Art Lebedev has finally released an official launch date and price for their highly-anticipated Optimus keyboard. But however, they have downgraded the keyboard.

They changed from what was supposed to be a keyboard sporting colored OLED keys, to one equipped with only monochrome keys. What a letdown, because a large part of the keyboard’s appeal are the colored OLEDs.

And now they are demanding a whoopin’ $1,200 for it. Ha! Even with the insane amount of buzz generated since its announcement more than a year ago (probably making it the most talked about keyboard so far), it still doesn’t deserve $1,200. Come on, at least sprinkle some diamonds on it to justify the cost.

The keyboard is expected to launch in May 2007, and pre-order begins on December 12th.

Some of you have said that you wouldn’t even pay $300 for a chair that is priced at $2,300. Now, would you pay half of that for the Holy Grail of keyboards?