Nintendo considering Wii keyboard?

Further shortening the list of possible Wii peripherals, Game Informer is now saying that Nintendo is considering a keyboard for the console, supposedly to make online surfing a bit easier. Unfortunately, they don't have much more info than that tantalizing tidbit to provide, with the entirety of the report encapsulated in the shot above courtesy of our pals at Wii Fanboy. Given Microsoft's recent move on the QWERTY front, however, it certainly doesn't seem to be too outlandish a rumor. Let's just hope Nintendo doesn't decide to extend the Wiimote's motion sensing capabilities to it -- there's no telling what sort of damage a flying keyboard could wreak.

[McGinley @ Apr 24th 2007 4:05PM]

This isn't too far fetched at all.I was never comfortable with the keyboard in the browser.

[akijikan @ Apr 24th 2007 4:15PM]

um, Wiiboard.

[Jean @ Apr 24th 2007 4:20PM]

Um, just update the Wii firmware to accept Bluetooth Keyboards. or make the USB port recognize one. I dont need a white one that says Wii or Nintendo on it. In fact, Id much rather use the same one I use with my Xbox 360. Simplify.

[ark_v2 @ Apr 24th 2007 10:52PM]

Yeah, but that way they won't be able to sell as many overpriced proprietary keyboards (as with the SDs) :)

[Thomas Tetter @ Apr 24th 2007 4:25PM]

I would be surprised if something like this doesn't come out soon, or at least by the time Nintendo unveils their online gaming service. Doing anything on the internet with a soft keyboard makes it too big a hassle for me to even want to even try it. Then again, I am pretty lazy...

[bowser's browser @ Apr 24th 2007 4:32PM]

Before a Wii keyboard a fully-functional internet browser would be nice. Old flash and limited multimedia compaitibility really reduces the usefulness of the Internet Channel.

For one, I'd like to watch abc.com shows on my Wii.

[Christian @ Apr 24th 2007 4:36PM]

All I could think for this to be safe and no one throwing out the keyboard and keeping it wireless is having a keyboard that connects to the wiimote but the wiimote has a cradle/slot connection to the keyboard.

[handy1 @ Apr 24th 2007 4:44PM]

Awh. C'mon. A hole for the wiimote would be gr8. tilt the keyboard for backspace. shake it to get to your favourites. marvellous.

[jimboman @ Apr 24th 2007 4:55PM]

I wish they could update Flash, too, but it's Adobe's fault. The latest Flash SDK for hardware is stuck at Flash 7.

[ark_v2 @ Apr 24th 2007 5:13PM]

GI is the worst source for videogame information. They still say SE will remake FFVII.

[Sarah @ May 2nd 2007 2:24AM]

What's REALLY strange is the Sony rep for my store seems to think it's coming out late '08/early '09. Some deluded fool from SE apparently let that slip. They should look into that.

[aaserali @ Apr 24th 2007 5:17PM]

akijikan-- KiiBoard

[AndrewNeo @ Apr 24th 2007 5:40PM]

Old Flash is Adobe/Macromedia's fault, not Nintendo's.

[Chuckles McGee @ Apr 24th 2007 5:57PM]

Awesome. A Wiiboard.

[John Doe @ Apr 24th 2007 6:04PM]

Or better yet just update the system software to support a keyboard that is plugged into the Wii. For god sake the system has 2 USB ports on it. How much simpler could you get? Of course then you couldn't charge a premium for the Wiiboard.

PS- Yes I'm jaded. After spending $60 on an extra Wiimote and nunchuck when the components in it cost Nintendo prob $30-40 max to make....

[Soybean @ Apr 24th 2007 6:28PM]

Yup, you got it. There's no way they'll miss an opportunity to make some money buy forcing you to use a proprietary keyboard. I love Nintendo and I love my Wii, but I'll be damned if I give them my money for this.

[Razor @ Apr 25th 2007 1:46AM]

So Nintendo isn't allowed to make a profit? You do realize Nintendo is a business. What do you think they should sell them at or should they just give them away? What about trying to recoup all of the R&D time and money spent over the last few years to perfect this system?

Businesses exist for one reason. To make money!

[daniel @ Apr 24th 2007 7:04PM]

why don't they make you hold the wiimote like a pen and recognize your handwriting movements?

[rp @ Apr 24th 2007 8:34PM]

Bring back the Power Pad and Power Glove. Line your hands up and type in the air! Jump up and down for enter! And other things!

[Johan S @ Apr 24th 2007 11:12PM]

If they want to make surfing easier, the best thing they can do is increase the resolution to at least 800 wide (a small display with even higher resolution already exists ..ask Samsung or Hitachi). And no you won't have to squint at that resolution on a hand-held form factor.. I tested it.

[John Stracke @ Apr 25th 2007 11:25AM]

I'll tell you why they should just open up for USB or Bluetooth keyboards: because some of us really need ergonomic keyboards; and not everybody needs the *same* kind of ergonomic keyboard. (Me, I find that things like the Microsoft Natural hurt *worse* than a standard keyboard, because I have to stretch more.) If Nintendo permits third-party keyboards, they'll save their customers a lot of pain.

Personally, I own a Wiimote, but no Wii; I've been hacking up a way to use it as a keyboard for my Nokia 770.

[neil @ Apr 25th 2007 2:08PM]

where can you get the ds browser? i believe they are still not available in canada =(

[Shibathedog @ Apr 26th 2007 4:33PM]

that picture gave me a good idea, Why not have the DS and Wii communicate via WiFi or something and you can use the DS touchscreen as a keyboard? Its probably more "cool" than useful though because not everyone who has a Wii has a DS and it might not work out so well.

Really they should just enable USB Keyboards though, i thought it already had that but i guess i was wrong (I don't have a Wii yet :/ are they still impossible to get? I gave up looking for awhile.)

[nick @ Apr 28th 2007 12:40AM]

Wii doesn't need a keyboard...it really isn't hard to use the remote to type, it's not like it's a joystick. However I could see use, Nintendo should just update firmware to accept a blue tooth keyboard/usb keyboard.

[Sarah @ May 2nd 2007 2:28AM]

I'm a pretty long-winded writer, so using the Wiimote to point-and-click is driving me NUTS. A keyboard (or at least standard USB keyboard compatability) would be a blessing.

But who knows? Maybe all this "letter shooting" is really improving my aim in preparation for RE4 on the Wii!

...Probably it's just giving me carpal tunnel. :(