Still, the cover is really just a neat magazine or book-like protection for the iPad, and the Fold-Up Keyboard still has more to offer… like a fold-up keyboard.
Simply push the button at the back of the case and you’ll be able to pull the iPad up, with the keyboard coming out from underneath and sliding into position as its two parts join together. The iPad sits up in a landscape position and is held in place by a metal support at the rear.
Unlike most of the iPad keyboard cases we’ve seen thus far, you don’t need to physically switch the Bluetooth keyboard on – pulling the keyboard out automatically activates Bluetooth, and pushing it back under the case turns the keyboard off.
Opened up, the keyboard on offer is the same size as Apple’s own iMac keyboard, so they keys are nice and big, and easy to adjust to. Like other iPad keyboard solutions, this Logitech relies on a Bluetooth transmission, so you can’t use it on an aeroplane, but you can in pretty much any other situation.
Overall, the typing experience is quite smooth, offering a comfortable set of keys with more travel than you might expect. The plastic underneath the keyboard is a little flimsy, and can flex a little, especially if its not positioned on a flat surface. We noticed this especially when using it on our lap, but it didn’t seem to affect the typing experience. Overall, this was very positive, with the Fold-Up Keyboard making it possible to type in nearly any situation, offering reasonable stability and large keys.
On the down-side, you can’t use the iPad’s rear camera with this keyboard, either while it’s standing up or laying flat. The front-facing camera, however, is not obstructed.
The sheer amount of plastic in this case also may stop you from attaching some larger accessories to the iPod Dock connector. We tried plugging in a recharge kit from a competing vendor and found the large plastic base was stopping us from plugging it in. Apple’s conventional recharge cables should be fine, though.
Conclusion
Like many other iPad keyboard accessories, this Logitech makes your sleek tablet considerably chunkier and heavier, and at $180, it’s roughly double the price of many competing products. The full-sized keyboard and excellent typing experience, however, go a long way towards compensating for this. Overall, an excellent keyboard solution for the iPad2, especially those with a Smart Cover.
