Apple’s overpriced iPad keyboard is dumb

I use a Surface Pro, which serves double duty as a tablet and laptop. I’ve owned iPads in the past though. While I’m generally not a fan of Apple’s current product lineup, the iPad Pro is certainly a great device. It was a really tough choice between the two. Windows was the better OS back in 2017, but since then, I feel like iPad OS has finally matured into something that I would seriously call a proper laptop replacement. While I still prefer the openness of Windows, based on my use case, the iPad Pro will probably be my next tablet. I have a Windows desktop to handle the rest.

But man, let’s talk about that damn Magic Keyboard.

I thought it was incredibly stupid when Microsoft decided to stop including the Type Cover with the Surface Pro, starting with the 2017 model. Which is the one I happen to have, and am using to type this article on. Even dumber is the fact that they charged $200 CAD for a keyboard accessory, which is arguably necessary for any Windows device.

Anyone who pays $200 for what amounts to a average laptop keyboard is a bit daft. But I did, in all its grey velour Alcantara glory. Keys feel nice and the trackpad works well, but it flexes a lot, and its velour Alcantara covering is a dirt magnet. $200 is what you’d expect to pay for higher end mechanical keyboards, not a flimsy one for tablets. It doesn’t even have RGB!

Meanwhile, Apple was sitting there trying to think up silly products for people to covet, and said “hold my soy latte.” That’s when they once again decided to one up Microsoft on dumb, overpriced accessories. As is the way.

The Magic Keyboard serves the same purpose as the Surface Type Cover. It offers keys (but not function keys for some reason) to tap on and a track pad to point at stuff with. Since the iPad Pro doesn’t have a built in stand, unlike the Surface, the MK adds one of those too. So for the privilege of having your tablet LARP as a laptop, you get to pay a cool… wait for it… $399 CAD. Holy balls.

This actually pushes the price of the base 10” iPad Pro higher than the MacBook Air, while paired with the 12”, it costs as much as a MacBook Pro. Now in its defense, the iPad Pro is actually the more powerful of the two. At least in single core tasks, and until it starts thermal throttling. I suppose it depends on your own use case, but that’s still a lot to convert a tablet into a laptop. Especially a laptop that doesn’t run a full desktop OS.

In fairness, reviewers have said the keyboard is actually quite good, and doesn’t flex like Microsoft’s. Which is certainly a bonus. Though it’s not that easy to use on a lap as the Surface is. Which is a bit of a problem for a device that promises to turn your tablet into a laptop.

There are cheaper third party versions available. Logitec makes one that’s similar to the Type Cover, for the same $200. Though it only supports the 10” Pro. Personally, I’d wait for more of those to come out, but it’s still a lark to poke fun at at some of the nonsense products Apple gets away with.