Tag: Zagg mate »

The actual keyboard on the Zagg mate keyboard is nearly perfect. The keys are real, with a great feel. In addition, the key placements are almost perfect though I would have preferred the standard inverted T for the arrows. They Bluetooth pairing works great as well. But the actual case design is so out of left field. It just doesn't work well for me.

So let's start out with the good. This thing has a great keyboard. The keys are small, but that's fairly easy to get used to. They are very satisfying to use and type on. The keyboard works as you would expect it to. There's the normal functions that you get with a keyboard connected to the iPad. The standard cut, copy, paste keys are great to have along with the arrow keys with the modifiers for text selection, which is great for power text editors.

When in use the iPad reclines in a recessed ridge in the middle of the device with a little easel in the back to hold it up. The iPad is loose which allows you to use it in any of the four orientations -- portrait or landscape mode. This is a nice feature that no other iPad keyboard case I've seen has.

The problem I have with this case is that when it's "closed", it only covers the glass front of the iPad. The iPad is held in place by a foam gasket inside the unfinished rim of the aluminum base. The problem with this is that the back is left open to damage. I'm not one that obsesses over scratches of my devices. I buy them to use, not to display, so it's not a huge concern. But it does leave me a little bit uneasy that there's nothing like a layer of a case to help protect the iPad.

The usage issue is that it's rather hard to get the iPad out of the device when it's closed. You need to wedge your finger in the side to pry the two halves apart. It can be a bit difficult if you are in a hurry.

Overall, I really have a love / hate relationship with this keyboard case. The keyboard itself is great, and adds very little weight to the iPad. But, I think the design of the case, and how it sits on the iPad is one that is an interesting and very unique idea that just doesn't work all that well in practice. The Zagg mate keyboard retails for a cool $99 and is available from a variety of retail locations and from Zagg themselves.

[ Source: Zagg ]