9 replies to this topic

[athenian200]

I just tried plugging one in to use the Internet browser, and it didn't work. I'm wondering if it's my keyboard, or the Wii U itself.

I honestly do need a real keyboard to surf the web, so this may force me to stick with the Wii for USB Keyboard support. :/

Also, it seems a little silly to have 4 USB ports if the only thing they're going to be used for is storage devices. What's the point of that, really?

I know that it has a touchscreen keyboard on the Gamepad, and while that's an improvement over using the Wii remote as an input device, it's still not as good as a USB keyboard for me.

[nintendo3DS]

But I don't think you can, really.

[Sage]

Maybe eventually there will be keyboard support, the Wii didn't have it right away I don't believe it did at least.

[SoldMyWiiUAndLeftTheForums]

It's not possible at the moment I'm affraid

[AndyG]

Is it really necessary anyway? Im sure it wouldn't hurt to use the gamepad.

[Gamejunkie]

Whilst using an actual physical keyboard may be easier I suspect using the touch screen keyboard on the Gamepad can't be that bad. I've not had a chance to use it yet being in the UK but if its anything like that on the iPad and other tablets then I can't really see why it's such a problem. It's something you have to and end up getting use to anyway.

[Hari]

im sure it will support it in the future

[ianh05]

touch screen is fine, it's better then having to pay for a usb keyboard.

[athenian200]

Maybe eventually there will be keyboard support, the Wii didn't have it right away I don't believe it did at least.

Yeah, that's always a possibility. It wouldn't be that hard for them to add the capability, I mean they had it on the Wii. I think perhaps it was a oversight, surely they didn't set out to remove it. There isn't a good reason to omit such a useful feature.

Is it really necessary anyway? Im sure it wouldn't hurt to use the gamepad.

Whilst using an actual physical keyboard may be easier I suspect using the touch screen keyboard on the Gamepad can't be that bad. I've not had a chance to use it yet being in the UK but if its anything like that on the iPad and other tablets then I can't really see why it's such a problem. It's something you have to and end up getting use to anyway.

touch screen is fine, it's better then having to pay for a usb keyboard.

Let me put it this way... I hate the idea of typing on an iPad or iPhone, and that is not an uninformed opinion. I'm a touch typist that is slowed down significantly by the lack of a tactile keyboard. I have more than one MECHANICAL keyboard that I paid good money for (I'm talking $80 a keyboard) because I do a lot of typing and it's worth it to me to have a comfortable input device.

About the only thing I can stand to use a pure iPhone or iPad for is making calls, listening to music, and watching Netflix or something. Now, note that there ARE keyboard peripherals for the iPad, and those are must for me if I'm to use one for any of those text-heavy features like chat. But generally, If I have to type anything up, I go to my computer, or in a pinch... I'll even plug a keyboard into the original Wii so I can use the Internet browser. But I don't like typing on a touchscreen one bit.

I'm still going to use the Wii U for games, seeing as, presumably, I won't have to do much typing in them. Touchscreens have their uses, they're good for visual selection. But for a touch typist who can produce 80wpm on a real keyboard, the idea of intentionally using an interface that wastes my training and limits me to about 30wpm is unacceptable.

You can tell me it's the future, you can tell me it's cheap. You can tell me I'm stubborn for refusing to adapt, that I'm "missing out." But I will always be able to type circles around everyone who relies on a touchscreen for a keyboard, and you'll pry my Model M clones out of my cold, dead hands.

As for the Wii U... I will play any games or use any features on it that don't require me to actually type something out. I mean, it's a game console, and I mostly intended to play games on it anyway. But I will simply rely on my computer, an original Wii, or any other device that DOES allow a keyboard to do typing tasks.

[longsh0t]

The touchscreen serves its purpose but it can be a pain sometimes. I guess it all depends on how active someone is on the Nintendo Network forums. Personally, I'd buy an external/wireless keyboard in a heartbeat.