Logitech Announces New FabricSkin Keyboard Folio

[Yougetwhatupay4]

Great product

I disagree with a lot of what people are saying by $150 being too high. This product is sleek. If you own an iPad since the beginning of iPads like I have, you probably have already tried many cases, covers, and keyboards. I have this case and I would highly recommend it. The keyboard is very responsive and the keys are placed well. The way they created the magnet toggling the connection is awesome. No more in and out of settings...it's highly intuitive. The case is a very durable well made material..gives the iPad a very sophisticated feel. I've own cheesy cases to save a few bucks..in fact i was seeking another keyboard because my other keyboard's charging port broke after only using it a few times. And that case was terrible taking the iPad in and out of! I paid $99 for that and liked it for two days! I abandoned it and only used if i was going to a webinar where I'd be taking a lot of notes. Otherwise, the onscreen keyboard is enough for me. For anyone who uses their iPad for work as well as personal, THIS is the best case and keyboard I've ever had. My huge example is if you must log in to a work network like Citrix, you know the onscreen keyboard covers your work quite often ...if you want to be productive, a keyboard really helps. I'm in love with this case and feel the price is appropriate for the quality....you get what you pay for.

 

[epicmar]

I agree with what Yougetwhatupay4 said and add that it what also makes it very nice is the ability to switch from laptop mode to tablet mode and automatically turns off the external keyboard. I love the way the iPad can just drop down on top of the keyboard and you can use it as a tablet - very useful for reading or browsing the web. The magnetic implementation is excellent - instead of putting the ipad into a slot on the keyboard like some setups, the FabricSkin magnetically holds the keyboard in place. I find that the iPad really stays in place on the keyboard. You can actually pick it up by the iPad and the keyboard will stay connected to the iPad. This is especially good if you have to type with the iPad/keyboard on your lap.

 

[Bigmacduck]

Have preordered one that will arrive on May 24th

I have owned several iPad cases since iPad 1 and so far the ones from Logitech were simply the best - must be the Swiss engineering.

So I was not really shocked on the sticker price of $150 and I preordered one in April. Just got notice from Logitech that it has been shipped via UPS and also received now the parcel tracking number also from UPS. It is scheduled to arrive on May 24th. Will do a first test over the weekend and report back here.

One word about price: if you buy cheap stuff you will pay twice.

It was always the case since the first 3rd party keyboards appeared for IBM compatible PCs. There were cheap ones and there were quality ones that easily cost four times the price and were worth every cent. (Often were made by Logitech). I blindly trust Swiss quality. The Swiss beat many others in in Sailing, Tennis, Watches, Army Knifes, Cheese, Chocolate, Machinery, Financial Engineering, Pharmaceuticals, and also defeated USA in Ice Hockey last weekend ;-)

 

[Bigmacduck]

FabricSkin Keyboard has just arrived today. Very well made, high quality. I ordered the bright "Electric Blue" version and that really brings color to life. It is an eye catcher and head turner.

My iPad 3 fits well and tight and the iPad apperars to be so well protectec from all sides as if a truck could run over it (dont try it!!). Writing is comfortable and the response of the keys is excellent. Good thing is that I can really place it on my lap and write in that position. The magnets that hold the frame to the keyboard are strong; I can lift the iPad and the magnets don't let go. Other keyboards to not hold the iPad as well in position as this one.

It obviously makes the iPad / FabricSkin Keyboard combo heavier, as it almost doubles the weigt of the iPad 3. Together I am now carring 1'230 grams. The weight of the FabricSkin alone is 565 grams.

So the combined weight is in between the MacBook Air 11" (1'080g) and 13" (1'350g).

So in a way it is strange as my MBA 11" is lighter and also looks slimmer than my iPad / FabricSkin combo. Comparing thickness the FabricSkin is 5mm thicker than the thickest (rear end) part of the MBA11" and even 10mm thicker than the thinnest point of the MBA11" (front end) when plancing both on a flat suface.

This will now create a little dilemma: I usually carry both devices (iPad and MBA 11") on business travel. The FabricSkin now adds 565 grams and 5mm to the whole package.

So one I had an interesting thought that might become reality one day: What if Apple would combine an iPad and a MBA 11" in one package, the retina screen becoming a detachable iPad and the keyboard base holds the MBA electronics, both parts with their own battery. Similar to the award winning X2 family design that HP released for the Windows 8 and Android Tablets with detachable keyboard bases. Apple would have to go one step further: OSX (and Bootcamp Windows) in the base and iOS in the screen.
http://www8.hp.com/us/en/ads/x2/compare.html


For such a combo I would accept a weight of 1200-1300 grams and a maximum thickness of 20mm. Let's see what the future brings...