Naturally as this product comes from Apple it has that classic apple slick look about it. It’s basically a Mac keyboard married with an iPad dock, but married in a nice way. Mac users will immediately feel at home on this keyboard. The dock part has the necessary features; it charges your iPad and syncs it with your computer as well as having the mandatory audio line out port for connection to powered speakers. Some of the keys are specific to the iPad, like a ‘home’ button that emulates the home button on the iPad. The keyboard is a nice burnished aluminum while the dock is that familiar shiney white plastic.

A classic apple accessory for your iPad.

If there’s one thing we know for certain about Apple’s new iPad it’s that the accessories go against everything Apple has done before. At last week’s unveiling of the company’s new (and polarizing) gadget we were shown an array of add-ons for the iPad.

The most obvious accessory consumers look for first is a keyboard. Apple revealed its keyboard and connector ($69). This is a completely surreal accessory for those of us familiar with Apple’s existing product line. When have we ever seen a product be released from Cupertino that requires the development of an accessory that somewhat removes the portability of a mobile device? – We haven’t, so many are looking at this suspiciously.

We’ll leave aside the cynicism until the iPad is released and get to the nitty gritty of the keyboard connector itself.  We’re basically looking at the smaller Apple keyboard that comes as standard with the current iMac, and a plastic connector. Apple’s keyboards are superb. The aluminium structure makes them durable and their flat key design makes them ideal for touch typing – the fact that they’re stunningly simple and beautiful is just an added bonus. So we’re cool with the keyboard but then we move on to the plastic connector.

Apple has a poor track record on the plastics front. Their previous generation Macbook (white casing) had numerous problems with cracking and flaying on its surface because of the poor quality of its plastics. My issue with this connector would be that with the weight of the iPad (1.5 pounds) and with Apple’s plastics reputation we might see some similar problems with cracking. Time will tell and only hands on user experience will let us know but all in all this accessory should hold its own. A move to an aluminium connector in the future may prove vital to its success.

What are your thoughts? Will you go with the Apple brand keyboard?

Apple didn’t include a keyboard with your iPad.  Duh, if you want a keyboard go out and get a MacBook.  But we know that you will inevitably want the flexibility to decide when and where you want to use a keyboard.  (We also type much faster on a real keyboard, so we feel your pain.)

We are also excited for the launch of a whole slew of wireless Bluetooth keyboards that will surely work with your iPad.  Now the only issue is picking one! That’s where our iPad keyboard reviews come in to help. Check back here to find the latest and greatest portable keyboard inventions including rollup keyboards, folding keyboards and other keyboards designed with portability in mind.