At some point in time, it may be necessary to turn the iPad from a content-consuming device into a content-creating device. Someone starts processing videos, someone photos, and someone like me needs to write texts. The virtual keyboard for such actions is not a very convenient tool. There are a lot of typos, and auto-correction sometimes corrects much worse than it was originally. For such a situation, it is better to use a physical keyboard.
In this case, only it is better for her not to be limited, but also connect a mouse to the tablet . Fortunately, this functionality is provided by the operating system. With it, text navigation, selection, copying and pasting operations are much more convenient. Let’s take a look at how to connect a mouse and keyboard to an iPad and if there are any restrictions on using them in the software.
Keyboard for iPad – which one to choose
Using a keyboard with a tablet has long been no surprise. The easiest way to get a similar input tool on your iPad is to purchase a branded case with a built-in keyboard. For ordinary iPads, it is called Smart Keyboard for iPad and costs 14 thousand rubles, for Pro and Air tablets – Smart Keyboard Folio.
For the version of 10.9 and 11 inches, the cost is 16 thousand rubles, and for 12.9 – 19. In one device, you will receive both a cover and a keyboard at once. No additional settings are required to connect. Everything will work, as they say, “out of the box.” It will be enough just to attach it to a special connector on the end of the iPad.
If you own an iPad Pro or Air , then in addition to the above keyboards, you have the option to purchase another option. Magic Keyboard for iPad combines a case, keyboard and trackpad in one. In one device, you get three different things at once. As with Smart Keyboard , no additional configuration is required.
Simply connect the device to the connector. The cost of such a solution is 30 thousand rubles for the 11-inch Pro and all Air models and 37 thousand rubles for the 12.9-inch version. One of the coolest things about the Magic Keyboard is that it sits on a table like a laptop. No extra legs need to be extended. The cover has a very high quality system of counterweights. But the price of such a decision is certainly refreshing.
How to connect keyboard to ipad
These are two of the easiest but most expensive solutions to get a physical keyboard on an iPad . Fortunately, you can connect a regular Bluetooth keyboard from a computer to the tablet and use it. As a test subject, we use the very first generation wireless Magic Keyboard that came with the 2011 iMac. Similar actions can be performed for any wireless keyboard.
- If the keyboard has been connected to any device, you must disconnect and turn off its power.
- Go to settings on iPad.
- Go to the Bluetooth section.
- Turn on the keyboard and it will immediately appear in the “Other devices” section.
- Click on the name and, if necessary, enter the code that appears on the screen.
- Everything is ready to use.
All keyboard shortcuts are active. Switching languages is carried out by pressing the “Fn” button. The only negative can be considered that Caps Lock does not work. Everything else functions in full, as on a regular computer. The cost of the new Magic Keyboard for mac is 9 thousand rubles. This in itself is cheaper than all the above options. But you can use a keyboard even cheaper. Apple doesn’t limit users to just its products. Thus, you can save a lot of money without purchasing branded transformer cases.
Mouse for iPad – how to connect
If you have a need to use the keyboard with the iPad , then I advise you to also connect a mouse. Correcting errors in the middle of words is much more convenient with a cursor. Selecting and formatting text with the mouse goes to another level altogether. As an experiment, we use Apple’s branded Magic Mouse of the first generation from the same iMac 2011 kit.
- If the mouse is connected to another device, you must unpair and turn off the power.
- Open the settings on the iPad and go to the Bluetooth section.
- Turn on the mouse and it will show up under Other Devices.
- Click on the name and, if necessary, confirm the creation of the pair.
- A round cursor will immediately appear on the screen.
The speed of moving the cursor around the screen is set to medium by default. Most users will find this very slow. To increase sensitivity:
- Go to settings.
- Go to the “Basic” section.
- Open Trackpad and Mouse.
The cost of the new Magic Mouse is 10 thousand rubles. As with the keyboard, any Bluetooth mouse can be used. The main drawback is the non-working scrolling with the wheel on older models of Magic Mouse. For new ones, such support is declared. Exactly can also be connected to iPad and Magic Trackpad .
Separately, it should be noted that all standard Apple applications fully support the cursor. But not all third-party applications are adapted. So, “Google Docs” does not allow you to select text the way we are used to holding down the left mouse button. You have to double-click to select one word and stretch the boundaries of the selection in the desired direction. Therefore, before using any software, make sure that the developer has adapted it for the mouse.
Thanks to the mouse and keyboard, I type texts on the tablet at the same speed as on a regular computer. Selecting and formatting text is no longer a pain, and inserting pictures by wrapping them in the right part of the text is one of the most convenient functions. Yes, this doesn’t make the iPad a computer, but it doesn’t need to be in my use case.
