We have a MacBook Air 2013 that is on its last legs and we need to replace it. My wife also wants an iPad so that she can read our Apple News+ subscription and watch movies in bed. I feel like the most cost effective solution is to get a keyboard case for the iPad and use it as the laptop replacement. The only thing we use the MacBook Air for is normal web browsing, ordering pictures prints via the web, some home office work using Google Docs, and I use it to remote to my PC when I don’t feel like going to my basement office.
I don’t see why a keyboard case wouldn’t suffice in this scenario. The Magic Keyboard trackpad entices me, especially potentially not having to rewire any muscle memory with normal web usage, using google docs, or when I remote to my PC. But is the web browsing experience nerfed enough by iPadOS that its not worth spending $300 on the Magic Keyboard? Is it better to get the cheaper Smart Keyboard Folio case and try to use the Apple Pencil for the same workflow instead?
Just curious what this community’s experience with these accessories are. Thanks in advance for the input.
The best keyboard I found to use as an iPad as a laptop replacement is the Logitech Combo Touch. There are different ones for iPad, Air, and Pro. The keyboard and trackpad both feel great to work with and you can pull the iPad off if you want to use it as a tablet. On the plus side, staying in a case protects it (and it has a sturdy kick stand), but the biggest downside is that it adds a lot of weight. You’d just have to feel it to decide. I also bought a generic magnetic folio, which I use about half the time.
That looks really nice and is much more reasonable in price than the Magic Keyboard. I’ll definitely look into this. Thanks for commenting!