Bill & Phil Gadget of the Month

BILL & PHIL’S GADGET OF THE MONTH By: Bill Ramsey

Neal & Harwell

By: Phil Hampton

Founder and CEO, LogicForce Consulting

APPLE MAGIC KEYBOARD FOR IPAD PRO: HONEYCRISP SWEET... OR SOUR APPLE?

As all of you know by now, Bill loves his iPad Pro, but Phil considers it a “toy” as compared to his Windows-based Microsoft Surface laptop. Phil says he can use his Surface laptop to work rings around Bill on his iPad Pro. (There may be other reasons for this phenomenon, beside the choice of device.) Bill now claims that he will be on equal footing now that the iPad Pro is compatible with a Bluetooth mouse. And then, the Magic Keyboard with a built-in touch pad came along. Bill is in Nirvana, but does Apple’s newest dream product live up to its hype? Let’s look closer.

I. Looks and Design The Magic Keyboard is a beautiful piece of hardware for sure. It is another device in a long line of good-looking Apple products. The keyboard attaches via a magnet and literally clicks into place. When you open it for use, it looks as if it is floating in air. It is very sturdy and the attachment is tight and hard to break loose. It is also takes a bit of force to open the keyboard after it is closed, but it does give you confidence that it protects a device that costs $1000 or more. And, the angle does not allow for a great deal of adjustment. But, since the setup is not “kickstand based,” it is very solid and balanced and is easily used in your laptop (but the device is not a laptop). The keys are beautifully backlit; and it is very easy to type on. The typing experience is sweet, like a good HoneyCrisp apple, but there are some drawbacks. A major source of complaints about this keyboard is its lack of function and media keys (volume, etc.). However, there is no problem with the “lag” you sometimes experience with Bluetooth keyboards. The Smart Connector with the iPad is sure and solid. The highly-touted trackpad works great. It takes full advantage of the mouse and trackpad capabilities added by the version 13.4 update of iPadOS. It supports multi-touch and the pointer on the cursor changes, depending on the context in which it is used. Bill likes to use his Pebble Mouse with his iPad Pro, and he thinks it works better than the trackpad. But, alas, the Pebble Mouse does not want to connect when the Magic Keyboard is attached, so he can give you a good price on a slightly-used Pebble Mouse. Another neat feature is the pass-through charge on the side of the keyboard, so you can connect external devices (a display, or an external drive) and still connect to a charger.

II. Drawbacks The first drawback is the price. If you are as rich as Bill, that may not bother you. But, consider this. The darn thing costs $299. You can buy a Chromebook or a low-end Windows laptop for that price. But, on top of that, when you add in the cost of a basic iPad 12.9 at $999, the total cost of the tablet and keyboard is greater than many nice laptops, including the MacBook Air. Add in an Apple Pencil (another great device) and more memory in the iPad, and you have dropped a bunch of coin. A fully tricked-out iPad configuration can cut significantly into your gadget budget. In addition, the whole setup with the keyboard and the iPad Pro 12.9 is heavy. The combined weight tops three pounds. That is not much when you are sitting around home, waiting for the virus cloud to lift, but when it is being toted in on over-the-shoulder bag, it can be tiring, especially for an old guy like Bill. Also, the case does not protect your substantial investment as well as other cases, like the Brydge Pro+ (which also has a built-in trackpad) or the various Logictech Bluetooth cases; but it does an adequate job of protection. Finally, according to independent tests, the keyboard increases the drain on the iPad battery. The reduction is about 10 percent of the time needed for a recharge.

III. Conclusion So, the question is, does the Magic Keyboard for the iPad Pro live up to the hype? Is it worth the money? Does it really turn your iPad Pro into a laptop replacement? Bill’s answer to those questions would be yes, yes and maybe. Phil’s would be no, no and definitely no. Most reviewers on YouTube are Apple freaks; and most all of them sing the Magic Keyboard’s praises. It is a beautiful and handy device. There are many things it does well. It is very handy for editing video. The Apple Pencil makes it easy to sign documents, take notes, and create beautiful artwork. (And the new handwriting recognition feature from the next iPadOS will make the Magic Keyboard even more compelling, when used in conjunction with the Pencil.) And, if, like Bill, you are into looking cool; the Magic Keyboard and the iPad Pro can make folks forget how ugly you are (even with a mask on). But, the Magic Keyboard is very expensive when combined with an already expensive iPad Pro. For $200 less, you can get a Microsoft Surface Pro 7 complete with Type Cover keyboard with a trackpad. And the Surface Pro can run full, completer versions of Microsoft Office. So, in the end, the beauty is in the eye of the beholder. To some, like Bill, the taste is sweet. To others, like Phil, the cost leaves a sour taste, like a green crab apple.