Add a convenient keyboard to your iPad 2, but there are downsides to this interestingly designed add-on.

Logitech Fold-Up Keyboard makes one of the best keyboards for the iPad (we’ve never had the chance to include it in Tap!, but you can see our thoughts here (www. techradar.com/reviews/pc-mac/ tablets/tablet-accessories/logitech­tablet-keyboard-for-ipad-998453/ review), so we were looking forward to seeing what it could do with a keyboard case for the iPad.

Initial impressions aren’t too bad at all: the mechanism to open feels a little clunky, but the way it folds out is quite smooth, and very `Thunderbirds’. You’ll also immediately notice that the keyboard is packed with shortcut keys for iOS, including a Home button, a search button, a key to bring up and remove the on-screen keyboard, and media control keys (among others). Also, when paired with the black iPad, the glossy design looks good, in keeping with the Apple design ethos.

It’s only when you start to live with it, that the more irritating parts become apparent. For a start, it almost doubles the iPad’s weight, and more than doubles its thickness. This is to be expected in a keyboard case, but that doesn’t make it desirable. Aside from its all-in-one nature, it’s not that much more convenient to carry around than the separate Logitech Tablet Keyboard, or Apple’s Bluetooth Keyboard. More than that, the keyboard itself is nowhere near as nice as the others. The keys are shallow, with a harsh movement, and the whole thing rattles when you hit then. That it’s a full-size keyboard is great, but there’s no support at the far edges, so when you hit return, the whole edge wobbles. In fact, the case just doesn’t feel that sturdy when it’s open; when it’s tapped, the iPad’s support flexes a lot.

The battery life is very good, though, outlasting the duration of our testing period. Still, that can’t disguise the serious flaws, and considering this doesn’t offer that much protection for your iPad, and could set you back more than either the Logitech standalone keyboard or Apple’s, it’s a tough one to recommend.

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