The Wii Keyboard -- just exactly what the name suggests

Next time you sit down to write your Great American Novel, perhaps you should consider tapping the opus out on your Wii with Logic 3's weird and somewhat awful -- though excellently named -- Wii Keyboard. There's not much meat on these bones -- it's simply an add-on for Nintendo's console that allows you to type on a QWERTY pad rather than light-sabering all over your apartment to name your new Mii "Death Bringer." The 'board is due out July 18th (in the UK at least) and will nab a tidy £14.99 (or about $30).

[Thanks, John]

[imacmatt09 @ Jul 8th 2008 11:29AM]

They should have called it the "Wiiboard".

[Chris Are @ Jul 8th 2008 11:37AM]

"You should call it Dunder Mifflin-finity. You know, push the words together."

Haha, priceless.

[Bazza @ Jul 8th 2008 11:54AM]

'Wii Kiiboard' - would be equally bad!

[Lloytron @ Jul 8th 2008 4:00PM]

Wiiji board would have been better!

[neofolklore @ Jul 8th 2008 11:30AM]

rofl.

[initialxy @ Jul 8th 2008 11:36AM]

why can't they just make it like a normal keyboard?

[emagius @ Jul 8th 2008 12:08PM]

You can already plug a normal USB keyboard into the Wii and it'll work just fine.

[looseinthedeuce @ Jul 8th 2008 11:38AM]

Wow, $30 so I don't have to write a 4-10 letter name with a Wiimote? If you pay me $30, I'll input your name for you!!

[doubleu606 @ Jul 8th 2008 11:54AM]

this would come in handy surfing with the web browser too though

[Chris Are @ Jul 8th 2008 11:39AM]

People can say what they want about the Wii's digital keyboard, but it's a hell of a lot more intuitive than the PS3's keyboard- of course one can just purchase a real bluetooth keyboard for the PS3, which would be better than this blackberry-esque Wii-board...

[hurricane @ Jul 8th 2008 12:02PM]

You can use USB keyboards/mice on the PS3 too...

[Chris Are @ Jul 8th 2008 12:19PM]

@hurricane

"of course one can just purchase a real bluetooth keyboard for the PS3"

I said that...

[Chris Are @ Jul 8th 2008 12:21PM]

Wait, are you correcting me, saying you can use USB in addition to Bluetooth, or was I right and you just didn't see that I pointed out you can use third-party keyboards? I'm confused.

[sinjinn @ Jul 8th 2008 4:31PM]

don't worry , its just a glitch in the matrix.

[Dan @ Jul 8th 2008 11:40AM]

This looks like that keyboard pad attachment for the Dell x51 made by belkin.. in fact I think it is... O_O

http://di1.shopping.com/images1/pi/ae/d7/85/28575011-177x150-0-0_Belkin+SnapNType+Mini+Keyboard+for+Dell+Axim+X50+X.jpg

Belkin Pad for Axim

[Dan @ Jul 8th 2008 1:27PM]

Copyright or conspiracy..........hmmmm

.....where the hell you attach the damn thing to?

[israel @ Jul 8th 2008 11:47AM]

the wii is taking over the world!

[fistpittingnork @ Jul 8th 2008 11:53AM]

What are the function keys used for?

I haven't sent a message or browsed the web with my Wii in months, but can't recall any possible use for function keys.

[Russ @ Jul 8th 2008 11:54AM]

useless.. i just plug in my old logitech usb wireless keyboard and i'm good to go..

[Justin @ Jul 8th 2008 11:55AM]

I guess I could see FUTURE uses for this if the nintendo network allowed some type of chatting in games...but for now...utterly useless!

[Justin @ Jul 8th 2008 11:57AM]

On second thought i guess I could use it to type up lengthy engadget comments if I decide that browsing the web on wii is actually worth my time....

[Sean D. @ Jul 8th 2008 11:58AM]

I use my Gyration wireless mini keyboard with my Wii and it works fine... If that works, any USB keyboard should work. Is this fugly one wireless, USB, or does it plug into the Wii Remote? Anyone know?

@looseinthedeuce - having a keyboard makes YouTubing (most of what I use my Wii for anymore) much more bearable... not just for inputting names.

[traycerb @ Jul 8th 2008 4:33PM]

It's a carbon copy of the Gameshark/Madcatz PS3/PC keyboard (linked above) which I have, and which is great.

If it behaves like that keyboard then the Wii version will have the following Pros:
1) it's wireless
2) small footprint, as it's a thumb keyboard measuring 4inches x 2inches (much smaller than a gyration)
3) it costs ~$30 (much less, by about ~$100, than a gyration).
4) battery life is roughly forever (charged 2x in 6mo with moderate use)

cons are it's not backlit.

someone was asking about the space key. It's in the usual spot doing dual function as backspace. backspace is activated by pressing the "symbol" key and then the space button. and yes the FN key is for the function keys, which are useful in an htpc setting.

[allenvanhellen @ Jul 8th 2008 12:10PM]

I sure hope those arrow keys are activated by the SYMB key and not the FN key, otherwise that would be quite awkward!

[Jason @ Jul 8th 2008 12:33PM]

I'm guessing the FN key is to access the Function "keys" (F1-F10) across the top.

[Phoenix @ Jul 8th 2008 12:13PM]

1) Why use this over an el-cheapo wireless keyboard?

2) It IS useful, I actually chat on my Wii on occasion and I surf on it too

[Eric @ Jul 8th 2008 12:22PM]

Where exactly does this connect?

[halofan @ Jul 8th 2008 12:24PM]

Actually, you can't even use a USB keyboard with the Mii Channel. It mainly only works with the web browser.

[Oni @ Jul 8th 2008 12:27PM]

...as a previous user pointed out: Why not just use a standard USB keyboard?

[tekdroid @ Jul 8th 2008 12:42PM]

if USB keyboards really do work (I don't own either PS3 or Wii), I'm guessing that a lot will buy it simply based on branding and lack of knowledge about regular USB keyboards working.

Myself, I really dislike the keys and their colour (along with the text colour).

[Mike Cohen @ Jul 8th 2008 3:09PM]

I'd buy it if it was wireless. I don't want a USB cable running across the room.

[hank94jp @ Jul 8th 2008 12:31PM]

Oh c'mon Nintendo, this one is a no-brainer...the Kiiboard. I expect a portion of the sales for my brilliance, ahthankyou.

[ugotamesij @ Jul 8th 2008 12:55PM]

Extra points to Engadget for use of the verb 'light-sabering'.
But yeah, can't really see too much demand for this little kiiboard.

[SPOKE @ Jul 8th 2008 12:57PM]

Putting the FUN back in the FUNction key.

[Ram @ Jul 8th 2008 1:02PM]

They should have called it the Wii GeeBoard

[kevmando @ Jul 8th 2008 1:48PM]

Did Microsoft have a patent for attaching keyboard between gamepad grips? I hope some other companies would make one for PS3 like Xbox messenger kit.

And that looks same but color with PS3. But thumb keyboard is not so bad as it appears. Sometime it's more comfortable than regular ones because I don't need to set position to type.

[Amerist @ Jul 8th 2008 2:37PM]

I would really like a bluetooth keyboard that looks like a standard PC keyboard (with number pad off to the right) that works with the wii. I'm not interested in rubber buttons or chicklet-style keys. I want keys with plastic caps and at least 3mm of travel.

[Phoenix @ Jul 8th 2008 4:39PM]

USE A REGULAR USB KEYBOARD! ARGH!!!

[Amerist @ Jul 8th 2008 2:37PM]

I would really like a bluetooth keyboard that looks like a standard PC keyboard (with number pad off to the right) that works with the wii. I'm not interested in rubber buttons or chicklet-style keys. I want keys with plastic caps and at least 3mm of travel.

[lysdexick @ Jul 8th 2008 2:39PM]

Let's see... I'm gonna just type this email...

"Dear"

Wait a minute... uh where's the ******* spacebar???

[harley140 @ Jul 8th 2008 3:07PM]

To me this seems like something that falls in the same category as the Palm Foleo mini-laptop that they canceled last year because they decided there was no market for it... I don't see a big market for it, particularly if USB-based keyboards work just fine.

[harley140 @ Jul 8th 2008 3:08PM]

To me this seems like something that falls in the same category as the Palm Foleo mini-laptop that they canceled last year because they decided there was no market for it... I don't see a big market for it, particularly if USB-based keyboards work just fine.

[ShadowKain @ Jul 8th 2008 3:45PM]

A little too late I say...

[Eric @ Jul 8th 2008 4:19PM]

YOU CAN USE A NORMAL USB KEYBOARD, GENIUSES

Why don't you people get it through your skulls?

[kaiswil2 @ Jul 8th 2008 4:50PM]

People, People you're forgetting this is a causal gamer console. And my prediction is that it will sell like mad. Everyone is forgetting that all of us visiting this site probably jammed a USB keyboard into all our current gen boxes and found the work. Just look at the Wii Fit....

[DarkFader @ Jul 8th 2008 5:49PM]

Since when do kids get QWERTY keyboards?

[Eg... @ Jul 8th 2008 5:55PM]

Suggested this on a forum about 2 years ago :)

But yeah, why not just go for a wireless USB keyboard? Most work since firmware update 3.3 anyway... at least, that's the newest version at the time of me writing this. I'm using a Logitech Wireless Desktop Lx710 to write this from my Wii now. Works fine!

[navstar @ Jul 8th 2008 6:44PM]

This is the same keyboard available for the PS3. It's weird and kinda clunky (it requires a USB dongle).

[BakaTanuki @ Jul 8th 2008 9:28PM]

Sheesh, 30 bucks seems a bit pricey. Still, I would probably get a lot of use out of this thing. Why couldn't they just shape it like a normal keyboard though? Seems like that would be awkward to type on.

[Jon @ Jul 14th 2008 2:02PM]

Better yet Wii-G-Board