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iPad mini Mini Keyboard?

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ejin222

macrumors 6502a
Original poster
Oct 12, 2011
564
432
I was intent on buying my wife/child the Mini until I've been reading all the great responses from all of you! Now I'm contemplating giving them my iPad 3 and buying the Mini for myself....

except for one thing.. Is there a good Bluetooth keyboard available for the Mini out there like there are for its larger brethren? I want to use the Mini as a portable laptop due to the great battery life.

Any help would be GREATLY appreciated :)
 
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AlanKA

macrumors member
Nov 3, 2012
86
0
Why not use the normal Apple bluetooth keyboard. It's already as small as you'd want, yet still support typing on a decent sized keyboard. I just that keyboard with my 3 and Mini, love it.
 
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ejin222

macrumors 6502a
Original poster
Oct 12, 2011
564
432
AlanKA said:
Why not use the normal Apple bluetooth keyboard. It's already as small as you'd want, yet still support typing on a decent sized keyboard. I just that keyboard with my 3 and Mini, love it.
Click to expand...

Never thought about that option.. But I like those keyboards from Zagg or Logitech that you can rest the iPad in that groove. Just wondered if there's a Mini version out yet
 
rufinatti

rufinatti

macrumors 6502
Nov 9, 2012
379
0
I used the Apple keyboard with the origami case all summer long to take notes in class on my iPad 1st gen. When my mini arrives on thursday, I'll just use it instead. The Apple keyboard works great for me because it's a compact, but still full-sized keyboard AND the keypresses are quiet so that it doesn't distract everyone else in class while I type up my notes.
 
jacoder

jacoder

macrumors member
Feb 4, 2008
92
0
California
This is the keyboard I use for iPad mini: Rapoo Bluetooth Keyboard E6300. :)

Here are my iPad mini with the keyboard:


iPad mini with Rapoo Keyboard E6300 by Tohru にゃん, on Flickr


Rapoo Bluetooth mini Keyboard E6300 by Tohru にゃん, on Flickr


iPad/iPhone (iOS) special keys on Rapoo Bluetooth mini Keyboard E6300 by Tohru にゃん, on Flickr


Back of Rapoo Bluetooth mini Keyboard E6300 by Tohru にゃん, on Flickr


Rapoo Keyboard vs Apple Wireless Keyboard by Tohru にゃん, on Flickr


Height Difference between Rapoo Keyboard and Apple Wireless Keyboard by Tohru にゃん, on Flickr


Height Difference between Rapoo Keyboard and Apple Wireless Keyboard by Tohru にゃん, on Flickr

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D

Deval

macrumors newbie
Dec 5, 2012
2
0
I read some of the reviews on the Zaggkeys Mini 7, and the majority stated that it was tough to use the iPad as a book grip.
 
ixodes

ixodes

macrumors 601
Jan 11, 2012
4,429
3
Pacific Coast, USA
ejin222 said:
Never thought about that option.. But I like those keyboards from Zagg or Logitech that you can rest the iPad in that groove. Just wondered if there's a Mini version out yet
Click to expand...

Yes there is, by ZAGG

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ejin222 said:
What I REALLY want is something like the ZAGGkeys ProPlus with the backlit keyboard but made for the Mini. Maybe I'll wait until ZAGG introduces it.
Click to expand...
I just bought the ZAGGkeys ProPlus for my iPad 4, it's an amazing experience. So much better than earlier models.
 
jacoder

jacoder

macrumors member
Feb 4, 2008
92
0
California
ninermac said:
Interested to hear your thoughts on this keyboard as I've been eying it. Brief review?

Thanks...
Click to expand...

The keyboard works out of box with iPad mini once done with bluetooth pairing.
Keys are a bit small, it took a little time to get used to if coming from regular keyboard like Apple Wireless keyboard; but it becomes very smooth once you get used to the size of keys.

Portability: Keyboard length is almost the same as iPad mini, width as half of iPad mini's, very portable, and it is light weight as well.

This is an excellent keyboard as iPad mini parter.

As matter of the fact, this review is typed from iPad mini using this E6300 keyboard. ^_^

Note: This is the same review I posted on Amazon. :D
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Dgail

Dgail

macrumors regular
Mar 10, 2011
105
1
Mt. Hood to Puget Sound
Keyboards for iPad mini

ejin222 said:
What I REALLY want is something like the ZAGGkeys ProPlus with the backlit keyboard but made for the Mini. Maybe I'll wait until ZAGG introduces it.
Click to expand...

Me too.

Am returning an iPad mini keyboard marketed by WirelessSound and it has a weird layout and missing the iPad specific function keys. Appears they took an netbook keyboard and married it to a nesting cover (which apparently does not have "sleep" magnets.) Albeit it is aluminum, there are little tabs that hold the iPad mini to it but I think it scratched one of the edges, so not a good fit.

So will wait until Zagg comes out with a ZaggKeys Pro Plus for the mini, I would guess would be around $70-80.

Or if Logitech comes out with and mini version of the Utrathin, that would work as the iPad mini is small and light enough to probably not require the little silicon tape in the groove that keeps migrating out under the weight of the full sized iPads. That would be a real nice answer since it attaches to the iPad just like the smart covers do.

I guess you gets what you pays for, the little keyboard I purchased was $50 including shipping. If Zagg or Logitech develops a nice nesting keyboard for the mini, I would be happy to pay $79-80 at this point to get a product that is proven and won't damage the iPad.
 
I

iSensei

macrumors regular
Nov 25, 2012
144
2
How on Earth can you use a keyboard with such a small screen??? Do you just squint really hard?
 
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IXDoubleDXI

macrumors regular
Jun 19, 2011
229
7
Central Florida
Thanks for mentioning the Rapoo keyboard. I needed a cheap (under $20) keyboard, but this one looks pretty sweet. I couldn't justify spending $43 on it via Amazon, since I probably won't be using it all the time, but I found a white one on there (same model) through Amazon Warehouse that was Like New for $17, so I picked it up. Figured if it's good, it was cheaper than any of the others I could find, if not, I can just return it.
 
Dgail

Dgail

macrumors regular
Mar 10, 2011
105
1
Mt. Hood to Puget Sound
Keyboards for the Mini

This topic seems to be scattered around several threads. Both Logitech and Belkin have introduced/announced keyboards that are based on the Logitech Ultralight keyboard cover. Uses a magnetic hinge closure and activates the Smart Cover magnets to turn on an off. They are not shipping yet, but a few reviewers have gotten their paws on them.

I understand Luvvitt will be coming out with a similar backlit design called the Gravity, but reviews were mixed on the full sized iPad model.
 
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mach5k

macrumors newbie
Feb 17, 2013
1
0
coverbot

when i am going to do a lot of typing on my mini at home/office I use the apple keyboard. But if I am going to a meeting or traveling i use the CoverBot. Was I think $35, rechargeable battery, and keys are decent. I would recommend it.
 
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