jot | Advocate's Studio

I am a big fan of the iPad. I am a big fan of iPad styli. But iPad keyboard cases? Not so much. Way back when I purchased my first gen iPad, I quickly picked up the Bluetooth Apple keyboard thinking that I would need it for writing anything extended. Well, I have used that keyboard exactly twice in the past two or so years. I periodically watch as reviews for keyboard cases for the iPad float past in my RSS stream and I have, for the most part, ignored them, thinking them to be a great waste of time and money. I type just fine on the screen and, when I want to draw or write with better precision, I turn to my favorite stylus, the Adonit Jot. So, why would I need to drop the better part of a Benjamin or more on a case?

This morning, Adonit kindly sent me an email about their latest version of their keyboard case, the Adonit Writer Plus. Seriously, the only reason I even clicked over to it was because it was made by Adonit. The more I looked, read and watched (the YouTube promo video embedded below) the more interested I became. I thought I would share this great looking product with you, with the caveat that I haven’t yet gotten the chance to test it in person. Yet, I say, because this is the one keyboard case that I have seen that I might actually be persuaded to shell out some money for.

The Writer Plus is the next generation of the Writer (which never even blipped on my radar). Apparently, Plus fixes some of the complaints people had about the first version. The new features include USB recharging, with a two-week battery life – no more swapping out batteries. The Plus also features a new, nicer keyboard (by others’ accounts as I haven’t used it yet).

Some other very cool aspects of this case. I like that it is a hard plastic shell that holds the iPad firmly. The hinge system permits lots of viewing angles. You can remove the keyboard and use the case only or just get a better typing angle out of the case – nice. When you close the case, the Writer Plus keyboard and your iPad both go to sleep – great for preserving the battery. And the built-in magnet in the case holds it closed as well.

But the best part of the case is its build. Like the Jot stylus, Adonit builds a very nice product. Brushed aluminum for the keyboard (it comes in colors too, like turquoise and red in addition to standard black). A pleasing fabric covering on the outside. It looks and very likely feels great to use. So nice, in fact, that iLounge gave the Writer Plus a Best of Show award at the 2012 CES.

If you are of the mindset that iPads can and should replace laptops, you might also be interested in such cases. I hadn’t been until now. Check out the video below if you would like to see it in action, or visit the link above if you want to snag one of these cases. Adonit hasn’t promised me anything in return for the kind words, other than what appears to be their dedication to making super-fine iPad related products. Thanks, Adonit, just for being you.

Hang out on the Web? Maybe you have heard of Kickstarter. Kickstarter is a system by which people can pledge money to fund creative projects and help designers get their project off the ground. Kickstarter projects really run the gamut, from film to music, from journalism to food, to beautiful industrial design. You can easily sign up (via email or Facebook), pay via credit card or Amazon checkout, and, if the project reaches a minimum funding level, it is off and running!

What does that mean for the backer? Well, it depends upon the project. Take, for example, the beautifully brilliant Jot Capacitive Touch Stylus by Adonit! The Kickstarter home for this project is here. There, you will find a video. Another video showing Day 7 status on the Kickstarter investment as well as why the clear disc on the tip is key to the design is embedded below. These videos should be very interesting to anyone with a touchscreen – Jot’s design allows for a finer line than those normally found with touchscreen styli and closer replication of the feel of pen on paper, with far better than average visual tracking. When you back the project, you get one or more Jot’s, depending on your funding level.

Being a great fan of styli, beautiful design and grassroots crowdsourcing, I, of course, backed the project. And why not? What a great use of the Web – bringing together artists and designers with small scale backers who, as a group, can bring someone’s dream to reality. Talk about a Brave New World.

I hope you consider the Jot project, or any other cool Kickstarter project. Perhaps we can all bring some dreams to reality and can say – “I remember when I wasn’t just an early adopter, I was an early backer!”