Not to thow water on Razer's marketing department, but this wouldn't have anything to do with Kaihua's new low-profile mechanical switches for laptops would it?
yeah this is great. The big iPad Pro can be found on ebay with Steep discounts vs new retail. might sell my air 2 and get one fully decked out for $700 (128GB with LTE)
It's a third of the way there though. All the iPad pro needs to be good outside a few niches (and sorry AT, but the note taking stuff from the review without mentioning just how powerful desktop onenote is on the surface isn't a niche where it's worth its price) is a real keyboard, a trackpad, and an install of a proper OS that can handle all the capability that gives.
Alternately they could just upgrade the tracking on the Surface Pro, and it'd already be there.
Funny, the original iPad was released with an optional mechanical keyboard. 6 years later, still a source of comment-section whining. It's not required, and there's little lost if you're doing some occasional typing (or maybe, MOST of what you do is type and keep your hands on the keyboard).
This would be cool if the iPad had a proper file system. I don't understand why it's necessary to use such an archaic and confusing sandboxing method for files, and prevent users from having a proper file browser.
Yeah, it seems weird to waste a high end keyboard on an iPad++ without making it available for a platform where the keyboard is an equal with the screen.
I received my Razer Keyboard Case for the iPad Pro today.
What a disappointment. When I saw the various releases last week, I got really excited. I like my Zagg Slimbook iPad case, but it's a bit heavy and some of the function keys seem a bit silly (high priority for Bluetooth functions, etc.). The mechanical keyboard feel (especially in my preferred low-profile) in the Razer was also of great interest.
That's about all it does right.
The Razer is appealing, with a matte black exterior and white key backlighting (I was worried it would be a fluorescent green). It was unclear how everything was going to fit together in the initial product shots, so I was surprised to see that the keyboard is attached via flexible plastic/fabric, sort of like the Apple Smart Keyboard cover. Now I understand why it has a kickstand. There's no hinge. In addition, the plastic cover attaches a bit loosely for my taste and doesn't cover the top or bottom (sides of the iPad in landscape). When closed, the keyboard and iPad slide against each other as your hand shifts, not having the structure to stay tightly aligned.
The kickstand is annoying. When you open the case, the iPad side doesn't have the structure to stay upright, so you need to open the kickstand. This makes the total depth of the device about 50% deeper than the Zagg case. You have the length of the keyboard, then the open kickstand behind it. It's not a big deal on a table surface, but it's hardly convenient for a lap unless you have a 34" inseam (which I do, and the kickstand extends over my knees a little).
Then there's "tablet" mode. Let's say you want to take what you're working on during a meeting and hand just the screen part of your little faux laptop to your coworker? The Zagg allows you to remove the tablet case from the keyboard and hand it over. It'll even lie flat, as you'd expect from a conventional tablet case. The Razer requires you to collapse the kickstand (which to do fully, you need to press hard on both hinges or it'll stay slightly open), then disconnect the magnetic keyboard connector. After they hand it back, you'd have to open the kickstand again and adjust it to where you were. The Zagg snaps right back into the hinge where you left off, as it's attached to the keyboard firmly and directly.
In addition, there's no pivot mode where you can flip the screen over to draw with the keyboard still attached.
You'd hope that the lack of a hinge would make this a lot lighter than the Zagg. It's nearly the same at 2.16 lbs. I believe the Zagg is about 2.4.
The layout of the keyboard (something I didn't pay attention to in product shots), differs from my Macbook Pro (and Lenovos I've seen around the office), putting the up arrow annoyingly between the ?/ and the right shift. For comparison, the Zagg mirrors the MBP, making the transition between the two relatively seamless throughout a work day.
I do like the screen brightness function buttons and the style and feel of the case. The feel of the keys is exceptional, too. Snappy and springy with a nice click-feel. As I would've expected.
I haven't tested battery life. I'm sure it's fine.
Really, it just feels like Razer took their fancy new mechanical switches and rushed them into an ill-conceived product. They had an opportunity to make this a really amazing option for people who want an iPad-based sketchy-design/note taking tablet/laptoppy thing. I don't think they designed this for tablet users -- it fails at most of the configurations you'd want for an iPad and is basically a really good Bluetooth keyboard (with unfortunate key placement on those arrows).
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Adm_SkyWalker - Thursday, July 14, 2016 - link
This was unexpected.zeeBomb - Thursday, July 14, 2016 - link
Anandtech, review plsBrandon Chester - Thursday, July 14, 2016 - link
I'll be taking a look at it once samples go out.Flunk - Thursday, July 14, 2016 - link
Not to thow water on Razer's marketing department, but this wouldn't have anything to do with Kaihua's new low-profile mechanical switches for laptops would it?WorldWithoutMadness - Friday, July 15, 2016 - link
Well, with razer switch is made by kaihua plus low profile switches for laptop news, it is safe to say it is indeed made by kaihuaMorawka - Thursday, July 14, 2016 - link
yeah this is great. The big iPad Pro can be found on ebay with Steep discounts vs new retail. might sell my air 2 and get one fully decked out for $700 (128GB with LTE)tipoo - Thursday, July 14, 2016 - link
Still amuses me that this is exactly what you're doing with the Pro in a keyboard dockhttps://www.wired.com/images_blogs/gadgetlab/2010/...
A trackpad on the same horizontal pane as the keyboard just makes so much ergonomic sense. Clamshells stuck around for good reason.
Geranium - Thursday, July 14, 2016 - link
Mechanical keyboard for iPad is like lipstick on a pig.xthetenth - Friday, July 15, 2016 - link
It's a third of the way there though. All the iPad pro needs to be good outside a few niches (and sorry AT, but the note taking stuff from the review without mentioning just how powerful desktop onenote is on the surface isn't a niche where it's worth its price) is a real keyboard, a trackpad, and an install of a proper OS that can handle all the capability that gives.Alternately they could just upgrade the tracking on the Surface Pro, and it'd already be there.
arpiggies - Saturday, July 16, 2016 - link
Ms. Piggy is quite popular I'll remind you.blackcrayon - Monday, July 18, 2016 - link
Funny, the original iPad was released with an optional mechanical keyboard. 6 years later, still a source of comment-section whining. It's not required, and there's little lost if you're doing some occasional typing (or maybe, MOST of what you do is type and keep your hands on the keyboard).sonicmerlin - Thursday, July 14, 2016 - link
This would be cool if the iPad had a proper file system. I don't understand why it's necessary to use such an archaic and confusing sandboxing method for files, and prevent users from having a proper file browser.damianrobertjones - Friday, July 15, 2016 - link
I would love for one of these companies to make a Surface Pro 4 keyboard.xthetenth - Friday, July 15, 2016 - link
Yeah, it seems weird to waste a high end keyboard on an iPad++ without making it available for a platform where the keyboard is an equal with the screen.yhselp - Saturday, July 16, 2016 - link
Would be cool to see those switches in a Razer laptop. I think it's about time the whole industry embrace better keyboard designs for laptops.poorimpulsectrl - Tuesday, July 19, 2016 - link
I received my Razer Keyboard Case for the iPad Pro today.What a disappointment. When I saw the various releases last week, I got really excited. I like my Zagg Slimbook iPad case, but it's a bit heavy and some of the function keys seem a bit silly (high priority for Bluetooth functions, etc.). The mechanical keyboard feel (especially in my preferred low-profile) in the Razer was also of great interest.
That's about all it does right.
The Razer is appealing, with a matte black exterior and white key backlighting (I was worried it would be a fluorescent green). It was unclear how everything was going to fit together in the initial product shots, so I was surprised to see that the keyboard is attached via flexible plastic/fabric, sort of like the Apple Smart Keyboard cover. Now I understand why it has a kickstand. There's no hinge. In addition, the plastic cover attaches a bit loosely for my taste and doesn't cover the top or bottom (sides of the iPad in landscape). When closed, the keyboard and iPad slide against each other as your hand shifts, not having the structure to stay tightly aligned.
The kickstand is annoying. When you open the case, the iPad side doesn't have the structure to stay upright, so you need to open the kickstand. This makes the total depth of the device about 50% deeper than the Zagg case. You have the length of the keyboard, then the open kickstand behind it. It's not a big deal on a table surface, but it's hardly convenient for a lap unless you have a 34" inseam (which I do, and the kickstand extends over my knees a little).
Then there's "tablet" mode. Let's say you want to take what you're working on during a meeting and hand just the screen part of your little faux laptop to your coworker? The Zagg allows you to remove the tablet case from the keyboard and hand it over. It'll even lie flat, as you'd expect from a conventional tablet case. The Razer requires you to collapse the kickstand (which to do fully, you need to press hard on both hinges or it'll stay slightly open), then disconnect the magnetic keyboard connector. After they hand it back, you'd have to open the kickstand again and adjust it to where you were. The Zagg snaps right back into the hinge where you left off, as it's attached to the keyboard firmly and directly.
In addition, there's no pivot mode where you can flip the screen over to draw with the keyboard still attached.
You'd hope that the lack of a hinge would make this a lot lighter than the Zagg. It's nearly the same at 2.16 lbs. I believe the Zagg is about 2.4.
The layout of the keyboard (something I didn't pay attention to in product shots), differs from my Macbook Pro (and Lenovos I've seen around the office), putting the up arrow annoyingly between the ?/ and the right shift. For comparison, the Zagg mirrors the MBP, making the transition between the two relatively seamless throughout a work day.
I do like the screen brightness function buttons and the style and feel of the case. The feel of the keys is exceptional, too. Snappy and springy with a nice click-feel. As I would've expected.
I haven't tested battery life. I'm sure it's fine.
Really, it just feels like Razer took their fancy new mechanical switches and rushed them into an ill-conceived product. They had an opportunity to make this a really amazing option for people who want an iPad-based sketchy-design/note taking tablet/laptoppy thing. I don't think they designed this for tablet users -- it fails at most of the configurations you'd want for an iPad and is basically a really good Bluetooth keyboard (with unfortunate key placement on those arrows).