No, it’s not the Magic Keyboard for iPad
The virtual keyboard on the iPad Pro is excellent. Having the possibility to make it smaller and drag it anywhere on the screen is a great feature that allows you to type only with one hand.
Even if the virtual keyboard is a lot better than it used to be, it’s not a perfect solution if you want to use your iPad Pro as your primary working device.
My first keyboard was the
Apple Smart keyboard Folio case
Unlike most people, I didn’t hate the feeling of the keys. I did find the keys a little small and hard to be precise on.
Don’t get me wrong, it was super great for small typing tasks, like replying to a few texts and typing a few emails, but it got very annoying to use for longer texts. I was consistently hitting the wrong key, sometimes I wasn’t pressing hard enough, and the noise it was making was somehow irritating to me.
It did indeed enjoy the portability of it, though. It was keeping my iPad secure, pretty thin, and rather light — especially since the 12.9 inch iPad Pro is already quite heavy.
The form factor was a crucial feature for me, and that’s why I wasn’t attracted to any other keyboards. Most of them were turning the iPad Pro into such a thick device or making it extremely heavy. If I need a thick and heavy device, I might as well just use a MacBook.
The New Magic Keyboard for the iPad Pro Could Have Been Great…
The new Magic Keyboard for iPad looks great. It turns the iPad into some sort of iMac, and having this (small) touchpad is probably going to have a significant impact on people’s productivity, as it’s going to make the iPad way much better to use. Overall, the product looks premium, the typing experience seems fantastic according to what all these geek bloggers are saying, and the trackpad works like a breeze. When I saw this product being released, I was certain that it was what I needed until some people got it and started doing reviews.
People are complaining about the weight of the device, particularly with the 12.9-inch model. The combined weight of the iPad and the keyboard makes it heavier than a 13 inch MacBook Pro. If I need to carry something this heavy, why would I bother with the iPad? My MacBook would seem like a better option.
I don’t understand this Magic Keyboard. It seems great to have on your desk so that you don’t have to carry it around all day. But then what’s the point of having an iPad if you just use it at your desk? And if you are only using it at your desk, why don’t you use a MacBook or even an iMac or something? These devices are a lot easier to work on. I guess some folks will love it. I’m just not in that group of people. Some would argue that I need to try it out before I express my opinion on it. I’d say that I’m not willing to give it a try since the price has been set this high!
The Canopy
For sometimes now, I’ve been using a regular Apple Magic Keyboard with my iPad, and it’s been great. I like the feeling of typing on this keyboard, it’s quite compact, and it has incredible battery life. I know that it’s not the best keyboard on the market, but for what I do, I think it’s my best bet.
Alongside this keyboard, I’m using the Canopy from Studio Neat (not affiliate). It’s both a sleeve for the Magic keyboard and an iPad stand. The sleeve makes transporting the keyboard pretty easy. The sleeve opens in an iPad stand. The final result appears very sleek. The complete setup is the most practical one I’ve found yet. It’s highly portable, it doesn’t make the iPad insanely thick or heavy, and the typing experience is outstanding since you’re typing on an actual keyboard, and not some sort of compact compromise.
I’m astounded this solution is not more popular. No one came up with the perfect product yet, but I feel like this solution is the best available today. Unlike the iPad Magic Keyboard, it doesn’t make your iPad untransportable.
I am now trying to figure out the best way to have a mouse or trackpad with this setup because that’s the only thing that I’m interested in trying. Currently, I’m using a Logitech MX Anywhere 2S. It’s highly portable, and the battery life is super great. But I’m not super sold on the ergonomics of the mouse. Again, since I’m need something portable, it’s quite difficult to find a product that doesn’t compromise on the comfort and ease of use. Finding the right mouse or trackpad is the last step for building my ideal iPad setup. I trust I’ll find the right fit.