iPad Pro Keyboard Idea

[flapflapflap]

Samsung introduced the Galaxy Tablet Pro S. I really like the keyboard design. Essentially, the back cover flap stays on the back of the tablet magnetically, which allows two viewing modes. When closed, it is EXTREMELY THIN AND LIGHTWEIGHT. Mind you, this device runs full Windows 10. The tablet itself is thinner and lighter than the iPad Pro but I digress.

Is this same keyboard design possible with the iPad Pro? I still haven't purchased a keyboard because I'm hoping to see more third party keyboards. This would be amazing for the iPad Pro. As far as I know, there is no patent issue. Anyone know if this can be replicated for the iPad Pro???

 

[ZombiePete]

Is this same keyboard design possible with the iPad Pro? I still haven't purchased a keyboard because I'm hoping to see more third party keyboards. This would be amazing for the iPad Pro. As far as I know, there is no patent issue. Anyone know if this can be replicated for the iPad Pro???

The only thing that could potentially make it awkward is that the iPad has no need for the area that the touchpad goes in, so the keyboard would either need a big piece of useless plastic hanging off of it or the idea would have to be redesigned a bit. Personally, I prefer folding the keys in and having the microfiber area actually touching the screen rather than the keys themselves the way they do on devices like the Surface or apparently this thing.

That it is super thin and light is cool, but I have to wonder what kind of battery life it's going to get. The Surface Pro 4s are having serious issues with drivers and battery life (partly because Windows 10 isn't sleeping properly, which a rep from Microsoft said wouldn't be getting fixed until sometime this year); unless Samsung was able to fix some of these issues, I foresee some unhappy users.

 

[flapflapflap]

It's getting up to 10.5 hours, but we'll have to see it to actually believe it. I think the hardware is compelling but Windows 10 won't magically correct all of its problems because it's all of a sudden housed in a Samsung made device.

With respect to that extra space issue, can there be a slot of groove for the Pencil or is the Pencil not thin enough?

 

[Eric5273]

Just give it some time. There will be many more keyboards coming that use the smart connector. I too am waiting to see more of a selection before I purchase one.

 

[ZombiePete]

It's getting up to 10.5 hours, but we'll have to see it to actually believe it. I think the hardware is compelling but Windows 10 won't magically correct all of its problems because it's all of a sudden housed in a Samsung made device.

With respect to that extra space issue, can there be a slot of groove for the Pencil or is the Pencil not thin enough?

Yeah, that's what Samsung is saying but I'll withhold judgment until some actual users weigh in. The SP4 doesn't get anywhere near the battery life Microsoft claims for it (under the best possible scenarios).

I suppose there's a way that you could tuck the extra flap into the support for the back of the iPad; I was messing around with my Smart Keyboard to see how it might be reconfigured to work more like this keyboard, and there's a way to do it but I think that the folds might get too confusing. Honestly, as it is it can be a little unwieldy at times. The iPP is a fair bit bigger than this Samsung tablet, so you've got more real estate to deal with.

 

[flapflapflap]

Yeah, that's what Samsung is saying but I'll withhold judgment until some actual users weigh in. The SP4 doesn't get anywhere near the battery life Microsoft claims for it (under the best possible scenarios).

I suppose there's a way that you could tuck the extra flap into the support for the back of the iPad; I was messing around with my Smart Keyboard to see how it might be reconfigured to work more like this keyboard, and there's a way to do it but I think that the folds might get too confusing. Honestly, as it is it can be a little unwieldy at times. The iPP is a fair bit bigger than this Samsung tablet, so you've got more real estate to deal with.

Can't you just move the keys down and insert 1-2 extra rows of short cut keys on top? If it's a fabric keyboard, them I don't see it having multiple viewing modes because there needs to be a hinge mechanism for the smart connect dock.

 

[jamesrick80]

The battery in this device (Galaxy tabpro S) is laughable with Windows 10. It has a 5200 mah battery and they are assuming it lasts for more than 10.5 hours. Think of the battery life in the Galaxy Tab S2 which has a 5800 mah battery, and the battery life is not that great unless you are watching video which it is pretty good with battery life so this device is getting by with even less battery life than the Tab S2 and has a 12 inch screen. The iPad pro has a battery that's over 10000 mah. I will believe it when I see it but it's just no way even if it's using super amoled technology that the battery life is decent. Windows 10 software will bring that battery life to 4 to 5 hours max even with the m3 processor this device is using. Also, they did not emphasize there Wacom stylus or if it's even a Wacom stylus much so no real information on that. It was not even demoed and this device is releasing in February. I'm guessing that this device was rushed because of the iPad pro. Also, the design of the device is similar to iPad pro while the keyboard is similar to the surface pro 3; weirdly. The keyboard spacing is a issue too since the surface pro 3 keyboard was a mess. Once full reviews come out, we will surely see the flaws of this device.

 

[ZombiePete]

The battery in this device (Galaxy tabpro S) is laughable with Windows 10. It has a 5200 mah battery and they are assuming it lasts for more than 10.5 hours.

The Surface Pro 4 has a 5087mAh battery, so it's pretty comparable to this and people that I see on places like Reddit generally claim to get around 4-5 hours of regular use with those, with very little difference between the m3 and i5 models. Microsoft claims something like 9 hours, but that's incredibly light usage (video playback, essentially) under optimal conditions. Windows is just not designed to be a mobile OS.

 

[flapflapflap]

The battery in this device (Galaxy tabpro S) is laughable with Windows 10. It has a 5200 mah battery and they are assuming it lasts for more than 10.5 hours. Think of the battery life in the Galaxy Tab S2 which has a 5800 mah battery, and the battery life is not that great unless you are watching video which it is pretty good with battery life so this device is getting by with even less battery life than the Tab S2 and has a 12 inch screen. The iPad pro has a battery that's over 10000 mah. I will believe it when I see it but it's just no way even if it's using super amoled technology that the battery life is decent. Windows 10 software will bring that battery life to 4 to 5 hours max even with the m3 processor this device is using. Also, they did not emphasize there Wacom stylus or if it's even a Wacom stylus much so no real information on that. It was not even demoed and this device is releasing in February. I'm guessing that this device was rushed because of the iPad pro. Also, the design of the device is similar to iPad pro while the keyboard is similar to the surface pro 3; weirdly. The keyboard spacing is a issue too since the surface pro 3 keyboard was a mess. Once full reviews come out, we will surely see the flaws of this device.

Agreed. Do you like the keyboard design? How it magnetically sticks to the back? Looks very sleek. I would like to see something like that for the iPad Pro.

 

[jamesrick80]

Agreed. Do you like the keyboard design? How it magnetically sticks to the back? Looks very sleek. I would like to see something like that for the iPad Pro.

Nice keyboard design but reviews state that it's flimsy and not as lapable as the iPad pro's keyboard since it has a TouchPad that extends it out. If apple was to take this design and make it more stable for the lap and less flimsy, it could work. Also, the key layout is not the best for typing, another area where the iPad smart keyboard wins out.

 

[Bpmd]

Move the keys forward like they are on the Smart Keyboard, and design a mechanism that allows the little docking hinge/smart connector to slide back and forth on the empty area at the back to adjust the angle of the screen.