iKeyboard for Apple iPad

The Apple iPad's lack of physical keyboard has spawned a whole industry of solutions for adding tactile feel to typing on the tablet. The most common options are wireless Bluetooth keyboards and key folios, which add a real physical keyboard, but also add some bulk and require you to keep another accessory charged and ready to go. Keyboard overlays like the iKeyboard ($35 direct), which was born from a Kickstarter project, are another option. The iKeyboard is thin and light, and works with the iPad's virtual keyboard to add just enough tactile feel to make typing on the tablet easier and more comfortable. It won't replace true external keyboard options, but it is a big improvement over the iPad's on-screen keyboard, and you'll never have to worry about keeping it charged.?

The iKeyboard works much like the?Touchfire Screen-Top Keyboard, providing a thin plastic overlay that lines up with the iPad's on-screen virtual keyboard. Instead of a floppy silicone sheet like the Touchfire, the iKeyboard has a stiff plastic frame with raised plastic bumps for keys. The plastic frame separates each key, while the keys themselves are clear and resemble membrane buttons found on remote controls. While the Touchfire used the iPad's built in magnets to stay on and lined up, the iKeyboard uses grippy strips along the bottom to adhere to the iPad's screen. It's easy to attach and remove the iKeyboard, but getting it lined up takes a bit more effort than the Touchfire. Instead of folding away when not in use, like the Touchfire, you'll have to peel the iKeyboard off and stick it someplace where it won't get in the way. The iKeyboard comes in either black or white and works with all iPad models.

The keys themselves provide more substantial feedback than the keys found on the Touchfire. They're thin, but rigid, and have a satisfying click when pressed. Whereas the Touchfire's keys feel a bit like squishy bubble wrap, the iKeyboard's keys are firm and feel similar to the buttons found on the lids of fountain soda cups?only they're bigger and spring back into place. It's still not going to rival a real external keyboard, but it is a big improvement over the virtual keyboard alone.

You can rest your fingers on the tops of the keys, but only lightly, as too much pressure activates the virtual keys below. It is, however, at least possible to touch type using the iKeyboard, which is very difficult on the virtual keyboard alone.?In my tests, I noticed that some keys were a bit flimsier than others, which made for an inconsistent key feel and some accidental presses. iKeyboard claims the keys can withstand a million keystrokes, but I have some concerns with durability, as the molded plastic keys are thin and seem like they might be prone to warping over time. ??

At $35, the iKeyboard is substantially less expensive than most Bluetooth keyboards, which generally go for around $100, like the Logitech Ultrathin Keyboard Cover. It's also less expensive than its closest competitor, the Touchfire, which costs $50. I actually prefer the key feel of the iKeyboard over the Touchfire, but the latter does make it easier to keep an overlay with you all the time, with its convenient magnetized and fold-away design. If you're looking for a quick, easy, and affordable way to add a little more physical feel to your iPad's virtual keys, the iKeyboard is worth a look. If you do, however, want a real external keyboard, be sure to check out our iPad keyboard case roundup.?

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