Keyboard cases for the iPad are starting to become a dime a dozen nowadays. There are dozens available on the market, and to be completely honest with everyone, they all share the same basic design and features. Adonit’s new Writer for the iPad 1 and 2 looks completely different from the ones that I am used to seeing and looks a lot cooler than any other keyboard case that’s available on the market today. So, can Adonit really reinvent the basic keyboard case? Let’s take a deeper look and find out.

In The Box
Adonit really did a marvelous job when it came to the packaging of the Writer. Inside the industrial looking box you get the Writer itself as well as a set of directions for turning on the Writer, inserting in your iPad, etc. I really wish other companies would equip nice packaging like Adonit has done with the Writer, because I’ll be the first to say that the Writer packaging is both ergonomic and beautiful.



The Design
The design, just like the packaging, is beautiful as well. Unlike most iPad keyboard cases, the design is very classy and of a very high quality as the same time, but more on that later, let’s get through the basics for now. Adonit’s logo is seen on the front of the case (which has a suede covering throughout the cover and the back) and you also get a loop for sealing the case up nice and tight when on the go. Opening up the case reveals a snap in design for the iPad which is quite easy to use, and the iPad both inserts and snaps out with ease. With that being said, the actual build quality isn’t all that great and the plastic frame feels really, really flimsy.

The keyboard itself is made out of a single slab of aluminum and almost looks like something made by Apple. Yep, the build quality on the Writer is that good. The keyboard looks extraordinary modern and sleek, while retaining a good amount simplicity. The keys are made out of plastic, and very much like Apple’s own wireless keyboard, the Writer takes batteries which can be inserted into the sides of the case.

About the Batteries
The Writer takes three AAA batteries to run. It’s kind of a disappointment to me that the Writer runs this way since a charging slot would have been a lot easier and a lot more user friendly. It takes a while to get the batteries into place and you waste a lot of money after paying for several batteries. You could use your own rechargeable batteries (which is what I have been doing for the past month), but it’s still quite difficult to remove the batteries and Adonit really should have gone with a charging slot for this case.



Keyboard Functionality
I’ve already mentioned how beautiful the keyboard of the Writer is, but how well does it perform? Like most keyboard cases for the iPad 2, it can be quite cumbersome at times. People with big hands won’t like the small and closely placed keys of the iPad 2. As a matter of fact, even my small hands started to become quite tired and I constantly made spelling mistakes and pushed multiple keys at once. Then again, is it really fair to dock points for this? The keyboard works, and the Writer couldn’t be used as a case if it wasn’t for the small keyboard. It always seems like the small dimension of both the iPad 1 and the iPad 2 make keyboard cases hard to use.

Magnets & Fingerprints
One of the coolest features of the Writer is the magnetic force that pulls the keyboard into place when setting down the keyboard on the suede bottom. You can adjust it into any position that you so please (while staying strictly in landscape mode) and the magnets will lock the keyboard in place. Now, the Writer does have a pretty big downfall in one area. The felt top and bottom of the Writer are fingerprint magnets, and after awhile of using the case it starts t become a nuisance. The case looses it’s classy look and takes on a dirty, unappealing look.

Final Thoughts
While I think the Writer has what it takes to be a great keyboard case, I don’t think it’s quite there yet. It’s really beautiful and is a lot better than some of the other keyboard cases on the market, but the huh price, fingerprint attraction, and flimsy iPad docking station make for a more beta feeling case. If Adonit can improve some of the flaws with the case, then they may have one of the best keyboard cases that’ll ever be available on the market.

Adonit Writer @Adonit