Logitech Tablet Keyboard for iPad

Being in the business, we have received umpteen queries from readers, friends and family alike about whether the iPad can replace a laptop. Our genuine advice to them has been - not if you aren’t comfortable typing on a touchscreen. Not that the iPad cannot work well in the work environment, a virtual keyboard isn't the most comfortable when it comes to quick typing. Since we are writers, we can be very finicky about the keyboard we are typing on, and tend to notice most niggles with the hardware. That has been the stumbling block for the iPad - it cannot truly replace the notebook. However, with accessories like this Logitech Tablet keyboard, the game does close up quite nicely.

Look & Feel
When we saw the black colour, we held our breath in fear of a glossy finish. Thankfully, it has the matte finish, with a light metallic tinge. The top spine has a nice rounded design, which also helps elevate the keyboard very slightly. There is the toggle switch for power on/off with the Bluetooth connectivity and the battery level indicators. Flip it over, and there is the connect key to switch the device into Bluetooth pairing mode.

The shell casing, when packed, also doubles up as a stand for the iPad. Since it isn't the docking type, this will work with both versions - iPad and the iPad 2. When closed, this acts as a solid jacket to keep the keyboard protected when in travelling and storage mode. The hinge to open this is a little on the hard side. Once set up, the stand is quite stable, and the incline is perfect to be able to view the iPad display comfortably.

Features & Performance
Once the hardware is in place, connecting it is a breeze. Press the pairing key, after switching on the Bluetooth on the iPad. Takes about 5 seconds to pair. Once done, you are good to go.

To test, we decided to write some of our daily articles on this, instead on the laptop. Quite clearly, this keypad takes some getting used to. First, you will feel the lack of a palm rest. Most laptops afford that quite nicely, and it is a bit weird to not have any in this case. Second is the key travel bit. While the key size is fine, the keys don’t travel as much as most other keypads, and takes some variation in typing speed to get used to it. However, once you get past these teething problems and your fingers get used to it, typing is a breeze. You can type out documents quite quickly, without too many spelling errors. Whatever spelling errors are there is because of a human error, and not because of the design of the keypad in any case. Adequate key spacing is something what we appreciate.

2 AAA batteries power the Logitech Keypad - no worries about the batteries running low in the middle of an important document. Keep a couple of AAA batteries in the vicinity, and you are good to go.

The stand is quite neatly designed. Feels solid enough to hold the tablet, and most importantly, the tablet design won’t really restrict the placement on this - in portrait or landscape mode. Critical bit - the display angle is just perfect. You won’t really be looking down on the display while typing, helping body posture - something that helps during long typing sessions.

Our Take
As we said, this is the accessory that you must have if the iPad is really replacing the laptop in your life. The charm of using a touchscreen is one thing, but objectively, not the most comfortable for a lot of typing. While there are better ones around, we don’t think we can hold anything against this keyboard at this price.

Price: 3995