Now that you’re all set with the productivity apps you need to put your iPad to work full-time, the final step is collecting the hardware accessories that put the perfect finishing touches on what you need your tablet to do. We’ve selected seven of our staff’s most prized accessories for adding critical functionality to your iPad, but we’re also going to quickly mention one more: Apple’s iPad Camera Connection Kit ($29). Despite its name, it lets you wire USB devices -- including keyboards and headphones -- to your iPad, so if you have a favorite USB peripheral already, try hooking it up. You’ll be surprised how many work!
qmadix.com, $149.99
The current wunderkind of iPad cases, Qmadix’s Portfolio does so many things in one classy, professional, leather package. It’s got the protection thing down cold, but it also includes a small, rechargeable Bluetooth keyboard that you can link to your iPad 2 wirelessly. It’s magnetically held in place, so you can tug the keyboard loose to get some elbow room or leave it snugly in place in tight spaces like airplanes. And the case even folds into a stand that props up your iPad at the perfect angle for typing. Talk about a package deal!
timbuk2.com, $35
If you don’t want your iPad to be semi-permanently embedded in a case like the Qmadix Portfolio, you’ll still need a sleeve that provides sturdy protection and easy access. While you’ll find mountains of options, our pick is Timbuk2’s Scuba Sleeve, which keeps our tablets safe inside bigger bags thanks to its neoprene exterior and cuddly faux-fur interior.
hypershop.com, $149.95
When you’re on the road, it’s easy to live in fear of your iPad’s battery icon turning red. But the HyperJuice Stand kills that bird and another by shaping this external battery in the form of a stand that holds your iPad at either 18- or 45-degree angles in portrait or landscape mode. The 40Wh battery provides 1.5 times the battery capacity of the iPad (according to Sanho, its manufacturer), and it weighs only 12.7 ounces.
hardcandycases.com, $34.95
If you want to use a note-taking or sketching app, you’ll need a touch-capacitive stylus. But who needs another pen-like object to worry about losing? The elegant, ergonomic Candy Stylus+Pen solves that by putting a pen in one end and a stylus in the other so you can write on paper and touchscreens. Just don’t lose it.
twelvesouth.com, $29.99
Sometimes you just need a stand…but that doesn’t mean you should resort to Apple’s ugly lump of white plastic. TwelveSouth’s lovely BookArc makes your iPad look beautiful even when it’s just sitting there doing nothing, and it’s easy to drop in your bag and take it on the road (though at almost a pound, it’s not exactly a feather). But we love how perfectly it re-creates the monitor experience with four options for the viewing angle.
apple.com, $69
You can find cheaper Bluetooth keyboards, but we still love Apple’s for its clean, lovely lines and excellent portability. It’ll sync to your iPad in a jiffy, and it can even pull double duty for those times when you’re using a Mac instead.
ihomeaudio.com, $99.99
If you’re looking for a more laptop-like experience, the iD9 packs a powerful combo of speakers, charger, and stand. It props up your iPad in the portrait position while also recharging the iPad’s battery thanks to its own internal lithium-ion rechargeable battery, and iHome’s known for quality audio, so your tunes, games, movies, and so on sound great.
Farshad17ph
September 10, 2012 at 10:58pm
I think iPad for some one is enough instead of computer but for some one no . It related to its need
Farshad17ph
September 10, 2012 at 10:57pm
I think iPad for some one is enough instead of computer but for some one no . It related to its need
charlese
September 07, 2011 at 8:17pm
There are numerous articles on how to use an iPad for business or how to ditch your laptop which involve buying all sorts of dongles and extra software but at the end of the day it's just much easier to use a laptop. I bought into the whole iPad 1 thing but won't be bothering in future because it's just not worth the effort,it's too heavy and too reflective to use as an e-Reader (use a Kindle instead) and not practical for day to day use without a whole lot of gadgets that weigh down both your bag and your cheque book. I can also run PC Apps on my MBA which greatly increases its utility. Unless there is some magic in future versions that gets round these issues I'd advise anyone to shell out a few extra bucks for the Macbook Air.
Skowron
September 05, 2011 at 9:59am
There is a reality to this, plus we will still have our iMacs. It seems to me that many who invest in the apple company and there products and services miss the fact about who and what apple is.
There are the former or older ways in technology and the new more linear way. Steve Jobs Apple has changed the way we communicate with new tools better suited not only in the industry but in everyday computing.
Are we really giving up speed, storage and screen size, we are rethinking what is really needed verses the former way with having more or too much, simple.
Apple is not forcing us to change, just reavaluate what we have with better choices.
Thanks
clasqm
September 05, 2011 at 12:40am
Get back to me when Pages for iPad can create footnotes, when it can grab bibliographic references from Papers and so on. An iPad is OK for very lightweight word processing, but in the end you still need a real computer to finish your work.
jescott418
September 03, 2011 at 4:07pm
I iPad instead of a computer? Really? Why all of a sudden are we willing to give up speed,storage and screen size for a iPad? You cannot be serious. Besides you still need a computer to sync the darn iPad anyway?
Telters
September 06, 2011 at 5:02am
iOS 5 offers the ability to never have to sync with a computer. Just charge it up, and go.
I don't see how you can say the iPad screen isn't sufficient. For word processing, it is more than enough. On your 13/15 inch screen, 1/2 inch is taken up by the toolbar, 1/2 inch for the dock, you have toolbars and inspectors. When you look at by 'screen real estate', you can see they are much more comparable.
Of course, an iPad can't replace high quality image editing, and other fine things - but I think the meaning of this post is pointing out how you can use it for more than you give it credit for
my two cents
