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Since getting my iPad, I've found that I have been using it more and more as time goes on. For me, it has all but replaced my Netbook (unless I need something specific to Windows) for my mobile computing needs.
What could make the iPad even more useful, or add more to it's productivity, enter stage right the iPad BT Keyboard Case. This dual-function product provides valuable protection for your iPad and gives you an external input method.
Many thanks to Craig at UltimateAddons for providing us with a review unit.
Supplier : Ultimate Mobiles
Product Web Page: UltimateAddons Deluxe Keycase with Silicone Bluetooth Keyboard for Apple iPAD
Price : £49.99 (including VAT)
Features
- Discreet Leather Effect Book Stand Case
- Uses Broadcom 2042 Chipset with wireless Bluetooth 2.0 interface
- The silent design of the silicone keyboard avoids disturbing others in the same room while typing
- The keyboard is dustproof and waterproof
- Uses the Bluetooth industry leading software solutions, WIDCOMM BTW (Microsoft officially designated software) Bluetooth software
- The keyboard is energy saving, charging time only two hours
- Keyboard charges with Apple Dock Connector so uses existing Apple iPAD chargers
- Long lasting Battery - Li-polymer - Lasts 90 Hours!
- Can connect to iPad and iPhone 4G directly
- Can connect to iPhone 3GS if upgraded to iOS 4
- Can work with windows mobile 6.0 and higher
- Can also work with Android
- Compatibility: Windows 98，2000，NT，ME，XP，VISTA，WIN 7,MAC, AND LINUX
- Working environment: -20°C to 55°C
- Humidity: 20%-50%
- Executive Standard: Bluetooth V2.0
- Operation distance: 10m
- Includes 1 x Free Screen Protector
- 12 Month Warranty
What's Included
- 1 x UltimateAddons Leather Effect Case with integrated Bluetooth Keyboard
- 1 x Free Screen Protector
Aesthetics
The case is well constructed and exudes good quality, looking very professional to boot. It is a fair bit bulkier than the standard Apple case, but this is to be expected as the Apple case does not have a built-in Bluetooth keyboard as a permanent passenger. The case feels slightly padded and does afford a great deal more protection to the iPad contained within. It definitely offers more substantial protection than the bog standard Apple case I have been using up until now.
The case fits the iPad well, it is clear that the iPad is held securely, there is no looseness around the edges and no real gaps, the cut outs are in line, leaving the headphone, microphone, power volume and home key easily accessible.
All in all, the case gives the iPad a very folder like feel and doesn't really affect one's ability to carry the device contained within. It does add substantially more bulk, but I didn't really find this a problem and the whole unit would still fit into my gadget bag & my work laptop bag as needed.
Tour around the case:
Front
Being a case, there isn't really a lot to talk about
The front of the iPad BT Keyboard Case does an excellent job of camouflaging your iPad as a standard folder. Which, if you're out and about strikes me as a very good thing!! The flap is held in place magnetically, and the case fitting together is spot on.Back
The back of the case is simply the back of the case. Nothing to see here!
Left
I've taken the methodology of the iPad being in portrait mode to decide which sides of the case are left and right, just to keep things simple for me, I like simple! The case leaves a very minimal amount of the iPad uncovered and serves to hold it in place securely.
Right
The right hand side is very similar in construction to the left, both the volume rocker and the mute switch are left clearly accessible.
Top
Once again, the top of the case affords easy access to the iPad's microphone and headphone socket on the left-hand side and the power button over on the right. As you can see from the pictures, when closed, the case provides a very high level of protection to the iPad contained within due to its folder like construction.
Bottom
Once again, the bottom of the case affords access to the iPad's speaker & dock connector. Note in the photo you can also see the Bluetooth keyboard's on/off switch and its micro-USB charging port, both of which are also easily accessible.
Pairing
Pairing the Bluetooth keyboard with the iPad is a very straightforward affair. It literally took moments and was very easy. Go back to your home screen, select Settings/General/Bluetooth. Turn on Bluetooth and the iPad begins to scan for devices automatically. Turn on the iPad BT keyboard using the on/off switch on the side.
Hit the connect button on the keyboard (above), well, it's not really a button, more of a flat switch, but you get my drift.
Within a few seconds the iPad BT Keyboard appears in the Bluetooth device list.
Select that device in the list and the iPad will pop-up a message asking you to input a code on the keyboard and hit return... Yes, it really was that simple and worked first time!!
Keyboard
The keyboard itself is a rubberised affair. It is a full QWERTY, sporting all the keys you would expect plus some other additions.
The most interesting additions are the media control keys. You can move to beginning or end of a media file, play or pause it and even mute the sound or control the volume. I have made use of these keys whilst using the case as a stand to play videos whilst lounging in bed.
In use the keyboard feels a little on the spongy side, although the keys do provide a sort of tactile feedback just by their nature. I find occasionally that I can double tap a key; usually the iPad's auto-correct feature kicks in, but occasionally it doesn't. This double-tap effect doesn't happen often, and I think it may be a result of how accurately I hit the key, or possibly something to do with how hard I tap the keys or it could be some kind of double bounce effect caused by my heavy-handedness.
Another thing I noticed while using the keyboard is that you cannot navigate around your installed applications using the cursor keys on the home screen, and this indeed extended to applications such as Mail, where one is unable to navigate the email list using the cursor keys as well. I don't think this is a limitation of the keyboard, but more a limitation of the iPad itself, or maybe Apple's implementation of the HID (Human Input Device Driver) within the Bluetooth stack. On doing some digging on the internet and reading various reviews, including reviews of Apple's own wireless keyboard, it appears that this is a common issue. Maybe issue is too strong a word, maybe I should call it a common feature!
This arrangement of having a Bluetooth keyboard within the case does have certain advantages in my opinion. Comparing it to the Apple iPhone keyboard dock, the advantage became clear in that in reality, you could only really use the iPad Keyboard Dock on a table or desk, but with the iPad Bluetooth Keyboard case, I am successfully sitting here on the sofa typing this part of the review with the unit on my lap, giving greater flexibility in use. No doubt the iPad Keyboard Dock's keyboard would give a better desktop keyboard user experience in comparison. Just to qualify this, I'll state that I've not used an iPad Keyboard Dock, I'd like to, but haven't so far.
Fitting a keyboard inside an iPad case does lead to some necessary compromises, borne out of the need to reduce the size. One of the compromises that hit me straight away was the position of the apostrophe ['] and double quote ["] keys, I am so used to this being next to the colon [:] and semi-colon [;] key, that I frequently miss-type any word that requires a quote ['].
Pro's & Con's
High Quality fit & finish Excellent device protection Improved productivity on text based work Long charge lifecycle. I haven't had to charge it much
Keys are somewhat spongy Added bulk Certain key positionsConclusion
This entire review was planned out and typed on the keyboard itself, using Evernote application on the iPad to make my notes and produce the review. I felt this would drive a real-world experience of the keyboard in use and allow me to gauge its effectiveness. A lot of it was typed during my childrens swimming lessons, definitely computing on the go!
The case is extremely effective at protecting the iPad, yes, it does add bulk, but the usefulness of a BT keyboard in conjunction with the iPad cannot be underestimated. The iPad itself is an excellent tool, and the on-screen keyboard works absolutely fine and I can type quite fast on it, but nothing beats having a physical keyboard for extended text input. Just over the last few days I have found it incredibly useful, especially as the case holds the iPad at the perfect angle for use as a mini-laptop.
Why don't you just get a NetBook I hear you say, well yes, there is that. But, I can still take the iPad out of the case and use it as a stand-alone device if required. For that, I commend the case enormously!
