Got news?   tips@destructoid.com  |  Never miss a story:   RSS + Twitter + YouTube
Hey! New here? Destructoid is a gaming discussion community, updated nearly every 20 minutes. Make a quick avatar to comment and enter our contests. Take the tour!
 


Home Xbox 360 updates

QWERTY QWERTY: Hands on details of Microsoft's Chatpad
5:54 AM on 05.22.2007, Jim Sterling 32 comments

QWERTY QWERTY: Hands on details of Microsoft's Chatpad photo
     Xbox 360

The guys over at Gaming Nexus were able to get their mitts on Microsoft's upcoming gadget, the rubbishly named Chatpad. While not the final version, the peripheral tested was pretty close to the version you'll be able to buy when it's released during the summer. By all accounts (this account), early impressions are positive.

Fitting in very snugly and not heavy enough to cause imbalance to the controller, the GN fellas propose this is something you can snap on and leave on. The keys are backlit, which leeches the batteries, but only while you're typing. Thankfully, the backlight doesn't perpetually glow like Kelsey Grammar's floating head.

For any of you who use Live Messenger on your 360 (anyone?), this is something you'll want to be looking at. Click the above link for some more up close pictures of the adorable little keyboard and Nexus' full impressions. 


Next page: More Hardware stories




Demios's Avatar
Demios at 05/22/2007 07:43
any info on a price?
jimstyle's Avatar
jimstyle at 05/22/2007 07:57
It may be comfortable and functional in use, but it seems almost farcical from a visual standpoint.
lAboMbA's Avatar
lAboMbA at 05/22/2007 08:04
RICHARD BLOCKER's Avatar
RICHARD BLOCKER at 05/22/2007 08:20
I was excited about this untill I realized I should just set my laptop on a small table by my chair and use xbox.com. Also, MSN messenger is useless with the XBox. my friends and I ue other IM's while on XBL. its just easier/quicker.
TC101's Avatar
TC101 at 05/22/2007 08:21
could be worse...

Snaileb 's Avatar
Snaileb at 05/22/2007 08:23
LOL TC101

I didnt know they made those... interesting. WTF would you use it for? (gamecube keyboard, WTF?)
BahamutZero's Avatar
BahamutZero at 05/22/2007 08:42
snail I believe its chief use was administering beatdowns to whoever bought one by the more popular kids
BlindsideDork's Avatar
BlindsideDork at 05/22/2007 09:15
well there was that Phantasy Star Online game........umm, that's it?
Snaileb 's Avatar
Snaileb at 05/22/2007 09:19
I thought it was just for a online forum simulator game.

ROFLOMGWTFP0NI3S
BluDesign's Avatar
BluDesign at 05/22/2007 09:40
Too bad they didn't port Typing of the Dead to the GC. That would've justified it, I guess.

Was I the only one who had a Dreamcast Keyboard?

If so, then there were obvious perks to knowing the Gamestop assistant manager in 1999.
Howard Moon's Avatar
Howard Moon at 05/22/2007 10:05
they aren't going to use this thing in actual games are they?
FireofEvil's Avatar
FireofEvil at 05/22/2007 10:08
I was right all along! soon they'll let you play with WASD, then they'll just throw away the rest of the controller and give you the good old keyb+mouse.
Crackhippo's Avatar
Crackhippo at 05/22/2007 11:20
this thing will probably sell very well in Canada, cuz almost everyone up here uses MSN messenger.
Truepatriot's Avatar
Truepatriot at 05/22/2007 11:28
@Snaileb

they made that for phantasy star online.same reason GC had a modem (56k and broadband)peripheral.

i do want this thing for when another 360 mmo comes out that i want.would be easier than juggling a full keyboard.
Geoff's Avatar
Geoff at 05/22/2007 12:21
I would love to use Live Messenger on my 360, but apparently I am too young (17 years old) to use it!

M$ thinks it's safe enough for me to use Live Messenger on my computer though.
B-Radicate's Avatar
B-Radicate at 05/22/2007 12:29
if they start building chat functionality into games (possibly for those without mics) or just for simple hot keying and chat purposes, i will definitely get one.

imagine if you could use the keyboard to hot key items in an rpg or mmo, just like a pc. or even just send simple text messages in lobbies and stuff if you don't have a mic, though i know there aren't many users who don't.

i definitely see a market for this if ms utilizes it properly. until they do, though, i am not in that market.
Netik09's Avatar
Netik09 at 05/22/2007 12:40
I could get some use out of this for sure. It's better than having my USB keyboard and it's freakishly ugly umbilical cord dragging on my living room floor. Now I'm wondering about the cost? Twenty bucks?
BritiniMartini's Avatar
BritiniMartini at 05/22/2007 13:20
God... I need one of these NOW. messenger is so damn annoying right now without it. And some people are too dunce to understand that "I'm on my box" means... "I'm typing from my xbox so you need to stfu plz" and they just keep typing... >.<
ArrestedDeveloper's Avatar
ArrestedDeveloper at 05/22/2007 13:36
It makes the controller look like the old Duke controller.
Rainbowblack's Avatar
Rainbowblack at 05/22/2007 14:19
I used to use one of these when playing the PS2 version of Everquest, It fit snugly in my lap. and i dont regret the purchase one bit. especially since you can snap off the KB and hook it up to your 360 like I did.



If I ever get into another console MMO. i might pick one of those lil guys up
bobthecat23's Avatar
bobthecat23 at 05/22/2007 14:26
imm if its 20 i might buy it
Joe Burling's Avatar
Joe Burling at 05/22/2007 15:14
I'm very excited about this one. Having to pull aside a full keyboard, wireless or no, would be too much of a hassle. I love Live because of how quick and easy it is to do everything. This will compliment Live very well. Plus, I'll be able to easily send a message without moving to my pc, using the onscreen keyboard, or having to interrupt a chat just to send a voice message.

Plus, that message light on the TID will be very useful, I'm sure.
brainderailment's Avatar
brainderailment at 05/22/2007 17:08
If the 360 had an internet exploder on it, I guess this would sell. IDK, I'm just gonna use a usb keyboard, or doesn't that work? I like the Bluetooth keyboard on my ps3.
Netik09's Avatar
Netik09 at 05/22/2007 17:15
I don't own a PS3 but that Bluetooth keyboard sounds kick ass. I want one.
Netik09's Avatar
Netik09 at 05/22/2007 17:16
What's an internet exploder? Sounds violent.
emotaku's Avatar
emotaku at 05/22/2007 17:49
And yes, a usb keyboard works identical.

Just remember to unplug it after you're done if it's backlit or terrible things may happen.
nipsta203's Avatar
nipsta203 at 05/22/2007 19:45
this can be used in games
jeffstart's Avatar
jeffstart at 05/23/2007 15:44
No one I know uses Live Messenger--and I know some people.
prev next

Returning Dtoiders: login now to post a comment

Destructoid is an open discussion community. You don't need to "audition" to post a comment - just Create an avatar now - it's fast and free: PLUS you also get your own gaming blog and begin posting stories and uploading videos in our open community area that may also appear on our home page. Sign up and we'll guide you through it, it's easy and 100% anonymous.




 Original Videos

 Reviews
Mad Dog McCree Gunslinger Pack
Overlord II
Yosumin Live!
Let's Tap
Ghostbusters: The Video Game (Wii)
View all Game Reviews

 Community blogs -   39783 Dtoiders!

This month's theme: Untapped Potential

New to Dtoid? Read the survival guide


 Originals

How Pokemon Red is blatantly better than Pokemon Blue











more original Destructoid stories


 Popular now more













Destructoid is:
Nick Chester
Editor-in-Chief		 Jim Sterling
Reviews Editor
Dale North
News Editor		 Hamza Aziz
Community Manager
Anthony Burch
Features Editor		 Rey Gutierrez
Video editor & director
Niero
Founder, publisher
Letters to the editors
tips@destructoid.com
Associate Editors
Ashley Davis Jonathan Holmes
Brad Nicholson Jonathan Ross
Brad Rice Jordan Devore
Chad Concelmo Matthew Razak
Colette Bennett Tom Fronczak
Conrad Zimmerman Topher Cantler
Dyson Samit Sarkar
Contributors
Adam Dork
Ben Perlee
Daniel Lingen
Joseph Leray		 Joe Burling
Mikey
Will Maddock
Stella Wong




get involved

register or login
post a blog
post a forum
enter a contest
discuss a review
contribute a news tip
write a guest editorial
 support

new member's guide
login assistance
tech support
report abuse
email our editors
read our dev blog
nuclear crisis?
 keep in touch

RSS feed
Twitter
Facebook
Myspace
Flickr
Game nights
Meet-ups 		seriously

about us
advertising
terms of use
privacy policy
jobs at MM
buy our crap 		our network

Tomopop
Japanator



Destructoid is an independently-run publication forged by our love of video games and the gaming community's need of accountable enthusiast press
living the dream since March 16, 2006