Now I Have This Monstrosity Clipped to My PS3 Controller…..

This holiday season Sony released the long awaited keypad attachment for the PS3 controller. We've needed a keyboard for the PS3 in the worst way. We've been using the controller for two years now, including the time we were without a PC for a month. Oh! The humanity! If there is a hell, all communication is done with the PS3 controller and the PS3 chat system. However buried under the Reese Trees in our stocking there was the Sony keypad. Release has finally come! Or has it?

[Raoh]

You see touch screens are all fine and good because they make it easier to interact with a graphic user interface. However the down fall of touch screens is that your fingers are now taking up real estate on your screen.

___________________________

lol is he blind and has to hold the key pad up to his face to type? is that why the controller/pad takes up screen space?

the articles and writers get dumber everyday

[Horny Melon]

that, when you misunderstood the entirety of your if your quote. The controller doesn't get in front of your TV screen. Your fingers take up real estate on a relatively small touch screen (like the Iphone).

[Milky Joe]

Surely that isn't an issue if you are even slightly used to using any QWERTY keyboard? I've got one, and it is a little fiddly, but that's because the buttons are just a little too small and THAT's because the unit couldn't be any bigger. Also, I don't think that it's positioning is bad at all. It's easy just to shift your thumbs up from the sticks.

It's still a damn sight easier to use than the on-screen keyboard as well.

[Ghoul]

then use a keybard ffs, rant rant rant is that all you kids can do these days. How about you say somwthing positive about a product ?

like
- easy to clip on-off
- sleep funktion for battery saving
- touchpad mode
- shortkey buttons for the friendslist
- seperate powersupply and akku

but no you gotta write an article and rant rant rant to gain hits on your website.

"It will set you back $50 which makes it like most Sony products, expensive."

well just because the 360 is so cheap by now doesnt make a difference in costs on both sides... (hint: 360 harddrives, wireless addons, recharbable battery packs. etc. ...)

+ i dont like if author website and contributer on n4g is te same person.....

[Ghoul]

"You see touch screens are all fine and good because they make it easier to interact with a graphic user interface. However the down fall of touch screens is that your fingers are now taking up real estate on your screen."

that is utter bull, first its no touch screen its a touch PAD and therefore you loose zero screen space or anything. second you can turn it on and off so it wont interfere wen typing or vice versa.

[dukadork]

yet another dumb ass blogger spamming N4G.
do they really need to make a fool of themselves that bad?

ever heard of a USB or bluetooth keyboard?
you are a dumb ass melon dude!

[Raz]

It's not bad - kinda like a blackberry keypad.
Takes some getting used to, and the punctuation is a little weird (not where u expect and requires the use of the shoulder buttons in odd ways) - counter-intuitive because it isn't set up like a normal keyboard in that respect.

Once you get comfortable with it, though, it makes a big difference in chat speed. Now I write things like "Man, that's a really cool echochrome shirt, where'd u get it?" and then stand around waiting impatiently while the other guy takes 5 minutes to write "i have no keyboard". lol

[Jake1111]

I got one for xmas and I think it is actually great. I was hesitant at first as I have been using a bluetooth keyboard but now that I have it I like it.

Advantages:

- Much smaller than a blue tooth keyboard which is nice for use.
- Easy to play games while its attached. I.E Reason for being on top.
- Many great functions. Easy click for special characters etc.
- Quick switch button to have mouse touch functionality.
- Quick attachment to the controller and is suprisingly tight fit.
- Quick button for friends list.

I only found one disadvantage which is not bad once you get use to the controller:

- No backlight for the keys. It is a bit hard to get used to at first if you are a gameplayer with dim or no lights lit. After you get used to it it is a sinch.

Overall I give it a 9 out of 10. If sony modifies it to have a backlight I would give it a 10 out of 10.

Definitely worth the purchase.

[ThanatosDMC]

I agree about the no backlight or some sort of LED but then again i whined about the PS3 button not having one either.

Is any case, it's a great accessory if you dont want to verbally talk to people.

I play with a yellow light lamp on behind me at night, so im good.

[Psynapt1k]

"Another issue is the location of the keypad. It sits on top of the control, totally out of the way, but absolutely hideous"

Requirements of an add-on joystick keypad:
Totally out of the way - Check - handy for gaming
Absolutely hideous - Cross - As if I will be walking down the street with it stapled to my head and using it as a fashion item....

[Marceles]

"It sits on top of the control, totally out of the way"

Yeah I agree melon...I like when it's totally in my way too so I can't focus on any gaming at all.

*sarcasm ftw*

[tatotiburon]

that is the ugliest thing i have ever see...if you want to release a keyboard like the xbox 360, at least make it right, the keyboard must be below the controller, not up, wtf?

[LeonSKennedy4Life]

In the inferior side of the controller?

Really?

You may want to change that before somebody comes back with a good one. You're just asking for it, dude.

[Anon1974]

I fail to see how if it's positioned above or below the controller really makes any difference at all. I would think that below the controller it would be more in the way but I've never used either so I couldn't say. Either way it would appear it's purely an aesthetic choice.

[Milky Joe]

So you're the kind of person who would only rescue the pretty children in the burning orphanage? It doesn't matter how it looks (I actually think it looks alright. Not great, but not "the ugliest thing I have ever seen" either), what matters is that it works. And it works pretty well.

[doshey]

uh the keyboard works better up for the ps3 controller because the way u hold the controller the keypad would get in the way unlike it being at the top, likewise for the 360 but only on the bottom

[sak500]

@darkride

"I fail to see how if it's positioned above or below the controller really makes any difference at all. I would think that below the controller it would be more in the way "

Because you're drinking Sony's Koolaid. Jeezus simple thing as a keyboard being above the controller being rather intrusive is being downplayed again by ps3 lovers. Can't u see that when u try to operate it above the controller your sides/bottom of palms will hit the sticks and it will be awkward to type.

ONE QUESTION FOR SONY LOVERS who can't see the issue with kb being on top. On your normal keyboard if you have something prutuding just below the space bar will you be comfortable?????????

[Ghoul]

what a waste of bandwidth your comment is....

no it doesnt make any difference, no you dont touch the thumbsticks.

"
ONE QUESTION FOR SONY LOVERS who can't see the issue with kb being on top. On your normal keyboard if you have something prutuding just below the space bar will you be comfortable?????????"

you really are that ignorant are you ??

the keypad is meant to be used with the THUMBS not the fingers...
it makes absolutly no difference if there is something below the pad or not...

at all the haters. STOP trying to make up arguments against something ps3/360 just to be able to reply, if you have nothing to say, stay away from the reply button.

[Oner]

What I find amazing is how the people who don't actually have the Chatpad nor EVER even tried it are the ones most vocal about it! I mean seriously WTH is so difficult to understand?

YOUR THUMBS POINT UPWARDS WHEN HOLDING THE CONTROLLER ANYWAY!

See the attached video for ACTUAL proof of how easy it is to use...

"I honestly don't understand how people talk all that $#!@ about how hard this keypad is hard to use????? STFU!!!!"

[Bloodwar]

My only complaint would be the lack of lighting in the keypad. I will still get one though when I get my ps3. I prefer to game in the dark, so hopefully when I get my PS3, a lit one will be available.

[xwabbit]

Y do people care about this anyways ? Its optional you dont have do buy it. If you don't like it just buy any keyboard u like and use it on the PS3. No one is obligated to get this.

[Lombax]

Just buy a "normal" wireless key board? I bought a Logitec keyboard for 40 bucks and it came with a mouse...

[GrandTheftZamboni]

They also have a bluetooth one with built-in touch pad for 80$:

http://www.logitech.com/ind...

Anyone tried it?

[Ghoul]

Thats why hornymelon failed... the ps3 supports normal and wirelss keyboards and logitech even made a ps3 version keyboard. the 360 pad came 2 years after release too.

ontopic, the keyboard is ok but the lack of ps buttons renders it useless compared to a normal wireless keyboard for your ps3.

[locos85]

so wireless keyboards work with the Ps3?

[Ghoul]

Yes !

Thats why all those anti ps3 kaypad articles fail, its a addon if you like it buy it if not dont or get a keyboard wireless, or wired.

[Conquistador]

While I am still waiting in suspense for the escaped natives to return, I have run into a small group of Portugese explorers. Now, normally I would kill them on sight, those nasty Portugese, but they had with them this strange treasure. So instead of killing them on sight, I examined their treasure and then killed them.

It took our finest men many hours to work out what it was for, but they have revealed that it is some sort of communication devise. It appears to attach to something, though we have no idea what.

It seems to be an alternative to talking. No doubt the Portugese picked it up from some natives. Who else would be so uncivilized to use this massive machine to communicate? Well, something about it is alluring. It may even help me write up this diary....

[GiantEnemyLobster]

Another FLOPPED product released by Sony. Very amusing.

[PS-3PO the Droid]

Shouldn't the keypad be underneath the controller where your thumbs are, like the 360. LOL stupid sony engineers put it on top... fail.

[LeonSKennedy4Life]

I got one for Christmas and I have to say it's just as useless as the 360's wireless keypad. I kept mine because I didn't have the heart to tell my parents it's terrible.

No backlight, an inconvenient position, and poorly shaped letters that actually don't make typing any quicker whatsoever...

...not their best work.

The official bluetooth headset is amazing though!

[Karum]

Doesn't make typing any quicker than what exactly?

If you mean a regular keyboard then you're stating the obvious and being dumb in expecting such a device to accomplish that kind of increase in typing speed.

If you mean doesn't make it any quicker than using the controller for text input then there is absolutely no hope for you.

Seriously though, I'm actually genuinely curious as to what you meant by that comment.

[Ghoul]

well said.

Its a good product but people cant stop basing te ps3 no matter what they do right.

- If your unable to use it buy a keyboard (at least the ps3 lets you use one)
- It was never meant to be used like a 10 finger system, it was meant to replace the controller input for text, and for that it works like a charm.
- The position is perfect they way it is, you gotta reposition your hands to use it for fast input or leave em where they are and type slower, but its not meant or designed for fast paced action typing like in counterstrike on pc or wow.

[Karum]

Cheers Ghoul.

And just a note on this device.

I own one, to be honest I much prefer typing with a regular keyboard (as I'm sure everybody does) but I don't want to keep another full sized keyboard around in here so this little device is perfect and it does what it is supposed to do and it does it pretty well imo.

It does ofc have it's faults but for the most part it's really handy and very responsive. Doesn't make the controller uncomfortable to use with it's position or weight.

People complaining that it should be on the bottom like the 360's are being overly fussy, tbh I don't think it would work on the bottom just like the 360's wouldn't work at the top of it.

As for looks, I wouldn't consider it horrible, either the PS3 one or the 360 one really, the 360's makes it look a little bulky imo but looks can be deceiving because my cousin has one and although it may look that way it doesn't feel like it. Fashion and function though seldom go hand in hand so of course they may not look "attractive" to a lot of people.

As for this article, I just think it was poorly written in terms of how the person writing it put his opinion across.

[Chubear]

-.- ... REALLY?!?!

[ud]

The only difference between this one and the 360 one is that with the PS3 one you have a hard time pressing the upper buttons, but it's the same thing for the 360 one, except this time you have a hard time pressing the lower buttons. But then again, when you type you can just change your hand positioning and it's fine. I've tried both.

[Amnesiac]

"We've been using the controller for two years now, including the time we were without a PC for a month."

Stopped reading after this. What an idiot. It's called hooking a normal keyboard up via USB. What a tool.

[Ghoul]

indeed...

[MmaFanQc]

damn some people are ridiculous sometimes.

[Alcon]

just get a wireless/bluetooth keyboard. I find it way easier to type on that.

[Enigma_2099]

http://www.amazon.com/Xbox-...

Oh wait, yeah they did...

[Knightofelemia]

Its alright kinda goofy in design should have been designed a bit better with those who have biger hands and fingers. The one thing i hate is the touch pad is a little to sensitive, when I run my fingers to access where I want to go it never goes in right spot. For the price you pay for it there should have been a usb cable thrown in or the price should have been shaved off a bit i agree with that. But a simple keyboard for half the price is worth it.

[Darrius Cole]

The PS3 has accepted both USB and Bluetooth keyboards from the launch. In addition to that you can use the controller with the on-screen keyboard.

If he needed a keyboard that bad he should have went to the store and bought one already.

[Socomer 1979]

I have it and snap on triggers and rubber grips.
the touchpad is too sensitive tho.

To me it looks hi-tec & it feels great.
Why all the hate?
try it.

If you dont want to let go of your controller to use a wireless keyboard
or practice sending messages telepathically.

[Magic_The_Celt]

Wow i have a solution... take it off

[Dmitry Orlov]

It's a headcrab! SHOT IT!!!1

[Ghoul]

hahah bubbly

[Parapraxis]

Monstrosity...really?
I saw the keypad for the 1st time yesterday, it's bloody TINY. This writer is smoking crack, seriously, CRACK.

[McLuvn]

I just slap my 12 year old standard ass keyboard into the usb slot and
VIOLA. If you don't like a new product don't buy the damn thing, simpleton.

[afiset]

LOL, 'We've needed a keyboard for the PS3 in the worst way. We've been using the controller for two years now, including the time we were without a PC for a month. Oh! The humanity!'... Those sentences contains far enough stupid words to say the writer is simply a douche. Never thought of buying a keyboard? Like the one on your PC? you just connect it to the PS3 and it works. Moreover, it's 10 bucks. If you're a fancy person who likes stuff that fits with your whole setup, I'll just remind you that almost 90% of the keyboards on the market are black-colored. The PS3? Black-colored. Your HDTV? Probably black-colored too. This attachment isn't meant for someone that is informed about technology. It has been desgined for people that doesn't even know the PS3 can handle any keyboard, wireless or not. It has been made for people who bash the PS3 with an argument stupid as: 'My 360 has a keyboard directly attached on the controller!'. And finally, it has been made to introduce a new sony product on market. You bought it? Your mistake. What did you expect? Holographic outputs, HVD reader, 3G phone integrated, Microwave, Water distributor, Cloaking functionality, Pokeball or Capsule-style microtransporter, 7.1 audio system, infrared camera so you can see through walls? Sorry to disappoint you, but it's a keyboard, and you can attach it on your PS3 controller. Period.

[squallsoft]

... It's called a USB keyboard...

-Squall

[aiphanes]

It was easy to attach...and is of such high playstation quality!

It worked on the top...because it is out of the way...this is the only way sony could have done it without redesiging the PS3 controller.

Sony did a good job....their design is better than microsofts...and it works. If you do not like it get a wireless keyboard, plus this keyboard attachment is bluetooth....something microsoft wished they had in the Xbox 360...and you can use it unattached to the sixaxis\dualshock3.

[ravinshield]

funny title but and true

[wutangkillabees]

i have the keyboard and its the good. you dont even have to have it clipped on. i never have clipped on i just have it off to the side

[Radiodread]

I felt it was actually a lot smaller when I bought it.

[wutangkillabees]

now i have this pretty good key board laying right by my controller.

[Lookbehind]

is awsome..i have no problems with it.

[interrergator]

except its too pricey is it worth it?

[TeCh77]

Why do you guys get so butt hurt over this article? Did you actually read it? Other than the title, the article isn't that bad. It's not like he's bashing the hell out of Sony. You guys are just so uber sensitive...christ. Get real and stop being such pansies.

[Johnny Rotten]

I picked one up and brought it back in exchange for a BT keyboard $15 cheaper. The buttons were too small and took too much concentration for me to use.

[Hot_tea]

..they had too I think. Better than nothing I suppose. MS holds a patent on the bottom mounted key pad.

[ll_UNDERSCORE_ll]

I dont even need the keypad to type. Its all about options so using my PC logitec keyboard/mouse/headset for messages and browsing the net is good enough. Since its BT as well it looks much cleaner around the PS3/Flatscreen : P

[Iceberg032]

Keyboards have been capataible with the ps3 since day one so what is everyone trying to make the ps3 look bad in anyway they can, the ps3 has the latest technolgy put into like built in wifi,blutooth,and blu-ray. why does this have to be repeated over and over just realize how much the ps3 offers already and stop all this BS.

[Ldubbz]

So now when Sony comes out with accessories, people arent entitled to even give an opinion about it, unless its good?

The writer never said it didnt get the job done, he didnt even say he disliked it. Some of you get your panties in abunch if the word "sony" is in a sentence not followed by "incredible". Get over it peoples, its just a chatpad.

I have never used the Xbox one either; though it looks to be well designed and not too expensive, its pretty much pointless when everyone has a headset anyhow. They do have a nice LIVE bundle for it...$70 for 1 year of LIVE, the chatpad, a headset, and PGR4. Not bad...Sony will prob bundle this soon too, maybe with some sort of Home pack, with Home money and Warhawk or Socom.

[Karum]

Personally my problem with the article isn't that he doesn't seem to like it or has some issues with it, I just think it was poorly presented is all. I have the device and use it quite a bit but only because I don't want another regular size keyboard laying around this room, otherwise I'd have one for my PS3 because they are simply so much easier to use.

[King Neptune117]

The ps3 controller was a monstrosity to begin with...

[yanikins111]

"We've needed a keyboard for the PS3 in the worst way. We've been using the controller for two years now, including the time we were without a PC for a month."

I see we're playing "Ignore-the-fact-any-keyb oard-later-than-a-ps2-connectio n-will-work-on-a-PS3" Again....

Seriously..... You can buy a full size wireless keyboard that will work fine with the ps3 for less than what the official attachment costs. The micro-keyboard is simply easier to use instead of putting down your controller