Bests & Worsts Reviews from Amazon

I decided that for my birthday I would get myself an iPad keyboard to facilitate my typing/writing. After considerable research (mostly on Amazon), it came down to the LOGITECH ULTRATHIN KEYBOARD FOLIO ($80) and the BELKIN QODE ULTIMATE KEYBOARD CASE ($106). True, they are not the same price but I decided, given how much I use my iPad (a lot, with hopes of using it even more post-keyboard) that the difference in cost would even out over time and that I wanted the best quality and qualities I could get for around $100 or less. In general, I've had good luck with products from both companies. (If you've previously read this review, note the additional FOLLOWUP COMMENTS added at the bottom! Thanks.) -------------------------------- So, let's start with the LOGITECH keyboard. First impression: Pretty nicely made. Fairly easy to get iPad in. Gotta push a bit to slide it in but then it fits tight. (Gotta work harder to slide it back out though) Oddly, the (minimalist) instructions indicate you should push it straight down to snap it in place. ?? Makes no sense. The upper corners are rigid and you'd just be risking snapping the plastic. (Read numerous complaints about the upper left one breaking a lot. Maybe because people were trying to fit it in the "Logitech" way. ?) Outside casing is some kind of dense rubber-like substance. Not crazy about the feel of it. Very solid though. Bit bulkier than the Belkin. The angle of the screen is fairly severe (upright) and not adjustable. iPad stayed in elevated position quite well. Screen bounces a bit when touching it, which, fortunately you don't have to do too much with the various helper keys on the keyboard. Keys are big and keyspacing is excellent, tho the proximity of the keyboard to the screen is a bit too tight as I keep touching the screen as I move up the keyboard. The rounded keys look cool but I don't think that helps. Feels/looks a little kids' keyboard-like. I love having cursor positioning keys! (both models feature them) Having to "finger" the exact position in a word with just your digit on the iPad screen is tricky at times, yah? Keyboard is almost "too hard" a surface to type on. Hard to explain. Just my impression. Bit tricky getting used to the far left column of keys. It's where I expect the Tab, Cap Locks, etc. The functions are there but only as alternates to the letter keys which are normally one column in from the edge. There is quite a bit of debate about the unusual rearrangement of the keys (they had to do to keep full-size keys). I can see why. Definitely slowed me down vs the Belkin. Probably could get used to it? If this were the only keyboard you were using. Might be more of a challenge if you're switching back and forth with a regular keyboard. The Logitech case did not turn off the iPad when closed. Even pushing the power button on the iPad with case closed did not turn off iPad. Had to open case, then press iPad power button. Also needed to turn off the keyboard switch, it appears. ------------------------------- OK, now onto the BELKIN. Also a quality build. Very easy to get into case. Just snaps down in. Also, almost as easy to get out. You can tell they're slightly smaller keys but the placement is just the same as a regular keyboard, and the key shape and feel is more familiar. I can tell I'm typing faster already. Not accidentally hitting the screen as much. Barely bounces at all when I touch it unlike the Logitech. I like the action on the keys here more but the space bar is a little noisy. Fairly loud clack everytime I hit it. Of course, I may just be hitting it harder than necessary. Sounds a little plastic-y but feels very solid. Still though, the Belkin action is overall a a bit quieter. The keyboard is much more like the Apple keyboard on my iMac and MBAir. Belkin has a dedicated Siri button below the Left Shift key, which I may have to be careful of, or not. Still hard not to occasionally accidentally touch the screen, although, the three angles available are much better than the sole one on the Logitech. And man, once in position, it stays in position. Serious magnets. With the iPad in the furthest away slot (and most upright), there's little risk of accidentally touching the screen, which speeds me up, and that angle is no more severe than the Logitech. Both have similar additional function keys, tho the Belkin has three mystery (optional) function keys on the numbers 2, 3 and 4. Will have to go to website to explore. (OK, they are music related: "Play more like this", "Never play again", "Add to iTunes Wish List". Feh.) I'm liking this Belkin quite a bit. Mostly because typing feels more natural on this and that's the primary function of a keyboard, no? Feels very solid. I like the (real?) leather feel of the back side of the case when closed. The aluminum front panel feels very solid also. Feels lighter than the Belkin, though in its packaging, I thought it would be heavier. The Belkin case did turn off the iPad when closed. I assume the keyboard shuts off too (as it's supposed to) but I can see no external light/indicator addressing this. Also no way to gauge the specific battery level. Amber light comes on when charging and off when full, or so they say. -------------------------- Both came charged already, with identical USB/microUSB charging cords. No idea at this point of the actual life of the batteries, but it'll likely not be an issue (I would hope not, at least). Virtually no documentation with either case, except how to place the iPad into them, and turn on BlueTooth. Both paired up quickly. Going bsck noew to try out the Logitech keybosrd sgsion. (thst'd how weell I did coming bsck from the Belkin. Not so grest!) Just switched back to the Belkin and this is e typing at my usual speed. With any typos (1). Definitely faster immediately on the Belkin. FINAL DECISION after 90 minutes of testing: Going with the BELKIN!! Goodbye, LOGITECH, nice try. Hope this helps others decide. --------------------------------------------- Thought a FOLLOWUP was in order as I had such a strong opinion when I first started using it. I discovered there IS a little blue light on the side that later indicated a BT hookup, which went out right after connection was made. One particular downside to the Belkin is that the symbol on the keys (letters, numbers, etc) kinda look like shiny decals, so depending on the light, they can have a bit of a glare to them. 2/11/14 OK, haven't used the keyboard a lot in the last few days but yesterday when I went to type something I noticed it wasn't responding. BT was on, had just charged both iPad and keyboard but nothing. Had other things to do so I just checked it now. Still inert. Restarted the iPad and it came right back. I realize now that I DIDN'T TRY PRESSING THE "PAIR" KEY up on the "=" key. That may have brought it back to life, although in Settings/BT, it showed the keyboard as CONNECTED. Hmmm... (another shortcoming-no indicator light on the Caps Lock key. Beware!) 2/15/14 Haven't had that previous problem reoccur. Although, sometimes when I first start to use it, and trying to sign into a network, the password doesn't take. No characters appear. I can copy & paste it from another app, but thats still odd behavior, tho not tragic. One thing which would make this thing totally great would be illuminated keys. If you tilt the screen to its most vertical position, you do get a fair amount of light from the screen, but not much from the other positions. Still, this thing is pretty damn solid. The touching-the-screen-accidentally has become less of a problem. If you keep your fingers over the keys like a proper typist, it's not a problem. I'm not that proper. It's also a bit too easy to hit the SIRI/mic key, as it's just left of the short Command and Alt/Option keys, before the Function key. Again, not a biggie but a bit of annoyance. 02/18/14 Overall though, despite the shortcomings of a narrower keyboard and a bit of occasional contentious key action, having what is close to a real keyboard for the iPad truly turns it into a mini laptop, with an increased sense of productivity. Me, I wouldn't give up my MacBook Air for it permanently, but since I can (and chose to) take the damn iPad with me virtually everywhere I go anyway, the added bulk is compensated for by the enhanced utility gained. Any future comments of notes, I'll put them here. (Update posted 03/29/14) UPDATE 12/28/14 Just a quick note to let people know that this model will also work with the iPad Air 2. It's a slightly looser fit but has never come out. The only serious problem, which I don't think is much of a problem, is that the alignment of the camera lens opening on the back does not properly line up with the lens. BUT, if you have unlimited funds, they've just come out with new models, the Ultimates, of which the Pro version (at least, at $150) has a lighted keyboard and can be used separately from the iPad (say, with an iPhone). The lighted keyboard is a dream to me since I llike to type in dark caves and the like, ;^)