Apple Smart Keyboard Folio or Magic Keyboard for use on floor – thoughts?

[Be3G]

Hi all,

Slightly unusual scenario here. Every year in London (well, until that thing happened in 2020…) we have a big event that takes place and which means, if you go to it, you can spend lots of time over the course of several weeks sitting on a cold hard floor. I've got an iPad Pro 12.9 4th-gen and have been considering buying a keyboard, but if I do, I'd like to find one that works when sitting cross-legged on the floor so I can at least be productive when waiting around. Can anyone comment on if either of the two Apple keyboards are usable and – most importantly – stable enough in this scenario? I've seen people say they work well on a lap, but I imagine cross-legged would make them more precarious so I'd be really keen to learn if anyone has tried this themselves.

I have considered going keyboard-less because the on-screen keyboard of the 12.9 is pretty usable, but it still takes away nearly half of the screen that I could be using more productively, and I want to have things like keyboard shortcuts and arrow keys.

Another thought I had is to buy a stand (something like the TwelveSouth Compass Pro) to place the iPad on the floor in front of me, and then use a standalone combi keyboard+trackpad on my lap… but I'm not sure something like this exists for the iPad. Something like a Logitech Keys To Go with an attached trackpad would be great. The trackpad would be necessarily because it'd be terribly unergonomic to type on a keyboard on my legs then reach over to tap something on the iPad screen.

I've considered keyboards like Brydge but they don't do them in an English UK layout. Logitech do make one with the right layout (the Slim Folio Pro) but it looks terribly heavy for just a keyboard case without even a trackpad.

So, any advice/ideas/thoughts about this would be greatly appreciated!

 

[satchmo]

Hi all,

Slightly unusual scenario here. Every year in London (well, until that thing happened in 2020…) we have a big event that takes place and which means, if you go to it, you can spend lots of time over the course of several weeks sitting on a cold hard floor. I've got an iPad Pro 12.9 4th-gen and have been considering buying a keyboard, but if I do, I'd like to find one that works when sitting cross-legged on the floor so I can at least be productive when waiting around. Can anyone comment on if either of the two Apple keyboards are usable and – most importantly – stable enough in this scenario? I've seen people say they work well on a lap, but I imagine cross-legged would make them more precarious so I'd be really keen to learn if anyone has tried this themselves.

I have considered going keyboard-less because the on-screen keyboard of the 12.9 is pretty usable, but it still takes away nearly half of the screen that I could be using more productively, and I want to have things like keyboard shortcuts and arrow keys.

Another thought I had is to buy a stand (something like the TwelveSouth Compass Pro) to place the iPad on the floor in front of me, and then use a standalone combi keyboard+trackpad on my lap… but I'm not sure something like this exists for the iPad. Something like a Logitech Keys To Go with an attached trackpad would be great. The trackpad would be necessarily because it'd be terribly unergonomic to type on a keyboard on my legs then reach over to tap something on the iPad screen.

I've considered keyboards like Brydge but they don't do them in an English UK layout. Logitech do make one with the right layout (the Slim Folio Pro) but it looks terribly heavy for just a keyboard case without even a trackpad.

So, any advice/ideas/thoughts about this would be greatly appreciated!

Slightly?

Not good for your posture, but if this is your workflow, you're probably better off with some stand and this keyboard:

Keyboard With Touchpad for ipad Bluetooth iPad Pro 11 12 9 10 2 7th 8th Air 3 4 for sale | eBay

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[Be3G]

Interesting to see such a product does exist, thanks! I'd prefer to find a product that people have experience of and can vouch for though… these cheap eBay things aren't always the most reliable, sadly.

 

[DiamondarBoss]

For use on your crossed legs, the Magic Keyboard is superior. The Smart Keyboard Folio is too flimsy and isn’t great. Also, the angles on it aren’t very adjustable. I’d say go for the Magic Keyboard.

 

[Be3G]

Thanks DiamondarBoss. The appeal of the Smart Keyboard is its weight compared to the Magic Keyboard, but that's a good point in particular about the angles – I hadn't thought of that!

 

[papbot]

Thanks DiamondarBoss. The appeal of the Smart Keyboard is its weight compared to the Magic Keyboard, but that's a good point in particular about the angles – I hadn't thought of that!

The angles are adjustable but the weight of the ipad can unbalance the whole thing. I do use the Magic Keyboard with my 12.9 iPad Pro on my lap with either a pillow or one of those lap desks that have a hard surface with a pillow-like support underneath. In both of these instances the pillow can be plumped and manipulated to keep the whole combo balanced at the most usable angle for me. With my legs crossed or being cross legged on the floor this would be difficult to do and keep the combo balanced without tipping backward.

I also have the Smart Keyboard folio and even though the angles are not adjustable it is more stable in a variety of positions. It’s much less prone to tipping. I will also place a pillow underneath it when on my lap and it’s easy to manipulate the pillow to get the angle you need. And if your position shifts frequently it is much less prone to tipping. If your position is going to be flat with little or no shifting then the Magic Keyboard would work well. But for shifting and movement the SKF will be more usable and stable.

I love them both and if I were going to be sitting at a desk or counter I’d take the Magic keyboard, in your situation I’d be taking the folio.