Everyone is going crazy for the new “Magic” keyboard for the iPad Pro. With its real keys and teeny tiny trackpad built in its turning iPad naysayers into true believers left right and centre. All of a sudden it’s not so crazy to say the iPad is the computer of the future and all because of this great accessory that drags it back into the past. Except there is a little secret the iPad has been hiding in plain sight all this time. A secret that makes the “Magic” keyboard (and all others) pretty superfluous. Allow me to introduce you to … touchscreens!
I know! I know! Your going to think I’m either (a) crazy or (b) a 12 year old who’s been brought up with touchscreens. I’m not either of those things…well maybe a little crazy. Hear me out though, typing on a touchscreen really isn’t that bad. And Apple have really done some amazing work with the iPadOS keyboard, shortcuts and gestures that makes touchscreen typing much better than it has been before.
There is a but though…if you are the kind of person who gets hung up on the ‘feel’ of a keyboard or the sound of certain key switches…forget it! You will hate typing on a touchscreen today, tomorrow and forever. Stop reading now, I’m not going to waste your time trying to convince you.
Now that we’ve got rid of the keyboard cultists, it should just be those of us left who obsess not over feel and sound, but convenience, speed and overall experience. In my 25+ years of using computers, man and boy, I have typed on many a keyboard. One thing is true, much like every car feels different to drive, every keyboard is different to type on. It’s not that one is bad another good, just different. You have to give yourself time to adapt and learn to appreciate it. Once you do, one keyboard is much the same as another. I have an Apple ‘Magicking keyboard for my 11” iPad Pro, not the one that’s a case and keyboard all in one. Mine is just the regular keyboard. And it is true I do use it at times for it is ergonomically better when sat at my desk. It means I don’t have to look down at my screen when typing. I can position my iPad in a stand that holds it at head height. The problem is I don’t often sit at a desk when working. I take my iPad everywhere, it’s why I got an iPad and not a traditional laptop. Why weigh down this lightweight dream of a computing machine with a heavy keyboard. Or any keyboard!?
Pop an iPad in a Smart Cover and you have all the writing machine you need! With the following gestures you will soon be flying around editing text, writing that short story or novel, typing your essay or first draft. This is by no means an exhaustive list, I am sure there are many gestures I am not even aware of, please feel free to mention your favourites in responses. The following are just the ones I find most useful to get more out of the touchscreen typing experience…
No 1. Two Finger Swipe.
With two fingers together, slide them across the area of the onscreen keyboard.
As long as you keep both fingers in contact with the screen you can move them across the entire display to get the cursor where you want it.
Why beneficial — Quicker than taking your hand away from the screen to use a mouse or trackpad.
No 2.
With two fingers together, tap any keys on the keyboard to select the word nearest to the cursor. You can now retype or delete the word selected.
With a word highlighted, tap and drag with two fingers either left or right to highlight more text.
No 3.
With two fingers position your cursor and tap to select a word, drag left/right/up/down to select some text to copy. Once you have highlighted your selection pinch three fingers together on the keyboard to copy the selection.
(Insert video showing this gesture on screen)
No 4.
Perform the three finger pinch mentioned above twice to cut rather than copy.
(Insert video showing this gesture on screen)
No 5.
To paste, reverse the three finger pinch gesture. Position the cursor where you want the text & push three fingers apart on the keyboard.
With just these few gestures you’ll soon be flying around the keyboard. Sure it may be off putting having to learn them, but like any productivity hack, once you get accustomed to it, it becomes second nature. I honestly prefer this to the physical keyboard and mouse as I find it quicker , more accurate and I get to keep the portability of the iPad Pro. Obviously everybody is different, not everyone will have the patience to learn these gestures. Many will question the need to learn such things when there is an alternative they are used to already. And fair play, no one is saying you have too. All I am saying is give it a try, you never know how much you might prefer it.
