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spgiva

macrumors regular
Original poster
Feb 2, 2008
121
15
Philadelphia, PA
I wish that the perfect keyboard was not impossible to find. There are a few that are really close but none of them (including the magic keyboard) are quite right.

So this is a thread about what you want in a perfect keyboard.

If the Brydge Pro trackpad worked better it would be my first choice, but right now their trackpad is wonky. I also wish the brydge hinge supported 360˚ (or close to it) so you could use the ipad as a tablet without removing it from the hinge mechanism which is not easy in/out. It also does not use the smart connector.

The magic keyboard is probably closest right now, a good typing experience, an included trackpad. But I can not get myself to fork out the $350 given the shortcomings it still has.

1st; I want a wider array of viewing angles. I want the main hinge to get to at least a full 90˚, and I want the secondary hinge to support a full 180˚.

2nd; I want function keys. It is a little thing butI have grown used to function keys (on moth my desktop and my non apple ipad keyboards) and they make my work flow smoother.

3rd; I would love the case to be a little more lightweight.

4th; I want some color options.

I could live with out 3 & 4 (but for this price point I don't think I should have to). But I can not fork over this kind of money without 1 & 2.

So what would your perfect iPad keyboard look like
 
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ascender

macrumors 603
Dec 8, 2005
5,021
2,897
1st; I want a wider array of viewing angles. I want the main hinge to get to at least a full 90˚, and I want the secondary hinge to support a full 180˚.

2nd; I want function keys. It is a little thing butI have grown used to function keys (on moth my desktop and my non apple ipad keyboards) and they make my work flow smoother.

3rd; I would love the case to be a little more lightweight.

4th; I want some color options.

I could live with out 3 & 4 (but for this price point I don't think I should have to). But I can not fork over this kind of money without 1 & 2.

So what would your perfect iPad keyboard look like

To be honest, I think you've nailed it. The problem is, due to the laws of physics, the very fact all of the weight is in the iPad itself, that's always going to constrain the functional aspects of it - size & weight being the main ones which then affect things like space for extra keys.

If you're looking to make your iPad in to a laptop, I firmly believe the Magic Keyboard is by far the best product to use. Unless they come out with something which is an iOS laptop which can also be used as a tablet, I think the products we see will always be limited in some way.

I'd love Apple to mix things up with different colours for their accessories, but it seems like something they're just not going to do which is a shame.
 

Mickeylittle777

macrumors member
Dec 17, 2015
34
11
I'm counting on Brydge to keep their promise of more firmware updates to correct and perfect the trackpad issues.

You can already flip the iPad around on the Brydge and get angles from 181 all the way up to 360.
 

ejin222

macrumors 6502a
Oct 12, 2011
564
432
I'm counting on Brydge to keep their promise of more firmware updates to correct and perfect the trackpad issues.

You can already flip the iPad around on the Brydge and get angles from 181 all the way up to 360.

I have the Brydge (without trackpad) and now the MK. The Brydge was good the first year of use, but after about a year, the rubber grips came loose and it wouldn’t grip my iPad, and the Bluetooth connection became horrible. It took 10-20 seconds before registering a key hit. Drove me crazy. Vowed to never own a Bluetooth keyboard for my iPad again.

My favorite keyboards for iPads have always been ones built around the smart connectors.This was true for my MK and my Logitech.
 

Mickeylittle777

macrumors member
Dec 17, 2015
34
11
I have the Brydge (without trackpad) and now the MK. The Brydge was good the first year of use, but after about a year, the rubber grips came loose and it wouldn’t grip my iPad, and the Bluetooth connection became horrible. It took 10-20 seconds before registering a key hit. Drove me crazy. Vowed to never own a Bluetooth keyboard for my iPad again.

My favorite keyboards for iPads have always been ones built around the smart connectors.This was true for my MK and my Logitech.
I'm hoping for 2 things to help with your issues: 1) BT 5.0 (hopefully this will be more consistent and faster connectivity) and 2) much wider tracks on the back side that grip the iPad (hopefully they will grip better and not get loose)
 

JayMysterio

macrumors 68000
Apr 24, 2010
1,534
32,961
Rock Ridge, California
I wish that the perfect keyboard was not impossible to find. There are a few that are really close but none of them (including the magic keyboard) are quite right.

So this is a thread about what you want in a perfect keyboard.

If the Brydge Pro trackpad worked better it would be my first choice, but right now their trackpad is wonky. I also wish the brydge hinge supported 360˚ (or close to it) so you could use the ipad as a tablet without removing it from the hinge mechanism which is not easy in/out. It also does not use the smart connector.

The magic keyboard is probably closest right now, a good typing experience, an included trackpad. But I can not get myself to fork out the $350 given the shortcomings it still has.

1st; I want a wider array of viewing angles. I want the main hinge to get to at least a full 90˚, and I want the secondary hinge to support a full 180˚.

2nd; I want function keys. It is a little thing butI have grown used to function keys (on moth my desktop and my non apple ipad keyboards) and they make my work flow smoother.

3rd; I would love the case to be a little more lightweight.

4th; I want some color options.

I could live with out 3 & 4 (but for this price point I don't think I should have to). But I can not fork over this kind of money without 1 & 2.

So what would your perfect iPad keyboard look like
For the things listed, what you are asking for is an external keyboard.

Any keyboard that is made to be work attached to the iPad Pro is going to fail some regards including price for what you are asking. Meanwhile an external keyboard will allow you any viewing angle you desire because it isn't attached, rarely comes without func keys, can be even more lightweight than existing attached keyboards, comes a wide variety of colors, and with exception of a high end mechanical keyboard will be cheaper.

With an attached keyboard as someone already mentioned, there will physical limitations. Every limitation overcome will probably be at some cost to something else, if not price as well.
 
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