Xbox.com: $30 360 thumb board launching Sept. 4

by Kyle Orland { Jul 10th 2007 at 5:15PM }

Fans of quick text entry rejoice! Microsoft has put up an official page for the previously announced QWERTY thumb board, which is now officially being called the Xbox 360 Messenger Kit. The $29.99 unit will include a custom headset (because the existing one doesn't work while the keyboard is installed) and seems set for a Sept. 4 release date. It sure beats having an ugly USB keyboard hanging off of your system.

[Via X3F]

Tags: breaking, breakingnews, chat pad, e3, e307, messenger pad, peripherals, thumb pad, ThumbPad, xbox360

Reader Comments (Page 1 of 2)

jsn @ Jul 10th 2007 5:20PM

good price, looks solid.

Shagittarius @ Jul 10th 2007 5:20PM

Furst joytiq post onteh tumb board!!1

Player1 @ Jul 10th 2007 5:21PM

So does it work with the wireless headset too? Speaking of which, why doesn't the wireless headset work itself? It constantly cuts out with the sound going to your speakers then back to your headset. That's always great when I'm trying to time a breach in a live game of Rainbow 6.

Snipermronky @ Jul 10th 2007 5:22PM

"It sure beats having an ugly USB keyboard hanging off of your system."

I for one would much rather spend $30 on a wireless keyboard, that mickey mouse add on looks way to small to be feasible.

Mogul218 @ Jul 10th 2007 5:24PM

Obviously you must not do any texting on a smartphone. It looks like a handy accessory I might just pick up. The onscreen keyboard is one of my biggest gripes about Live, especially the fact that it's alpha and not qwerty.

ChuckSteak0331 @ Jul 10th 2007 5:23PM

Um... Wireless keyboards work too. Not just a usb one joystiq.

Ken @ Jul 10th 2007 5:25PM

Lame. I use my 360 to play games, not IM my friends. If I want to talk to them, I use my voice.

People will buy this though, I'm sure. Another way Microsoft is gouging it's customers.

Digi Smalls @ Jul 10th 2007 5:31PM

how do you get gouged if you choose to not buy it?

it's certainly not essential, and at $29.99 it's not even expensive (like HD or Wifi adaptor i assume you're referring to).

Vidikron @ Jul 10th 2007 5:32PM

Ummm... how are they gouging? You have voice chat, an on screen keyboard, and the 360 supports USB and wireless keyboards. You have plenty of existing options so I don't see how this could be considered gouging.

MooseMuffin @ Jul 10th 2007 5:33PM

Offering an accessory that you have the option to buy or not buy is gouging? You seem to have decided this is something you don't need or want, and people who agree with you won't be paying any money. That seems pretty fair.

Ken @ Jul 10th 2007 5:36PM

Yes it's gouging. Suck on that 360 fanboys!!

It's gouging because I know each one of you losers will buy it for $30. Even though you can actually... TALK to people. Talking > text chatting anyday, especially when playing a game online.

Player1 @ Jul 10th 2007 5:56PM

Talking may be better, but who would actually want to talk to you? From your posts you sound like just another swearing twelve year old that everyone mutes.

MooseMuffin @ Jul 10th 2007 6:19PM

Even if thats totally true, and all us losers go buy it, how is it gouging to choose buy something of your own free will?

Digi Smalls @ Jul 10th 2007 5:26PM

this little thing seems pretty cool. especially if it can bypass having to go to the blade for quick chats as promised. the benefit of cross/in-game chats just got better.

i wonder if there are APIs to use this thing for gameplay, could be interesting.

.

AtomMan @ Jul 10th 2007 5:26PM

Is this going to work when you use the 360 controller on the PC? I would love to use this as a HTPC remote control!

john @ Jul 10th 2007 5:31PM

HMMMMMMM!

You make a good point sir.

John @ Jul 10th 2007 6:01PM

I was thinking the same thing. That PC adapter is awesome. Glad MS gouged me for that one. BTW, if you have an HTPC, get GAMEEX it is an awesome front end for your emulators.

Mogul218 @ Jul 10th 2007 5:26PM

As if Sony and Nintendo don't....

Pete @ Jul 10th 2007 5:28PM

This seems like the perfect accessory to usher in MMORPGs on the 360. With this, there are no longer any boundaries as to needing more quick keys and such for spells and whatnot.

jorojoserojas @ Sep 2nd 2007 4:37PM

That's true. I hadn't even thought of that...this could work wonders for RTS and MMORPGs.

Aex @ Jul 10th 2007 5:29PM

$30 is 15 more than I would spend on this, hopefully I can catch a deal somewhere, Cause I DO WANT!

john @ Jul 10th 2007 5:30PM

Not bad. I was worried that this would be more expensive. Maybe I'll pick one up someday.

OrganicShadow @ Jul 10th 2007 5:31PM

More console manufacturer goodness here. Just like Nintendo Sony and M$ always do. Make slightly different product packages with add-ons and compatability problems.

Owners of the current headset that buy this now have an extra headset because it won't work while this keyboard is plugged in. Instead of just making a little jack on the keyboard to stick the headset into they decided it would be easier to make headset owners use a custom one.

Can't wait to hear about what weird proprietary nonsense Nintendo and Sony are going to come up with. Rumble SIXAXIS only works with 80gb SKU? DVD-enabled Wii requires separate remote control for DVD playback to function?

Vidikron @ Jul 10th 2007 5:38PM

That's one thing I don't understand. What's behind not allowing the standard headset to work? Still though, it's hard to accuse them of any sort of shenanigans [yet] when it comes with a headset at a reasonable price. Now, if the headset was sold separately for another $15 or something I would definitely be complaining. As it stands now though, ending up with an extra headset isno big deal. I'm not going to be buying one of these for all my controllers, so once I buy this I'll just have another headset for a different controller.

DS1O9 @ Jul 10th 2007 5:32PM

LAME.

Ken @ Jul 10th 2007 5:37PM

Indeed. It is.

Jonathan Tran @ Jul 10th 2007 5:35PM

Now the 360 almost has as many buttons as the Atari Jaguar!

Vidikron @ Jul 10th 2007 5:41PM

Yeah, but you can't send voice messages to MSN friends yet. Plus, as others have pointed out, this will likely find uses in games as well. So, no, it's not gouging.

Besides, the your argument for gouging doesn't make any sense anyway. You said it yourself, you already have voice chat... so how can it be gouging if MS themselves has provided an alternative??

Ken @ Jul 10th 2007 5:49PM

Man Vidikron, do I have to walk you through everything here?

Listen mang... People already have headsets and voice chats. So what does microsoft do? Introduces a new peripheral for the lemmings to buy!

It's more genius business than gouging but the gouging is still there.

"ZOMG I CAN TALK TO MY FRIENDS ON MSN!!" Even though 12 people in the world use MSN. And they are the people that created it.

Digi Smalls @ Jul 10th 2007 5:50PM

its pretty clear Ken is just making brandboy excuses for something his preferred console currently lacks.

there are plenty of occasions you'll want to communicate with someone not playing the exact same game session, or even near a 360. things currently only possible through XBL.

.

Ken @ Jul 10th 2007 5:53PM

Actually I'm just giving you guys shit.

I don't really care about this device, and won't buy it. But at least they're not charging $50 for it.

Continue your posts Gentlemen!

Ken @ Jul 10th 2007 5:54PM

Oh and my "preferred" console is the PC. Which has already had everything your preferred console has, years ago.

Vidikron @ Jul 10th 2007 5:54PM

Sorry, Ken... it's not gouging. You arguments just don't make any sense. You have to be getting ripped off somehow for there to be gouging occurring. There is no rip off here. It's not that difficult to understand.

Ken @ Jul 10th 2007 5:58PM

Indeed sir. Indeed. :)

VinzClortho @ Jul 10th 2007 5:57PM

@Player1 - I totally agree. WTF is with the wireless headset? Wish they'd address that.

Miles @ Jul 10th 2007 6:01PM

I hear that the Wireless headset's problems are actually with older controllers. I got a launch 360 and both my controllers have the same problems. But when i sync the headset with the console in the dash or talk to friends while playing guitar hero I don't get the same problems.It sucks, but you might want to sell your old controller and put it towards a newer one.

Miles @ Jul 10th 2007 5:58PM

Well since i play FFXI I'm picking it up. And i personally hate listening to voice msgs while I'm online. I find that people talk too much instead of getting to the point.

And calling it gouging is just ridiculous. You in no way have to buy this, so how can it be a gouge? I don't know how giving the consumer more options is gouging. Oh wait , I know now. You're just being a silly goose.

Digi Smalls @ Jul 10th 2007 5:59PM

you prefer a PC and $30 is too much? what a waste of bandwidth.

Ken @ Jul 10th 2007 6:00PM

Alright dirty man. I don't get what you mean by that, but them's fightin' words.

Ken @ Jul 10th 2007 5:59PM

@Player1

"Talking may be better, but who would actually want to talk to you? From your posts you sound like just another swearing twelve year old that everyone mutes."

Motherfucker I'm the most polite person you'll ever meet online. Don't go and try to judge me by my posts in Joystiq. You gotta act like a bitch on this site to even get recognized son.

Royale @ Jul 10th 2007 6:13PM

lol... /mute.

Ken @ Jul 10th 2007 7:35PM

lol /noob

Seriously. Just pushing this site closer and closer to the youtube comments, because that's what half the comments on this site can be compared to.

baby sea tuna @ Jul 11th 2007 10:13AM

Ooh, you're edgy.

So, joystiq 2.0, how many 1/2 heart posts do you have have to get banned? I think ol' cutting-edge kenny here might just be the first to find out...

Jouten @ Jul 10th 2007 6:13PM

I am getting one! This will be awesome!

Ken @ Jul 10th 2007 7:32PM

You sir are a tool.

Defenestrator2.0 @ Jul 11th 2007 12:52PM

You sir, are a stool.

nerdron @ Jul 10th 2007 6:14PM

Hopefully this will usher in a web browser blade, when I want to check something online quickly without firing up my laptop...

Leshrac @ Jul 10th 2007 6:23PM

Interesting... I thought it was going to be an all new controller, not just an add-on. It's better as an add-on, but $30 seems a little steep. $20 seems like it'd be about the right price. How often do you really need to type? Send a voice message instead.

-Jeff
http://alinktothefuture.com

AlcoholicZombie @ Jul 10th 2007 6:51PM

This is off topic but relating to what someone posted on this article. It's the one thing I love about Joystiq's new design is how you can make someone's (Ken's) post almost non existent so you can look those over for the more intelligent arguments to easily read. Way to go.

Also, On the messenger kit.. Bravo for the good price with an addition headset to solve the compatibility issue. I think it will be awesome to be heavily engaged in a game and if someone needs to reach you, they just send a im and you can reply to it on the fly while fragging an unfortunate soul at the same time without needing to leave the game. Awesome indeed.

Ken @ Jul 10th 2007 7:33PM

Not really, because now I go through all the articles and look for the blurred out ones to see what they said.

It's more of a beacon than anything else.

Grats. Toolbag.

| 1 | 2 | Most Recent | Next 50 Comments