Kensington KeyFolio Pro Performance Keyboard Case for new iPad & iPad 2 – ‘Book Mystique Review

I’ve been a fan of Kensington computer peripherals for many years. My faithful standby laptop mouse that I use with my Pismo PowerBooks is a Kensington retractable cord unit that has stood the test of time, and one of my favorite computer keyboards — quite possibly my all-time favorite — is the Kensington SlimType.

Consequently, I was very much looking-forward to checking out the new Kensington KeyFolio Pro Performance Keyboard Case for new iPad & iPad 2. Unfortunately, I’m finding it a bit of a disappointment in several aspects, two in particular.

One is is key action. In stark contrast to the superb, fatigue-minimizing action of my beloved SlimType board, the KeyFolio’s action is among the worst I’ve experienced recently. Not only is it excessively stiff with way too much “over-center” feel for my taste, some of the keys have an unacceptably, rough travel, hanging part way down and sometimes even “misfire,” especially if the stroke pressure is not dead-centered on the key cap.

Since I know for a fact from long and enjoyable experience with the SlimType keyboard, I know that Kensington can do so much better than this, and I’m saddened that they didn’t with the KeyFolio. I really find the iPad’s on-screen keyboard more comfortable and less-frustrating to use, and by more than a little bit. Which kind of defeats the purpose of a keyboard case, n’est çe pas?

My other major beef with the Keyfolio is that it only offers two options for screen angle — either almost bolt, right-angle upright, or flat — neither of which I find satisfactory for the angle of ergonomic address one is obliged to assume — especially for pawing at the screen for cursor positioning, text selection, and so forth. The upright mode is marginally OK for desk or table top use, but far from ideal, and flat (or makeshift propped-up with what-have-you) is what it is. I’m also not favorably impressed by the means of securing the iPad in its upright position, being as there essentially isn’t one, save for gravity. When using a clamshell laptop as a literal laptop device, I prefer to have the display lid raked back at about 45 degrees, even though there is no issue with touchscreen ergonomics in that instance.

Those two issues alone would disincline me to use the Kensington KeyFolio on a regular basis, which is, as I say, a disappointment, but I hasten to add that there is a pretty simple remedy for at least the screen rake gripe in the form of the new Kensington KeyFolio Expert Multi Angle Folio & Keyboard for new iPad, iPad 2 and iPad. This multi-angle folio adjusts from a low angle to enable working comfortably while on your lap, while its multi-suction grip pad allows maximum flexibility, with integrated magnets to hold the iPad at multiple angles, which should handily eliminate my criticism of the KeyFolio Pro on that count. I can’t vouch for whether the multi-angle unit has a better keyboard than the Pro, and it costs ten bucks more than the KeyFolio Pro, but the greater viewing angle flexibility and versatility is well worth the modest extra outlay.

You can watch the Kensington KeyFolio Expert Multi Angle Folio & Keyboard for new iPad product video here:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YiqAwMXBHwI

Another, less substantial and more subjective shortcoming is that I really don’t much like the texture and feel of polyurethane (“PU”) faux “leather,” although that issue is far from unique to the KeyFolio as PU “leather” seems to be quite popular for device cases these days. Realistically I suppose it would be a bit ambitious to expect cowhide at the $99.99 price of this unit. However, there are other plastic materials with what I consider a more pleasant tactile feel.

Getting back to the keyboard, it’s really too bad it has such a crummy feel, because aside from that it’s a nice ‘board. It looks great, and is full-sized in a laptop keyboard context, with a conventional layout, 12 F-keys and an Escape key, plus Pause Break, PrtScSysRq, Insert, and Delete keys, and a Caps Lock key warning LED which has gone missing from some recent full-sized computer keyboards. Generally it would be a nice input tool if the key action shortcomings were addressed.

In the box, you will find the KeyFolio Pro keyboard case, a USB charging cable, and a multi-lingual quickstart guide.

In the positive column, Inserting the iPad into the KeyFolio’s case lid frame was simple and slick. My iPad 2 was a comfortable, although not super snug fit, so I’m guessing the KeyFolio Pro can probably accommodate the new, slightly thicker Retina iPad as well, although it’s not specifically advertised as compatible with the latter.

When in situ, you still have access to all of the iPad’s control buttons, the 30-pin connector port, and there are apertures for the front and back cameras. The KeyFolio case closes clamshell-style for carrying and storage, and is about as thick as current MacBook Pros, somewhat thicker than the MacBook Air.

Bluetooth connecting and pairing was a breeze. The test unit came with amply sufficient charge to use right out of the box. When needed, charging can be done by plugging the bundled USB cable into the iPad power adapter. A full charge is claimed to yield 100 hours of use, and/or 60 days of standby time.

When you first turn the keyboard on, the Power Indicator and Bluetooth Status Indicator LEDs both glow for three seconds, after which the latter stays on but the former goes out, indicating that the ‘board is ready for pairing.

Tap Settings in the iPad, select Bluetooth and make sure it’s active, then press the Connect button on the KeyFolio keyboard and the Bluetooth Indicator LED should start blinking and the keyboard show up on the iPad Settings screen as Bluetooth Wireless Keyboard. tap the name, and a four-character pass key code will appear. Type that code on the KeyFolio keyboard, and you should be good to go.

As above noted, you can use the KeyFolio Pro Bluetooth Keyboard Case in either landscape or portrait mode, thanks to a central swivel mount on the unit’s iPad frame which lets it rotate 180 degrees.

I really dislike having to give a product an unfavorable review rating, especially one from a vendor I respect as much as I do Kensington. However, I think they’ve dropped the ball with the KeyFolio Pro keyboard case, which is good in concept, but just doesn’t have the feel or function of a carefully-developed product. While keyboard key action comfort is a somewhat subjective evaluation, and some folks like, or at least will tolerate a stiffer action than I prefer, there’s no excuse for the rough key travel or the uncertain response from not directly centered key presses. And the screen angle issue denotes a lack of practical consideration.

Consequently, I can’t really recommend the KeyFolio Pro model tested at this point, although it has potential if the problems were addressed and several other folio iPad cases in Kensington’s extensive lineup, including the multi-angle models and one with a removable keyboard, are well worth considering. But check out the keyboard action before laying down the plastic.

The Kensington KeyFolio Pro Performance Keyboard Case for new iPad & iPad sells for $99.99.

For more information, visit:
http://www.kensington.com