Xbox 360 Chatpad and headset hands-on, impressions

So we snagged ourselves an Xbox 360 Messenger Kit (aka Chatpad + Chatpad headset), unboxed the hell out of it, and here's what we think:

• Blister packs suck. Microsoft, we're sick of 'em.
• The Chatpad is a little difficult to get on and off, but once engaged it fits perfectly on the controller (duh), and feels like a seamless extension. Unfortunately there are two awkwardly placed screw holes on the underside, but you'll learn to ignore 'em.
• Players with longer fingers may be annoyed, this thing kind of prevents finger-wraparound.
• The keys are nice and tactile. And with the keyboard sounds the 360 makes in text entry you can be sure your typing is getting through. Still, thumb touch-typing on this is going to be almost out of the question for most, the thing is basically a straight up button grid.
  
• The shift / caps / alt green and amber buttons were kind of wonky and took some getting used to. No big deal though.
• It feels light at first, but after not too long it really starts to affect the balance of the controller, and could weigh you down a little. We suggest removing it when you don't need it.
• The headset now has an inline mute / volume switch (with clip), so now you have move your hand off the controller mid-play to adjust the audio. Super lame.
• The Chatpad headset can be used on the controller without the Chatpad, but why would you want to? The old style headset is more efficient (see above) and sounds just as good.
• In fact, while we're on the topic, the original headset doesn't use those two data paddles either -- so we have no idea why the Chatpad didn't just skip bundling a second headset and instead include a port that could accept the original kind. We suspect this was to raise the consumer price of the package without raising Microsoft's cost much more. Either way, it's sucky.
  

Should you buy one? Well, $30 isn't really too crazy of a price for this thing, but we'd say if Microsoft releases a $20 version that doesn't come bundled with the new headset (and can use the old headset kind), yeah, plunk down. Otherwise, we have a feeling only completionists and heavy message senders will really need this thing.

Gallery: Xbox 360 Chatpad and headset hands-on, impressions

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[Mr Angry @ Sep 4th 2007 1:17PM]

WTF, why not just buy a PC, better graphics and you get a keyboard for free???

[Jay @ Sep 4th 2007 1:28PM]

Yeah! And ditch your Wii too because a PC comes with a a free mouse!

[Ant @ Sep 4th 2007 1:29PM]

because sometimes you want to play something other than an fps,fts,mmo.oh and you want to sit on your bed or couch and not get carpal tunnel for playing to long XD.

[Jay @ Sep 4th 2007 1:31PM]

Get rid of you mobile phone too because you can talk to people on a PC and, as said above, it comes with a free keyboard.

Genius.

[Mr Angry @ Sep 4th 2007 2:02PM]

Haha this is like shooting fish in a barrel, always the slightly dimwitted contribute to our engadget baiting game we have here in the office, this weeks leader so far, so thanks!

[Jay @ Sep 4th 2007 2:22PM]

Ooh, wacky.

[Dale @ Sep 4th 2007 2:23PM]

@Ant: see also Gametap on any internet-enabled laptop, PC or Mac.

[nightmare @ Sep 4th 2007 1:18PM]

So, is there anything you don't like about it?

/

[Joseph Carroll @ Sep 4th 2007 1:19PM]

It just seems a little excessive...

[LiQuiD_FuSioN @ Sep 4th 2007 1:22PM]

So, it doesn't allow you to connect the factory headset through the Chatpad. You HAVE to use the bundled Chatpad headset then. Does it sound good at least?

At first, I thought this thing would make sending text messages easier, but if this thing is gonna impede the way I play games and weigh me down, I may have to just look for a regular wireless USB keyboard.

Otherwise, this was a nice review. I was wondering where the hell this Xbox 360 add-on went! I had nearly forgotten all about it.

[Jeremy @ Sep 4th 2007 1:26PM]

Eh, maybe it'll come in handy when a 360 web browswer is released. I still want it now, get that damn usb keyboard outta the living room.

[wesrubix @ Sep 4th 2007 1:27PM]

because you need to know the ASL of whoever you just headshotted

[riggs @ Sep 4th 2007 2:44PM]

HAHA

[Peter DiMarco @ Sep 4th 2007 1:28PM]

looks iffy

[aeo @ Sep 4th 2007 1:32PM]

Sooo.... what does the Mickey Mouse hat key to the left of the space bar do?

[UnnDunn @ Sep 4th 2007 1:43PM]

That's the Windows Live Messenger shortcut button; it will pull up the WLM window on the 360. If you use a standard USB keyboard, you can do the same thing by pressing Windows+M.

[Neon Jebus @ Sep 4th 2007 1:37PM]

I just hope it comes with a working headset. I just purchased the Vision Camera / Gold bundle which included a headset that was dead on arrival. My friend just purchased an Elite system to find his included headset dead on arrival as well.

So now we have two wired headsets that don't work, one good wired headset, and that wireless headset that simply sucks.

[bob e @ Sep 4th 2007 1:39PM]

Just give me IE7 for the 360 and I'll buy one of these.

[Shea Oleary @ Sep 4th 2007 1:41PM]

If they would add a way to check your hotmail and surf the internet, the keyboard would be useful.

[bob e @ Sep 4th 2007 1:43PM]

oh, what do the orange and green buttons do on the outside of the space bar ???

[UnnDunn @ Sep 4th 2007 1:45PM]

They are modifier keys.

If you notice, most of the letter keys have an orange and a green symbol on them. The Orange and Green keys are used to activate those symbols.

[daniel @ Sep 5th 2007 2:42AM]

It reminds me of the multi-colour, multi-binding keyboard of the Sinclair ZX Spectrum.

[Jason @ Sep 4th 2007 1:50PM]

Look at the back... this is just Microsofts way to make the 360 Controller fell more like "The Duke"!!!

But seriously... I would buy this thing just to input the stupid codes on the XBL Points cards! Oh and have you ever had to move your live account from one box to another!!! What a P.I.T.A!!! This would come in handy for all kinds of stuff....

I would love to see them add some keyboard shortcuts for games... maybe Halo Wars will be able to use it to que up units and stuff just by pressing a hot key! :)

[Shadowise @ Sep 4th 2007 1:54PM]

Nifty idea that. That's one thing that put me off buying C&C3 for the Xbox (got it for the PC instead), the lack of keyboard hotkeys.

[Nick @ Sep 4th 2007 4:25PM]

I hook up my spare USB keyboard whenever I have to input a code or fill out account info. While this accessory would be useful in those instances, I think I would mostly use it for text messages as that is when I am most frustrated with the on-screen keyboard.

[Eric @ Sep 4th 2007 1:52PM]

"Blister packs suck. Microsoft, we're sick of 'em."

Talk to your retailers. They're the ones that pushed for them.

[nakameguro @ Sep 4th 2007 2:50PM]

actually, talk to all the people that steal shit, get them to stop.

[rawd @ Sep 4th 2007 1:54PM]

That device looks like it's for the tards

[Jeff P. @ Sep 4th 2007 4:19PM]

Nice guy. You've shown yourself to be right up there with the same mentally handicapped people you so quaintly call "tards". Once again, nice guy.

[stevestraughn @ Sep 4th 2007 1:58PM]

this is soooooo cool

[Wes @ Sep 4th 2007 1:59PM]

Does anybody have mouse emulation for the PC off the Xbox controller working?

this thing, plus the controller, plus the pc interface could make a killer HTPC remote.

[Fredo @ Sep 4th 2007 2:08PM]

Is than an iMac on the back of the packaging?!

[Eric @ Sep 4th 2007 2:16PM]

It looks great... almost like the keyboard and controller are one piece.

[coffee @ Sep 4th 2007 2:29PM]

seems like touch-typing would be simple with a qwerty keypad and F/J feelers.

[brian @ Sep 4th 2007 2:44PM]

absolutely useless for the typing of the dead 2!!!

[eric @ Sep 4th 2007 2:39PM]

Surely this is a sign of an internet browser coming for the 360 . . . right? We should be expecting a firmware update soon . . . right? And, why the hell didn't the 360 have a browser built in when it was released anyway? It doesn't seem like it would take much to make it happen . . .

[TeddyN @ Sep 4th 2007 3:11PM]

They would have to use Internet Explorer since they're microsoft... how awesome it would be to bring viruses to the x360...

[TeddyN @ Sep 4th 2007 2:57PM]

Between keyboard add-ons for consoles, increasing numbers of strategy games for consoles (including Civ), media distribution through the internet, movie drives for consoles (HDDVD & Bluray), increased power, improved communication tools for consoles, high resolution televisions blurring the lines with monitors...

I'd say that pretty soon the desktop PC and the Television based console/media setup will converge.

[iphoney @ Sep 4th 2007 2:54PM]

Engadget




RULES!!

[Scotty C @ Sep 4th 2007 4:00PM]

Any word on whether this will come in black to match the Elite controllers?

[Dennis Pickett @ Sep 4th 2007 4:24PM]

that's another mess up...white only..."what happened MS, the box elite system sneak up on you?!"

[kornholio360 @ Sep 4th 2007 3:00PM]

It looks pretty nice...to bad I don't use the messenger.

[awa64 @ Sep 4th 2007 3:05PM]

I'm looking forward to trying this thing.

That kind of scares me.

[Evan @ Sep 4th 2007 3:06PM]

Thumb-typing in the dark, without a back-lit keypad?

[Nick @ Sep 4th 2007 4:18PM]

It is back-lit.

http://www.gearlive.com/thegallery/image_med/610/

[Iscariote @ Sep 4th 2007 3:11PM]

This is way better than a wireless usb keyboard you can hide under the couch.

[Will @ Sep 4th 2007 3:15PM]

Like another responder already mentioned to be able to get through those long codes on point cards, or having to input anything, even a new user on that onscreen garbage keyboard,,, this is heaven sent... just pop it off when done so your game play is not impeded.
Release date?
a smaller wireless controller for small hands, like say a 4 year old? ( have a gamestop wired 360 controller but I want to get my son a wireless)

[mdavis @ Sep 4th 2007 3:39PM]

release date is today.

[mlui82 @ Sep 4th 2007 3:30PM]

*cough* atari jaguar *cough*

[Dennis Pickett @ Sep 4th 2007 4:23PM]

The release date may be today, but I can't find a local retailer that has one!!!

WTG, MS!