Xbox 360 chatpad: Win or bin

The Xbox 360 chatpad was launched on September 4, 2007 and sold in "Messenger kits"(as it was launched to coincide with the release of windows live messenger on Xbox 360) which came with the chatpad and special headset because the chatpad fits into the position of the normal headset and the port on the chatpad to compensate only accepts that special specific type.


It was ideologically intelligent to release the chatpad at the same time of the release of Windows Live messenger or critics would have been flooding Microsoft with criticism about difficulty to use the controller to write on windows live messenger. 


The chatpad was also a life saver for those perfectionist gamers and gamers who enjoyed Windows Live Messenger so they could type in gamer names for game profiles and different things and also use it for Windows Live Messenger. At £27 as the official price, it's virtually the price of a controller. So is it worth it, and to what different types of people.


It's description on the official Xbox website is:

• A dedicated Windows Live Messenger button for instant access to in-game text messaging and Windows Live Messenger instant messaging on Xbox 360
• An audio jack for use with any headset that has a standard 2.5-mm connector
• Backlit keys
• Tactile confirmation of each button press

But while using it in-game, for some games it just puts it into the pause screen while you chat and for most you can't control the game until you close the special "in-game window". Of course they didn't quite false advertise as their is a mini-screen(what I referred to as special screen before) that opens near the south of the screen which is only available while using the chatpad's special buttons to open it. Of course you can always connect a normal USB keyboard BUT only certain gamers play with the Xbox near them where the monitor/screen is as close as where you'd use a computer. So it's a good alternative.

Basically in my view if you find Windows Live Messenger a necessity and spend more or less time on the Xbox

then on Windows Live Messenger on the computer OR people usually talk to you on Windows Live Messenger while your on your Xbox and you find it annoying because you can't respond quickly enough and with extreme difficulty then I'd recommend getting it. If your just an extreme gamer who likes getting gaming stuff get it. Also if you just want it and it's been on your mind OR if you don't mind getting it used I'd recommend getting it used from Amazon as Amazon's safe, trusty, and cheap (Used). Overall I think the chatpad is a win as it is extremely useful for the majority of Xbox 360 gamers. A 8/10 product, so fantastic.