Logitech Announces New FabricSkin Keyboard Folio

$150...

Very cool idea.... but i can't imagine typing on that thing

finally but not for $150

MacRumors said:

Logitech's FabricSkin Keyboard Folio can be preordered for $150.

Click to expand...

I'm sure it can, but you'd have to be batcrap crazy to pay that for it unless you've got disposable income.

The price doesn't seem unreasonable for those who want both a case and a keyboard for their iPad. I don't own an iPad though and even if I did, I wouldn't want or need a case or a keyboard.

More expensive than the Surface Touch Cover. You know you're overpriced when Microsoft's Surface line has something cheaper.

No thanks I'll stick to my $40 dollar iPad case which I protects my ipad and I won't care about as much if it gets lost or damaged!

Notice they don't say how much it weighs, which is as important to me as how thin it is.

And for $150 ...

ArtOfWarfare said:

The price doesn't seem unreasonable for those who want both a case and a keyboard for their iPad. I don't own an iPad though and even if I did, I wouldn't want or need a case or a keyboard.

Click to expand...

I own an iPad 4 and Logitech Ultrathin Keyboard Cover. I do not recommend a keyboard cover or case to most people unless they really absolutely need one. I got the Ultrathin because it can be easily detached and left in my iPad envelope carrying case while I use my iPad. This is because I use the iPad without the keyboard over 90% of the time. The only reason to have the keyboard is when I am working on my book so the on-screen keyboard does not take screen real estate (i.e.: I can see more of the text that I typed and scroll less).

Because of this, I find any keyboard that does not easily get out of the way of the iPad being tablet to be useless. This one from Logitech looks like it almost folds well behind the back, but it looks awkward. Also, the price of this case is way too high at $150.

For most people I recommend an iPad with AppleCare+ warranty and a smart cover to prevent screen scratches. If you must get a case, get a thin one that covers the back and edges and is smart-cover compatible. If you must have a keyboard (e.g.: for long-form writing) then the Logitech Ultrathin Keyboard Cover + DodoCase BookBack + Smart Cover actually work well together. You can still fit a Smart Cover under the Ultrathin so you can have the screen protected while leaving the keyboard in a neoprene or leather sleeve.

I highly recommend a neoprene or leather sleeve as a carrying case for the iPad. You can still get the leather ones that Verizon sold with the iPad 1 on Amazon for under $10. They include a pouch for carrying the Verizon MiFi, but that pouch can be used to carry a microfiber cloth and/or a stylus as well.

Finally, do NOT buy Apple's Smart Case. We bought one for my wife's grandpa, and while he was satisfied, the thing did not fit very snugly on the iPad and I found it completely frustrating.

This cover costs as much as a Nexus 7 !

And many other tablets.

And it's not even a real keyboard.

You gotta be crazy to get this

I found using my apple keyboard with my iPad when I tried to do some more substantial typing to be a bit awkward. Taking your hands off the keyboard to touch the screen is surprisingly inconvenient. That's why keyboard shortcuts exists and I was also surprised to find that they are mostly missing from iOS.

I think the trackpad support (as included in Surface covers) is the answer. I've been waiting for years for a decent hybrid of touch for browsing/casual use and proper OS support for work. MS is definitely closer than Apple but not there yet. Hope Apple respond with a worthwhile alternative.

The price point is ridiculous. I don't see this selling well but then again, Vaja cases are even more expensive and people love those. I know I'm comparing apples and oranges there.

jessica. said:

The price point is ridiculous. I don't see this selling well but then again, Vaja cases are even more expensive and people love those. I know I'm comparing apples and oranges there.

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To me this seems like more of a technology experiment, where they are using some sort of fabric with the electronics woven into it to make a keyboard. I think they are probably wanting to see how it does in the wild rather than expecting high sales. If it does work well it could be the start of something interesting.

BC2009 said:

I do not recommend a keyboard cover or case to most people unless they really absolutely need one.

For most people I recommend an iPad with AppleCare+ warranty and a smart cover to prevent screen scratches. If you must get a case, get a thin one that covers the back and edges and is smart-cover compatible. If you must have a keyboard (e.g.: for long-form writing) then the Logitech Ultrathin Keyboard Cover + DodoCase BookBack + Smart Cover actually work well together. You can still fit a Smart Cover under the Ultrathin so you can have the screen protected while leaving the keyboard in a neoprene or leather sleeve.

I highly recommend a neoprene or leather sleeve as a carrying case for the iPad. You can still get the leather ones that Verizon sold with the iPad 1 on Amazon for under $10. They include a pouch for carrying the Verizon MiFi, but that pouch can be used to carry a microfiber cloth and/or a stylus as well.

Finally, do NOT buy Apple's Smart Case. We bought one for my wife's grandpa, and while he was satisfied, the thing did not fit very snugly on the iPad and I found it completely frustrating.

Click to expand...

This is a pretty prescriptive set of instructions, which I'm sure fits your use very well, but you may be surprised to hear that it may not apply to everyone on here. It sounds like even your grandfather-in-law doesn't agree.

Personally I find the Smart Case to offer significantly more protection than the cover for roughly the same price. It does perhaps make the iPad more hefty, but more rugged things do tend to be, and I don't particularly share Apple's opinion on thinness above all else (sounds a bit Californian to me).

rmwebs said:

I'm sure it can, but you'd have to be batcrap crazy to pay that for it unless you've got disposable income.

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Even if I was going to buy one I would at least want to try one out first. Looks like some new technology in it which may or may not work that well.

Mr. Gates said:

This cover costs as much as a Nexus 7 !

And many other tablets.

And it's not even a real keyboard.

You gotta be crazy to get this

Click to expand...

But to be fair the Nexus 7 and 10 are cheap because they ARE cheap. People who have had them since they were released have already reported greatly reduced battery life and other issues.

Looks like a Surface Touch Cover to me

Not only does this look like a Microsoft Surface Touch Cover, it even makes the iPad look like a Surface by hiding it in the jacket of the cover itself. I had to pause it a few times because image did not have the familiar shape if the iPad and I wasn't at all sure I was even looking at an iPad at all.

Nice product (for some).
But what a horrible video — it's just too much for too long.

Please dont...

hexor said:

But to be fair the Nexus 7 and 10 are cheap because they ARE cheap. People who have had them since they were released have already reported greatly reduced battery life and other issues.

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Please don't hijack the thread with irrelevant anecdotal "Apple is better than Android, Android sucks because...". This thread is about the efficacy of the Logitech FabricSkin Keyboard Folio.

/on topic
It looks nice. Not sure if it will be effective for typing on a lap though. I wonder how sturdy the typing surface is.

Eugh, I did NOT like the Surface keyboard due to it being made of cloth. It looks cute, but once you actually try typing on it, it's completely just eww and feels weird.

I really hope the fabric trend dies out because of this. I like the style, but I'd rather have it like with the Smart Cover rubber for the keys themselves.

can promo videos stop being the same over & over?

same visual style, same music style, same verbal style

-edit-
looking at it again, overall volume seems excessive, having to charge the bluetooth keypad is ridiculous, iPad bluetooth usage for keystroking will result in lower battery life.

all on all, no way

ArtOfWarfare said:

The price doesn't seem unreasonable for those who want both a case and a keyboard for their iPad. I don't own an iPad though and even if I did, I wouldn't want or need a case or a keyboard.

Click to expand...

Hilarious post. You don't own an iPad and see no need for a keyboard. You're clearly in the target audience of Logitech for this product.

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csjcsj said:

Notice they don't say how much it weighs, which is as important to me as how thin it is.

Click to expand...

Notice you didn't think to go to the Logitech site to get this information. Clearly it was not that important to you.

Asriel said:

This is a pretty prescriptive set of instructions, which I'm sure fits your use very well, but you may be surprised to hear that it may not apply to everyone on here. It sounds like even your grandfather-in-law doesn't agree.

Personally I find the Smart Case to offer significantly more protection than the cover for roughly the same price. It does perhaps make the iPad more hefty, but more rugged things do tend to be, and I don't particularly share Apple's opinion on thinness above all else (sounds a bit Californian to me).

Click to expand...

I hardly assume my use cases fit everybody's needs, so please don't imply it.

My wife's grandpa accepted the iPad Smart Case on his iPad 2 because he simply did not know much better and did not want to bother with returning it.

However, the fit of the Smart case on the iPad 2 is not a problem having to do with thinness, but with how snug it grips the device. This may be a problem born of the fact that the iPad 3 and iPad 4 are technically slightly thicker than iPad 2 or it could have been a defective Smart Case, but the feel of the case moving while the iPad did not because you gripped it is not a good feeling in the hand.

Nevertheless, I am just sharing the advice I give people who ask me if I like my Ultrathin Keyboard Cover. The short story is that I don't recommend it unless you really need it.

Has anyone preordered this case and/or received it?

Are there any coupon codes that can be used to get this at a less than the $149 MSRP?