Category: Technology

Going iPad-only: the keyboard or the cover?

My first idea was to use the Brydge keyboard (excellent) and a cheap cover when using the iPad as a tablet (note taking, drawing).

And I made a little mistake.

First of all I use the keyboard more than I expected even when in “tablet mode”. Second of all a cheap cover is what the name implies: cheap.

In my case I bought a cover with all-round protection with a foldable front cover, just like the original Apple ones (quality is not even close). For less then 20€ you get an easy to snap cover that holds and blocks your iPad like a vice. The drawbacks are: hard plastic is easy to break and likely transfer impact forces to the iPad and it’s impossibly difficult to remove without risking damage to either the iPad or the cover. Definitely not a thing that you like to do a few times a day. Actually not even once.

So I faced the usual choice: I need a new cover. And a keyboard. Damn.

My second choice for the keyboard was the Logitech Slim Folio Pro. Way cheaper than the Brydge (which is still my favorite when working full time) but perfect for the casual use.

The Logitech doesn’t come with any accessory and it’s a lot smaller so the battery cannot compete with the Brydge. But that is not the point: in this case I gladly accept to save quite a bit of weigth:

  • MacBook Pro 13″ 2016: 1350gr
  • iPad 12.9″ + Brydge: 1482gr
  • iPad 12.9″ + Logitech Slim Folio Pro: 1361gr

The Logitech in nicely backlit but the CAPS lock is without a led.

Thanks to: Tech Craft, Paperless Movement

Going iPad-only: first impressions

To be honest it’s not yet iPad-only: for work I still use a Macbook Pro and I’m using them side by side. But most of the tasks can be performed on the iPad albeit with some inferior performance (in terms of multitasking and/or screen estate).

I’ll list here the most annoying limitations I found in the last days:

  • Some apps still do not support Split View, most notably IMDB and banking apps, also Netflix doesn’t support it but it supports PiP so it’s negligible
  • Using Synology Moments within my photo management workflow isn’t going to work: it lacks the robustness and speed of iCloud so I had to go back. the Synology will be the target (file wise) of my photos but AFTER post processing and exporting from Photos (still unclear on the details)
  • GoCoEdit is a great editor and is very good but it still lacks soe much-needed feature, for example trimming spaces on save. It’s just a matter of time I hope.

Going iPad(-only)

My Macbook Air from 2012 is struggling since Mojave and Catalina works but it’s a bit too slow… The new Macbook 16″ is still not available and my very old iPad Mini is not usable sinca a while for serious stuff… so I decided to try to go iPad-only instead of buying a new Macbook Pro (definitely too expensive).

After some research (there are many good videos on YouTube on this topic) I opted for:

  • iPad Pro 12.9″
  • Brydge keyboard (the look and feeling is perfect!)
  • Apple Pencil (for note taking and drawing)
  • Hyperdrive 6in1 for iPad Pro (still waiting for the delivery)
  • Apple USB-C – HDMI/USB/USB-C adapter
  • A bunch of (somewhat expensive but very good) apps, basically “the usual suspects”:
    • blink shell
    • Soulver
    • GoCoEdit (because I’m coming from Sublime Text 3)
    • Notability
    • Fantastical
    • Pixelmator
    • ScannerPro

    • and also a lot of free apps:

    • Dash
    • SketchBook
    • Paper
    • …and more for everyday use, not necessarily work

I just started so I’ll update this post with some impressions, right now it seems a very good solution, just about 130 grams more (iPad+keyboard) than a Macbook Pro 13″!