When the iPad first came out people wondered whether it could become a laptop replacement. Many believed the iPad would fail because it did not have a keyboard. This omission, according to some, made the iPad a toy rather than a serious computing device. Time has proven them wrong. Apple has sold tens of millions of iPads to date. iPads are not just a fad either, with Apple on pace to sell more iPads in 2012 than in 2011 or in its debut in 2010. The iPad has ended up turning into a huge success and has solidified the tablet computer as a device that bridges the smartphone and the laptop wonderfully.
But the downside of the iPad, at least for many professionals, is that the iPad clearly isn’t a laptop replacement. But that doesn’t mean people aren’t going to try to make it into one. Let me introduce you to a unique iPad case that brings the iPad one step closer to becoming a MacBook Air.
This iPad case is made from aircraft-grade aluminum with a bead-blasted, anodized finish. The case can protect your iPad on the go and then convert your iPad into a laptop when opened. Its’ main feature is of course the embedded wireless bluetooth keyboard which works with your iPad once you “pair” it in your iPad’s bluetooth settings. The keyboard has a built in battery which lasts for 10-15 days standby or about 90 hours of use. You can recharge it with a computer via a mini-USB to USB connector.
When using a keyboard on the iPad I found the most useful thing about it was being able to highlight text, copy and then paste it. I also liked deleting larger blocks of text by holding down shift and moving the up, down, left and right arrow keys, just like on a laptop. Text editing on the iPad without a keyboard was always time-consuming for me.
Typing speed is one of the main reasons to get this iPad case. If you use the iPad for writing up blog posts like I do, the speed at which I type is important. Regardless of how fast I can type with my index finger it can’t ever be faster than using a regular keyboard.
The position in which you type is also important in determining how comfortable typing on the iPad is. If you’re lying down it is difficult to type on the iPad, that is unless you have a case with a built-in keyboard. With the aluminum case you can lie down and the flat base allows you to type on a soft or uneven surface like your thighs.
Another thing I liked about this case was the special function keys right on the keyboard for screen brightness, volume control, home, search, music control and slideshow. Using those keys instead of having to go into the system settings is quicker and means you won’t have to move your fingers away from the keyboard.
This case is available for $49.90 at micgadget.com but you can also find similar iPad cases for less on eBay as well.
That’s pretty neat, almost looks like the real MacBook Air. I have a similar ine but its all white so it looks like the old white macbooks. I find that a Bluetooth keyboard is so helpful for those who type a lot on their iPads.