Using a Bluetooth Keyboard WIth an iPad 2: First Impressions
January 14, 2012 Leave a comment
By Michael Reiter, Attorney at Law.
I have written before about the iPad 2 about whether it was a serious legal tool. I concluded that it was not particularly because you couldn’t touch type on the screen. I had meant to buy a case keyboard combination for the iPad 2, but I neglected to do so. Until today.
I bought the Logitech / ZAGGmate case keyboard combination at Costco. It was on sale with an instant rebate for about $50.
First, the good. There are a few special iPad tools, such as cut and paste, but like special keys on a regular keyboard, you usually have to look down to find them. The best feature are cursor keys.
You can touch type on it, but it’s only about as good as a keyboard on a netbook. Good, but not as good on a full size keyboard. But it is light years away from the keyboard version. However since it is a case combination, my palms tend to rest on the somewhat hard aluminum of the case
I am used to a trackpad and find myself reaching for one. However, since the touchscreen capabilities of the iPad still work, I think that I can find a work around for it.
The keyboard is good enough for a quick blog post (which was so difficult with the keyboard), for a medium size email. There appears to be some redundancy that makes typing really quickly problematic. Wordpress seems to have some problem with cutting and pasting, but that’s probably a WordPress problem.
I can see it would be good to take notes at a deposition, but I don’t have an app right now that does that. I’m not sure I would write a summary judgment motion on it, even if you could rig it up.
In short, probably worth $50, don’t expect miracles, makes it easier to write email and short blog posts.
The information you obtain at this blog is not, nor is it intended to be, legal advice. No attorney-client relationship is established by reading or commenting on this blog. You should consult an attorney for advice regarding your individual situation.
Michael Reiter, Municipal Attorney. Partner with Cole Huber, LLP in Ontario, Roseville California 