tyPad Keyboard case Review

Connor Scalleat Feb 28, 2011 Follow Me Follow Me Follow Me Follow Me Follow Me Follow Me Follow Me Follow Us Accessories, Apple, Exclusive, Gadgets, Okay Geek Review, Reviews, iPad

As you take your iPad out in a meeting you immediately look cutting edge, that is until you prop it up on a separate stand and begin to fumble with the onscreen keyboard. Luckily, tyPad has taken a professional approach to the keyboard problem for your iPad. The tyPad takes a leather designed case and integrated a bluetooth keyboard into it for easy mobility and function.

tyPad

Features

• Integrated leather case w/ bluetooth keyboard
• Included USB cable for charging

Review

The tyPad is a simple and cheap way to turn your iPad into a laptop like device. It takes the functionality of a bluetooth keyboard and integrates it into it’s beautiful leather case. As soon as you open the package you notice it’s durability and with that you also notice it’s bulkiness. The bulkiness doesn’t trouble me greatly because of the fact that I bought a case with a built-in keyboard so I didn’t imagine the slimmest design ever, although when packing it in a bag it is quite apparent on how big it actually is.

The on-screen keyboard was always fine for me and I was able to type really efficiently with it, although I always felt the need for some tactile feedback. This device provided exactly what I wanted and needed although it did put a big increase in the size and weight of my backpack as expected. The keyboard itself is not a full-sized keyboard although it is hand crafted to work with the iPad, just like the Apple bluetooth keyboards for the iPad. Once you set up the device and insert your iPad and start typing you notice the size of the keyboard and layout the the entire device. Originally for me this set-up felt quite awkward and not well thought out, along with my big hands the small keyboard took some getting used to, although now I have become quite comfortable and able to type with it. In fact this entire article was written using the tyPad and the wonderful Squarespace for iPad application.

The device is quite large when completely set-up and in some standard sized school desks it becomes quite tight although it does fit. It works by propping up the iPad into a slot which is attached to the keyboard which is a reasonably sized and thought out plan for propping up the iPad. The leather snap which locks the entire device together once closed is where I encounter my problem. When open and typing you have a leather pad which sticks out a good 4.5 inches (11.4 Centimeters) which constantly sticks to your hands and arms while typing. I understand the flaps purpose because it holds together the entire thing while closed but they could have tackled this problem so many other ways or just have used a different material other then leather just in this part of the case so that your arms wouldn’t become sticky. On the flip side it is not that it props your hands up a bit to become more comfortable with the keyboard, this is at a full-sized desk. Anything small and the entire device feels awkward.

The keyboard itself is charged by rechargeable batteries. So far the battery life has been fantastic and goes for days without need of charge. tyPad put a built-in self sleep feature which is nice if you forget to turn off your keyboard of have it open and on, and your not using it. The set-up is quite painless you click the connect button in the top right corner and then in the settings pain of your iPad under bluetooth tap connect enter the pin and your ready to rock. The bluetooth technology in the keyboard is up to the latest standards and supports all the latest FCC bluetooth communication security standards, so it is safe.

Once your done typing you pull up on the iPad and then slowly push it down into the keyboard. Then the big annoying flap we talked about before raps around the side and snaps onto the top of the device via velcro. In it’s closed and ready to carry position it looks like a professional notebook or binder, certainly not an iPad though. It is quite heavy when you have your iPad in it and it can be quite hard to get a grip on it if you have smaller hands, you really only have to worry about this though if your walking long distances or are in a very crowded place.

Overall

The tyPad is exactly what it promises to be and it is extremely reasonably priced for the quality of product you are getting. Although the device can only be deployed on flat surfaces and preferably places with rather big desk space it does feel quite sturdy while deployed. In the beginning the typing is quite awkward with the big leather flap in the front and the smaller then standard keyboard. Set-up is extremely easy and bluetooth security is no worry whatsoever. The device is rechargeable and holds an amazing charge which is really handy for a device like this. Overall if you’re in the market for a portable iPad keyboard this is definitely the choice for you. 

Pro’s

• Improved keyboard
• Professional and protective style case
• Extremely easy to set up

Con’s

• Awkward keyboard case enclosure
• Extremely heavy when enclosed
• Takes up a lot of desk room

Price: $62.95 - $99
Where to buy it: Amazon, Typad

Photos