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How to type on an iPad?

N

nano8blazex

macrumors newbie
Original poster
Apr 2, 2010
12
0
I haven't used an iPad yet, and I'm rather curious...

How does the on-screen keyboard work? Is it easy to use?

For some reason, when I think about it, I find the concept of the onscreen keyboard rather inconvenient:
For example:
1) You have to put the iPad down to comfortably type on it with both hands...
2) If you put it down, most likely you will be putting the iPad down on a completely flat, horizontal surface (e.g. on a table or on your legs)
3) Because you have to put it down on a flat surface, you have to bend your neck downward and stare down all the time to see what's on the screen (Ahhh!!! back problems!!!)
4) Sort of a very awkward position, in my opinion...

Also:
1) A table is not guaranteed... (e.g. in a bus or train...)
2) thus when typing on an iPad, you can only set it on your legs or something
3) Usually you're sitting in a chair when doing so...
4) somehow balance it on your thighs?

It seems likely that the iPad is easy to drop in this situation.

Or, type with only one hand?
I'm pretty sure thumb typing is out of the question the same way we don't use only our thumbs to type on a laptop.

I'd rather not set down the device in the first place... but... kind of hard to not set it down.

Am I the only one who thinks this way?
 
I use my thumbs, works great. Not doing any heavy typing though.
Just mostly peck at it with fingers and thumbs, not treating it like a laptop but more like an iPhone.

Or hold in one hand, type with fingers and thumb of the other hand.
Works great for me!
 
msavwah said:
I use my thumbs, works great. Not doing any heavy typing though.
Just mostly peck at it with fingers and thumbs, not treating it like a laptop but more like an iPhone.

Or hold in one hand, type with fingers and thumb of the other hand.
Works great for me!
Click to expand...

Don't you ever drop it? :)
 
Hover your finger tips in the normal position. Just like typing with a normal keyboard. With the auto correct, you will find that you can type almost as fast as a regular keyboard.
 
Consultant said:
Go to Apple Store
Try it out
Click to expand...

This.

OP - if you've seen the iPad demo videos, you know how to type on it. Whether YOU will find it awkward to type is a personal preference. Get one in you hand, type on it awhile. Make your own decision.
 
I use the Apple case with the iPad slanted in landscape mostly on my lap with my wrists resting on my thighs and I touch type but generally do not use my little little fingers. I do use all my other digits. I like it. It took me but a few hours to get comfortable and all the shortcut features are great. I like to type words like havent that automatically get corrected to haven't without having to type the apostrophe. Spell check works great especially for the obvious typos. If I type i it will make it I automatically. Double spacing ads the period at the end of a sentence. Only on occasion will I type a word I want and auto correction will assume I wanted a different word. You have to watch for that.
 
Ok. I'll go to an Apple store or Best Buy and check it out. :)

Is it just me, or... in the Apple video demos (probably because I only watched one or two) the iPad was either used in a lying-down position (well, I should say sitting-on-the-floor position, or any position with feet elevated or similar in distance from the ground with the rest of the body) or with a keyboard? and never with the person sitting up straight on a chair or something with feet on or near the ground?
 
nano8blazex said:
Ok. I'll go to an Apple store or Best Buy and check it out. :)

Is it just me, or... in the Apple video demos (probably because I only watched one or two) the iPad was either used in a lying-down position (well, I should say sitting-on-the-floor position, or any position with feet elevated or similar in distance from the ground with the rest of the body) or with a keyboard? and never with the person sitting up straight on a chair or something with feet on or near the ground?
Click to expand...

Typing is fine on a table with the Apple case. I get 55-65wpm typing in landscape.
 
shadrap said:
Dido, if you can type on a regular keyboard you can type on the iPad.
Click to expand...

What I'm thinking though is that you have to put the iPad down... and stare downwards all the time... sort of defeats the concept of ultra-portablity.
 
Man I am sitting here with it on my lap, while in the recliner. I can type just fine. Most cases have lip to give it an angle, spend the extra 40 bucks and get one.
 
Get apostrophe and quotes

Every time I needed to add an apostrophe, I was switching to the number layout. It turns out that if you hold the comma down on the normal alphabet layout for a second or so, it turns into an apostrophe. This greatly facilitates typing. If you hold it down twice, it turns into a quote.
 
I am one of the fastest typists I know -- lethal fast using all my fingers.

In my humble opinion the on screen keyboard totally sucks. Autocorrect is beyond creative and virtually every time I hit the space bar it inserts a period.

I still l love the iPad but think that the keys are way too sensitive for true touch typists. And I am tired of constantly having to go back and correct what I have typed.
 
Typing is a dream

I find typing on the ipad to be a real dream and once autocorrect really starts to catch on with usual mistakes I think the speed will only get better...
 
I'm typing this post right now on my iPad and if you want to type fast on it. You have to Lay the pad on the table then rest your palms of your two hands on the corners of the iPad. The try and start typing without looking at the keys. You should remember where the keys are placed and see if the auto correct will help with majority of your errors.........just like the iPad. Remember......use the force!!!!
 
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