Touchtype Case is the happy marriage of iPad and Apple Wireless Keyboard
I spend most of my day typing on an Apple Wireless Keyboard. I love the feel of the keys, the long battery life and the compact form factor. That's why I do all of my blogging and most of my other writing on my iMac -- I love this keyboard. And that, among some other reasons, is why I don't keep my iPad in a keyboard case. I just don't like the feel of 98 percent of the keyboards built into those cases, with Logitech's Ultrathin Keyboard Cover as the exception. So, what if someone made it easy to carry an Apple Wireless Keyboard with an iPad?
That's exactly the story behind the Touchtype Case (US$49 and $99). The case started out as a Kickstarter project by Salman Sajid and received a lot of backing -- $45,749 compared to a $2,500 funding goal. Salid feels the same way I do about a lot of the iPad keyboard cases, so he decided to do something about it. The result is a very slender case that carries your iPad (any generation) and Apple Wireless Keyboard. Of course, the Touchtype Case also acts as a stand so your iPad can be propped into a good orientation (portrait or landscape) for viewing as you type.
The Touchtype is currently out of stock, but one TUAW reader will get one as an early Christmas present. Check out the review, and then enter the giveaway.
Design
Rather than spend a lot of time explaining the design of the Touchtype Case, I'd prefer to let the inventor do that. Here's his Kickstarter video:
How well did Sajid's design match his dream? Very well! I tested one of the gray polyurethane "pleather" models, and it's one of the thinnest iPad cases I've ever used. However, it still works well as an iPad stand as well, and I like that the iPad can be used in either portrait or landscape orientation.
In case you're not thrilled about gray polyurethane, there are two more "real leather" versions -- one in a dark brown "Wild Espresso" tint and the other in
Functionality
Do you really need a case that can carry your iPad and an Apple Wireless Keyboard? That's the big question that you'll need to ask yourself. If you currently carry both in a backpack or bag and that's working out for you, then spending $49 or $99 for a case is probably an expense you don't need. But if you're carrying the iPad and keyboard loose and want a way to organize them, then the Touchtype case makes sense.
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The workmanship on the Touchtype is probably some of the best I've seen on any iPad case. The keyboard fits snugly into its pocket on the case, but is easy to remove. Elastic and leather straps on iPad cases are usually poorly made -- here, Sajid obviously paid attention to detail, as the straps look good and are very usable.
Any downsides to the Touchtype case? If anything, I have a bit of a concern that the product is out of stock with just a "get notified" email link available. Of course, there's no cost for giving Sajid your email address.
Conclusion
Anyone who likes to use an Apple Wireless Keyboard with their iPad should buy a Touchtype case when they become available. It's well designed and implemented, and a very compact way to carry the duo to wherever your computing will be done.
Pros
Beautiful design
Top-quality construction
Very reasonable pricing on the gray polyurethane model
Ability to stand the iPad up in either portrait or landscape mode
Cons
Out of stock at the present time
Who is it for?
Those who love to use the Apple Wireless Keyboard who are unhappy with the current crop of iPad keyboard cases.
Giveaway
Now, here's your chance to win one of these great cases. Be sure to read the rules:
Open to legal US residents of the 50 United States, the District of Columbia and Canada (excluding Quebec) who are 18 and older.
To enter, fill out the form below completely and click or tap the Submit button.
The entry must be made before December 9, 2012 11:59 PM Eastern Standard Time.
You may enter only once.
One winner will be selected and will receive a Touchtype iPad case valued at $49.
