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it’s unclear to me what is the inherent problem with saying, “I like Apple products and this product suits my needs.” This thread just consists of people saying that it’s not as good as this or that, or it doesn’t fit some criteria or a laptop.
Its just a bunch of folks assuming they know someone else’s needs better than the actual person. Which just seems kinda silly.

One thing we are learning is that Apple defenders will always find a new pretzel shape to twist their logic into so that whatever Apple does or releases...."makes sense" and "is great"
 
Wait...I just realized that these lack the top row of function keys. I can see how you could maybe live without most of those keys, but if you're using a remote desktop app to run desktop apps, how do you handle the lack of an ESC key?
 
Anyone who uses a Smart Keyboard Folio knows that they are WAY too susceptible to falling backward because virtually all of the weight is in the iPad.
What size of iPad Pro?

I've never had my original 12.9inch iPad Pro (ordered 2 days after they were made available in the store, since passed down to a relative) or my 2018 12.9inch iPad Pro, both used exclusively with Smart Keyboard + Smart Case (original) or Smart Keyboard Folio (2018) fall over when using the keyboard, despite my sometimes rather careless poking at the screen while doing so.
 
Of course the keyboard needs tobe heavier than the ipad, or else the ipad will fall down on its back.
 
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Of course the keyboard needs tobe heavier than the ipad, or else the ipad will fall down on its back.

This entire debacle reminds me of that one designer Chris Bangle that designed the BMWs. Have you seen surface pro devices with kickstand? Best there is period. Apple instead chose to roll with Jony ives worst designer on the planet and you get something like an ipad today. Have to build these niche products just to make it work without falling over.
 


Apple hasn't specified the weight of its new Magic Keyboard, but a MacRumors reader who received their unit early has weighed the larger model for the 12.9-inch iPad Pro and found it to be 710 grams. That makes the Magic Keyboard heavier than the iPad Pro, which weighs 641 grams.

EBC4B2D2-E53F-4CFC-AA99-12E3605F206B.jpeg

Image by OzMoon

It's not surprising that the keyboard has to have some heft to counterbalance a connected iPad Pro and provide a sturdy base for working on. But that makes their combined weight 1,351 grams, which is heavier than a 13-inch MacBook Air (1,290 grams) and closer to the weight of a 13-inch MacBook Pro (1,370 grams).

So if you were expecting a 12.9-inch iPad Pro and Magic Keyboard to be a lighter option than using a laptop when you're on the road, then it's worth being aware that that's not necessarily going to be the case. On the other hand, 9to5Mac claims the Magic Keyboard for the 11-inch iPad Pro weighs 601 grams, which would mean that their combined weight would be 1,072 grams. That's lighter than any MacBook that Apple currently sells.

In our upcoming review of the new Magic Keyboard, we'll look at weight considerations, portability, and more. Apple's Magic Keyboard includes a floating cantilevered design for viewing angles, a backlit keyboard with scissor-switch keys, and an integrated trackpad. You can order one for the 11-inch iPad Pro for $299, and for the 12.9-inch iPad Pro for $349 on Apple.com.

Article Link: Combined Weight of a 12.9-inch iPad Pro and a Magic Keyboard Is Heavier Than a 13-inch MacBook Air


Apple hasn't specified the weight of its new Magic Keyboard, but a MacRumors reader who received their unit early has weighed the larger model for the 12.9-inch iPad Pro and found it to be 710 grams. That makes the Magic Keyboard heavier than the iPad Pro, which weighs 641 grams.

EBC4B2D2-E53F-4CFC-AA99-12E3605F206B.jpeg

Image by OzMoon

It's not surprising that the keyboard has to have some heft to counterbalance a connected iPad Pro and provide a sturdy base for working on. But that makes their combined weight 1,351 grams, which is heavier than a 13-inch MacBook Air (1,290 grams) and closer to the weight of a 13-inch MacBook Pro (1,370 grams).

So if you were expecting a 12.9-inch iPad Pro and Magic Keyboard to be a lighter option than using a laptop when you're on the road, then it's worth being aware that that's not necessarily going to be the case. On the other hand, 9to5Mac claims the Magic Keyboard for the 11-inch iPad Pro weighs 601 grams, which would mean that their combined weight would be 1,072 grams. That's lighter than any MacBook that Apple currently sells.

In our upcoming review of the new Magic Keyboard, we'll look at weight considerations, portability, and more. Apple's Magic Keyboard includes a floating cantilevered design for viewing angles, a backlit keyboard with scissor-switch keys, and an integrated trackpad. You can order one for the 11-inch iPad Pro for $299, and for the 12.9-inch iPad Pro for $349 on Apple.com.

Article Link: Combined Weight of a 12.9-inch iPad Pro and a Magic Keyboard Is Heavier Than a 13-inch MacBook Air

I bought the new keyboard (still waiting for delivery) as I do have an iPad Pro, don't have a MacBook Air and went for it because $350 is considerably less than the cost of a MacBook Air.
 
Genuinely very happy about this. Anyone who uses a Smart Keyboard Folio knows that they are WAY too susceptible to falling backward because virtually all of the weight is in the iPad. Seems like the added heft on the bottom will balance that out and make this (typing on my 11” Pro, waiting on a Smart pre-order) feel much more genuinely like a laptop replacement.

Also, cannot WAIT for backlit keys

(one more thing: if people are worried about this weighing too much…just remember, Apple laptops weighed 7+ lbs once upon a time ;-)

11 is to small for such a keyboard imho
 
In looking at this iPad/keyboard setup, it seems nice. And while I really like iPads they're just not there in terms of functionality for me, I would much rather use a Surface device. The kickstand is absolutely awesome. The keyboard is detachable. The overall weight is less. The operating system is more full-featured.

Some commenters earlier in this thread were railing against Windows, and while it is true that in tablet mode it's not as nice as iPadOS, it works incredibly well when using a web browser (better than mobile Safari). In addition, it becomes a full desktop operating system by simply attaching a keyboard. The Surface might not benchmark faster than an iPad but (as many Apple apologists have been saying for years) benchmarks don't tell the whole story. The sheer amount of tinkering and workarounds (especially with "file system" stuff) that one has to do on an iPad effectively makes all the performance gain worth nothing. The Surface (for me) is a substantially more productive devices; allowing me to get more done in a shorter period of time.

Windows 10 today is not what Windows was years ago. It's fast, and it works incredibly well. For me, I've found the Professional edition to be fantastic: Linux Subsystem, Hyper-V, etc. all available right out of the box.

The iPad Pro with Magic Keyboard seems like a tough sell to me. The Surface is lighter, does more (for me), and costs less.
 
This entire debacle reminds me of that one designer Chris Bangle that designed the BMWs. Have you seen surface pro devices with kickstand? Best there is period. Apple instead chose to roll with Jony ives worst designer on the planet and you get something like an ipad today. Have to build these niche products just to make it work without falling over.
I find the design of the iPad to be great. The current generation is amazing and the design is the best in the industry. I have used and have been using various Surface products and while their design and built quality is good, it does not even come close to The built quality of an iPad.
Now, the kickstand is nice to have, but it does make the design worse. If you are using the device as a tablet, then this is an issue, but the Surface is not suitable as a tablet anyway. As a laptop it does a good job though, if you like or need Windows in your life.

I don’t expect that everybody will find the design choices of Apple great, but this is so true for everything in life. Different people, different ability to understand and see quality.
 
This isn't an issue, it's a feature (to use that hackneyed phrase)

I'm not joking either. It's a simple case of ballast. It has to be this way. There are plenty of analogous examples of items with added weights to keep them from sliding around on a desk or floor. I often open up things to see if they have added ballast. Sometimes it's stacked iron slats on the bottom.
 
iPad has a larger screen. iPad is modular. Of course that is going to add size and weight compared to the "one piece" laptop where there screen can't be removed.
 
The file system and "laptop mode" iPad OS apps will get better and/or the introduction of OSX for ARM may make those non-concerns.

I'm not disagreeing with your post as a whole, but with respect to the above quote, exactly how long do we have to wait? It's taken Apple ten years to get us mouse/trackpad support on the iPad. Rhetorically asking here: Do we have to wait another ten years for better multitasking support?

can see how you could maybe live without most of those keys, but if you're using a remote desktop app to run desktop apps, how do you handle the lack of an ESC key?

I've found in many operating systems and applications Ctrl [ works as an Escape key.

the kickstand is nice to have, but it does make the design worse. If you are using the device as a tablet, then this is an issue, but the Surface is not suitable as a tablet anyway.

The Surface kickstand's huge range of motion makes it absolutely amazing when using the device in a lap (on a couch, chair, reclining, etc.). You can just set the device down on your legs or stomach and get the perfect angle. When you're not using it you collapse it and it sits flush with the rest of the frame of the device.
 
What size of iPad Pro?

I've never had my original 12.9inch iPad Pro (ordered 2 days after they were made available in the store, since passed down to a relative) or my 2018 12.9inch iPad Pro, both used exclusively with Smart Keyboard + Smart Case (original) or Smart Keyboard Folio (2018) fall over when using the keyboard, despite my sometimes rather careless poking at the screen while doing so.
Guess it’s mainly an issue on the 11”—I could see how the larger surface area would lend way to more balance.

11 is to small for such a keyboard imho
Keyboard is still full-size. That was one of the most exciting things to me when they introduced the 11” Pro. But as I said on another article, that trackpad…TBD.
 
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well the iPad Pro

offers

better performance
better battery
better screen
better speakers



than the macbook air

if anything it is the macbook air that is overweight compared to the performance it offers and just lighter by a few grams compared to the macbook pro and ipad pro.

macbook air offers better pro productivity.
 
“So if you were expecting a 12.9-inch ‌iPad Pro‌ and Magic Keyboard to be a lighter option than using a laptop when you're on the road, then it's worth being aware that that's not necessarily going to be the case”

no pun intended?
 
Guess it’s mainly an issue on the 11”—I could see how the larger surface area would lend way to more balance.


Keyboard is still full-size. That was one of the most exciting things to me when they introduced the 11” Pro. But as I said on another article, that trackpad…TBD.
The trackpad is definitely small. I would prefer a much bigger trackpad and actually I got into a situation today where I wanted to select a lot of text by using the trackpad and I reached the edge of the trackpad..This wouldn't happen so easy on a MacBook Pro. I guess that the second generation of the Magic Keyboard will improve on that. Actually I would have the following suggestions for Apple in regards to the second Magic Keyboard generation, for whenever that might come:
  • Provide more angles
  • Provide more color options and maybe a different material
  • Include an Esc key, an exposé key and volume controls.
These things are not major and do not destroy the overall user experience when using the Magic Keyboard, but could make the accessory even better.

As far as the feeling of typing concerns, the magic keyboard does feel better than the butterfly one in my MacBook Pro.
 
The trackpad is definitely small. I would prefer a much bigger trackpad and actually I got into a situation today where I wanted to select a lot of text by using the trackpad and I reached the edge of the trackpad..This wouldn't happen so easy on a MacBook Pro. I guess that the second generation of the Magic Keyboard will improve on that. Actually I would have the following suggestions for Apple in regards to the second Magic Keyboard generation, for whenever that might come:
  • Provide more angles
  • Provide more color options and maybe a different material
  • Include an Esc key, an exposé key and volume controls.
These things are not major and do not destroy the overall user experience when using the Magic Keyboard, but could make the accessory even better.

As far as the feeling of typing concerns, the magic keyboard does feel better than the butterfly one in my MacBook Pro.

I will always welcome more angles, however I suspect they are quite limited if they wanted to maintain the balance of the device at all angles.

Hopefully there are workarounds for when we need an ESC key. Expose is already available via 3 finger swipe up on the trackpad. Volume controls on the keyboard would seem redundant when they are already on the iPad itself.
 
I know about the three finger swipe, but why not have the option in the keyboard too? The Esc key can be remapped but of course it would be better if there was a dedicated key..
 

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I know about the three finger swipe, but why not have the option in the keyboard too? The Esc key can be remapped but of course it would be better if there was a dedicated key..

I think that there were extreme constraints on the number of possible keys in order to maintain the desired key size and spacing. Adding redundant keys was simply not going to happen.
 
I'm sure this has already been said, but this is just simple physics. The iPad 12.9 Pro is heavier than a 13" MacBook Pro screen. (By a lot I'm sure since it has the processor and battery in it. Therefore, it will be top heavy when mounted/attached to the keyboard. So it would tip over unless the keyboard assembly has enough mass. I have the Brydge Pro and it is definitely heavy but it doesn't tip backwards off my lap so that is all good. :) I also ordered one of these so I am anxious to see how it compares to the Brydge Pro.
 
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