Alex Zaharov-Reutt
Friday, 27 August 2010 14:45
Your IT -
Mobility
Page 1 of 2
If you’ve been hankering for an iPad case that came with a built-in Bluetooth keyboard, iPad accessory company “PADACS” has just released one for the Australian market!
The iPad. It’s the device that has finally popularised tablet/slate/pad computing, but even though it has a stellar on-screen keyboard, even Apple knew that some iPad users would always want the option of using a physical keyboard.
Thus, Apple launched its own “wired” iPad keyboard dock, enabled Bluetooth allowing the use of any Bluetooth keyboard, be it Apple’s own models, Microsoft’s, Logitech’s or anyone else’s, and even allows iPad camera kit accessory owners to plug a USB keyboard into the USB accessory for wired keyboarding.
But the idea of a case or clamshell with a built-in Bluetooth keyboard was something that many speculated on seeing relatively quickly after the iPad was launched, and while it has taken a few months, they are now on the market.
Some of the models or at least ‘concept’ cases I’ve seen online over the past few months looked like a white Macbook with the iPad replacing the standard MacBook screen, but as you can see from the photo of PADACS’ Bluetooth keyboard case on page two, called the Toccata, this one is a little more reminiscent of Apple’s standard iPad case, except with a keyboard in place of the protective “flap”.
Toccata? I was wondering, too. The press release helpfully clears it up by noting that, for the etymologists, Toccata comes from the Italian word toccare “to touch”, and describes a composition for the piano, organ or other keyboard instrument that’s intended to show off the player's technique.
While the official iPad keyboard dock and the official Apple Bluetooth keyboard cost AUD $99 each, and the official Apple case costing $49, one big question is how much PADACS is charging for the Toccata.
Well, the price is AUD $89.95, and as such comes in significantly cheaper than at least Apple’s own keyboard and case, so the price certainly seems quite reasonable.
As for how nice it is to type on the Toccata, I can’t yet say as I’m yet to request a review unit, something I will be doing following the posting of this article, but PADACS says it’s great – as you’d expect.
Specifically, PADACS says the Toccata has a “235x135mm QWERTY keyboard [that] is large enough to type comfortably [on] without adding to the iPad case size.”
Continued on page two, where you can also see a photo of the Toccata and iPad in action…
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