’s a laptop, desktop or tablet, most households own at least one. The ways we use our computers are endless. From paying our bills to writing memoirs, from socialising to shopping, from sharing love to spreading the hate; our computers bring us endless possibilities. A valuable, and often overlooked aspect of our computers however, is the keyboard.
The computer keyboard is a key proponent in connecting humans with their computers, and was the sole one until the mouse was introduced to consumers in 1984. While the computer keyboard clearly took much of its aesthetic inspiration from the typewriter, its other ancestors are the teleprinters and keypunches. People started to use teleprinters to transmit data as early as the 1870's.
The often-ignored keyboard can be easily upgraded to something beautiful and remarkable, yet many go about their daily computer tasking needs without even giving a second thought to the fact that what they’re using is as bland and as boring as their neighbours’. So perhaps you work with your computer a lot, or pride yourself on your beautiful study. Maybe you just know a person in your life who’s impossible to buy for, but loves computers. Whatever the reason, here’s a list of some of the most luxurious and expensive keyboards that are on the market.
10. Kirameki Pure Gold Keyboard, $315 - $360
The Kirameki Pure Gold Keyboard is made by Japan’s Wazakura Studios and is coated with 100% pure gold leaf. This glittering accessory reflects the artistry and delicate craftsmanship of the gold-leaf tradition in Japan, which dates as far back as 800 AD.
The fully functional 86-key keyboard is only available only in Japanese. The keyboard also has two USB ports, an adjustable base, plus left, right and centre options for the connector cable.
9. Comfort Keyboard: $350
The Comfort Keyboard can be separated into three sections, make it very adjustable, and thus, comfortable! It’s ability to be adjusted allows users to tweak their keyboard using skills depending on what they need. For example, many left-handers tend to think that they numeric keyboard on the left or in the centre would but much more useful to them! Well, now they can have it their way with the Comfort Keyboard. Innovatively, and for those who tend to be at the computer a lot, the keyboard also offers a programmable “rest period indicator” that reminds the user to take an essential break, when required.
8. Professional II Datahand: $675
The Datahand comes straight from your sci-fi fantasy world. Think Transformers meets Star Trek. This keyboard is easily adjusted to fit the shape and size of each person’s individual hand. The unique finger and thumb switches change the four different typing modes. The Datahand takes “not moving a finger” to another level as the user has only to slightly push their finger in whatever direction they need in order to type whatever it is they need to type.
7. Executive keyboard, Maltron: $920
Maltron produces ergonomic keyboards they claim reduce the stresses on fingers, wrists, and arms while typing. This is one of their newer models made with Perspex, Stainless-Steel and Polycarbonate key-tops. A great choice for those who type a large amount of every day, or have been typing in great amounts consistently through their lives, Maltron’s executive keyboard is sure to ease any pain that has been caused by the repetitive motions of typing.
6. Datamancer Custom Keyboards: $1,500
These are custom keyboards that are made with features like jeweled LED lights, chrome keys and brass frames. Since they are custom-made products, the prices vary widely for one of these depending on where your imagination (and wallet) can take you, but can range anywhere between $1,200 and $1,500. However, when you can have exactly what you want ready at your fingertips, is that really so much?
5. Fingerworks Keyboard Touchstream: $1,500
It’s original value was a mere $340 but since FingerWorks was bought out, these keyboards have skyrocketed in value, reaching anywhere up to $1,500. Not in production anymore, a mint condition Touchstream keyboard could make you a small fortune on ebay and similar online retailers.
4. 2000-IS-DT: $2,200
Heading into a battlefield? Well, look no further for your battle-safe keyboard. Stealth.com designs long lasting and durable keyboards that will last where normal office keyboards won’t stand. The keyboards specifications make these keyboards ideal for dirty, wet and harsh environments. The 2000-IS-DT & 2000-IS-PM come enclosed in non-corrosive stainless steel with an optical isolated barrier ensuring NEMA (National Electrical Manufacturers Association) 4X protection. The keyboard has a temperature range of -40F to +194F (-40C to +90C). Stealth makes many other expensive steel NEMA certified keyboards, ranging from $400 to this very costly 2000-IS-DT which rings in at about $2,200.
3. Optimus Maximus: $2,400
Designed by the Art Lebedev Studio, the Optimus Maximus keyboard was initially called Optimus keyboard and is completely customisable. The keyboard has a simple yet elegant design, and all the keys are backlit with white OLED allowing each individual key to be changed and customised as the user sees fit. On the left side of the keyboard there is an entire section filled with social media buttons, such as Twitter and Facebook, which provides the user with an ease of access that no desktop icon shortcut can beat. The keyboard features a viewing angle of 160 degrees, and has its own 32MB SD card to store custom layouts.
2. Optimus Popularis: $2,554
The Optimus Popular is a keyboard developed by the Art. Lebedev Studio, a Russian design studio headed by Artemy Lebedev. Optimus Popularis is a compact keyboard with each key displaying any image and being assigned any function. Optimus Popularis is engineered for any layout, language or symbols: Cyrillic, Ancient Greek, Georgian, Arabian, music notes, numerals, codes, math functions, images, special symbols, and so on to infinity.
Optimus Popularis is an indispensable tool when it comes to high performance in any creative field and will be appreciated by graphic artists, designers photographers, musicians and anyone else who appreciates a flexible and diverse keyboard for their work.
1. Happy Hacking Keyboard HP Japan: $4,400
PFU Ltd of Ishikawa, Japan, an affiliate of Fujitsu, is producing the Happy Hacking Keyboard Professional HP Japan, a made-to-order keyboard hand coated with Urushi lacquer. This made to order keyboard is coated many times using a special brush made from the hairs of virgins, and then powdered with gold dust! The keyboard itself is special because it have been reduced down to 60 keys. The price for this expensive computer keyboard is a grand sum of 525,000 yen or about $4,440.
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