If you needed any more proof that Apple is confident you don’t need to use a hardware keyboard with the iPad, the tablet will start shipping on April 3rd. The official keyboard accessory won’t be available until a few weeks after that.

I’m still a bit skeptical that you’ll be able to write any lengthy emails, blog comments, or other text on the iPad display. While the on-screen keyboard is about the same size as a physical keyboard on a typical netbook, you’ll have to hold the iPad in an awkward angle to type with ten fingers. And while the on-screen keyboard looks a lot like the iPhone keyboard, it’s a lot easier to hold a smartphone that’s a few inches in both hands while using your thumbs to type than it is to hold a 10 inch tablet and stretch your thumbs across.

In other words, I think typing on the iPad will mean tapping away with one finger — or holding the tablet in one hand while using a few fingers on the other hand to type. But based on the fact that the hardware keyboard won’t even be available at launch, I’m guessing Apple knows something I don’t — or just really doesn’t care about the text entry experience on the iPad since the tablet is primarily designed for consuming media rather than creating it.

via SlashGear

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9 replies on “iPad keyboard accessory won’t ship until mid-April”

  1. It’s trying so desperately to be a netbook it’s almost sad really. Adding the keyboard add how much cost to the device? It’s like buying a car with 2 wheels. Do you think you might need the other 2? I suppose it would look silly to ship the iPad with a keyboard because well, then aren’t they kind of defeating their message about how multi purpose this thing is? A 2 wheel car is somewhat useful. How useful I’m not sure. Look at great. To drive? Might be a bit of a challenge.

  2. My pre-order says that the iPad will arrive by 4/3, the VGA cable and case will ship by 4/3 and the keyboard dock ship by 4/15. That slashgear article is reading way too much into the difference in ship dates. It is most likely simply when they’ll be available rather than any implicit “confidence in not needing a keyboard”.

    And so the anti-iPad derangement syndrome continues.

    1. Now how much did all that cost you? I’m sure it cost more than the top of the line netbook.

      1. Show me a “top of the line netbook” that is 1/2″ thick, separate/optional hardware keyboard, instant-on, and 10 hour battery life for the same price then your comment will have some value.

        1. Just about every new netbook is under 1 inch thick and almost all of the new models get pretty substantial battery life. Now you have to purchase a keyboard which will add to the weight. and lets see you go to a coffee shop and type out a days worth of emails on that without the keyboard….did I say that you had to pay for that? But its nothing wrong with wanting the latest and greatest device that is really not that particle without all of its costly apple add ons.

  3. I’ll be interested to see if any of the other slate devices coming out this year will have similar hardware keyboards.

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