Wii Keyboard
Which wireless keyboards work with the Wii?
Many wireless USB keyboards will work with the Wii as long as you install system update 3.1. We like the Microsoft Laser Wireless series of keyboards. In particular we've tested the Microsoft Laser 6000 Wireless USB keyboard. Hooking up the keyboard to the Wii was no problem. It didn't take any special configuration on either the wii keyboard or the Wii other than just a simple sync between the keyboard and the wireless base unit. This Wii friendly keyboard has a nice feel to it. It's made for gaming. The key sensativity is good. It isn't too heavy or too light. You don't feel like it's going to fall off the dinner tray every two seconds. Finally, it works from across the room.
Here is a full list of wireless wii keyboards that we know are compatible with the Wii.
Wii Logitech Cordless Keyboard
Microsoft Wireless Laser Keyboard 6000 v2.0
Microsoft Wireless Optical Desktop 1000
Microsoft Wireless Optical Desktop 3000
Gyration GP9110
INNOVERA Wireless Keyboard and Mouse
Logitech EX110
Logitech LX300
Logitech LX700
Logitech MX3200
Logitech Cordless Desktop S510
Logitech Cordless MediaBoard For PS3
AGK 100-50
PC Line PCL-K350
In the early days of the Wii, going on the internet was not that easy. Basically you were stuck with trying to figure out how to put in an web address with the wii mote, which is not an easy thing to do. Luckely for us, in the last system update 3.1, the Wii is now compatible with a USB keyboard.
I tried it out last night and was very happy with it. First I connected a wireless usb keyboard to the Wii. I'm using a Microsoft Wireless Laser 6000 USB keyboard in case you're wondering. Next I went and got the latest system update. You find that in Wii Settings. After about 20 minutes of updating the system it finished and sent me back to the Wii Menu. From there I clicked on the Wii Shopping Channel and after a few minutes of digging I found the latest Opera Browser download. It's a free download if meet the minimum requirements. Basically if you've already got a copy of the trial Opera browser on your console then the new download is free. If you don't already have a copy it costs about $5 (500 Wii Points) to download.
After downloading the browser I opened it up and went directly to this website! Actually that's not true, instead I went to Youtube. I'm happy to report that typing in the address with a keyboard made surfing on the Wii more fun. The videos on Youtube came right up. There was no issue with Video or sound. After that I moved on to some other sites and found that they would not play video. It must be something to do with how they have it linked in their site. For most sites it works great. The only downfall was my internet connection seemed slow.
After watching a series of videos and testing it out my kids came down to take a look at it. They're happy with it, so I'm happy with it.
I would highly recommend doing this if you own a Wii. This is the future of entertainment. WebTV came out too early. Web connections were too slow back then. Now with broadband, wireless remotes, wireless keyboards and the multi functionability of these consoles we're really stepping into the future.
Update - 3/17/08
While many USB keyboards are sold with a mouse, the mouse will NOT be compatible with your Wii.
