My Two Biggest Requests
The lack of decent keyboard covers for the new 11” iPad Pro has kept me from being able to upgrade from my 10.5” iPad Pro. I don’t like Apple’s folio or anyone else’s for that matter. So I decided it was time to help the process along and blog about what everyone is missing. I currently use the Logitech Slim Combo Keyboard case which has forever changed my requirements for an iPad case. Here are my 2 must-have items, that thus far, are nowhere to be found.
#1 Detachable Keyboard
Even for a hard-core iPad user like myself. I don’t require a keyboard the majority of the time. During my workday I use my Apple Pencil most of the time and for quick text entry I use the on-screen keyboard. It’s when I get into “writing mode” in my favorite recliner or at my desk that I reach for my keyboard.
One of the main reasons that I prefer using my iPad over my MacBook Pro is that it is so thin and light without a keyboard. It’s a joy to carry around the house in your hand or to travel with in a bag. I can stow my Logitech keyboard in my armrest storage of my recliner and I have an Apple Bluetooth keyboard at my desk ready to pair. To me, the keyboard is an accessory to the iPad, not a part of it.
Without a keyboard, the iPad is a joy to read on. It’s like holding a magazine or a book. And if you have a kickstand, you can read hands-free. But more on that later.
I don’t want an iPad folio where the keyboard is permanently attached to the case. For me that’s a deal breaker. I would then have to remove the iPad from the case to use it as intended and the back would be unprotected.
What is puzzling about Logitech is that their previous case got it right. The Logitech Slim Combo has a protective back covering but the keyboard attached magnetically. But their new design back-tracked and is now an integrated design. My travel iPad case, the UAG Metropolis also has a removable back from the front design. And the UAG case was compatible with Apple’s Smart Keyboard cover. I love iPad cases where you have the option of only using the back protection.
#2 Kickstands Are Awesome
Anyone who says that kickstands on tablets are terrible because you can’t use them on your lap hasn’t really tried using it that way. They are especially easy to use if you prop your feet up on an ottoman or recliner.
I much prefer using my Logitech Slim Combo over the UAG Metropolis coupled with the Smart Keyboard Cover mainly due to the kickstand. Even though the Logitech is much thicker and heavier (slim combo is such a misnomer) I can’t live without the integrated kickstand around the house. I can place my iPad on my lap and angle it towards my eyes. But if I need to quickly pick up my iPad and use it like a book in portrait mode, the kickstand snaps shut and is out of the way.
I love setting my iPad on the counter and being able to play a YouTube video while I’m brushing my teeth. Or when I’m cleaning up in a room I can setup my iPad and it functions like a little TV. On a side note, this is where the 4 speakers on the iPad Pro really come in handy versus the 2 speakers on the new iPad Air. The combination of a decent sized screen, relatively powerful stereo speakers, and an always available kickstand make the iPad Pro a killer personal TV.
After using the Logitech Slim Combo, the kickstand is now permanently on my list of biggest must-haves in any iPad case. I’m actually hoping that Apple some day designs the kickstand right into the iPad itself. To me, large screens and the ability to have hands-free display should go together.
Smart Connector Trumps Bluetooth
I bounce back and forth between using Bluetooth and Smart Connector keyboards. That has made me greatly prefer using direct connected keyboards. This isn’t one of my deal breakers but it deserves mention.
Bluetooth keyboards can cause a very unpleasant situation. Say I’m using my Apple Bluetooth keyboard at my desk and when I’m done I get up and move to the couch. If I forgot to turn off the Bluetooth keyboard, it remains connected to my iPad. That means the next time that I try to type something on my iPad with the on-screen keyboard, it will refuse to come up. There will be no message telling me why it’s missing. I hate that.
No 1 Case Will Fit All Situations
I feel the same way about iPad cases that I do about jackets and coats. You have to pick one for the situation. It’s impossible for any one case to meet all of your needs unless your iPad use is confined to a narrow use case.
I use my UAG Metropolis for the office on weekdays. I use my Logitech Slim Combo for evenings and weekends. And I use a Moko case for when I take my iPad to church or study groups. It all depends on various factors such as how I’m sitting, how much writing I’m going to do, and etc.
So I have no delusions on ever finding the perfect “one” case. But right now, there aren’t ANY cases for the 11” iPad Pro which I find acceptable.
Note: This blog post wasn't sponsored in any way, I didn't receive any review units, nor am I receiving any affiliate kickbacks on any mentioned products.
Even for a hard-core iPad user like myself. I don’t require a keyboard the majority of the time. During my workday I use my Apple Pencil most of the time and for quick text entry I use the on-screen keyboard. It’s when I get into “writing mode” in my favorite recliner or at my desk that I reach for my keyboard.
One of the main reasons that I prefer using my iPad over my MacBook Pro is that it is so thin and light without a keyboard. It’s a joy to carry around the house in your hand or to travel with in a bag. I can stow my Logitech keyboard in my armrest storage of my recliner and I have an Apple Bluetooth keyboard at my desk ready to pair. To me, the keyboard is an accessory to the iPad, not a part of it.
Without a keyboard, the iPad is a joy to read on. It’s like holding a magazine or a book. And if you have a kickstand, you can read hands-free. But more on that later.
I don’t want an iPad folio where the keyboard is permanently attached to the case. For me that’s a deal breaker. I would then have to remove the iPad from the case to use it as intended and the back would be unprotected.
What is puzzling about Logitech is that their previous case got it right. The Logitech Slim Combo has a protective back covering but the keyboard attached magnetically. But their new design back-tracked and is now an integrated design. My travel iPad case, the UAG Metropolis also has a removable back from the front design. And the UAG case was compatible with Apple’s Smart Keyboard cover. I love iPad cases where you have the option of only using the back protection.
#2 Kickstands Are Awesome
Anyone who says that kickstands on tablets are terrible because you can’t use them on your lap hasn’t really tried using it that way. They are especially easy to use if you prop your feet up on an ottoman or recliner.
I much prefer using my Logitech Slim Combo over the UAG Metropolis coupled with the Smart Keyboard Cover mainly due to the kickstand. Even though the Logitech is much thicker and heavier (slim combo is such a misnomer) I can’t live without the integrated kickstand around the house. I can place my iPad on my lap and angle it towards my eyes. But if I need to quickly pick up my iPad and use it like a book in portrait mode, the kickstand snaps shut and is out of the way.
I love setting my iPad on the counter and being able to play a YouTube video while I’m brushing my teeth. Or when I’m cleaning up in a room I can setup my iPad and it functions like a little TV. On a side note, this is where the 4 speakers on the iPad Pro really come in handy versus the 2 speakers on the new iPad Air. The combination of a decent sized screen, relatively powerful stereo speakers, and an always available kickstand make the iPad Pro a killer personal TV.
After using the Logitech Slim Combo, the kickstand is now permanently on my list of biggest must-haves in any iPad case. I’m actually hoping that Apple some day designs the kickstand right into the iPad itself. To me, large screens and the ability to have hands-free display should go together.
Smart Connector Trumps Bluetooth
I bounce back and forth between using Bluetooth and Smart Connector keyboards. That has made me greatly prefer using direct connected keyboards. This isn’t one of my deal breakers but it deserves mention.
Bluetooth keyboards can cause a very unpleasant situation. Say I’m using my Apple Bluetooth keyboard at my desk and when I’m done I get up and move to the couch. If I forgot to turn off the Bluetooth keyboard, it remains connected to my iPad. That means the next time that I try to type something on my iPad with the on-screen keyboard, it will refuse to come up. There will be no message telling me why it’s missing. I hate that.
No 1 Case Will Fit All Situations
I feel the same way about iPad cases that I do about jackets and coats. You have to pick one for the situation. It’s impossible for any one case to meet all of your needs unless your iPad use is confined to a narrow use case.
I use my UAG Metropolis for the office on weekdays. I use my Logitech Slim Combo for evenings and weekends. And I use a Moko case for when I take my iPad to church or study groups. It all depends on various factors such as how I’m sitting, how much writing I’m going to do, and etc.
So I have no delusions on ever finding the perfect “one” case. But right now, there aren’t ANY cases for the 11” iPad Pro which I find acceptable.
Note: This blog post wasn't sponsored in any way, I didn't receive any review units, nor am I receiving any affiliate kickbacks on any mentioned products.
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