One of the big selling points of the iPad is that it doesn’t have a keyboard. All input can be entered through the touchscreen, and when the device is turned to portrait orientation it can provide a nearly full-size keyboard across the lower half of the screen. But that’s still typing on glass, lacking the tactile feedback touch typists rely upon.

Fortunately, there are a couple of options. Wireless keyboards, both those made by Apple and from other manufacturers, can connect to the iPad through Bluetooth. Another choice is the iPad Keyboard Dock.

On first glance, it looks identical to the key layout found on the Apple Wireless Keyboard, but there are actually some differences with the inclusion of iPad-specific keys in the top row (the F-keys, although they don’t carry F designations on this keyboard).

• The key that should be esc duplicates the action of the “Home” button on the iPad.
• F1 key goes to the Search screen.
• F2 and F3 are brightness. They’re both moved over one from positions on the regular keyboard.
• F4 puts the iPad in photo frame mode.
• F5 brings up the on-screen keyboard. When it’s up, the iPad will accept input from either source.
• F6 is a blank, apparently dead key. It makes me wonder if there’s a possibility for future expansion there dictated by software.

There are two ports on the back, one for connecting the standard iPad/iPod/iPhone data cable, and the other an audio line out jack for connecting external speakers.

Typing works very well, and is virtually identical to the feel of typing into any computer. Typing is faster, not only for the physical keys, but for details like not having to shift keyboards to access numbers and symbols (required on the onscreen keyboard). It should be noted that this really is for use on a desk or table, not for balancing on a lap. The iPad sits on the connector well enough if it’s standing still, but give it much of a tilt one way or another and it will fall off. If you’re looking for a keyboard to use in more relaxed positions, you’ll do better with a Bluetooth option.

When the Keyboard Dock was announced, a common question was whether it would work with an iPhone. Sad to say, an iPhone doesn’t even fit on it. the connector is too close to the back support. What about an iPod Touch? That does fit on the connector, but doesn’t respond to the keyboard input. This accessory is for iPad only it seems, but for that device, can give faster keyboard entry for larger projects that might involve the Pages or Numbers apps.

It’s an interesting thing to watch a new device completely polarize the tech and gadget community well before anyone has gotten their hands on it. Apple’s new iPad did exactly this as soon as it was officially announced in January. Mostly, people cried out about what the iPad doesn’t have: Multi-tasking, a camera, and support for Flash video and websites heading the list.

There was also a consistent criticism that the iPad was nothing but a big iPod Touch.  That’s really a true statement for the most part, but framing it as a negative neglects all that can be done with a big Touch.  If I had to name a favorite gadget, it would probably be the iPhone. Apps have propelled it far beyond the platform originally released almost three years ago.  Think about the iPhone or Touch, as they originally hit the market: They were pretty lightly featured, but they had enormous potential, and nearly two years since the App Store opened, developers continue to make them do things we wouldn’t have originally imagined. The smaller form factor device has a simultaneous curse/blessing: It’s small.  That means you can put it in a pocket or purse and likely have it with you at all times. That’s fairly unprecedented for such a versatile information tool. But that small screen isn’t always optimal for use. Things like maps, photos, comics, and newspapers are all a bit on the difficult side to consume on that 3″ screen.  All those things work wonderfully on the iPad’s 9.7″ screen.

Another thing that works pretty well is on-screen, two-handed typing. When the iPad is in landscape orientation, key sizes and spacing are almost identical to that of a Mac keyboard (with a reduced key set). Of course, there’s no tactile feedback, so touch typists are likely to be at a disadvantage, but those of us who never learned to type properly can finally feel vindicated. If you really don’t like the feeling of typing on glass, the iPad can be paired with a bluetooth keyboard, and it doesn’t have to be Apple-manufactured. I tested successfully with both an Apple Wireless Keyboard and a diNovo Edge keyboard, made by Logitech.  Another physical keyboard option is the Apple Keyboard Dock, which has begun shipping, despite previous reports that it might not be available until May.

Apple says that almost all the apps available in the App Store will work on the iPad. Those that were written for the iPhone and iPod Touch show centered on the iPad screen at the same size as an iPhone screen. There’s a small “2x” button in the lower right corner of the screen that will double the image to fill the large screen. Unfortunately, there’s no pixel smoothing, so any angular lines look jagged. Apps that have been built specifically for the iPad, however, are generally gorgeous.  One thing to keep in mind about iPad-specific apps, though: These were mostly written by developers who only had access to emulators, not working iPads. Some behaviors and the way the real unit uses system resources are likely to be different, and might result in some instability.  I expect to see some fairly quick updates now that real iPads are available for testing.

Acceptance of the iPad and differing people’s takes on its usefulness makes me think about what I believe is the most interesting aspect of personal technology.  Everyone’s looking for something a little different. I like the video and eBook-reading capabilities of the iPhone, but both of those things are done better on the iPad. Others are likely to have no genuine reason to invest in an iPad, but for me it’s a valuable addition to my gadget repertoire. If the iPhone was notable for being a convergence device that brought many functionalities together, the iPad expands on that by doing many of those things better with a larger screen.

The iPad has so many potential uses, that a single can’t post can’t really start to scratch the surface. In the next few days I’ll be posting about specific areas like eReading, video, maps, digital comics, and news periodicals. Check back throughout the next week for more looks at the strengths and weaknesses of the platform and the ways content providers are addressing the potentials.

It’s probably predictably human to compare a new device to attributes of existing ones we know well.  As Steve Jobs introduced the Apple iPad to the world, my thought was that I was looking at a fairly compelling blend of an iPod Touch and a Kindle DX.

If you’ve ever held the larger version of Amazon’s eReader in your hands, you’ll have a pretty good sense of what it will be like to hold an iPad. The iPad is about an inch shorter than a DX, but the widths are very similar. Both have a 9.7 inch screen, although the aspect ratio is different, with the iPad screen a bit wider when both are held in portrait orientation.  The iPad is just slightly thicker and a few ounces heavier. Obviously the biggest differences are the color multi-touch screen (1024 x 768) and the lack of a physical keyboard. The most stunning similarity is the price. As of today, the lowest-end iPad, at $499, is just ten dollars more than the DX.  For that $10 you’ll get four times the storage (16 GB as opposed to 4), video playback ability, a rich web browsing experience, and all other features you’d find on an iPod Touch.

There are a few things missing from the iPad that are worth noting: There is no camera, forward or back facing. No Flash support, which means certain web sites and videos will not play correctly (or at all). There’s no evidence of a native chat client like iChat, although iPhone chat apps already available should run on it.

As on Touch and iPhone there’s no multitasking.  I strongly believe that tablets will one day replace notebook computers in our daily lives, but multitasking is a must before that can happen. This device won’t replace your netbook if you ever do more than one thing at a time.

An interesting accessory is a keyboard dock that looks very much like an Apple Wireless Keyboard. If the virtual keyboard (an expanded version of what’s used on the Touch and iPhone) doesn’t work for you, plug the iPad into the dock and start typing on physical keys.

The iPad will come in six different price points  and configurations: WiFi-only in 16 GB, 32 GB, and 64 GB sizes for $499, $599, and $699, or with 3G added to those capacities at $629, $729, and $829.

I’ll have hands on reviews of both the Wi-Fi and 3G models when they ship in two and three months, respectively. Tomorrow I’ll be back with a more in-depth look specifically at the positives and negatives of the iPad as an eReader.

Maybe one thing we’ll learn this year is just how many different things in the gadget world can be called a tablet.  We still don’t know exactly what Apple’s entry to that named category will be able to do, but eReading, media playback, web browsing and games all seem likely.  However, if you just want to jot down non-permanent notes, Improv Electronics (a division of Kent Displays), has something for you that will get the job done for a lot less money.

The Boogie Board is a $30 LCD tablet that only uses power (supplied by a watch battery) to erase itself. Writing is done with the included stylus, or just about any hard object, including the user’s fingernail. The writing surface is pressure sensitive, so you can vary line width easily. The tablet’s size is 8.8 x 5.6 inches, it’s 1/8 inch thick, and weighs 4.2 ounces.  As of now, the device is sold out at Amazon, but the company’s web site predicts it will be back in stock within a couple of days.

It won’t play back your iTunes library, but if you’re just looking for an alternative to lots of temporary notes written on paper you’d just throw away, the Boogie Board might be worth the minor investment.

I’m guessing you already have ski gloves that control your iPod and a GPS to help you track your speed down the hill, but when you’re back at the lodge bragging about that spectacular jump you made with no witnesses, you need some tech to back up your outlandish claims. Luckily Liquid Image, the folks who brought you a dive mask with a built-in video camera, have your back on the slopes as well.

The Summit Series Snow Camera Goggles have a 5 MP camera mounted above the goggles’ visor that delivers 720×480 video at up to 30 frames per second. There’s a still mode as well, and LEDs inside the goggles indicate camera mode to the skier. Internal memory is 16 MB NAND Flash, with an option for a Micro SD card that can give you up to 16 GB of storage. Power is provided by a rechargeable lithium battery.  But don’t go looking for these goggles just yet – they aren’t scheduled to hit the market until late summer 2010, at a price currently estimated at $149.

Via CrunchGear

Via TechCrunch

Call it an anti-convergence device.  Last year, the original Peek device debuted, giving people who wanted a hand-held device that did email (and nothing else) the answer to their minimalist prayers.  Now we have the TwitterPeek, a dedicated carry-anywhere Twitter device. It doesn’t do email, and it sure doesn’t browse the web, but if you need some tweets on the go, and don’t have a phone that gives you a reasonable Twittering experience, this might just be the gadget you’re craving.

TwitterPeek is available in two colors, charcoal or aqua, and two price levels.  For $199, you get the device with lifetime data service.  At $99, you get the device with six months service, and subsequent service billing monthly at $7.95.

And if you’ve got an original Peek, it turns out the company has been quietly increasing its feature set with some downloadable free apps giving access to Facebook, Google Maps, weather, news and yes, even Twitter.

TwitterPeek is available from Peek’s web site, or from Amazon.

Update: A day after the news broke about the PC application, Amazon confirmed that they are working on software for the Mac as well.

Via CrunchGear

The long-awaited Barnes & Noble-backed e-reader got its official rollout today. Called “nook”, it shows what can be done when a company isn’t trying to be first to market, but isn’t waiting to go fully color, either.  It’s being positioned as direct competition to Amazon’s Kindle, and the device’s web site has a lengthy comparison chart pointing out mostly favorable differences.  Most notable is the ability to lend a book to someone else.  The previous absence of that feature from the e-reading experience is often cited as a reason against using an e-reader.  More good news is your friend doesn’t have to have a nook to benefit from your generosity.  The lending feature will work with Barnes & Noble e-reader software running on iPhones, iPods, BlackBerries, PCs or Macs, as well as the nook device.

Another first-to-market feature is probably less meaningful.  The nook has a small color touchscreen below the main grayscale E Ink reading screen.  While this looks great in photos, and will certainly add a little extra visual interest to the user experience, it doesn’t add a lot of functionality.  Currently, it’s only a navigation interface, allowing the user to thumb through color cover images from the books on the device and tap to select the book they wish to open.  I’d guess the touchscreen also comes into play while buying books directly from the device, probably serving as a virtual keyboard, as there are no other visible provisions for typing.  I’ve seen no photos of this, but it seems likely.  Connectivity will be provided through AT&T 3G (free with the device) or through Wi-Fi.  One nice feature once available in the Kindle, but gone from current versions is a memory card slot (microSD) that gives expandable storage.  Full specs are available here.  The screensaver feature can be easily customized with your own images (this is possible on the Kindle as well, but requires a small hack).

The nook is priced at $259 and is expected to begin shipping in late November.  Pre-orders are being accepted now.  I’m looking forward to trying out the nook, and will have a review comparing the user experience to that of the Kindle in early December.

Well, it’s time to plug something unlikely into our computers again.  This time, it’s the USB Greenhouse, an egg-shaped contraption that pulls power from your system to run a grow light and comes with software that will monitor the growth of your plants and make sure you remember to water them.

The kit includes marigold seeds and artificial soil, but you can use any soil you want and plant any seeds you dare.  I’m thinking corn or sunflowers would make a good desktop conversation starter. If you’re ready to begin your computer-aided agriculture project, the USB Green house is available from Buy.com for $24.24, or if you’re in the UK, try Gadgetshop.com, where it will run you £29.99.

Via Red Ferret Journal