Michal Ždanský It's only been a few weeks since Logitech introduced its new Ultrathin Keyboard mini for the iPad mini. One piece courtesy of the company Dataconsult.cz it also ended up in our editorial office, so we subjected it to several days of intensive testing. There aren't many keyboards directly for the iPad mini on the market yet, so Logitech's solution has a good chance of becoming the uncrowned king in its class.
The keyboard is the same as the previous one Ultrathin Keyboard Cover for large iPad identical construction. The back is made of an aluminum surface that perfectly matches the back of the iPad, whether it is a white or black variant. The shape exactly copies the back of the tablet, which is why when folded it looks like two iPad minis on top of each other. The keyboard communicates with the iPad via the Bluetooth protocol, unfortunately it is not the economical version 4.0, but the older version 3.0.
Like the Smart Cover, the keyboard has a Wake/Sleep function thanks to a magnet, unfortunately there are no magnets on the sides that would keep the keyboard attached to the display if you are carrying the tablet.
Processing and construction
The entire front part is then made of shiny plastic, where two-thirds of the surface is occupied by the keyboard, the remaining third mainly holds the balance so that the keyboard with the iPad does not tip over backwards, and it probably also houses the accumulator, which, according to the manufacturer, will keep the keyboard running for four months while writing several hours a day. That shiny plastic is very susceptible to fingerprints, but they will mainly rest on the keys most of the time. It's a shame that Logitech didn't choose an all-aluminum design.
The iPad fits into the prepared recess above the keyboard, where it is magnetically attached. The connection is strong enough that the iPad keyboard can be lifted into the air without disconnecting the keyboard from the tablet. However, the angle at which the iPad is wedged in the gap also helps the strength. Logitech seems to have addressed my criticism of the Ultrathin Keyboard Cover and painted the gap the same color as the rest of the keyboard to fill the gap that was created on both edges. When viewed from the side, there is no ugly mottled hole.
On the right edge we find a pair of buttons for pairing and turning off/on and a microUSB port for charging. A cable with a length of approximately 35 cm is included in the package, and apart from the manual, you won't find anything else in the box. However, the box itself is very elegantly designed with a side slide-out drawer, which means you don't have to dig around for the keyboard. It's a small thing, but it's a pleasure.
Keyboards and typing
The keyboard itself is the result of many compromises given the dimensions of the iPad mini. This is particularly evident in the size of the keys, which are roughly 3 mm smaller than the MacBook Pro, while the gaps between the keys are the same. Those three millimeters mean more for comfortable typing than you might think. If you've been looking for a solution to writing all ten, you can stop reading the review at this point and look elsewhere. Those missing three millimeters force you to have your fingers almost glued together. Unless you have really small hands, you won't be able to achieve high typing speed with the involvement of all fingers on the Ultrathin Keyboard mini.
The biggest part of the problem, however, is the fifth row of keys with numbers and for us indispensable accents. Compared to the previous four rows, the individual keys are twice lower and slightly smaller in width, resulting in an unusual shift of the row, which is also helped by the button with the Home Button function located on the far left. This puts the "1" key above the "W" instead of between the tab and the "Q" and after hours of typing you'll still be correcting typos caused by this design compromise.
[do action=”citation”]The keyboard itself is the result of many compromises given the dimensions of the iPad mini.[/do]
For a change, the keys for "ů" and "ú" are twice as narrow as the other keys, and the user will also partly have a common key for A and CAPS LOCK. The Ulltrathin Keyboard mini tested by us did not have Czech labels, and it probably won't have them immediately after the start of sales. However, the version for the large iPad has received a Czech layout, so if you are interested in buying it, definitely wait for this variant. However, even the English version will handle the Czech layout without any problems, since the keyboard language is determined by the operating system and it is possible to switch the language layout using the multimedia key.
Secondary key functions, such as in this case also CAPS LOCK, tab or multimedia keys, are activated using Function. Unfortunately, CAPS LOCK lacks any LED signaling. With the other keys you can, for example, control the music player, start Siri or adjust the volume.
Size aside, despite the small thickness of the entire device, the keys have a fairly ideal stroke and typing is pleasantly quiet, only the space bar is noisier. I have mixed feelings about typing on this keyboard for several intense hours. On the one hand, the Ultrathin Keyboard mini has great sub-key processing, on the other hand, more compromises are made than would be healthy for a full-sized keyboard. Is typing more comfortable than on the display? Definitely, but I'll admit that there were more than one occasion when I wanted to remove the keyboard and continue typing on the MacBook.
Being born in another part of the world, specifically in one of the English-speaking countries, the criticism would probably not be so severe, since the biggest problems are precisely the fifth row of keys, which other nations use much less than we do. If I try to write in English or without hacks and charms, writing is much more comfortable, especially for my eight-finger technique. Even so, the writing speed is on the edge.
in Keyboard mini must be viewed with narrowed eyes. Unfortunately, the dimensions of the iPad mini do not leave much room for creativity, and the result will always be a compromise. Logitech, despite a large number of concessions, managed to create a keyboard that is quite decent to type on, even if the previous paragraphs seem to say the opposite. Yes, I took at least 50 percent longer to write this review on the tested keyboard than I would have done on a laptop. Still, the result was many times more satisfying than if I had been forced to use a virtual keyboard.
Over time, it would certainly be possible to get used to the not-so-ideal fifth row of keys. Either way, Logitech currently offers the best possible keyboard/case solution for the iPad mini, and it probably won't be surpassed even by Belkin with the introduced FastFit keyboard, which lacks some key keys for the Czechs. The price of the keyboard is not the lowest, it will be sold for a recommended price of CZK 1, and it should go on sale in March.
If you decide to buy, you need to take into account all the above-mentioned compromises. Typing is at the level of roughly nine-inch netbooks, so you will probably reach for a full-sized keyboard for your dissertation, for writing longer e-mails, articles or IM communication, the Ultrathin Keyboard can be a great helper, which far surpasses the virtual one on the display.
[one_half last="no"]
advantages:
[Checklist]
- Design matching iPad mini
- Keyboard quality
- Magnetic attachment
- Dimensions[/checklist][/one_half]
[one_half last="yes"]
Disadvantages:
[bad list]
- Dimensions of keys with accents
- Generally small keys
- Glossy plastic on the inside
- Magnets do not hold the keyboard to the display[/badlist][/one_half]
Hello everyone. I would like to know if the Ipad fits in the docking station in the keyboard is back case.
Díky
I want to ask - how is switching applications handled? Is it from the keyboard or do I have to go through the display?
Through the display, iOS does not support keyboard switching.