Michal Ždanský There are quite a few iPad keyboards on the market today, but the vast majority of them suffer from poor design or build quality. But there are also those that, on the contrary, stand out. Logitech seems to have a soft spot for Apple and has quite a large portfolio of keyboards. This includes a relatively new keyboard designed for the iPad called the Ultrathin Keyboard Cover.
Design, processing and packaging content
As the name suggests, this is a really thin keyboard, the same thickness as the iPad 2. In fact, all the dimensions are identical to the iPad, even the shape of the keyboard exactly follows its curves. There's a good reason for that, too. The Ultrathin Keyboard Cover is also a cover that turns the iPad into a laptop that is very similar to the MacBook Air. The keyboard uses the magnets present in the second and third generation iPad and attaches to the tablet in the same way as the Smart Cover, using a magnetic hinge.
Another magnet enables the function of turning off and on the display when folded or opened. Unfortunately, the magnet isn't strong enough to keep the keyboard attached like the Smart Cover does, so it'll keep popping open when you're wearing it. After flipping the iPad, it needs to be detached from the magnetic joint and inserted into the white groove above the keyboard. There are built-in magnets in the bag as well, which will fix the tablet in it. If you lift the iPad by the frame, the Keyboard Cover will hold like a nail, it will fall off only when shaken strongly. Thanks to the fact that the iPad is embedded in roughly one third of the keyboard, the whole set is very stable, even when typing on your lap, i.e. if you keep your feet horizontal.
The tablet can also be placed in the keyboard vertically, but at the expense of stability, the Ultrathin Keyboard Cover primarily allows for the placement of the iPad lying down. The inner part is made of black shiny plastic, only that groove is bright white for reasons I don't understand. Although this makes it clearly visible, it spoils the overall design. The white can also be seen on the outer black frame. I can't explain why the designers decided this way. The back is entirely made of aluminum, which makes it very reminiscent of the iPad. Only the rounding on the sides is a little different, so you can tell the keyboard and iPad apart at first glance.
[do action=”citation”]Logitech Keyboard Case writes better than most ten-inch netbooks.[/do]
On the right side you will find the power button, the microUSB connector for battery power and the button for pairing via Bluetooth. According to the manufacturer, the battery should last over 350 hours when fully charged, i.e. six months with two hours of daily use, as stated by the manufacturer. A USB cable for charging is included in the package, along with a cloth for cleaning the display (and probably also the shiny plastic around the keyboard)
How to write on the keyboard
The Ultrathin Keyboard Cover connects to the iPad using bluetooth technology. Just pair it once and the two devices will automatically connect as long as bluetooth is active on the iPad and the keyboard is on. Due to the dimensions, Logitech had to make some compromises regarding the size of the keyboard. The individual keys are a millimeter smaller compared to the MacBook, as are the spaces between them. Some less used keys are half the size. The transition from a laptop to a Keyboard Cover will therefore require a little patience. Especially people with larger fingers who type with all ten fingers could have a problem. Still, typing on the Logitech Keyboard Case is better than on most 10-inch netbooks.
Another compromise is the lack of a row of multimedia keys, which Logitech solves by placing them on the number row and activating them via a key Fn. In addition to classic multimedia functions (Home, Spotlight, volume control, Play, hiding the software keyboard and lock), there are also three less common ones – Copy, Cut & Paste. In my opinion, these are completely unnecessary, since the keyboard shortcuts CMD+X/C/V work throughout the iOS system.
The typing itself is very pleasant on the keyboard. Subjectively, I would say that the Ultrathin Keyboard Case paradoxically has better keys than most Logitech keyboards designed for Mac. The noise of the keys when typing is minimal, the pressure height is slightly lower than on the MacBook, which is due to the overall thickness.
The only problem I noticed was unwanted touches on the screen, which is due to the proximity of the iPad's display to the keys. For users who type in all ten, this may not be an issue, the rest of us with a less than elegant writing style may from time to time accidentally move the cursor or press a soft button. On the other hand, the hand doesn't have to travel far for touch interaction with the iPad, which you can't do without anyway.
I would also like to point out that the piece we tested did not have Czech labels. However, a Czech version should be available for domestic distribution, at least according to the sellers. Even on the American version, however, you can write Czech characters as you are used to without any problems, because the keyboard interface is determined by the iPad software, not by the accessory firmware.
Verdict
As far as iPad-specific keyboards go, the Logitech Ultrathin Keyboard Cover is the best you can buy right now. The design is really well done, and apart from typing on the keyboard, it also serves as a display cover, and when folded down, it looks a lot like the MacBook Air. The angle that the iPad holds with the keyboard is also ideal for watching videos, so the Keyboard Cover also acts as a stand. With a weight of 350 grams, together with the tablet you get over one kilogram, which is not a lot, but on the other hand, it is still less than the weight of most laptops.
Just like the Smart Cover, the Keyboard Cover does not protect the back, so I would recommend a simple pocket for carrying it, because you will have two surfaces that you can scratch. Although it will take you at least a few hours to get used to the size of the keyboard, as a result you will get the best possible compact solution for typing on the iPad, after all, this entire review was written on the Ultrathin Keyboard Cover.
The product has only a few minuses – a white groove, shiny plastic on the front that easily gets dirty from fingers, or a weak magnet near the display, which makes the keyboard not hold very firmly. It's also a shame Logitech didn't make a version to match the white iPad. A possible disadvantage could be the relatively high price, the Ultrathin Keyboard Cover is sold here for around 2 CZK, while you can buy an Apple bluetooth keyboard for 500 CZK. If you're looking for the ideal iPad travel keyboard and price isn't a big deal, this is the best deal you can buy on current offer. Unfortunately, the keyboard is currently in short supply, stocking in Czech stores is expected after the summer holidays at the earliest.
Thank you to the company for recommending the Logitech Ultrathin Keyboard Cover Dataconsult.
[one_half last="no"]
advantages:
[Checklist]
- Magnetic joint
- iPad-like appearance
- Quality of processing
- Battery life [/checklist][/one_half]
[one_half last="yes"]
Disadvantages:
[bad list]
- White groove and shiny plastic
- The magnet does not hold the display[/badlist][/one_half]
Gallery
Gallery
Other Logitech keyboards:
[related-posts]
Well... The price of CZK 2.500 for such a keyboard does not seem like a 4* price to me. I would really prefer not to have an original Apple keyboard magnetically attached to the iPad, I will pay CZK 1.000 less for it and I will be able to use it without compromise with a Mac (or iPhone). But of course against taste...
I really like the keyboard, the idea of combining the keyboard and the cover in this way is great, but I think the price really sucks.
I don't have a problem paying for quality accessories, but sometimes... :o(
It's just nowhere to be found :-(
The keyboard is beautiful, and this is not the only positive review about it. Of course, the price is higher, but even that could be done.
The argument with the BT keyboard app is a bit lame, because by analogy you can use this keyboard with a Mac or with an iPhone. I rather regret that if I pay the money for it, I have to immediately cover it up with stickers on a Czech keyboard, because I really don't remember all the characters and I just look at the keyboard while typing. I would therefore like a version that, for the money, will have a Czech app layout.
It is not officially sold anywhere, because it is only for the Apple Store, but apparently not for the Czech one...
Qstore has it:
http://www.qstore.cz/eshop/logitech-pevne-pouzdro-s-klavesnici-pro-ipad-2-3-gen-logitech-repro-tablet-speaker_d33074.html
It's a completely different keyboard, but there's definitely nothing like an Apple Store exclusivity with the Keyboard Cover.
That's why Czech distributors like AT Comp and SWS announce that they don't have it and won't have it because it's only for Apple Stores, just like the new one with solar charging now?
We will try to ask the Czech representative office of Logitech.
Variant for the white iPad is not what? :(
It's not even for white people, and certainly not for a white iPad.
sorry professor… #lol
Well, really LOL, when someone who is proud to be the "editor of the Appliště.cz website" writes such a rude thing.
#nocomment
I had to give up, then it still leads in terms of size, but it's not up to the job, I even have a compelling feeling that they should allow the use of MM so that the POST PC era can begin. iCloud will probably do as enough (nothing that Dropbox can't handle), but even so, the dokina plus bt keyboard is simply not up to the job, even as an emergency (keep lifting your hands from the table). I also had others that mostly had an edge, so they were uncomfortable or unstable (due to the fact that the iPad was pushed all the way back and not like this 3/5 of the length).
"If you pick up if" - again, don't overdo it with the conditional :D
I think it's still not enough :-) Fixed anyway, thanks.
I have a question, he probably won't understand much with iPad1, right?
No
I bought it on Alza on 26.6. for CZK 1999 including VAT... the truth is I couldn't find it there anymore... but I am very satisfied
I've had her for 3 months now and I'm very satisfied. When I ordered it on Alza, they had CZ written, but it turned out that it was a mistake. I bought keyboard font stickers for 30 CZK, cut out the Czech letters and stuck them on the keyboard with numbers and now it's CZ :-)
The backlight is missing and I still see it as an unnecessary burden on the tablet.
Air is better.
hmmm nice :)
The non-numeric keypad that comes with the iMac makes sure of that. Only the iPad could recognize when the BT keyboard is out of range and automatically activate the OSD keyboard and vice versa.
Dear all, it is certainly a very high-quality keyboard, but I still buy Apple products in large part because of their superb design. Well, destroying Ivy's hard work with something similarly disgusting, shiny and plastic seems like, well, I don't even know what :). And then there is the million-times-repeated strangeness of why a tablet when I connect a keyboard to it :).
Can it write normal characters like á, é, č? I mean using shift and number?
Sure.
Hi guys, I want to ask if the toy also fits the ipad mini or can't it be done on the mini??