I’ve been a huge iPad fan since it first game out. I bought the first four versions sight unseen, and with each one I loved it more. I have the original iPad keyboard stand, that plugged into the 30 pin slot and only worked in portrait mode. When the first iPad Pro came out, I immediately picked it up, along with the Keyboard Folio. It was amazing! It showed the promise that was yet to come in the iPad – a device that not only was great for reading and consuming concept, but a true creation device.

But to do a lot of development for iOS you need the mouse. Yes, you can use text editors and write code, but the ability to run simulators, wasn’t there yet. And not many apps have added keyboard shortcuts to their code.

When the 11inch iPad Pro was released, and iPadOS was released at WWDC last year, I envisioned that xCode was coming soon.The support of a mouse for accessibility showed that something was coming, and now we see how that vision was fulfilled.

So how is the new Magic Keyboard? There are a bunch of great detailed reviews, my favorite is from Federico Viticci over at MacStories. His level of details in all his reviews is fantastic! I highly recommend you read it, in bringing together your own perspective. Having said that:

• Is it worth the money? – Hate to give a consultant’s answer to this one, but “it depends.” What do you plan to do with it? What are you doing with your iPad today, that would require you to get a keyboard and trackpad? Do you already have a keyboard? (As I mentioned above, I’ve used the iPad Pro keyboard case from Apple).
• What’s the most annoying thing about the Magic Keyboard? I had to think hard about this one. I am using the 11inch 2018 iPad Pro. I have an 13inch MacBook Pro from my day job, a 16 inch MacBook Pro for my personal development machine, and a 27inch iMac for fun. Each of these devices has a different keyboard. So the annoying part would be moving back and forth between the devices and taking a few seconds to get my finger positioning right. I am a touch typist, so the muscle memory takes a few minutes to kick in. The other thing is, I do touch the trackpad more on the iPad Magic Keyboard, more than I do on any other device. I feel that is because of the keyboard size. If I had the 12.9 inch iPad Pro, I don’t think I would have this issue.
• What’s the most surprising thing? This is easy, how quickly I was able to figure out all the gestures. I was surprised that much of the experience just seemed natural.

I am hoping that the rumors that xCode is coming to the iPad are true. I am ok if it is limited functionality. I am used to that as apps come to the iPad, as long as they add functionality overtime. Just look at what Adobe has been doing with PhotoShop, or Microsoft with Office.

I don’t think the iPad is a Laptop, even with the keyboard and trackpad. It is a different experience and when I am using it, I do things differently. I feel I am much more focused, and in some cases more productive. Now if I could only have a few more of these Magic Keyboards, I would put them around the house!!!