When it comes to the iPad the only things more ubiquitous than
Twitter clients are keyboard covers or cases. I won’t say they are a
dime a dozen because these keyboard case/covers are a little more
expensive than that, but there are certainly a number of varieties for
you to choose from from makers like Logitech, Kensington, Zagg, Belkin,
and others. With the launch of the new iPad there was quite a bit of
consternation over whether or not these accessories designed for the
iPad 2 would work with the slightly bulkier new iPad. In some instances
that consternation proved a moot point for those who had made
investments. Certainly, though, for those who had not yet picked up a
keyboard case, all you needed to do was wait for versions targeted
towards the new iPad.
I spent some time with the new Logitech Ultrathin Keyboard Cover
over the weekend. Do note that you can use this easily with either the
new iPad or iPad 2. Let me state up front that though I’ve tried out a
few keyboard cases in the past, I haven’t been a big fan. My reason is
that I like to use my iPad as a slate mostly, and some of the models
I’ve tried attach to the iPad in ways that make this more cumbersome
than I like. I prefer a detachable keyboard cover. Now, that’s a
personal preference, and as you can see from the reviews and roundups we’ve
done here on GBM, just how much a personal preference that can be. But,
hey, that’s the beauty of these personal devices called Tablets.
That said, with few exceptions, I very much like the Logitech
Ultrathin Keyboard. It is indeed ultra thin. In fact, it is thinner than
the new iPad. When attached to the iPad as a cover (using magnets in
that Smart Cover like way), it doesn’t add a lot of bulk at all. The
aluminum finish matches up nicely with the iPad’s back cover, and when
closed up it gives you a look not unlike the Byrdge keyboard that everyone got so excited about last week.
The Logitech Ultrathin Keyboard Cover is built for folks like me who
have don’t like a keyboard that is more permanently attached to the
iPad. There is a magnetic strip that attaches to your iPad when you use
the keyboard as a cover, again, using the Smart Cover method we’re all
familiar with. But when you want to use the keyboard as a keyboard, you
detach the iPad, stick it into the white slot, and off you go. There
are audible clicks to let you know when things are aligned properly and
if you wish to remove the iPad from the keyboard, there is an audible
click that happens when you grab the iPad and tilt it towards you. This
lets you know when you can slide the iPad out of the slot.
You can say that the keyboard is designed for you to use your iPad in
landscape mode, but it also works with the iPad in portrait mode,
although the magnetic mechanism only secures the iPad when you have it
aligned in landscape mode. As a matter of fact if your iPad is in the
slot in landscape you can pick up the entire assembly from the iPad and
the keyboard won’t drop off.
So, to be clear, don’t think of this as a case where you can fold the
keyboard over behind your iPad when you are using your Tablet as a
slate. Think of this as a detachable cover and keyboard.
The keyboard connects via Bluetooth and comes with a micro-USB cable
to charge up the keyboard separately. There is an on/off switch for the
keyboard, although the keyboard will go into standby mode if it isn’t in
use. Although the keys do not have a glossy finish, the areas
surrounding the keyboard does an that can attract fingerprints, but
we’re all used to that with Tablets by now.
One of the prickly issues with any keyboard case/cover is how well
you can type on the keys. In order for the hybrid case/cover keyboard
concept to work the keys need to be squeezed into the dimensions of the
iPad horizontally, and for those who have large hands this can be an
issue. To be honest, I wasn’t expecting a good experience with the
Logitech Ultrathin Keyboard cover, but I was pleasantly surprised. I was
able to type satisfactorily and without a long learning curve. If fact,
I was up to speed pretty quickly and I’m typing this review on the
keyboard right now.
There are some iPad-specific function keys that require you to hit
the Fn key to access them, including copy, paste, volume,) and there is a
dedicated Home key that takes you back to the iPad’s home screen. One
nice Fn keyboard combination allows you to select one word to the left
or right with a single key press. That comes in handy for doing some
editing.
At $99 the Logitech Ultrathin Keyboard Cover is priced in a range
that we see similar products. Depending on how or if you want or need a
keyboard for your iPad, the Logitech Ultrathin Keyboard Cover is worth
consideration. If you’re heading away for a trip, and like me, prefer a
detachable keyboard cover, the Logitech Ultrathin Keyboard Cover is both
a good looking and a practical option.
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