Pairing a keyboard with your iPad 2 is a great way to push the device from a handy gadget to a fully usable computer replacement. The problem with this is, a keyboard is another peice of kit to cart around, and detracts from one of the main things that make the iPad so awesome – portability. A new line of iPad and iPad 2 cases aims to solve this problem by integrating the keyboard into a case for the iPad, making the case work triple time as a protective cover, a keyboard, and an upright stand.
The ZAGGmate iPad 2 Keyboard Case combines a thin, lightweight and solid case with an integrated keyboard.
This all in one design means you’re still only really carrying around your iPad 2 in a case, so it doesn’t add too much to bulk or add an extra thing to carry around and worry about. The other great point with the
ZAGGmate is that it’s protecting your iPad at the same time!
When you open the case, embedded in the top cover is a low profile keyboard, very similar to that of a netbook. When open, the keyboard section of the case also doubles as a stand that can hold the iPad 2 vertically or horizontally.
This set up is really great for when you are out and about and you do find yourself in a situation where you need to type up a long email or write a document in a pinch, and you won’t be hating life because of the clunky on-screen keyboard.
Now, there are some drawbacks of course. The Bluetooth connection that many of these cases use will likely drain your battery faster, but I haven’t found this to be a deal breaker, as my ipad goes on the charger every other evening regardless, so I’ve yet to run out of battery due to the Bluetooth connection.
The ZAGGmate has it’s own battery that is recharged via a usb cord, and I’ve had it for almost a week now and it’s seen some pretty decent usage time, and still haven’t had to recharge it. The website claims around 2 weeks of use from a single charge, that’s pretty damn good in my opinion.
The other thing is of course this isn’t a full size keyboard (some things do have to be sacrificed for portability) so if you’ve got large hands, or just hate the kind of keyboard that comes on a netbook, you likely won’t like these sort of iPad 2 keyboards much. To be quite honest, I find the smallness of the keyboard frustrating sometimes, but not nearly as much as trying to type a 500 word document on a touch screen keyboard.
So if you’re thinking about an adding a keyboard to your iPad or iPad 2 and don’t want to sacrifice portability or have to juggle yet another peripheral, check out the new range of keyboard integrated cases. I love my ZAGGmate
case, it’s really opened up a new world of use for my iPad 2.
