I’m writing an article for the L&L blog about using an external keyboard with Scrivener for iPad or iPhone. The main thesis is how much easier it is to type, especially compared to the huge on-screen keyboard on the iPad in landscape mode. But there are also some other benefits, such as being able to press tab to choose script elements when screenwriting.
I was wondering if anyone who uses an external keyboard has any thoughts on other advantages? For me, using a magic keyboard with an iPad Pro, it’s the ability to type on real keys, since I touch type, and can’t do that on the iPad. It’s also having more screen real estate.
I’m especially interested if anyone uses the iPhone with a keyboard. It’s doable, and Logitech even makes a portable keyboard that comes with an iPhone stand. I wonder how common that is. Again, compared to typing on the small iPhone screen, any keyboard would be an improvement, if you’re in a fixed location, or are traveling on a plane or train.
Most Bluetooth keyboards should work with the iPhone or iPad. I’ve used three different keyboards (Logitech, Macally, Apple) at various times and found Scrivener for iOS very responsive with no noticeable latency. I’ve never spent too much time using an iPhone with Scrivener…just not enough real estate for me with the phone screen. I also prefer to keep the stand and keyboard separate for ergonomic reasons. It’s much nicer to lift the screen higher than the keyboard to reduce neck strain.
I have found foldable keyboards to strike the best balance for those that want to do a little writing on the go. Sure I could carry a huge expensive iPad around, but I might as well just bring the laptop in that case. The phone is something I will always have, and a foldable keyboard takes up very little room.
Some are quite nice, too. I don’t think they make it any more, but I still have the Microsoft Universal Wireless I bought back in 2017. It has mechanical scissor-switch keys that feel about as good as any average laptop. In fact it’s decent enough that it gets more of a workout as a lazy second keyboard for the Mac, when I don’t want to bother switching my main keyboard over from Linux.
Another nice aspect of foldable designs is not only how very compact it is when you aren’t using it, but because it doesn’t have to compromise on its extended width, they are often full size. You aren’t smashing your fingers together on something that is necessarily only as wide as an iPad Mini, for example, bringing to mind the finger cramped days of netbooks.
Like I say, I don’t think Microsoft even makes it any more (it seems perpetually out of stock and their listing for it looks more like a graveyard than a store page), but I bet there are good and economical alternatives out there these days. I cannot vouch for it, but if I were in the market for a replacement, I’d be taking a good look at Samsers’ line of foldable keyboards. They come highly rated and look to tick all of the important boxes.
I’m definitely in agreement on that one. Having to clip the device into the keyboard feels very claustrophobic to me, and strains the neck after a while. A stand-alone holder can be positioned more to comfort, and to suit the scenario.
I have used a Magic Keyboard case with my iPad, and similar case-keyboard combos for years. It’s the perfect balance of transportabillity and productivity when I don’t need to lug my whole kit around. This was especially true before my last MacBook upgrade when I finally switched to Apple silicone from Intel, but I digress.
I have used a number of keyboards with my iPhone over the years, and usually I give up on that and just dig out the iPad. I had a smaller 7” iPad for a brief time and decided that for my workflow I really can’t use a screen smaller than about 10”.
Portability concessions also make iPhone keyboard use somewhat problematic as anything that can fold down into a package as pocketable as a phone usually also fails to be a keyboard I’d like to work on for any length of time, though it is an improvement over the on-screen touch options.
The folding keyboard you reference is similar in style to a number of keyboards I have floating around, and they vary from ‘annoying’ (it doesn’t have an ESC key) to fairly usable (it’s a larger and has better key mechanisms), but even so I’d much rather have a larger screen for my fifty-mumble year old eyes to work with.
Thanks for the replies. Ah, netbooks… there’s a trend we don’t need to see again. Some of these small portable keyboards make you feel like you’re working on one of those devices. One of the problems with working like this is that most keyboards don’t have a trackpad attached, like the magic keyboard for iPad or Apple’s other options, or some of the Logitech keyboard cases. So while you can use any Bluetooth keyboard, it’s not very practical to work, where you have to touch the screen often.
I have heard of people who have written entire books on the iPhone. There’s a disabled journalist in the UK who recently published a book that she wrote in Scrivener on her iPhone in bed. But that’s presumably using the on screen keyboard with her thumbs. This said, if it’s all you have, and you want to be able to write, say, on one hour or when you are traveling, it certainly usable.
For me, yes, I have available to me external keyboards for both iPhone and iPad and have had for many years.
For the iPad I have the Apple “magic” (or whatever they call it) integrated keyboard/cover and use it. Sometimes I feel like a bigger keyboard and will use one of the few Apple external keyboards which “feel” pretty good. Old but good. Rarely if ever will write or do anything with the on-screen iPad keyboard.
For the iPhone, I have used for a long time “foldable” keyboards, e.g. the Microsoft portable (excellent) keyboard and now have ProtoArc foldable. I can’t remember what happened to the Microsoft keyboard. I tend to use the external iPhone keyboard when I want to travel very light,I know I have a need/urge to do some writing–with Scrivener or other, AND I expect the environment to be limited, e.g. economy airline seat.
In recent months I find that my MacBook Air (15”) is so light and easy to transport, I tend to take that with me when I go “out and about”, supplanting even the iPad as it simplifies my computing complexity.
I cannot advocate for or against external keyboards. They work. They help some people and others don’t like or want. Life.
I sometimes use a Apple magic external keyboard with my iPad Air when I am using Scrivener (or recently the beta version of The Other App).
One big difference between using this set up and my laptop is that I always use my iPad in portrait mode. I find this important because the screen then implies the look and feel of paper, whether I am writing or editing.
This is also why I use Courier Prime as my font of choice. The external keyboard, the iPad in portrait mode (looking like a sheet of A4), and a typewriter-style font, stop me forgetting that I am writing a draft not ”creating content ”.
I have no idea whether anyone else feels this way.
I totally agree about portrait mode. I have a keyboard case/stand which is great, though you need to use your hands to do a lot. Connecting a mouse is possible, but then that makes the setup bulkier. I wish they would let you connect an iPad in portrait mode to the magic keyboard for iPad, but the keyboard needs to get power from the iPad so they can’t do that.
When I could rent a home at a mountain resort, one could usually find me typing on my iPad mini and a foldable keyboard under a tree in the park. This has not been happening for a few years, but I plan to start doing it again.
My preferred setup was the iPad kept up in horizontal by its own cover, and the keyboard far from it. I never liked the cramped position of keyboard and display in the notebooks.
I never did it with an iPhone, but it might become a viable solution, now that phone displays are bigger. In any case, I type quick notes on the iPhone everytime.
Er, how do you manage this (portrait orientation) with the Magic Keyboard??
Here I use it, highly favor its typing feel even though it’s fractionally smaller than full size. My fingers, even with some age factors, easily adjust and like it.