First Magic Keyboard for iPad Pro Hands-On Videos Appear Online

[btrach144]

This version seems to have a higher center of gravity compared to the previous one. I wonder what that means for using it in your lap? Does that mean it will tip or fall over easier?

 

[sledgehammer89]

Smart Keyboard is dust-protected and better for me. Love it since day 1. Can use it at the breakfast table and out in the garden, where we have much pollen right now.

For working I have a Magic Trackpad 2 and place it where ever I need it. Never liked Trackpads in front of the Keyboard.

On the couch and for casual things I don't need much Trackpad and/or Smart Keyboard. iPadOS is a Tablet OS.

 

[petvas]

Apps Like Word need to be updated to support the trackpad properly. You can still use it but it is not as fluid without proper trackpad support.

and that is an issue but I guess it will take some time until most apps support Cursor in iPadOS properly.

 

[JGIGS]

Am I taking crazy pills or something? Why are so many people complaining about being able to flip it around like the smart folios? Just take it off and leave the magic keyboard in your bag on on your desk OR buy a smart folio product instead.

Clearly this is meant as a way to make the iPad Pro more like a laptop/laptop type of docking station and add a trackpad.

My concerns are it does look a bit wobbly but I kind of expected that and honestly, it’s probably less wobbly than I originally expected. Without using it yet, it might have been nice if you could push the screen back further but the weight balancing doesn’t seem to allow that. Lastly it seems to look like the materials aren’t the nicest quality. Force touch track pad would have been nice to hot have that moving part. Not being able to use the USB to connect to other peripherals is a bit of a bummer but at least you can charge and use the iPads port for that.

I recently replaced my faulty Brydge keyboard on warranty and I’m enjoying that experience a lot more though it’s heavy, not the best key feel IMO and a bit of a pain to remove and a bit pain to put back in. If I didn’t already have the Brydge I’d definitely consider the magic keyboard but the price right now is a bit of a hard sell.

 

[Benjamid]

Nice review, but honestly man- clean that room up bro.

Ok, Jordan Peterson! I will will also slay the dragon and save my father from the bottom of the ocean!

 

[kissmo]

That they cripple the Mac to boost this crap.

I am not sure I understand how?

Rather than buying an iPad pro 12 inch with the new magick keyboard I would for sure buy the Mac if I had no HW and have to make a choice.
But iPad still cannot replace a Mac in several areas, although it comes close in others.
Maybe eventually they will be one thing, I don’t know.... even if so, it will take a while for transition.

Look, I have a MBP 15 inch 2018 and an iPad pro 11, 2018.
I ordered the keyboard, though I barely afford it, but when I travel for short periods of time (work related) I prefer the form factor for the iPad.
Airport check-in, hotel, running left and right, it’s easier with a device small enough to bag and not worry about.

I love the iPad for what it does, and I don’t feel like it cripples the Mac at all. On the contrary, it feels more like an extension. Like the Watch is for the iPhone (well something like that...)
I mean, email, some productivity apps, web browsing - these are cool when you need a small footprint, no fans, good battery, fast on-off, etc...
A mac is not that in any way - at least to me.

Surely I am missing other use cases - I am just curious which?
Anyway, I don’t think the release of a keyboard with trackpad does harm to a laptop line. It’s a keyboard and a mouse in one. People can use those separately anyay!

 

[ziggie216]

Any idea what's the weight of magic keyboard vs smart folio keyboard?

 

[Icaras]

I hope to god that never happens.

Expected to be disappointed come 2021 then.

 

[EugW]

Any idea what's the weight of magic keyboard vs smart folio keyboard?

For the 11” apparently twice as much. ~600 g vs <300 g.

Dunno about the 12.9”.

 

[cmaier]

Any idea what's the weight of magic keyboard vs smart folio keyboard?

Just about double the weight.

 

[LovingTeddy]

How do I save this post for when iOS replaces Mac OS in the next 10 years?

Buddy... This going to happen. But it is not iOS replace MacOS... It will be a universal OS works on all kind of devices, like currently Windows 10 does.

 

[GoodWheaties]

Also you get spilt screen on iPad which you don’t get on macOS

Just wanted to comment on this. MacOS has had Split View since El Capitan.

 

[petvas]

Buddy... This going to happen. But it is not iOS replace MacOS... It will be a universal OS works on all kind of devices, like currently Windows 10 does.

We don’t know that for sure. I personally prefer to have two OSes

 

[Stenik]

I don't understand why people buy iPad + Keyboard just to have a subpar experience on an operating system created for phones. I've always wanted to love the iPads but they are just useless for any productive tasks besides drawing.

Just get the Macbook Air instead.

 

[Aluminum213]

Buddy... This going to happen. But it is not iOS replace MacOS... It will be a universal OS works on all kind of devices, like currently Windows 10 does.

and this trackpad support will speed that process up

the iPad Pro is more powerful than the weakest MacBooks, just never had the controls till now

 

[Joniz]

I’m just posting because it seems like everyone else is here posting.

Stupid coronavirus.

 

[OneMike]

Cancelled my pre-order. The holy grail is a case that can completely do both a "laptop mode" position and a "tablet mode" position. This is still not that. I don't need to spend an extra 400 dollars to turn my iPad Pro into a MacBook Air with a neutered OS.

I agree with this. I didn’t preorder. I wanted to see some real world usage first. I think everything said it’s ok, but I’m going to pass on it

 

[Mr. Awesome]

I think “tapping” still works. The force touch is just haptic feedback when you press down. This just actually presses down. Tap to click and force touch are two different things.

merit: nm, reread your post and you seem to get that

Yep. I have a MacBook Pro with a Force Touch trackpad, and I can’t imagine going back to a regular one, so this’ll have to be a pretty good one for me to like it.
[automerge]1587243724[/automerge]

Force touch for what? Apple’s even phased force touch out of iphones, and it never existed in ipads. What would a force touch do?

Force Touch for trackpads is different than 3D Touch for iPhones. Force Touch trackpads use force sensors and Apple’s Taptic Engine to simulate a click instead of physically moving. It means that you can click anywhere and get the same responsiveness.

 

[aknabi]

Just get a laptop and stop torturing yourself.

Actually the 12" MacBook is/was a dream extreme portable dev machine (e.g. Xcode)... it's problem was that it's underpowered... an ARM MacBook would be ideal, but it doesn't exists.

The A13/A14 certainly has/will have the HP to run Xcode... but there's also the issue that development tools start requiring memory... The iPad is likely just a little to shy on that to be a good Xcode machine.

8GB would be the bare min... 16GB being a more realistic lower limit. That's not going to happen on an iPad, so hopefully the first ARM Mac will be a new 12" MacBook (or maybe lose the bezels and make it a 13" MacBook in the same volume ala XPS 13)

 

[The Game 161]

I am not questioning why you like iOS better than macOS. I am just curious to know which apps or functions are missing from macOS according to you. I don't assume anything. I enjoy using both macOS and iOS but when I think about apps, I miss more on iOS than on macOS, but of course this is personal preference.

iPadOS has become very capable but there are still things that are missing, or are difficult to do. Let me give you an example of something I just did.
I am conducting monthly health checks of Windows Server systems for a customer of mine. In order to do that, I have to use Citrix (which also works on the iPad), to connect to the remote systems. After I perform the tasks I need to in order to check the health of the servers, I document everything in Notes. I export the notes to PDF and send them to the customer and also update its ticketing system by attaching these files on corresponding tickets that are assigned to me. Using macOS for this workflow is much much better than with iPadOS. It might change with the magic keyboard (which I am getting on Monday), but I think it will not. macOS provides a native PDF export function which allows me to quickly export my notes to PDF. On my iPad, I have to tap on print and then click on the share icon and after that select the save to files option, select the location I want my note to get saved and then repeat this for all of my notes (around 20, one per System checked). On macOS this happens much easier, but I am glad that this is now possible on the iPad too, even if it is not as good as on macOS.

Each of us has different expectations and usage patterns. I am trying to make the iPad fit my usage and workflows, by doing as few adjustments as possible, but also remaining productive.

I would understand for your usage and why you would need macOS.

My main work usage I can use the same stuff on iPad as I could on the Mac so for me it made sense to cut ties and go with iPad only While still having touch and pencil support for signing documents if needed

macOS worked well for certain apps but my daily conference calls and meeting notes can be done via iPad. Skype for me works better on iPad as I could use my air pods while MacBook I couldn’t

Also the sound of the fans on macs drive me nuts. Not important but thought would mention it.

I certainly see why so many need a Mac bit some comments here who say just get a Mac and when it’s not needed. Many like myself want that laptop typing experience but with IOS.

 

[ani4ani]

So if you want to use the iPad as a tablet, you have to take the “case” off?

 

[AlexESP]

As others are pointing out, a "neutered OS" which it is. Yes there are more apps but you are bound by the still many many limitations of iOS. And as people are finding out with the iPad and keyboard they are approaching or in excess of a laptop weight. And doing all that with a smaller screen. I use a Surface Pro 7 for work. Great. Light. But I rarely use just the SP7 screen. It is either docked to 2x24" or 1x34"UW for workflow. My Mac Mini uses the 34"UW and so does my 15" MBP, which of course is pretty decent real estate on its own, but in a still manageable weight class.

Then you’re basically using a laptop. The interesting part here is that you can use the iPad as a thin and light tablet, to read, draw, take notes, etc. and now you can attach this to have the precision and comfort of a laptop. Obviously it’s not fully accomplished, but it’s the approach to a real 2 in 1.

 

[DNichter]

This is really only useful if you’re primarily a desk user or for travel. I move around too much with my iPad Pro and this would be expensive to just keep at a desk. Nice if you have the money though.

 

[marmiteturkey]

Won’t be reinstating my cancelled order for two reasons:
1 it won’t fold back as others have said, so I’ll be forever using my iPad
2 my existing Smart Keyboard folio has aged really badly in 18 months - the material is wrinkled and peeling at the corners. That’s barely excusable in a £160 case, and would be intolerable in a £350 one. The material apple make these cases out of is not built to last.
I may buy a Magic Trackpad instead for days when I want to leave myMBP at home- we’ll see. At the moment we’re in lockdown so it’s all moot anyway.

 

[Chompineer]

Expected to be disappointed come 2021 then.

iOS on Mac? Doubt. MacOS on iPads... Sure, seems likely.

iOS is way too useless for a full fledged computer. That would be a literal babies toy.