jmgregory1

DAalseth said:

MplsP said:

apple ][ said:

I remember people complaining about the price.

I suppose that their complaints were based on extreme ignorance combined with a healthy dose of self entitlement and just general cluelessness, which is nothing new when it comes to comments about Apple products and especially the pricing.

The x-ray shows that the Apple Magic Keyboard for the iPad Pro is unlike any other offering on the market. If anybody thinks it's the same, then they should go buy one of the cheaper alternatives instead.

If you want the best, it's going to cost more than the others. There's a reason that it's the best. I haven't tried this magic keyboard yet, but I think it's pretty safe to assume that the feel, quality and usability will be way better than anything else out there.

The two issues are separate and irrelevant to each other. I've seen no one claim the magic keyboard was a poor device, but just because it's a complicated design doesn't mean it's not too expensive. 

Let me take it to the extreme - suppose it was $1000. Would it still be worth it? It's a complicated device, and the best, so obviously it should be worth $1000, right?

Total straw-man argument. Anything at some price point isn’t worth the price. The most economical item is overpriced is if someone doesn’t have the money. The question, and the point apple][ was making was that those that said it was just an overpriced keyboard with a fancy stand were wrong. There is a lot more to this. If they want a $50 keyboard for their iPad, fine. More power too them. But, and there were many posts in this vein, that were saying that this was overpriced because they could buy a $50 keyboard, or a $150 keyboard case were not comparing like items. This is a lot more high tech. Maybe it’s out of their price range. Fine. But for me I learned a number of things from this article that makes me think it is worth more than apparently similar items from Brydge or Logitech.

I agree completely with you, but I would add that for some people, the perception of high price wasn’t just that they could get something cheaper from another manufacturer, but rather Apple’s own other products, like the MacBook Air or 13” MBP can be had for less (than the iPad Pro 12.9” plus Magic Keyboard), if you’re simply looking at comparing them as laptop to laptop-like devices.

I’ve been using my iPad Pro 12.9” since I got it back in January of 2019, with the Keyboard Folio, traveling with it as my primary computer-like device - in lieu of lugging my 15” rMBP around with me.  I’ve liked using it, but it wasn’t efficient for working on spreadsheets, given the back and forth I was doing between typing and having to touch the keyboard.  

The new IPadOS with its trackpad support was such a significant improvement, it has me using the iPad Pro almost exclusively now, even as I have been working from my desk and not traveling.  I was one of those who was on Apple’s Store App clicking to refresh when they said the Magic Keyboard was launching, but ended up deciding that I could wait, since I’m not traveling now.  I’m actually using an old Apple Keyboard and new Magic Trackpad 2 (gray to match my iPad Pro) while the iPad sits on custom black acrylic stand I developed WAY back when the initial iPad launched.  I love the large sized trackpad, so it does worry me a bit that going down the very small sized trackpad on the Magic Keyboard will feel limiting.

I’ll definitely buy the new Magic Keyboard once I’m back on the road again, but for now my setup is working great as is.

For those complaining about the price of the new Magic Keyboard folio, if you were to buy an Apple Keyboard ($99), Magic Trackpad ($129) and Folio ($99), you would be spending $330.  So for the additional $20 you would spend on the Magic Keyboard Folio, you’re getting a backlit keyboard and an additional USB-C port.  I can guarantee that this is how Apple looks at the pricing.  The value is there, if you’re simply comparing it to Apple’s other products that could serve a similar function.

And it’s not like Apple makes 80% gross profit from their products - I’ve not looked lately, but I think their average margin is somewhere in the mid to upper 30% range?

It will be interesting to see if Apple offers the keyboards at a discount for the Education market, or if a place like Costco will be able to sell it slightly below Apple’s MAP.  I may wait to see what deals pop up, but I’m definitely getting one, even if I end up paying full retail.

I've been using YouTube dark mode since it was enabled on my X.  Can't say whether it reduces battery use, but it is easier to look at, especially at night.  As others have noted, I do shift to Smart Invert if I'm reading on my X in the middle of the night, as I often do.  In part it's easier on my eyes and doesn't wake my wife from the otherwise bright yellowish light.

DED, your note about the stainless steel band on the 8 is incorrect..."In particular, the new iPhone 8 features distinctive styling springing from its new polished stainless steel case design, set apart with its glossy frosted glass back, available in three colors.", as the stainless steel is only available on the X, with the 8 carrying over with the 7000 series aluminum. For most people, that's not going to be a dealbreaker, as the strength benefit of the steel vs aluminum won't matter in these applications.