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It is over extending because of the OS. You can slap a very expensive or a very low latency bluetooth external keyboard with trackpad into an iPad but it is still running on a gimp OS. Its different when using Macbook Pro in clamshell mode as a desktop replacement because when you do it you are experiencing a full desktop replacement because of the OS experience.

For me when you transform a device from one form factor to another, the transformation should include transformation of features from mobile to a laptop/desktop class experience.


There is a very simple solution to this. When you need a desktop just create a remote session to connect one. Then you get the best productivity of both iPadOS *and* either macOS or Windows 10.
 
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What excites me is another attempt to switch to iPad as my primary machine. Why do I like the idea of this?

Well, the iPad and iOS are simply a prettier solution. A tighter OS, face Id, pen, touch, tablet. But it's presently face Id that's important.

Worth a shot.
 
Seems like a no brainer if you already have the ipad. However I realky won’t get the choice of Bluetooth over SmartConnector. Using SmartConnector the keyboard could extend Battery Life and would have no pairing issues in a class room or company floor with a number of shared keyboards.

I don’t think there are any third party keyboards using the smartconnector are there? As far as I know only Apples does I’m guessing third party keyboards can’t use it for some reason?
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For everyone that says “just get a Mac” you can’t detach the keyboard from your Mac.
So you think that someone who has already spent hundreds of dollars if not over a grand on an iPad Pro should “just get a Mac” in order to have a keyboard with a trackpad?

Brilliant idea.

Also I don’t think iOS apps work on MacBooks and even if and when they do/will they don’t have touch screens so those are apps the don’t currently work on a Mac or won’t be the same experience.

That being said my current Brydge keyboard is awful. Like I wish I was using a Mac butterfly keyboard instead awful. Super vague response and my enter key rarely actions and when it does it actions like ten times in a row going down ten lines or never loading a website properly when trying to enter a web address in a browser bar.

Hope this version is better.
 
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Let's just take the Windows laptop manufacters' lead and make a damn laptop with a touchscreen. Rip the band aid off and be done with the hubris.
 
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Just give us a macbook pro with detachabled ipad as a screen...
when put together -> macbook pro with touchscreen (or even deactivate it when connected..) with macOS.
When detached -> iPad pro with ipadOS.
memory synced when connected or even only put the memory in the ipad -> all your data always with you

make something like the surface book 2, but with both worlds (macOS + ipadOS) together.

I would pay big money for this...
 
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I think the iPad is a great device. It is even superior to a laptop for some tasks. It is also more portable than a laptop. The problem with many of these accessories is that they kind of detract from the simplicity of the original tablet concept. They can add bulk and make the device less comfortable to hold, which is an essential part of a touch first device. Your hands need to be close to the screen to take full advantage of the OS.

I can see using a KB with my iPad from time to time. But, if I needed one permanently attached, then that would probably be a signal that a laptop is the better solution.

Of course the other solution is to own both a tablet and a laptop, which gives you the best of both worlds. The base iPad is pretty inexpensive and capable, so you don’t need to break the bank to have both.
 
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Trackpad/mouse support is still in it’s infancy on iOS, I wouldn’t lay money down for it until it’s more fleshed out “properly” and not hidden away in accessibility settings.

That said, all the “get a MacBook” advice is redundant and unnecessary. Good luck using a pencil, having inbuilt LTE, and using your MacBook in portrait.

I have and use a MBP, but it’s a different experience, and my 11” LTE iPad Pro is a much better travel companion, with or without a trackpad. Everyone’s experience varies.
 
I have been a long time Brydge keyboard user (since the introduction from Kickstarter) and I have gone thru 3 generations of their keyboards. They are great and the battery life lasts forever and the keyboard feels really really nice to type on, but this new one for $199 is a getting a little step. I am going to try this instead: https://www.indiegogo.com/projects/the-most-functional-keyboard-for-ipad-pro/x/4443443#/. This devices uses the Smart Connector
 
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Looks great, but the price is too high. I would love to see Apple develop a clam shell book based on two iPad Pro's joined by a hinge and magnets to avoid the screens touching. Touchscreen keyboard that adapts to the app you are using on the bottom half. This is something I would buy easily day 1. I used macOS the other day and hated it, everything was slow and dated - iOS beats it in every way for me.
You want an iPad Neo?
 
Seems like a no brainer if you already have the ipad. However I realky won’t get the choice of Bluetooth over SmartConnector. Using SmartConnector the keyboard could extend Battery Life and would have no pairing issues in a class room or company floor with a number of shared keyboards.
Could be mistaken, but I believe this is using bluetooth because native mouse support isn't actually a "thing" on iPad OS as of yet - the ability to use a mouse is an add-on for accessibility purposes and, as such, is currently bluetooth only.

I completely agree that Apple should have full and robust mouse support for iPad OS including gesture support, 3D-click, etc., and should allow for controlling it through the smart connector, but this may or may not ever happen. (unfortunately)
 
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Not in the market because I have a current gen MBA and a Apple Smart Keyboard for my 11" iPad Pro that works fine, but I really wish we could jump in our time machine and go back to the time before all this pay now, get your stuff at some approximate time in the future. I'm all about the immediate gratification and moving more of the risk back onto the supplier rather than the consumer.
 
Great idea. Brydge makes solid iPad Keyboards. If they would only make it so you can move the iPad 360 degrees to reading mode, then they would have a real winner, as it is to hard to take of the keyboard for reading in horizontal mode.

Where as the Apple Keyboard just comes right off. The biggest disappointment of the current Apple Keyboard is it wears to quickly. Quality is really bad compared to previous iPad keyboards. I am on my second one and letters are already worn and so ripples are on the back of the case. Apple should be embarrassed, especially as they are not cheap.
 



Apple accessory maker Brydge this week introduced a new iPad Pro keyboard with a built-in multi-touch trackpad.

Taking advantage of new AssistiveTouch functionality in iPadOS, the trackpad can be used to bring up the Dock from any app with a two-finger tap, access the App Exposé screen with a three-finger tap, and more.

brydge-ipad-pro-keyboard-trackpad-800x603.png

The full-size QWERTY keyboard features LED-backlit keys with three levels of brightness and an advertised three-month battery life per charge. It is compatible with the latest-generation 11-inch and 12.9-inch iPad Pro models, connecting via Bluetooth 4.1 rather than the Smart Connector.

Pricing is set at $199.99 for the 11-inch iPad Pro and $229.99 for the 12.9-inch iPad Pro, with the first 500 pre-orders estimated to ship in late February 2020, followed by the remainder of pre-orders shipping in late March 2020.

brydge-ipad-pro-trackpad-800x348.jpg

Brydge is also gauging interest for a standalone multi-touch trackpad for the iPad Pro, pictured above, that is "coming soon."

Article Link: Brydge Introduces iPad Pro Keyboard With Multi-Touch Trackpad, Also Teases Standalone Trackpad

It's almost like they've made a macbook air!!
 
I don’t think there are any third party keyboards using the smartconnector are there? As far as I know only Apples does I’m guessing third party keyboards can’t use it for some reason?
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Also I don’t think iOS apps work on MacBooks and even if and when they do/will they don’t have touch screens so those are apps the don’t currently work on a Mac or won’t be the same experience.

That being said my current Brydge keyboard is awful. Like I wish I was using a Mac butterfly keyboard instead awful. Super vague response and my enter key rarely actions and when it does it actions like ten times in a row going down ten lines or never loading a website properly when trying to enter a web address in a browser bar.

Hope this version is better.

Yep, that's been a continuing problem. I had a key die on mine under warranty so i got a replacement. (Funny, they tell you to destroy your old one and send them a pic, rather than take the broken one back!). Anyway, the newer one still isn't as responsive as a mac keyboard (like, a mac desktop keyboard where the keys are physically similar)- but it's better than the first one I had. So their quality control isn't great especially for the high cost. I really want this new keyboard because it looks like the only game in town for a built in trackpad for the 11", so I hope the keyboard is improved.
 
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To all the naysayers... it’s called CHOICE. Don’t like it? Don’t buy it. Simple.

I’d rather see a product like this available than not.
 
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In an earlier post, I might have come down too hard on keyboard cases in general.

I think there are situations where a keyboard case makes sense. For example, if I had a desktop computer at home or office and just needed a simple solution for mobile computing, then an iPad plus attached keyboard might be the right answer.

As always, it really depends on your use case.
 
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Yes, if they expect to do creative work. Even with an accessory keyboard, the iPad is not suited for everyday work tasks. A MBA or MBP will get the job done faster.

Your argument is very flawed.

If they expect to do creative work then they almost certainly already have a Mac for that. You can’t have it both ways.

If you already needed a Mac for anything this thing doesn’t provide then you already have a Mac.

If you didn’t already need a Mac for something and therefore don’t have one, then you don’t need to get one, regardless.

In either case, this device could be a compelling addition to what you’re using/want/need your iPad Pro for. There is no argument for “get a Mac instead of this” if you already have or are considering an iPad Pro for what an iPad Pro is good for.
 
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Yep, that's been a continuing problem. I had a key die on mine under warranty so i got a replacement. (Funny, they tell you to destroy your old one and send them a pic, rather than take the broken one back!). Anyway, the newer one still isn't as responsive as a mac keyboard (like, a mac desktop keyboard where the keys are physically similar)- but it's better than the first one I had. So their quality control isn't great especially for the high cost. I really want this new keyboard because it looks like the only game in town for a built in trackpad for the 11", so I hope the keyboard is improved.

the best keyboard in a iPad Pro keyboard is easily the Logitech love that keyboard but the overall package was kind of bulky and only had one or two viewing angles. The best part of the brydge is the adjustable viewing angles.
 
It is over extending because of the OS. You can slap a very expensive or a very low latency bluetooth external keyboard with trackpad into an iPad but it is still running on a gimp OS. Its different when using Macbook Pro in clamshell mode as a desktop replacement because when you do it you are experiencing a full desktop replacement because of the OS experience.

For me when you transform a device from one form factor to another, the transformation should include transformation of features from mobile to a laptop/desktop class experience.


You’re missing the point. Your argument almost entirely stems from your opinion that iPadOS is a gimp OS. Ok. Perhaps it is to you. But some people actually prefer iOS/iPadOS over macOS. There’s a lot it has to offer that macOS doesn’t have that some people prefer.

So for those people, take out that assumption of yours (that iOS/iPadOS is gimp)... what have you got left in your point?
 
You’re missing the point. Your argument almost entirely stems from your opinion that iPadOS is a gimp OS. Ok. Perhaps it is to you. But some people actually prefer iOS/iPadOS over macOS. There’s a lot it has to offer that macOS doesn’t have that some people prefer.

So for those people, take out that assumption of yours (that iOS/iPadOS is gimp)... what have you got left in your point?

If you don't see how gimp the iOS/iPadOS compared to macOS then I guess your workflow is enough for a mobile OS :)

But the fact is it is nowhere near the capabilities of a macOS or Windows OS which provide full desktop functions. Maybe you're looking at it in the perspective that it can play 4k video, play some AAA games and it can do office applications. But a Raspberry Pi 4 with 4 Gb RAM running Raspbian can do that also and more. Although it can't play AAA games (Minecraft works fine :) ) but it can do more than iOS in terms of functions. It has better multi-tasking, multiple window/apps at the same time and accessible file system.

iOS is a mobile OS and it can't compete with desktop class OSes like macOS, Windows, Linux or UNIX.
 
If you don't see how gimp the iOS/iPadOS compared to macOS then I guess your workflow is enough for a mobile OS :)

But the fact is it is nowhere near the capabilities of a macOS or Windows OS which provide full desktop functions. Maybe you're looking at it in the perspective that it can play 4k video, play some AAA games and it can do office applications. But a Raspberry Pi 4 with 4 Gb RAM running Raspbian can do that also and more. Although it can't play AAA games (Minecraft works fine :) ) but it can do more than iOS in terms of functions. It has better multi-tasking, multiple window/apps at the same time and accessible file system.

iOS is a mobile OS and it can't compete with desktop class OSes like macOS, Windows, Linux or UNIX.
Your still operating under the false pretense that EVERYONE needs a desktop OS, or what they are using is somehow 'gimped'.

If a person can do what they need or want to do on any OS, it isn't 'gimped'. They are able to do what they need to do.

To YOU it's 'gimped' seemingly because any kind of inconvenience means something is hampered or hindered. Unfortunately that isn't correct, that's just a personal belief you insist must apply to anyone else.

Also who says playing 'AAA' games is metric for anything? Especially if one doesn't play games?
 
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