iPad Pro Anyone tried using external monitors? (and keyboards)

[Giev]

Hi Folks,

AS the title suggests if anyone has tried "docking" the iPad pro when at their desk using a an external monitor over HDMI, and with a BT keyboard.

I do have an Apple BT keyboard which is only about 80g heavier than smart keyboard and I am curious how well the BT keybaord/ external monitor experience would be? Persoanlly when on the move I would prefer to travel light and use the onscreen keyboard, and when on a desk IMHO a fullsized Apple BT keyboard is much better than the ASK.

Thoughts?

PS: I know there is no mouse support.

 

[Puonti]

I have yet to try the external monitor part, but I do use a BT keyboard with my iPad at home. It's a good experience in my opinion, with familiar alt-tabbing available between apps and keyboard shortcuts I'm used to using on macOS.

The one negative thing I have to say is that for whatever reason iOS does not appear to keep up with some quick shortcut sequences. I sometimes notice that I have to re-do them, for instance when quickly swapping between apps.

Even so, I do prefer the physical keyboard for writing longer messages when it's available.

 

[Anonymous Freak]

As you say, the big problem is no mouse support - so you'd have to have the iPad somewhere easy to reach. The other big downside is that the iPad will only mirror its own display or send video - and when mirroring its own display, it WON'T be at the external display's native resolution - so it will look pretty bad. You lose all the sharpness of the iPad's built-in display, and any sharpness the external display may have.

If you really want to work on an external display with an external keyboard, just get a "real computer". I'll believe Apple is serious about declaring the iPad a "computer replacement" when they allow running an external display at its native resolution, and add mouse/trackpad support.

 

[Giev]

Well, I do have a 15 inch MacBook Pro. I am just wondering if I could leve the MBP at home on some days and just carry the iPad Pro. On the move, I dont need a keyboard or external monitor, but when I get to the office using an external display would be nice, hence the question.