The Magic Keyboard Case: A Laptop-like Experience on the iPad Pro

Even after spending time with the Magic Keyboard case, it's still difficult to shake off the feeling that something is just not quite right. The argument over whether this device is truly a computer or not has been settled once and for all, thanks to Apple's latest addition to the iPad Pro lineup. With its sleek design and innovative features, the Magic Keyboard case is undoubtedly a laptop-like experience in a portable package.

One of the most notable improvements made by the Magic Keyboard case is its range of motion. Gone are the days of static positions, replaced by a more ergonomic experience that allows for almost any situation. This has been achieved through the use of super strong magnets that secure the keyboard to the iPad Pro, and a polyurethane exterior that provides durability and protection. While one might have wished for a bit more flexibility in terms of motion, it's clear that Apple had to make some compromises due to the weight and size of the iPad Pro.

Another significant improvement made by the Magic Keyboard case is its built-in USB-C port. This feature may seem minor at first glance, but it provides a convenient way to charge the iPad Pro through the keyboard's Smart Connector, eliminating the need for a separate cord or cable. This small innovation has a big impact on the overall user experience, making it feel more like a laptop than a tablet.

But what truly sets the Magic Keyboard case apart is its excellent keyboard. Gone are the days of the infamous Butterfly switches, replaced by scissor-based mechanisms that provide a more satisfying typing experience. While some may have noticed a slight wobble in the keycaps, this is a minor quibble compared to the overall quality of the keyboard. And with the ability to modify keys to serve as function keys, users can customize their typing experience to suit their needs.

The Magic Keyboard case also boasts an impressive trackpad that rivals those found on laptops. While some may have been skeptical about the idea of a tiny trackpad, this feature has proven to be surprisingly effective. With its smooth glass top layer and lack of diving board mechanism, the trackpad provides a seamless and responsive experience. Users can fling the cursor with ease, using just a tiny finger movement, which is sure to delight those who have grown accustomed to the precision of laptop trackpads.

One of the standout features of the Magic Keyboard case's trackpad is its ability to support multi-finger gestures. With two-finger scrolling and tap-to-right-click, users can navigate the iPad Pro with ease, even in situations where a traditional mouse would be useful. Additionally, the three-finger swipe gesture allows for smooth navigation between apps, and zooming around the UI without lifting their arm is truly a revelation.

However, not everything about the Magic Keyboard case is sunshine and rainbows. One of the major drawbacks is its inability to flip it all the way around like a traditional laptop lid. This means that users cannot seamlessly transition from tablet mode to laptop mode, which can be frustrating for those accustomed to working in both modes. Additionally, the stiff supportive engine and strong magnets make it difficult to open the case with one hand, let alone two.

This brings us back to a point that has been echoed throughout our discussion: the Magic Keyboard case is not truly a computer, but rather a laptop-like experience on the iPad Pro. This raises questions about Apple's vision for this device and its place in the market. By making it more like a laptop conversion mod than a tablet folio, Apple has inadvertently created a product that is less versatile than its competitors.

In our previous discussion of the iPad Pro, we noted that Apple had dropped the ball by turning it into a laptop because it seemed to have envisioned a grand future where the iPad Pro existed as a different kind of professional computing device. One that used touch and pencil input instead of mouse and keyboard. This vision has not quite come to fruition, and instead, we are left with a product that is confusingly half between tablet and laptop.

This confusion may be a result of Apple's own internal struggle to define the iPad Pro's purpose. On one hand, it seems to want to position itself as a more powerful device than the standard iPad, but on the other hand, it wants to maintain its unique tablet-like experience. The Magic Keyboard case is a step in this direction, but it also reinforces our earlier point that Apple needs to clarify its vision for this product if it wants to truly compete with laptops and desktops.

Despite these reservations, there is no denying that the Magic Keyboard case is an impressive achievement. It takes a device that was already excellent and turns it into something truly special. The ability to seamlessly transition between tablet and laptop modes, combined with the excellent keyboard and trackpad, make this product a must-have for anyone who wants the best of both worlds.

In conclusion, the Magic Keyboard case is not just an accessory; it's a game-changer for the iPad Pro. It takes this device from good to great, providing a truly laptop-like experience that is sure to delight users. While there are some drawbacks and limitations, these are minor compared to the overall quality of the product. If Apple can clarify its vision for this product and make it more competitive in the market, then we may just have ourselves a true winner on our hands.

"WEBVTTKind: captionsLanguage: en- Even after playingaround with it for a while,it's still just weird, you know?It just looks kinda wrong.But there's no denying it.The argument about whether this thingis a computer, or not, is over.With the Magic Keyboard and trackpad,Apple's iPad Pro is, forbetter or for worse, a laptop.Leaving only one question behind.Is it a good laptop?Still weird though.Displate has over 800,000poster designs that are vibrant,durable, and long-lasting.Check out the LTT collection,and save 15% with offercode LTT at the link below.(upbeat music)At first glance, you'dbe forgiven for thinkingthat the Magic Keyboard caseis an incremental upgradeover its predecessor,the iPad Smart Keyboard Folio.It's got the same polyurethaneexterior and color palette,and it attaches to the iPadPro with super strong magnets,but the two keyboards are inentirely different categories.For one, look at the rangeof motion on this puppy.It is leagues beyondthe two static positionsof the Keyboard Folio,improving ergonomics,in almost any situation.Our one complaint here isthat it would have been nicefor it to be able to goa bit further and back,but I understand that that's hardbecause the iPad Pro is prettyheavy for a laptop display.Which is why, as Rileypointed out on ShortCircuit,the Magic Keyboard actually weighsslightly more than the iPad Pro,to prevent the whole assemblyfrom being comicallyunable to stand upright.Another big improvement isthe built-in USB-C port.Now, it doesn't carry data,but it's kind of magical tobe able to charge the iPad Prothrough the keyboard's Smart Connector,without having a corddangle from the tabletsown USB-C port.Of course, even the most Magic Keyboardstill has to be a good keyboardand, good news, 'cause it is.It uses the same scissor based switchesthat Apple has now returnedto the MacBook line,after replacing them with theuniversally loathed Butterfly switches.And while the keycaps are a bit wobblierthan their laptop counterparts,and it would have beennice for them to includea row of function keys for things likevolume and brightness adjustment,this Magic Keyboardgives an undeniably morelaptop-like experience thanthe Keyboard Folio did.And if you really do want an escape key,you can just modify anotherkey to serve as one.Although, the go-home trackpadgesture, mostly does the job.As for the typing experience,there is a distinct tactilebump, with a soft bottom,and typing at speedmakes you feel like youreally are being productive with an iPad.I thought that renders me, a PC enthusiastand laptop die-hard, deeply uncomfortable.Thankfully, I can feela lot more comfortableif I just touch this nicesoft shirt from lttstore.comAw.Surprisingly, though, an equalif not greater contributorto this productivefeeling is the trackpad.Yes, iPads can have trackpads now,and this one is actually kind of great.I mean, don't get me wrong, it is tiny.But if Microsoft can get away with usingthe same tiny trackpad onevery Surface Pro ever.I think I can accept thatthere simply wasn't enough roomto make this one any biggerwithout other compromises.It's got a smooth glass top layer,just like MacBook trackpads,and does not use a diving board mechanism,so it's actually clickableeverywhere on its surface.And because it's so small,yet feels so smooth,we actually ended upleaving trackpad inertia onin the settings.I know, it's a sin, but seriously, guys,it's kind of neat becauseit lets you fling the cursorfrom one end of the monitor to the other,with just a tiny finger movement.I just call it an iPad Pro monitor?What is happening right now?Okay, now we've alreadytalked about the waythat regular mousesupport works in iPad OS,but the trackpad has a numberof multi-finger gesturesthat completely change the gamefor using the iPad on a desk.Obviously, two-finger scrolling is here,along with two-finger tap to right-click,although that doesn't workon everything in iPad OS.In fact, nothing workson everything in iPad OS,it's not very cohesive.But you can also usetwo-finger swipe in browsersto go forward and back,and two-finger swipedown from the home screen tobring up Spotlight search.The big navigation gesturesinvolve three-finger swipes though.Swipe left or right toswitch apps, up to go home,and swipe up and hold toenter the multitasking menu,from which you can two-fingerswipe on any app to close it.I gotta say being able tozoom around the iPad's UIwithout lifting your arm upor moving around so muchto touch the screen,not only makes navigationfeel much less tedious,actually feels kind of cool.But the story here isn't allrainbows and lollipops either.Making the Magic Keyboard,more like a laptop conversion modand less like a tablet foliomeans you cannot flip itall the way around and use the iPad Prolike a tablet with thecase still attached,and the stiff supportiveengine super strong magnetsmean that it's impossibleto open with one hand.And actually, annoyinglydifficult to open,even with two hands.Here's one.Something we found infuriatingin the age of laptopswhose lids can be liftedeffortlessly with a single finger.Then there's iPad iOS.Now it's come a long way.I mean, using multiplewindows in the same appwhile replying to messages with Slide Overand dragging and dropping filesto an external hard drive,while plugged into an external monitoris something iPad userscould only dream abouta couple of short years ago,but the fact remains thatas an operating system,it is still miles behind the versatilitythat one can find it,Windows, Mac OS, and Linux,and that continues to makeApple's moves with the iPad Pro,and by extension the MagicKeyboard, so confusing to me.In our last video about theiPad Pro, we said that Apple haddropped the ball byturning it into a laptopbecause it seemed like they hadenvisioned this grand futurewhere the iPad Pro existedas a different kind ofprofessional computing device,one that you use withtouch and a pencil input,instead of with a mouse and keyboard.And then they pulledthis big, \"Hey, gotcha!\"and released a $350 attachmentthat seems to completelynegate that vision.I just have no idea how to interpret it.Like, what is this thing?And then making my life as areviewer even more complicated,This 12.9 inch iPad Prostarts at $1,000 U.S.with just 128 gigs of onboard storage.That means that altogetherthis setup is $1,400 U.S.For a machine that in themind of any sane laptop useris a clear downgrade from aMacBook or Windows Ultrabook.But then there's this funny thing,that doesn't seem to behow iPad users see it.We keep making these videos about the iPadwhere we express confusion and incredulityat Apple's huge missteps withtheir flagship pro tablet,and then iPad Pro users keep telling usabout how each of theseupdates, iPad iOS in 2019,and the Magic Keyboard this year,have made them lovetheir iPads, even more.They talk about alternative workflows,where they type on theiriPad at their desk,then pop it on the keyboardand use it on the couch.They extol the virtues of appsthat PC enthusiasts like mehave never even heard ofthat let them mix audioand edit images and 4K videosand write code on their iPads.I mean, sure, the shortcomingsthat we find so frustrating,mean that they actually cannotdo the exact same things,the exact same way that we dothem on a traditional laptop,but they just don't care.It seems like that,different way of using thisseparate pro category deviceis still alive and well,but rather than an either-orit's more of a both-and.Use the iPad Pro as atouch and pencil device.Use it as a keyboard and trackpad device.It works pretty well either way, mostly.As I alluded to before,iPad OS has a long way to gobefore the kind of uninterrupted,magically smooth UI experiencethat you get in Apple's appsextends to the whole ecosystem.But, even with that inmind, after this reviewI think I'll be lookingat the iPad Pro's futurewith less confusion andmore skeptical interest.With a really light wallet.Speaking of light wallet.Have you checked out our sponsor?They wouldn't mind lighteningyour wallet, but not much.Private Internet Accessis an affordable VPN,that won't protect your credit cardsor your password or your identity.It's just one tool in yourtoolbox for online privacy.It masks your IP and encrypts trafficto and from your devices.Combine it with private browsing toolsand you can make even savvy websitesthink that you are somewhere else.They've got reliable servicewith over 3,000 serversin more than 30 countries,it's fully configurable,and you can try it risk-freewith their 30-day money-back guarantee.They've got clients forWindows, Mac OS, Android,iOS, and Linux, by extension, iPad OS,and you can connect upto five devices at oncewith a single account.So go check it out.If you guys enjoyed this video,maybe check out our recentvideo on, yeah, the MacBook Air.It's a good MacBook Air, go watch it.\n"