ZAGGMate – iPad into netbook
I got an iPad (version 1) not too long after they’d been released in the UK: close enough after the release date that the Apple store on Regent St was still sold out, but long enough that I felt legitimately grieved that one wasn’t now available.
I’ve never been a fan of Apple but the iPad immediately became an irreplaceable part of my life. My husband and I play a lot of board games and the iPad is a great alternative to carrying round boxes of little pieces, which can get lost – it even sets up the board for you!
I also got a Kindle app, which means that I instantly have a whole library available to me. Packing for beach holidays has got a whole lot easier.
Despite the iPad’s immediate overtaking of my netbook in my personal affections, it still can’t do everything. I had three main complaints:- Firstly some PC functions that we would consider quite basic such as being able to manipulate any files sent through be email, to save, edit etc, secondly PC remote desktop and thirdly typing. It’s slow, inaccurate and picky about which words you’re allowed to use.
I’ve heard that there are some apps available that can deal with the first of these two issues (I will investigate) but I have found the most fantastic solution for the third. I have purchased myself (from the US, sadly, with attendant long shipping times and customs shenanigans) a ZAGGMate iPad cover and keyboard. Having had to wait so long for it to arrive I was feeling slightly fractious when it did and almost threw it away when it didn’t have the correct cable to connect to my iPad v1. Of course, as I found out when I calmed down and read the instructions, it connects via Bluetooth.
As a case for the iPad, it’s made of matching brushed aluminium and fits snugly – no complaints, but where it really helps is as a keyboard – now I can send emails or write articles without it being a chore (I’m using it now).
Adding a case does of course make the iPad heavier, although it’s still not quite as heavy as my netbook and there are extra useful features too, such as the ability to stand the iPad in portrait mode for typing documents.
With the new tablets flooding the market, we’re going to see more and more innovations of this kind but as ever, Apple seems to be there first.