When Microsoft first introduced their new Xbox 360 messenger kit I for one was a bit sceptical, so many questions were popping into my head, would it interfere with my gaming? would the buttons be too flimsy and close together to be of any use when typing? and most of all would this be a product that I really need? Well now I have the messenger pad in front of me I can easily answer these questions and I have to say I am pleasantly surprised.

The Xbox 360 messenger kit comes with the messenger pad and an all new headset (well all new in the fact that it has a different mute button and volume control). The first thing you will notice about the messenger pad is that it is small but the build quality is excellent, the QWERTY keyboard’s layout is practically the same as a run of the mill computer keyboard so there should be no issues finding the keys when typing. To fit the messenger pad you just slot it into the headset jack on your 360’s wireless controller, one of the things that impressed me about this is how well it fits in there, Microsoft have cleverly added little plastic moulds that fit into the holes on the back of the wireless controller (where the screws go) and this helps keep the keyboard steadily in place without any movement whatsoever.

Once the messenger pad is in place you begin to appreciate just how well it is designed, at the back it is shaped in such a way as to perfectly mould into the wireless controller, the weight is a none issue with the controller feeling just as balanced as it did before fitting the messenger pad and therefore after a while you literally forget that it is there.

But what about sending messages? that is after all the whole point of this device, well we can safely say that the keyboard is fantastic, given how small this product is, it is amazing that it genuinely feels like typing on a full sized keyboard, the buttons are spaced well apart and each impression on a key is met with a satisfying click, all this means that anyone who is proficient with a keyboard will be able to send a message in lightning time without hitting the wrong keys by mistake. The keyboard also consists of all the symbols that you might require when typing a message, these are marked as green and orange (depending which symbol you want) and are accessed by clicking either the green button on the bottom left of the pad or the orange button on the bottom right, once either button is activated they remain lit up (in a funky green or orange depending on which button you pushed) until you deactivate them.

The simple things always impress me so you can imagine my excitement when I realised that the messenger pad’s buttons are all backlit, having discovered this and given it was daytime when I was writing this review, I felt compelled to sit in a darkened room and type a message to try out this feature and I have to say that it was easy, which is all you can ask for really.

One of the biggest issues on gamers mind is probably that the messenger pad will interfere with gaming, however after a lengthy session on Pro Evolution Soccer 6 I can safely say that it doesn’t, using both the analogue sticks and buttons remained as comfortable as ever and I also had the added bonus of being able to send a instant message to my defeated opponent to wish him better luck next time.

The reason that the messenger pad comes with a new headset is that the standard one doesn’t fit, this is because the jack on the front of the messenger pad is a standard 2.5mm jack. The new headset which is bundled with the messenger pad is almost identical to current model with the exception of the revised volume control and mute button which instead of being place on the connector have been moved further up onto the cable clip which offers easier access to them at least. The new headset can also be used independently of the messenger pad should you wish to plug it directly into your wireless controller.

Closing Comments

Although I had my doubts about this device I am now totally converted, the messenger pad has been so well designed that it is impossible not to be impressed, the keyboard is built superbly and makes it a joy to send a message, admittedly it may not be for everyone as it’s uses at the moment are limited to messages sent through Xbox Live and Windows Messenger meaning that if you rarely use these functions then you may find no use for it, however if you like sending messages on your Xbox 360 then I say do it using a Xbox 360 messenger kit because it will be money well spent and you wont regret it.