Android tablets have continued to slug it out with iOS, and Microsoft now have a very credible offering with the Surface 3. Since the iPad 3 was released in March 2012, the availability of mobile computing peripherals has expanded considerably. More than the sum of its parts, but too much of a compromise in each department. In short, not a great cover, not a great stand, and not a great keyboard. The combination of iPad and Logitech Cover was a bit on the heavy side (weighing in at just of over a couple of pounds), especially in those circumstances where I only wanted to carry around the iPad and a protective cover - but without the need for a physical keyboard. I found my typing speed, accuracy and enjoyment reduced when compared to, say, the Apple Bluetooth Keyboard. Ergonomically a keyboard performs best when raked at a slight angle (the Ultrathin sits flat on the desk), and while the keys have a good layout in the space available they compare unfavourably in their travel and overall feel when stacked against a decent quality full size version. The quality of the keyboard as a keyboard was OK, but not great. This, combined with the base being aluminium (I think) and without any rubber grips meant that in use on a hard surface it had a tendency to slip and rotate about its centre. Yes, OK, I jammed it in my bag.įrom day one the base of the keyboard was never flat and seemed to have a high point at its centre. Not badly (being only really visible when the screen is off) but enough to be an annoying problem. This in turn forced the keys against the screen while the cover was in the closed position, which in their turn permanently marked the surface of the screen. Over time I found that the Ultrathin bent in its weak point where the iPad sits while slotted in the stand groove. The stand only has one angle of view, frequently not quite right for typing, and not quite right for watching video. And it’s for this reason that many people using a laptop at their desk will commonly use a laptop stand and separate keyboard. Just like a laptop, yes, but the best ergonomic configuration is to have the screen further away and higher than the keyboard. Although this combo served me reasonably well, it suffered from several issues that I wanted to improve upon in my new configuration:Īs the Logitech Ultrathin doubles as keyboard and integrated stand it is not possible to create any distance between keys and screen. Therefore after a bit of casual research I plumped for the popular Logitech Ultrathin Keyboard Cover. ![]() And if you’re not holding it you can’t type on it, so a stand/keyboard combo made lots of sense. The iPad 3 was realistically too heavy to hold for any length of time, which made some sort of stand a necessity. This article describes the thinking process that led to selecting the Microsoft Wedge Keyboard as the iPad’s primary text input mechanism, and a critique after living and working with it (in conjunction with the Apple Smart Cover) for a short while. In addition to enjoying the direct benefits of using the Air 2 I have also taken the opportunity to review the peripherals used with it in order to maximise its usefulness as both a fully productive workhorse during the day, and leisure lap-cat in the evenings. In jumping from the clunky iPad 3 the reduction in weight and increase in performance has been dramatic. Upgrading to an iPad Air 2 a few weeks ago has transformed the utility I get from a tablet.
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