We have a MacBook Air 2013 that is on its last legs and we need to replace it. My wife also wants an iPad so that she can read our Apple News+ subscription and watch movies in bed. I feel like the most cost effective solution is to get a keyboard case for the iPad and use it as the laptop replacement. The only thing we use the MacBook Air for is normal web browsing, ordering pictures prints via the web, some home office work using Google Docs, and I use it to remote to my PC when I don’t feel like going to my basement office.
I don’t see why a keyboard case wouldn’t suffice in this scenario. The Magic Keyboard trackpad entices me, especially potentially not having to rewire any muscle memory with normal web usage, using google docs, or when I remote to my PC. But is the web browsing experience nerfed enough by iPadOS that its not worth spending $300 on the Magic Keyboard? Is it better to get the cheaper Smart Keyboard Folio case and try to use the Apple Pencil for the same workflow instead?
Just curious what this community’s experience with these accessories are. Thanks in advance for the input.
I own a Magic Keyboard. Of the two choices you are considering, the magic keyboard is the better option. I use the trackpad constantly for both gestures and mouse control.
Be warned, however: the Magic keyboard (and the folio) does not have an escape key! This is infuriating. Hitting escape to dismiss things is something that is deeply engrained into my muscle memory, and it is sorely missed when the otherwise perfect keyboard doesn’t have the necessary key. It is not currently possible to remap individual keys (like the ` key) to the escape key. Your only option is to press Command-period if you need escape.