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Smart folio is a design nightmare

It’s not a nightmare, in fact I find it looks better closed, protects the back, is far more stable, has 2 viewing positions etc. that all make it better. It *does* feel weird when folded back as you do touch the keys (which are automatically turned off) but I suspect I will get used to that even if I never love the feeling and of course I can always just take the case off which takes seconds if I really don’t want to feel the keys. Do I wish I had my cake and could eat it too? Yeah, but overall this fixes a lot of issues that existed with the old version starting with front AND back protection.
 
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And on top of the bulky construction I just weighed everything and the new folio is almost 50g heavier than the old one, so the entire package feels really like a tank, not so feathery light like the 10.5 anymore.
It really frustrates me and even makes me consider to stick with the otherwise far inferior tablet, just because the experience with this keyboard is so annoying.
 
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canyonblue737 said:
It’s not a nightmare, in fact I find it looks better close, protects the back, is far more stable, has 2 viewing positions etc. that all make it better. It *does* feel weird when folded back as you do touch the keys (which are automatically turned off) but I suspect I will get used to that even if I never love the feeling and of course I can always just take the case off which takes seconds if I really don’t want to feel the keys. Do I wish I had make cake and eat it too? Yeah, but overall this fixes a lot of issues that existed with the old version starting with front AND back protection.
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Problem is that you’re stuck with Apple’s back protection. Want a case that protects the sides? Not with the keyboard you can’t.
 
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MrGimper said:
Problem is that you’re stuck with Apple’s back protection. Want a case that protects the sides? Not with the keyboard you can’t.
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The problem is any case that protects the sides won't charge the Apple Pencil 2 which many of us got. I get what you are saying but the sleeve for me is great, in particular now that I can set it on the table with the front or back thanks to the increased protection, and when I travel with it I throw it in the outstanding and super protective Waterfield SleeveCase.
 

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canyonblue737 said:
The problem is any case that protects the sides won't charge the Apple Pencil 2 which many of us got. I get what you are saying but the sleeve for me is great, in particular now that I can set it on the table with the front or back thanks to the increased protection, and when I travel with it I throw it in the outstanding and super protective Waterfield SleeveCase.
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Was thinking more of drop protection. Corners tend to bite the bullet in those situations.
 
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Kal-037 said:
I don't have one, but I don't want to get one as I loved the old smart covers and how simple they were, (and I miss having leather or other colors.) I imagine, because so many wanted the Apple Pencil to be magnetized I don't see what else Apple could have done except what they did. It's a trade off here, but one that many asked for.


K.
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Basically this. It sucks but surely Apple did what they felt the market wanted. I too am in the camp of never having asked for back of iPad protection but if and when I do upgrade to the newer pros the reality is I'll have to consider aftermarket solutions. I appreciated the old cover and keyboard for what they were, minimal in bulk and yet functional. I wasn't a fan of the outside material choice and lack of color choice but I lived with it. Here's hoping along with many of you that third party choices will satisfy all of our wants/needs.
 
I fully agree, folding the keyboard back is a surprisingly cumbersome process in comparison to the previous generation. Also when the iPad is in the rearmost notch it’s very unstable, tapping the screen causes it to sway back and forth.
 
lawrencejuliano said:
I fully agree, folding the keyboard back is a surprisingly cumbersome process in comparison to the previous generation. Also when the iPad is in the rearmost notch it’s very unstable, tapping the screen causes it to sway back and forth.
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I get the sense the rearmost notch is the "viewing a movie" when level with the screen notch... ie. I would use it laying in bed with the iPad to my side etc. I don't think its very compatible with work that involves touching the screen.
 
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canyonblue737 said:
I get the sense the rearmost notch is the "viewing a movie" when level with the screen notch... ie. I would use it laying in bed with the iPad to my side etc. I don't think its very compatible with work that involves touching the screen.
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If that’s the case then it makes sense. It just seems to be the more appropriate viewing angle when used on a desk, which drops usability a tad.
 
macdaddy1991 said:
Likely returning my kB folio for the smart folio....I’ve been using it folded under all day
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I’m strongly considering doing the same thing. The biggest gripe for me is the fact that I can’t fold the new keyboard to stand the iPad up to watch a movie while having the keyboard folded back behind.
 
mattshup said:
I’m strongly considering doing the same thing. The biggest gripe for me is the fact that I can’t fold the new keyboard to stand the iPad up to watch a movie while having the keyboard folded back behind.
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Yeah, that’s definitely a concern of mine as well. I figure I can use the extra 140$ to go towards some AirPods maybe. It’s definitely a nice case but I’m thinking I can deal with the onscreen keyboard for typing emails and ****
 
macdaddy1991 said:
Yeah, that’s definitely a concern of mine as well. I figure I can use the extra 140$ to go towards some AirPods maybe. It’s definitely a nice case but I’m thinking I can deal with the onscreen keyboard for typing emails and ****
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Yeah having this keyboard attatched all day made me really consider and think on just how much I actually type and if it’s REALLY worth having with all the compromises.
 
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mattshup said:
Yeah having this keyboard attatched all day made me really consider and think on just how much I actually type and if it’s REALLY worth having with all the compromises.
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I've been worried about that because I love the ASK the way it was, a slightly thicker smart cover that just happened to be a keyboard. Propping my 2nd gen up with the ASK folded such that no keyboard was in front is something that I do every day both as part of my morning routine and when I have the IPP on my desk as a third monitor. The floppiness of the old design sometimes gets on my nerves but the compromises I'm hearing for the improvements in other areas give me cause for concern. Oh well . . is what it is.
 
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Well, I guess I’m in the minority as I definitely prefer the new folio keyboard over the previous smart keyboard cover. I admittedly use the iPad attached to the keyboard far more than without it so that is a big factor for me personally.

The ‘hump’ in the old ASK front cover caused by the folded keyboard irritated me, and the soft touch inner material was a lint/dust/dirt magnet that was a PITA to keep clean. I also found on occasion that I would need to re-seat the smart connector of the iPad against the 3 pins of the smart keyboard to get a reliable connection.

I can appreciate those missing the ability to fold the ASK up behind the iPad to prop it up, but I rarely ever used it set up like that and will gladly take the ability to have 2 different viewing angles on the new keyboard.

As far as folding the front cover behind it when using it as a tablet...I never did that with the previous version and won’t with this one either. I find it a much better ‘tablet’ experience to just remove the keyboard (both the old and new) and quickly drop it back in when I’m going back to the keyboard. Super quick and simple.
 
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If you don’t like it or think its too expensive. Return the case and get a cheaper case from amazon. They have some that attach just like Apple’s folio. I paid $20.
I do have the new ASK. The only thing missing is a track pad.
 
tbayrgs said:
Well, I guess I’m in the minority as I definitely prefer the new folio keyboard over the previous smart keyboard cover. I admittedly use the iPad attached to the keyboard far more than without it so that is a big factor for me personally.

The ‘hump’ in the old ASK front cover caused by the folded keyboard irritated me, and the soft touch inner material was a lint/dust/dirt magnet that was a PITA to keep clean. I also found on occasion that I would need to re-seat the smart connector of the iPad against the 3 pins of the smart keyboard to get a reliable connection.

I can appreciate those missing the ability to fold the ASK up behind the iPad to prop it up, but I rarely ever used it set up like that and will gladly take the ability to have 2 different viewing angles on the new keyboard.

As far as folding the front cover behind it when using it as a tablet...I never did that with the previous version and won’t with this one either. I find it a much better ‘tablet’ experience to just remove the keyboard (both the old and new) and quickly drop it back in when I’m going back to the keyboard. Super quick and simple.
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I don't think you're in the minority at all, if you were Apple wouldn't have done what they did with the design.

Just as it is natural for you to consider certain things more or less of an issue (the hump, the connectivity vs propping the ipad up w/out keys in front or having keys exposed when folded in back) it is natural for others to find other things more or less of an issue. Apple in the end went with what their market research said was the majority after all. The minority just has to vote with its wallet.
 
I’m waiting for the Logitech Slim Combo and Zagg screen protector before I pull out the wallet for an upgrade. It gives me a Surface like hinge, a nice backlit keyboard, and the screen protector has proven its usefulness in the past.
 
I’d like to add that I am also mixed about the 12.9 Smart Keyboard.

First, with the new design the whole iPad gets thicker unlike with the previous gen where only one half of the iPad gets thicker.

Second, no easy way to detach the keyboard. Can’t just open it up and tear apart the two halves. Folding it back and around leaves the keys exposed and holding it and squeezing the keys while holding the iPad feels awful. Then its a pain to take off the keyboard. I’m sure I’ll get better at it or find the easiest way to detach the keyboard but right now it feels like i’m juggling the iPad to get the job done.

Third, changing the viewing position or when you want to close up the iPad is a pain due to how strong the magnets are. The first time I tried it I ended up pulling up too hard and the iPad popped the rest of the way out of the folio.

For the times that I want to use the keyboard it’s great. It’s a very stable base, no complaints there. Feels the same as the previous Smart Keyboard. I haven’t seen it reported anywhere but the total weight with keyboard and iPad is 2.3 lbs. So heavier than the 12” MacBook but still lighter than the new Air (2.75 lbs).
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techno-Zen said:
Such is the trade off of less bulk. My only worry is the keys touching the display when closed
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They are fabric so they would never scratch the glass.
 
I find it very easy to detach the back of the folio from my iPP 11 by slipping my thumb between the folio and the iPP in the corner by the camera.

For me, it’s just going to take a little getting used to. I like that it’s a lot more stable than the ASK. Someone else has already mentioned that the iPad doesn’t fall forward by accident. It’s a lot easier to carry in the open position than the older one was.

I do have to break the habit of pulling the bottom of the iPad toward me when getting ready to close the folio. Folio comes off very easily when I do that.
 
JayMysterio said:
Myself, I have always been a fan of externals. I hoped that Apple would figure out a way to make a clip on that would charge somehow in a way similar to the pencil.

Being able to just pull away the cover was just more pleasant than always having to grasp the cover while working.
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You don’t have to grasp the cover
 
I'm only going to buy the Smart Folio (non-Keyboard) once there are knockoffs available.

Apple's version probably has like an 80% profit margin. Lol no thanks.
 
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