- Nov 27, 2001
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So, I ended up picking up one of Apple's Magic Keyboards for the iPad Pro (12" model). I was a bit mixed on the idea. I liked what it was offering; I didn't like the price. (It's $300 for 10", $350 for 12".) However, the one big thing is that the Magic Keyboard addressed one large issue that I have with tablets: "lap-ability". I had originally purchased a Surface Pro awhile back, and while I had other issues with trying to use productivity (drawing) apps on such a small screen, I also had problems trying to use it as a lap-able tablet. Frankly, the hinge just doesn't work well enough for it. Now, if that's what I wanted, I probably should've just considered the Surface Book, which has a detachable, laptop-like base. Although, if I recall, the price tag was the limiting factor there. (I believe it was around $2000, which was too much to justify.)
Anyway, I've been using the Magic Keyboard, and I have some thoughts on how well it works and also how well iPadOS works with keyboards and trackpads. The first thing I noticed is that if you're using a third-party charger that works with just the iPad, it may not work when plugged into the Magic Keyboard. To be clear, I'm using an Anker multi-port charger, and I think it provides something like 12-15W on its most powerful port. This was capable of charging the iPad Pro at a slower rate; however, the iPad would report that it was not charging when plugged in through the Magic Keyboard. On the flip side, it works fine with the iPad Pro's default charger. So, I've just gone to using the iPad Pro's charger instead. There are some modestly priced multi-port chargers from Anker or Amazon that would work though.
One thing that I would strongly recommend to anyone picking up the Magic Keyboard is that they enable "Tap to Click" in the iPad's Settings app. To be honest, I am bewildered as to how this is not enabled by default given that it's rather ubiquitous on laptops -- at least Windows laptops to which I'm accustomed -- but it definitely improved the experience by a lot. Another thing that you should probably do is take 10-15 minutes to get used to helpful keyboard shortcuts, and this is something that applies to any keyboard with an iPad. For example, CMD+H minimizes the current app and displays the Home Screen. CMD+TAB brings up a CTRL+TAB-like task switcher. (Note, this is not the same task switcher that you get via swiping. The keyboard one just has icons.) What may be the most helpful shortcut is just holding down CMD will bring up a translucent, temporary notification box that displays all keyboard shortcuts for the current app.
However, I think the biggest problem that may hurt Apple's keyboard endeavors is similar to the Surface Pro problem that I saw before... app support. A great example of this is when I'm using the YouTube app. If you're used to using YouTube on a computer, which is what this feels like, you're probably used to some keyboard shortcuts or at least some interaction with the keyboard. A simple example of this would be using ESC to exit full-screen mode. Well, on that note, the Magic Keyboard does not have an ESC key, but you can remap another key to that function; however, the larger problem is that -- at least from what I've seen -- the YouTube app does not have any keyboard shortcuts. You are able to use some touchpad shortcuts such as pinch two fingers = exit full-screen and expand two fingers (opposite of pinch) = enter full-screen, but there's not much more than that.
Anyway, I've been using the Magic Keyboard, and I have some thoughts on how well it works and also how well iPadOS works with keyboards and trackpads. The first thing I noticed is that if you're using a third-party charger that works with just the iPad, it may not work when plugged into the Magic Keyboard. To be clear, I'm using an Anker multi-port charger, and I think it provides something like 12-15W on its most powerful port. This was capable of charging the iPad Pro at a slower rate; however, the iPad would report that it was not charging when plugged in through the Magic Keyboard. On the flip side, it works fine with the iPad Pro's default charger. So, I've just gone to using the iPad Pro's charger instead. There are some modestly priced multi-port chargers from Anker or Amazon that would work though.
One thing that I would strongly recommend to anyone picking up the Magic Keyboard is that they enable "Tap to Click" in the iPad's Settings app. To be honest, I am bewildered as to how this is not enabled by default given that it's rather ubiquitous on laptops -- at least Windows laptops to which I'm accustomed -- but it definitely improved the experience by a lot. Another thing that you should probably do is take 10-15 minutes to get used to helpful keyboard shortcuts, and this is something that applies to any keyboard with an iPad. For example, CMD+H minimizes the current app and displays the Home Screen. CMD+TAB brings up a CTRL+TAB-like task switcher. (Note, this is not the same task switcher that you get via swiping. The keyboard one just has icons.) What may be the most helpful shortcut is just holding down CMD will bring up a translucent, temporary notification box that displays all keyboard shortcuts for the current app.
However, I think the biggest problem that may hurt Apple's keyboard endeavors is similar to the Surface Pro problem that I saw before... app support. A great example of this is when I'm using the YouTube app. If you're used to using YouTube on a computer, which is what this feels like, you're probably used to some keyboard shortcuts or at least some interaction with the keyboard. A simple example of this would be using ESC to exit full-screen mode. Well, on that note, the Magic Keyboard does not have an ESC key, but you can remap another key to that function; however, the larger problem is that -- at least from what I've seen -- the YouTube app does not have any keyboard shortcuts. You are able to use some touchpad shortcuts such as pinch two fingers = exit full-screen and expand two fingers (opposite of pinch) = enter full-screen, but there's not much more than that.
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