There is a little confusion about the one way that currently exists to get ChatPad keypresses to show up on your computer. It does not require reflashing (or any other modification to the controller), but instead, it uses an Xbox360 running a fake game, a program that takes whatever you do with the controller, and sends it to the computer. On the computer end, another program that acts like a game connects to the Xbox360 "game" over XboxLive, and fakes the keypresses and other inputs, to make it look as if it's coming from a controller (joystick, gamepad, keyboard, and/or mouse) connected directly to the computer.
To make this work, you need several things:
Chatpad and XBox360 controller (naturally)
XBox360 (to connect between the controller and internet)
XBoxLive account (so the XBox360 can go online)
XNA Creators Club Premium Membership (so you can get the game program from the computer to the XBox360)
Microsoft Visual C# 2008 Express Edition (to make the programs)
XNA Gaming Studio 3.0 (more programming parts)
XPCC source code (the fake "games")
Windows XP or Vista computer (again, naturally!)
Internet connections for both machines.
I didn't bother to check into the XBoxLive membership costs, but the XNA membership you need has to be at the $119 USD yearly rate or above ($59/4 months), and you have to be online with both machines, which likely means you need a second net connection or a router. With everything else you need to get and maintain, this is far from an inexpensive solution, and makes the Logitech Dinovo Mini look downright economical, even with a $100+USD price tag.
Now, the PSP connection works differently. With that, the people have taken apart the ChatPad, replaced the programming code inside the chips in the ChatPad, added wires to the insides of the ChatPad and PSP, totally voiding all the associated warranties. You don't use the XBox360 controller at all, just the ChatPad.
One of the big reasons the PSP connection works is that the XBox360 is not in the way, since nobody outside of Microsoft knows how to make the serial interface work, or they can't talk about it because of non-disclosure agreements. Also, just what the ChatPad normally sends when you hit a key is also a mystery, subject to the above limitations. The PSP people took apart the hardware, and effectively rebuilt it from the chips up to make it work, and while it's far from a trivial effort, it doesn't do much to help you buy a package off the shelf that will actually work the way the package suggests it already should.
There's no PS3 ChatPad, nor is there likely to be one. The PS3 can use a regular USB keyboard, or a normal, standard, Bluetooth cordless keyboard. The PS3 controllers, both the SixAxis and the DualShock3, don't have extra ports for a chatpad, and also connect over Bluetooth, another standard connection. Heck, you can likely even use the Apple Bluetooth Keyboards with your PS3, and it's no stretch to suggest that a lot of those Dinovo Minis are going to be connected to PS3s. (The Mini will connect with any Bluetooth-enabled Mac, out of the box, without any drivers or difficulties. I haven't had a chance to thoroughly test it yet, but I don't envision any difficulties with other computers.)
There is at least one chatpad-like device out for the PS3, and it is effectively a little USB keyboard and some high-class duct tape, so you can stick it on the PS3 controller. Comparing this to the ChatPad is like comparing Marv Albert in a dress to Pam Anderson -- sure, there's some sort of resemblance, but if you take even the most distant of close looks, you will know that something there just isn't even close to being the same.
I'm still holding on to my ChatPads, after all, Microsoft already has my money, and I'm not going to just throw it away. This sort of thing should be trivial for those in the know, with the development information, specifications, design engineers, and other support people. It's just a lack of will, or a marketing position that keeps this stuff from working.
By the way, I provide this Message "as-is," "with all faults," and "as available." I do not guarantee the accuracy or timeliness of information available from this Message. And I still believe that XNA is the Xerox Networking Architecture, and is likely still a trademark of Xerox, even though Microsoft seems to be using it for their own purposes now.
