xbox360 chatpad, awsome backlit mini keyboard

turbocad6 · 09-08-2007, 09:10 PM

the minute I saw this keyboard I knew I wanted it in my install, I've seen & had many small keyboards, but none ever looked as kool as this one, & backlit just sealed the deal for me.

I bought it & I have no idea how I could even connect it to my carpc, but I figured microsoft, xbox, pc? there HAS to be a way....

I haven't had much time to research anything as far as using an xbox controller on a pc, but I know I've seen microsoft xbox style controllers for the pc, could it be that easy to interface this?
I'm not talking about using the controller in my hand with this keyboard attached to it, I'm talking about the keyboard built into the dash, molded in & all, or maybe a center console? an ejecting compartment? this thing looks beautiful for it's shape, to be molded in & permanently installed.

the controller itself must contain the tx/rx portion, so it would be difficult to use the keyboard without any controller, but the controller can be remote mounted & buried, or the joystick from it could also be used in an install., could also extend a few of the controller buttons, could even be hotkeys for ctl+alt+del, windows key, whatever....

so, anyone have any ideas about how this could be used with a pc?

sporty_drew · 09-08-2007, 09:31 PM

what about a wireless ps3? I know you've seen one so i was just wondering why you wanted this one over it?

turbocad6 · 09-08-2007, 09:41 PM

esthetics, I mean look at it... you gotta see it in person without the controller attached, it's just beautiful & sleek... no comparison really...

edit: & oh yeah,did I mention it's backlit

turbocad6 · 09-08-2007, 10:10 PM

alright maybe that picture doesn't really show what I see here, this thing is thin, sleek & rounded. I don't have tools here to open it & check it out naked, but there is no excess anything, it could be installed anywhere... you may have to extend wires off of it & connect them to a controller, but the keyboard itself is as minimal as can be, but looks great & lights up.... I would want to mod it to illuminate with dash illumination....

I can see this thing in front of a space navigator in a nice custom console control panel... it looks very mod friendly, but not quite plug & play yet...

sporty_drew · 09-08-2007, 10:16 PM

wow backlit!!! now i want to figure out how to use one and ditch my ps3 controller. what have you found out about it so far?

turbocad6 · 09-08-2007, 10:26 PM

yeah man, took a while

I'll research it later, wish I had a tiny torx right now

even the bezel looks modder friendly, oh, & the best part...

it actually looks like a quality piece!

most tiny keyboards look like china's cheapest throwaway's, painted symbols & cheap plastics, but this looks quality, looks like it belongs on a $1,500 mini sony whatchamacallit or something...

even custom contoured buttons & the face of it has a slight contour... it's the best looking mini keyboard I've ever seen without having big bulky projecting boards & stuff

turbocad6 · 09-08-2007, 11:01 PM

ok, there is software here for the wired usb xbox360 controller, so this should be as simple as plug & play with those drivers, but there really for the controller, no mention of periferals also working... gotta pick up a wired controller & see

FC3S · 09-09-2007, 02:42 AM

u dont NEED a wired controller at all

DONT WASTE UR MONEYS

if u have an extra wireless controller you can get microsofts USB adaptor, lets you use the wireless controllers on ur PC

i have it, works great

FC3S · 09-09-2007, 02:43 AM

microsofts usb adaptor is like $20, where a new controller is $40 something

i dont know if the keyboard would work on the computer though, u might need a whole different set of drivers

FC3S · 09-09-2007, 02:58 AM

come to think of it, if you had a wireless gamepad, and like a fusion brain or whatever

you could basically control your entire car.., with the d-pad and all the buttons, u have like 16 buttons not including the analog sticks or triggers..

hmm, worth looking into i think

FC3S · 09-09-2007, 03:10 AM

this is what im talking about

http://www.xbox.com/en-US/hardware/x...er/default.htm

again i have one, it works really well, once installed you can use a few different programs to key button presses to whatever you want, or use windows joystick config, whatever you want

again i dont know if the keyboard would work with it, but im pretty sure someone will make a driver for it sooner or later

FC3S · 09-09-2007, 03:20 AM

http://forums.xbox.com/15330074/ShowPost.aspx

doesn't work apparently, at least yet

Sonicxtacy02 · 09-09-2007, 07:25 AM

a key factor in determining the usability of this unit is to see how windows recognises it when the 360 wireless controller is plugged into a computer... if it shows as an HID device it means it would be easy to hack the mini plug off and put a usb interface in its place.

inh · 09-09-2007, 07:43 AM

that thing is sexy!! hopefully we can get it working like we did the space navigator =]

turbocad6 · 09-09-2007, 10:15 AM

somehow I think there may be a better shot with a direct wired usb controller over wireless, I'm not concerned about it being wireless at all, for a permanent install wired is better than wireless in some ways....

I'll try to get one today maybe..., & yeah, it's sexy, there has to be a way to use this...