The process of writing a review usually goes like this: you generally learn as much as you can about the product while you impatiently wait for it to arrive. Then, when it finally shows up, you dutifully read the required documentation, perform whatever installation is needed and then spend several hours (days or weeks), playing with the software or device, taking copious notes and dreaming up the cute one-liners to throw in to keep things interesting.
This time around we’re going to try something different. Today, we’ve just unboxed our new Logitech/ZAGG Keyboard Case for the iPad2 and, throwing caution to the wind, we’ll be writing this live, real time review as we test it out.
An Expo Hit Known originally as the ZAGGmate, the ZAGG half-shell case with an integrated Bluetooth keyboard was the hit at the 2011 Macworld Expo. It provided an extremely light, aircraft-grade aluminum protection for the delicate bits of the iPad along with a high quality, albeit compact, keyboard. Because it didn't depend on the docking connector, users had their choice of mounting their iPad in either portrait or landscape mode.
This was obviously going to be a huge new market for ZAGG. Then, a few weeks later, Apple introduced the iPad 2 with a new form factor and ZAGG had to scramble to retool a new version of the case. It's taken awhile, but our friends at ZAGG were kind enough to send along one of the first to hit the streets.
The case now bears the Logitech logo (we imagine that their manufacturing prowess helped with the rapid turnaround), but the ZAGG name and penchant for quality is still prominent in the case.
Easy Setup The initial setup is easy. It's simply a matter of turning it on and pairing the Bluetooth connection. You’re asked to enter a four-digit key code on the keyboard, so it’s a nice, secure connection. A small plastic easel folds up and the iPad 2 slides into a plastic slot above the keys. The entire case is lined with rubber, providing padding and a secure friction fit when the case closed. Though it's only gravity holding the iPad down, it tends to stay put, even if it's moving about on your lap. To protect your desk from the aluminum surface and to give the case a non-slip feature, you can stick on the included rubber feet. The iPad 2 can sense the presence of the case and will automatically turn on when it’s opened (you just pry the iPad out of the shell) and power down when it’s closed. Unlike most other half-shell cases, however, you can’t just stick the cover on the back of the iPad if you don’t need the keyboard.
The Bluetooth transceiver gets its power from a rechargeable lithium-polymer battery that should hold up for weeks without a recharge (via the included USB cable). Just for fun, we paired the keyboard with our iPhone 4 and it worked just fine, freaking out a friend with epic-length responses to her texts.
Full-featured Keyboard
With smaller keys and a netbook-width layout, nobody is going to break any typing speed records with the case. Though a bit cramped it is, from the start, a much friendlier place to work than the onscreen keyboard. All the punctuation keys are where you would expect to find them, which is a blessing for frenzied note-taking sessions. And like the Apple Extended Keyboards of yore, there are dedicated cut, copy, paste, and undo keys in the top row, where you would normally expect to find function keys. Joining them are iTunes playback controls, volume controls, “home” key, a lock key and a key that begins a random slideshow from your photo library. The latter may be convenient ways to quickly conceal your screen. Control, Alt and Command keys are also where you would expect them.
Hidden Goodies As we've been working with Quickoffice Connect’s Quickword, we discovered a at least a couple of "hidden" shortcuts. Holding the Command key when pressing delete deletes an entire word and holding down Option while using the cursor keys will move the cursor one word horizontally or a paragraph vertically. The shortcuts work a bit differently in Pages. There may even come a day when apps like Quickoffice or Pages will respond to other traditional keystroke combos.
The cursor keys along the bottom right edge are useful for close-in navigation, but there's a lot to be said for editing right on the screen via multi-touch. It's also possible to mix it up a bit and use your fingers to select and either the function or command keys to perform the edit. Moving around large documents is best left to multi-touch gestures.
Typing After several paragraphs (and lots of corrections) as practice, typing on the smaller keys is faster than the glass keyboard but remains a bit of a challenge. The keys themselves have a springy, netbook feel and are nearly silent. One thing we discovered rather quickly is the iOS auto-correct feature is incredibly helpful. It seems to work much better with the fat-finger kind of errors we make with the keyboard as opposed to the fat-thumb problems on the iPhone keyboard.
As mentioned earlier, having all the punctuation keys in familiar positions was a huge help. In many cases, it helped offset the negative speed bump produced by the smaller keyboard footprint.
We thought the aluminum edge of the shell may be an uncomfortable place to rest our hands, but it never really seems to get in the way. Because it’s protecting a thinner iPad, the edges don’t project upwards as far as the original model. The revised design also shaves a bit of weight off the already light case. At just over 12 oz., the case/iPad 2 combo is just a shade over 2 lbs., which is a skosh lighter than an 11” MacBook Air. One necessary evil of the case is the fact that it offers no scratch protection for the back of the iPad. If that’s a concern for you, ZAGG’s InvisibleSHIELD protectors will provide a best-of-breed solution.
If you’re going to be doing a lot of typing and don’t particularly want to lug around a laptop, the Keyboard Case will certainly open up a new world for your iPad. We found it far superior to the onscreen keyboard in all aspects except for key size. Without the keyboard, serving simply as a shell case, it does have a few drawbacks from a convenience standpoint. For a lot of users, the Keyboard Case will be an essential accessory, but not necessarily a complete replacement for a Smart Cover.
And one last thing: it’s a perfectly adequate device for writing hardware reviews.
