Typing on iPad.

[MikhailT]

For short messages or SMS/IM, I usually just type with one hand (using all fingers). Over time, muscle memory kicks in and i can type pretty good since the virtual keyboard isn't going to change at all.

Long ones are the one that I just don't know until I feel it in my hand. My biggest concern is that I'll have to constantly hunch my back to type on my lap. Apple's case with the stand makes sense for those long typing sessions, but it won't matter to me, I don't foresee doing many of those.

 

[DrStrange]

you can type with one hand if you want while holding the iPad with your other hand.

 

[wyneken]

I can imagine falling into a kind of dual-use pattern -- content creation at a desk or a table with an external keyboard, and editing/browsing/tweaking around in a comfortable chair with no keyboard.

One way or another it will be a huge leap from the iPod touch.

 

[mrklaw]

I'm not convinced by the keyboard dock. Just seems like the ipad would be too steep for comfort - certainly on a coffee table which would be below you

either put it on your lap and type, or use the bluetooth keyboard which will let you use the ipad at a more oblique angle

 

[anthonymoody]

I'm not convinced by the keyboard dock. Just seems like the ipad would be too steep for comfort - certainly on a coffee table which would be below you

Actually, near as I can tell from the pix, the keyboard dock appears to be a pretty close approximation of the relative positioning between screen and keyboard as a laptop like the MBP I'm typing on.

 

[paulisme]

Using more than two thumbs on the iPad will be a relief.

You have more than two thumbs?

 

[Trek2100]

You have more than two thumbs?

Interesting question. I one finger the iPhone in portrait mode. I hope I can get used to using both hands in landscape mode or at least 6 fingers skipping the thumb and pinky. Still, it would only be for short responses to emails or short notes. When on a trip I would take my Apple wireless keyboard.

 

[jsook724]

i thin kyou guys forgot that on the apple keyboard it has lots of keys that the ipad does not, so i guess if you measure across from q to p on your apple keyboard, thats about how big the ipad is. so it should be close to the same when you type horizontally IMO

 

[splashnader]

Luckily I have small hands so the size of the ipad will be perfect for me.

 

[4DThinker]

I think you guys forgot that on the apple keyboard it has lots of keys that the ipad does not, so i guess if you measure across from q to p on your apple keyboard, thats about how big the ipad is. So it should be close to the same when you type horizontally IMO

You're right. Of course in leaving out everything but the letters you'll have to hit a key to jump to punctuation/numbers/symbols/etc.., then back again. One thing that annoys me about small touchscreen keyboards.

 

[Doju]

For anything other than large essay writing (I very well might write shorter essays on it) I have no worries whatsoever. We all had trouble adapting to the iPhone screen initially, but eventually we were very adept at it and the fact that this will only be bigger is not at all worrying.

Heck, the creak and the likes of the normal clackity keyboards annoys the hell out of me. (Squeaky return key? Arrghh!) The fact that all the clicky plastic will be replaced with a soft touchscreen keyboard is actually sort of a relief.

You're right. Of course in leaving out everything but the letters you'll have to hit a key to jump to punctuation/numbers/symbols/etc.., then back again. One thing that annoys me about small touchscreen keyboards.

Not really. Period, comma, question mark and something else are all on the first view now, the most common. Apostrophe's are subbed in automatically through word correction so basically all you need is there.

 

[macduke]

Luckily I have small hands so the size of the ipad will be perfect for me.

Lucky until you can't has cheezburger!!

 

[wyneken]

Period, comma, question mark and something else are all on the first view now, the most common. Apostrophe's are subbed in automatically through word correction so basically all you need is there.

That's true -- all you NEED is there, but for longer or more demanding tasks, and for situations where you use (for example) diacritical marks, semicolons, m-dashes, and words that aren't in the auto-correction dictionary, it will be much quicker and more convenient to have an external keyboard.