Need iPad case with built-in keyboad

[pinsrw]

Hi all,

I own the Apple case for the iPad, and the external wireless keyboard, but I find that from a practical perspective I really need to have the two physically connected.

I've noticed a few nice-looking keyboard+case products for iPad but so far I have no found a good review of them and at least one crucial piece of information seems to be hard to come by from the manufacturers' websites: The key pitch i.e. center-to-center distance between keys.

I know from experience that 19mm is the minimum key pitch that I can accept. But is there a keyboard+case product that offers a good quality keyboard with that pitch?

Thanks.

 

[GotiPad]

Did you check this thread

 

[MikePA]

I know from experience that 19mm is the minimum key pitch that I can accept. But is there a keyboard+case product that offers a good quality keyboard with that pitch?

If this information is not on the vendor website, you are not going to find it here. Plus 19 mm x the number of keys across the top of a standard keyboard works out to 247 mm or 9.7 inches. The iPad is only 9.6 inches at its longest. Case makers focus on making the case only a little larger than the iPad. They are not focused on 19 mm between keys. You are not going to find the case you're looking for. The biggest case w/keyboard I know of is the Rocketfish case available at Bestbuy and the reviews on the forums indicate it's BIG when compared to the iPad.

 

[pinsrw]

Did you check this thread

I carefully examined the Zagg website and there was not a single mention of what the key pitch distance is i.e. center-to-center between keys.

Also many of the Amazon reviews of this product are negative.

 

[pinsrw]

If this information is not on the vendor website, you are not going to find it here. Plus 19 mm x the number of keys across the top of a standard keyboard works out to 247 mm or 9.7 inches. The iPad is only 9.6 inches at its longest. Case makers focus on making the case only a little larger than the iPad. They are not focused on 19 mm between keys. You are not going to find the case you're looking for. The biggest case w/keyboard I know of is the Rocketfish case available at Bestbuy and the reviews on the forums indicate it's BIG when compared to the iPad.

I just found a review at notebook.com that basically said all these products suffer from too-small keys.

Not that they need to, necessarily. When I place my iPad above my MBP's keyboard, I see there is room for bigger keys if some are left out, especially caps lock, and the wide keys like Shift and Return are made narrow like A,S,D,F etc..

For now, I will just have to lug my external wireless keyboard with me when I think I'll need to do any serious typing.

 

[MikePA]

I just found a review at notebook.com that basically said all these products suffer from too-small keys.

The reviewer has a knack for pointing out the obvious.

Not that they need to, necessarily. When I place my iPad above my MBP's keyboard, I see there is room for bigger keys if some are left out, especially caps lock, and the wide keys like Shift and Return are made narrow like A,S,D,F etc..

Leave some keys out? Oh, yeah, that'll be a big seller. Most people don't like the fact that the 'rubbery' keyboards do not have a right shift key. They'd line up for one that's missing even more keys. Most people would rather have all the keys in their standard locations than have them removed.

For now, I will just have to lug my external wireless keyboard with me when I think I'll need to do any serious typing.

Lug or use a keyboard that's about 86% the size of a standard keyboard. Simple choice. Alternatively, developing a keyboard with missing keys sounds like a great business opportunity.

 

[pinsrw]

\Alternatively, developing a keyboard with missing keys sounds like a great business opportunity.

Such expert sarcasm!

Actually, the best mobile keyboard I ever used was scorned by lazy reviewers but was extremely good quality, on the level of IBM Thinkpads.

It was the folding keyboard for the Palm:
http://www.amazon.com/PalmOne-Portable-Keyboard-Palm-Handhelds/dp/B00004WHF9/ref=sr_1_19?ie=UTF8&qid=1297169790&sr=8-19

However, I have just found a new folding keyboard that may suit my needs:
http://matias.ca/foldingkeyboard/

 

[MikePA]

However, I have just found a new folding keyboard that may suit my needs:
http://matias.ca/foldingkeyboard/

Congrats, and it doesn't appear they left out any keys. Not a case with built in keyboard though,

A Macbook Air 11" is 11.8" x 7.6" x 0.7".
A Matias keyboard is 10.1" x 5" x 1.4".

iPad with Matias - $599 - $929
MBA11 - $999 and it's got 19mm between the keys. Apple refurb store has 2 for sale at $849 and $1,019.

Food for thought.

 

[ctyhntr]

The Palm Keyboard is priced right. Wonder what it will take to work with the iPad.

Such expert sarcasm!

Actually, the best mobile keyboard I ever used was scorned by lazy reviewers but was extremely good quality, on the level of IBM Thinkpads.

It was the folding keyboard for the Palm:
http://www.amazon.com/PalmOne-Portable-Keyboard-Palm-Handhelds/dp/B00004WHF9/ref=sr_1_19?ie=UTF8&qid=1297169790&sr=8-19

However, I have just found a new folding keyboard that may suit my needs:
http://matias.ca/foldingkeyboard/

 

[MikePA]

Wonder what it will take to work with the iPad.

A miracle.