Xbox 360 QWERTY Text Input Device in the Flesh - Gizmodo Comments

Xbox 360 QWERTY Text Input Device in the Flesh

ravensfreak1307 — Sat, 14 Apr 2007 18:53:28 EDT

Listen to all u guys bitching about having to type with your thumbs instead of fingers. Suck it up!! So what if you type a little bit slower just to get an instant messanger to work well. Microsoft is putting an instant messanger on gaming console!!! That is cool enough for me and it should be for u too. Do really think an actual huge keyboard is better than this. For example, let's say ur friend (assuming some of u have friends) sends u a text message while playing Gears of War, do u REALLY want to have to put ur controller down and pick up ur keyboard everytime he sends u a message. Stop complaining about things like this.

ravensfreak1307

Xbox 360 QWERTY Text Input Device in the Flesh

helio_user — Wed, 11 Apr 2007 03:51:12 EDT

its obvious that it connects into the same "port" that the headphones connects into and it is highly highly doubtful that it is compatible with other keyboards

helio_user

Xbox 360 QWERTY Text Input Device in the Flesh

helio_user — Wed, 11 Apr 2007 03:45:46 EDT

skinned-
i agree with you completely... a bluetooth would have been much better.... and the whole thumb typing does suck big time.... unless you have already gotten used to QWERTY pads on cell phones.... but then microsoft likes to make a bunch of things that you have to buy add-ons for.... that way you have to spend more and more money.... its a smart move on the business side of things... but in the gamers perspective im not going to get this device... i have a usb keyboard that works just fine and doesnt get my thumbs cramped up........ gotta keep 'em in good shape for hardcore gamming, lol

helio_user

Xbox 360 QWERTY Text Input Device in the Flesh

Rogg2000 — Tue, 10 Apr 2007 23:14:16 EDT

Stupid idea. Why would i want to textchat while playing halo3? maybe if they had voice recognition softwars........

Rogg2000

Xbox 360 QWERTY Text Input Device in the Flesh

SouldrinK — Tue, 10 Apr 2007 11:41:29 EDT

The 360 qwerty is a great idea. A separate keyboard should be an option, but something attached to the controller is an efficient tool for those Halo 2 players out there. 8 million is a base wide enough for a peripheral launch - and voice messages can sometimes be difficult to understand. A lot of players are constantly whizzing through menu items leaving messages here and there - via text, without the keyboard. This little guy will help them greatly! Insulting a peripheral is quite low, considering a peripheral by definition is optional :P

SouldrinK

Xbox 360 QWERTY Text Input Device in the Flesh

eduo — Tue, 10 Apr 2007 10:03:37 EDT

LoganSix: Any specific reason why you think this keyboard is not well designed? I remember people complaining about the BlackBerry one when it came out too.

Let's see how it turns out before we slam the execution. If it was identical to the BlackBerry's there'd be people already complaining it was a ripoff.

eduo

Xbox 360 QWERTY Text Input Device in the Flesh

LoganSix — Tue, 10 Apr 2007 08:20:40 EDT

They should have stolen a design from BlackBerry. They know how to make thumb keyboards.

LoganSix

Xbox 360 QWERTY Text Input Device in the Flesh

eduo — Tue, 10 Apr 2007 06:29:02 EDT

Well, I don't know about the rest, but I'd REALLY want this to use it with my mac and with the AppleTV and the old Xbox I have. Make the triggers be COMMAND and CONTROL and one of the buttons be OPTION and I'll have found the perfect on-the-couch keyboard for occasional typing (ah, and make one of the sticks be the mouse and the keypad the arrow keys and the other stick equivalent to the apple remote -four directions and central click- ).

So I second the question: How is this thing connected and how compatible with a normal keyboard is it?

eduo

Xbox 360 QWERTY Text Input Device in the Flesh

aussie — Tue, 10 Apr 2007 06:20:02 EDT

What's an Xbox? Did they make only 360 of them?

aussie

Xbox 360 QWERTY Text Input Device in the Flesh

tchangtx — Mon, 09 Apr 2007 21:59:21 EDT

hypereric- Too funny!!

tchangtx

Xbox 360 QWERTY Text Input Device in the Flesh

BigPanda — Mon, 09 Apr 2007 21:18:57 EDT

Oh why can't we edit our comments, now my lack of schooling is evident. Conjunctions be damned!!!

BigPanda

Xbox 360 QWERTY Text Input Device in the Flesh

BigPanda — Mon, 09 Apr 2007 21:17:12 EDT

Meh, I just want an actual keyboard and mouse that will work with the 360 and be functional for FPS games. I still can't get used to the controller and my kills are much higher playing on my computer thanks to the precision of a mouse.

Come on MS. You look to be on a pretty good roll with the Elite and now this texting controller. Give in to the Geekside and give us the keyboard and mouse. Search you're feelings, you KNOW this to be true.

BigPanda

Xbox 360 QWERTY Text Input Device in the Flesh

LankySean — Mon, 09 Apr 2007 20:53:38 EDT

Anyone else notice how much that keyboard looks a lot like the keyboard on the Danger Sidekick2/hiptop2? Mighty suspicious if you ask me...

Here's a pic for comparison http://usera.imagecave.com/markyannone/IWGT/Sidekick2.jpg<...

LankySean

Xbox 360 QWERTY Text Input Device in the Flesh

NuggetUk — Mon, 09 Apr 2007 18:55:42 EDT

Like most of the 360 accessories it will probably be over-priced which will be it's problem.

Why pay $50 for something to MSN from my XBox when I can do it already from my PC.

NuggetUk

Xbox 360 QWERTY Text Input Device in the Flesh

snakepliskin — Mon, 09 Apr 2007 18:38:46 EDT

Sweet now all i need is a web browser, any messaging service thats not msn, and a 5 dollar price point and we'll be in business.

snakepliskin

Xbox 360 QWERTY Text Input Device in the Flesh

jimb213 — Mon, 09 Apr 2007 18:34:42 EDT

yeah... I'm really curious what the point is when you have a microphone that comes with the system...

jimb213

Xbox 360 QWERTY Text Input Device in the Flesh

deadhouseplants — Mon, 09 Apr 2007 18:04:11 EDT

Hmmm, 2 minutes to type something out, or 2 second to send it as voice message? Hmmm? Way to go Microsoft, real keen, what's next, corded controllers. Oh I know, how about a function where you have to get up and turn on the Xbox. There's progress, and then there is this.

deadhouseplants

Xbox 360 QWERTY Text Input Device in the Flesh

Pigmann — Mon, 09 Apr 2007 17:55:51 EDT

I can't imagine trying to play anything with that thing stuck to my controller.

Pigmann

Xbox 360 QWERTY Text Input Device in the Flesh

wetworker — Mon, 09 Apr 2007 17:29:32 EDT

I'd buy that for a dollar

wetworker

Xbox 360 QWERTY Text Input Device in the Flesh

dancm2000 — Mon, 09 Apr 2007 17:28:50 EDT

Its only a matter of time before I'm power leveling Loves2Spooge through the Caverns of Time on my xBox.

Woot!

dancm2000

Xbox 360 QWERTY Text Input Device in the Flesh

Kaiser-Machead — Mon, 09 Apr 2007 17:14:32 EDT

And all those poor suckers who didn't opt for the accupressure/puncture hand massages to ease tension after hours of gaming and texting will have a hell of a time trying to wrap their dysfunctional fingers around everyday objects.

Kaiser-Machead

Xbox 360 QWERTY Text Input Device in the Flesh

yoshi — Mon, 09 Apr 2007 17:12:33 EDT

Looks very cool! Perfect timing for MSN Live Messenger integration.

Personally, I can't wait for Microsoft IPTV on XBOX 360.

http://www.microsoft.com/presspass/press/2007/jan07/01-08I...

yoshi

Xbox 360 QWERTY Text Input Device in the Flesh

slapBOXmaster — Mon, 09 Apr 2007 17:08:39 EDT

This is exactly what I want on the ps3 OR that MS puts a web browser on the 360. It might just be me but I HATE having to have a full keyboard on my lap (wired or not) when I want to type something like a quick IM or a URL.

slapBOXmaster

Xbox 360 QWERTY Text Input Device in the Flesh

Kaiser-Machead — Mon, 09 Apr 2007 17:06:14 EDT

Awful awful design. It looks a bit snazzy, but also looks like a major pain in the ass doohicky. Thumb typing....at home...while sitting on my couch? A real keyboard please.

Kaiser-Machead

Xbox 360 QWERTY Text Input Device in the Flesh

atomriot — Mon, 09 Apr 2007 17:04:51 EDT

Do we have any pictures of the connector? or is it bluetooth, oh, i mean Microsofts proprietary wireless technology.

i wonder how long it will be before someone now makes a full sized keyboard that plugs into the remote.

then be able to plug a mouse into that

then hear nancy school boys whine about PC FPS'ers spankin em at halo

atomriot

Xbox 360 QWERTY Text Input Device in the Flesh

skinned — Mon, 09 Apr 2007 17:03:36 EDT

They should have just released a real bluetooth keyboard - or better yet - just opened up support for bluetooth keyboards/input devices. Besides, thumbs-only typing blows. Oh Microsoft, you silly, silly, well-oiled nickel & diming machine you.
Looks like I'll have to keep that 9' USB extension cable for when my xboxlive.com is not beside my 360 anymore. Too bad.

Yes, too bad IR USB keyboards usually have grossly overstated effective ranges (including yours) :þ

skinned

Xbox 360 QWERTY Text Input Device in the Flesh

Brad — Mon, 09 Apr 2007 17:02:34 EDT

Dude! They totally stole keyboards from Apple. Apple invented keyboards. And keys. And the Roman Alphabet.

Brad

Xbox 360 QWERTY Text Input Device in the Flesh

dasstrooper — Mon, 09 Apr 2007 16:55:18 EDT

Lets see some dissection!

dasstrooper

Xbox 360 QWERTY Text Input Device in the Flesh

hypereric — Mon, 09 Apr 2007 16:55:14 EDT

iPod Killa!

hypereric

Xbox 360 QWERTY Text Input Device in the Flesh

e10 — Mon, 09 Apr 2007 16:41:37 EDT

remember how big and unwieldy the 1st Xbox controllers were and how psyched the gaming community was when the 360's were actually manageable? While the txting interface of XB-live is a real pain in my ass, this is kind of back to square 1.

e10

Xbox 360 QWERTY Text Input Device in the Flesh

AndyShannon — Mon, 09 Apr 2007 16:36:17 EDT

By adding a keyboard to the Xbox 360, how long do you think it will be before people start using the X360 as a full internet device?? A keyboard was the only thing holding the X360 for being a computer. Maybe even MS will unlock internet browsing on it, or someone will hack it and enable it soon enuf..

AndyShannon

Xbox 360 QWERTY Text Input Device in the Flesh

erockO — Mon, 09 Apr 2007 16:30:37 EDT

Everyone called shenanigans on this story. oops! looks like a bloody good idea, i'd buy it

erockO