Who has switched to Keyboard? Thoughts

[BluAffiliate]

Hey guys,

I'm a pretty big iPad user, I use it a couple of hours a day for relaxing, reading and what not. I've had an iPad since iPad 1 and I am going to pick up the 10'5 Pro at the end of the month.

I never used the keyboard on the iPad, never really missed it either, but I'm starting to use the Notes app more and was thinking maybe I should also pick up the Apple Keyboard for the new pro.

Has anyone gone from not having the keyboard to switching to the keyboard on this iteration? Do you find it useful or has it been a waste? Looking forward to seeing your opinions!

 

[PBMB]

Has anyone gone from not having the keyboard to switching to the keyboard on this iteration? Do you find it useful or has it been a waste? Looking forward to seeing your opinions!

Not sure if I can help you. I have an iPad mini 4 and recently I bought the Keys-To-Go from Logitech. It is really outstanding, with the rubber feeling, almost full protection (only a small area with the on/off switch and the charging connection is exposed) and very long lasting battery (3 months with 2 hours per day usage).

With this keyboard, even a mini can be used like a computer. It allows fast typing, it supports shortcuts, the whole user experience regarding typing is vastly improved.

 

[Puonti]

I've used a BT keyboard off and on with my iPhone and iPad previously, but ever since I got the 12,9" iPad Pro my keyboard use has skyrocketed by comparison. It's mostly at-home use; I don't carry one around day-to-day, but do take it with me on longer trips. I think it's the fact that I now have enough screenspace to run two full iPad apps side-by-side that made it that much more usable for me - there's less swapping between apps for reference purposes, for one, and still plenty of screen left for both apps without the on-screen keyboard in the way.

So yeah, I can definitely say this has increased my keyboard use drastically. Ironically I can't use the BT keyboard's arrow keys while writing posts here on MacRumors because the browser jumps to the end of the page every time I touch an arrow key and I can't see what I'm typing without scrolling back up to the text editor box.

I'd love it if that was fixed. Doesn't happen on other websites that I use.

 

[ejin222]

Hey guys,

I'm a pretty big iPad user, I use it a couple of hours a day for relaxing, reading and what not. I've had an iPad since iPad 1 and I am going to pick up the 10'5 Pro at the end of the month.

I never used the keyboard on the iPad, never really missed it either, but I'm starting to use the Notes app more and was thinking maybe I should also pick up the Apple Keyboard for the new pro.

Has anyone gone from not having the keyboard to switching to the keyboard on this iteration? Do you find it useful or has it been a waste? Looking forward to seeing your opinions!

I've used a Bluetooth keyboard on every iPad I've owned. If you can find one that has a case and can detach from the keyboard, you have the best of both worlds.

 

[mcrmama]

I never used a keyboard with my iPad Air. I liked the onscreen split keyboard well enough for how I use it. With the 12.9, the keyboard is getting more use as I am using it more for productivity. I have a magic keyboard and really like it when I really want to type. I was considering the keys to go as well.

 

[throAU]

Hey guys,

I'm a pretty big iPad user, I use it a couple of hours a day for relaxing, reading and what not. I've had an iPad since iPad 1 and I am going to pick up the 10'5 Pro at the end of the month.

I never used the keyboard on the iPad, never really missed it either, but I'm starting to use the Notes app more and was thinking maybe I should also pick up the Apple Keyboard for the new pro.

Has anyone gone from not having the keyboard to switching to the keyboard on this iteration? Do you find it useful or has it been a waste? Looking forward to seeing your opinions!

I use the smart keyboard on my 10.5 pro. Not going back, makes the machine far more useful for me.

On-screen keyboard takes half your screen space and has no physical feedback.

 

[jaybar]

I use the smart keyboard on my 10.5 pro. Not going back, makes the machine far more useful for me.

On-screen keyboard takes half your screen space and has no physical feedback.

What do you do with your Apple Smart Keyboard, when you are not typing? For example, reading. Do you remove it or just fold it over, as you would a Smart Cover. I could switch to my Smart Cover, but switching back and forth gets annoying after a while.

 

[New2MacOS]

What do you do with your Apple Smart Keyboard, when you are not typing? For example, reading. Do you remove it or just fold it over, as you would a Smart Cover. I could switch to my Smart Cover, but switching back and forth gets annoying after a while.

I also use the ASK with my iPPro 10.5, and I often read on the Ipad with the ASK. Sometimes I emove the ASK when reading on the iPad. I do want to note that I had Zagg Invisible Shield installed both on the screen and I have the Poetic Lumos Flexible Soft Transparent Ultra-thin Impact Resistance Back Cover.

 

[throAU]

What do you do with your Apple Smart Keyboard, when you are not typing? For example, reading. Do you remove it or just fold it over, as you would a Smart Cover. I could switch to my Smart Cover, but switching back and forth gets annoying after a while.

I either fold it back like a smart cover or use it to prop the device up like a smart cover.

It's just basically a smart cover when you aren't using it as a keyboard. Yes it has a bit of an annoying thicker bit on it, but it's a small price to pay to have a keyboard that's pretty good to type on.

 

[BluAffiliate]

Really good feedback here guys.

 

[Synergie]

I either fold it back like a smart cover or use it to prop the device up like a smart cover.

It's just basically a smart cover when you aren't using it as a keyboard. Yes it has a bit of an annoying thicker bit on it, but it's a small price to pay to have a keyboard that's pretty good to type on.

That thicker spot is why I didn't get one! I use the Apple BT Magic keyboard for when I actually need to type anything long. For rest of time, I just take the IPP by itself. But really, both the IPP and the magic keyboard fit in a sleeve easily together.

 

[throAU]

That thicker spot is why I didn't get one! I use the Apple BT Magic keyboard for when I actually need to type anything long. For rest of time, I just take the IPP by itself. But really, both the IPP and the magic keyboard fit in a sleeve easily together.

i actually prefer the smart keyboard to type on to the bluetooth keyboard and it is spill resistant. i got over the bump pretty easily.

 

[jaybar]

I have had both the Smart Cover and ASK. I can see myself using the Smart Cover more, BUT HAVING BOTH DRIVES ME CRAZY. I was switching between them, wondering how i should best store the one I was not using. Figuring out where to best put them in my IPad bag. Wondering if I should better store them in their respective boxes, when not in use. The use if the IPP, exams anything but serene.

I settled on the ASK. I can fold it back when not in use, and use the virtual keyboard, although it makes my IPP 12.9 heavier. I could even detach it if need be. Most importantly, in the few times I really need a keyboard, it is there, with minimal fuss.

When I need or want to use the Pencil, I will either fold it over or remove it.

I with the ASK worked better in my lap. I wish there was a dictation shortcut. It has limitations.

In summary, I neither found the Smart Keyboard, nor the Smart Cover to offer a complete solution. I found that having both, while theoretically ideal, made my use of the IPP anything but serene.