A compact keyboard case for your iPad

In previous posts, I've written about the ZaggFolio keyboard for my iPad and how much I loved to use it with Evernote.  That keyboard totally changed how I used my iPad, and made it very easy for me to take notes and increase my productivity on my iPad.

A successful quest for less travel weight and bulk

Recently, I began to look for ways to lighten the weight of my laptop bag, and the ZaggFolio eventually became a target - it was a little bulky and thick compared to my MacBook Air.  A month or so ago, I discovered a new, lighter keyboard for the iPad called the Logitech Ultrathin Keyboard Cover, which is made for the iPad 2 and the New iPad (aka "iPad 3").

The Logitech Ultrathin is a bluetooth keyboard like the ZaggFolio, and has a similar key layout.  However, instead of a vinyl case, this one attaches directly to the magnetic apparatus used to attach the Apple SmartCover.  As you can see in the picture below, the Logitech Ultrathin goes very well with the iPad and has a similar snap and powdered aluminum finish.  The magnetic hinge along the size of the keyboard holds the keyboard to the iPad very well but still makes it easy to remove the iPad so you can place it in the keyboard for use (see the other picture, on the right).

The good stuff

There is a lot to like about this keyboard.  Here are some examples:

This keyboard is slightly smaller than a "normal" desktop keyboard, but I find that you get used to it in a few minutes with no trouble.  As a touch typist, the adjustment was pretty quick and painless.

The battery life is very good, as well - I used it for nearly a month of pretty heavy use without having to recharge the keyboard (you can use any microUSB cable for this - one is included with the keyboard, as well).

There are a number of shortcut keys built into the keyboard to give you quick access to iPad functions like Search, Safari, cut, copy, paste, volume controls, play / pause, etc.  You have to press the "fn" (Function) key to access these.

While in use, the keyboard is very stable - one thing I like about the design is that the little "trough" you use to prop up the keyboard has some magnets in it to hold the iPad in place so you can move it around, type on your lap, etc. without having to worry that the iPad will fall off the keyboard.

You can "dock" the iPad in either portrait or landscape mode, depending on the best orientation for the app you're using.

The keyboard has magnets built into it that automatically turn off the iPad's screen when you close it (the same way Apple's SmartCover does).

Stuff to be aware of

While I am very happy with the Logitech Ultrathin Keyboard for iPad, it isn't perfect.  Here are some things you should know:

The shiny finish on the inside of the keyboard is a fingerprint magnet (not they keys themselves - they are a matte finish).  Doesn't bother me, but it comes with a microfibre cloth to wipe them off it the fingerprints bother you.

When it's closed, this keyboard will protect the iPad screen from bumps, but it is not a protective case that will cushion the iPad if you drop it.  If that is what you need, the ZaggFolio is probably a better choice for you.  As for me, I (knock on wood) haven't ever dropped my iPad so I care more about protecting the back from scratches.  For that, I have a Zagg InvisibleShield cover on the back (it is clear, but makes the back a bit more "grippy" to make it easier to hold on to the iPad while I carry it).  I don't have any kind of shield on the Logitech keyboard, though.

A couple of thoughts in closing

If you have an iPad and you take a lot of notes or want to work on the go, the Logitech Ultrathin Keyboard Cover deserves serious consideration.  It is such a productivity booster (at least for me).

One comment I get from time to time is, "You have a MacBook Air - why don't you just use it instead of this contraption?"  There are a couple of key reasons:

1. Battery life:  I can use my iPad in meetings all day and never even come close to running out of juice.  My MacBook Air lasts a long time, but not as long as my iPad.
2. Focus:  While I can task switch on the iPad, I can't really multitask.  On my laptop, I start off with the best intentions and open Evernote to take notes.  Then, suddenly, in a moment of weakness I find myself in a web browser, or in email, or on Twitter, or…  On the iPad, I can switch to another app, but it takes more effort and forethought.  The fullscreen nature of the iPad helps keep me more focused.

MacBook Air field guide: privacy and safety

A couple of months ago, I switched to using an Apple MacBook Air as my primary system and I really like it (I have the 13" version, and was moving from the a MacBook Pro).  The Macbook Air is a very small, light computer with great battery life and a very nice screen.

Since this switch has driven a few changes in some of my accompanying accessories, I thought I'd share some of the accessories I've found that I really like.

Note:  All of the items below are available for other computers - if you don't use a MacBook Air, simply click one of the links below and adjust the search to find one for your computer.

I like my privacy

I spend a lot of time on airplanes, as well as working with my computer in public spaces.  For years, I've been a big fan of 3M's privacy filters to keep curious eyes out of my business.  When I first switched to the MacBook Air, I ordered one of the 3M privacy filters, but I wasn't happy - the filter fit just fine, but I got this strange moiré pattern on the screen and couldn't stand it, so I ended up returning the filter.  I don't like to travel with a "naked" screen, so I continued to do research on this.   

I found that 3M makes a specific model number that works with the MacBook Air, as these computers have a higher-res screen than normal notebook computers, and they need a special filter to prevent screen distortion.  I ordered one of these higher-resolution filters and I really love it.  I also moved from the standard, grey-toned privacy filters I've always used to the newer, gold-toned privacy filter and I think I like the gold ones better.

If you have a MacBook Air, the correct privacy filter will include "…MA…" in the model number - those are the ones specifically for the MacBook Air.  You can find the 3M Gold Privacy Filter for the MacBook Air (GPFMA13 for 13" computers, and GPFMA11 for 11" computers) on Amazon.  You can also get it in the "normal" grey-tone filter if you don't want the shiny gold effect (PFMA13 for 13" computers, and PFMA11 for 11" computers).

If you haven't seen these in action before, they do a great job of limiting the opportunity to shoulder surf while you're working on your computer.  If you look at the computer screen straight-on, you see a normal screen, but as you move to the side, the image becomes unreadable.  Be aware- you will have to turn up your brightness a notch or two while using these, as they do absorb some of the light, but I think it is worth it.  You can easily remove the screen if you want to allow others to see what is on the screen.

I like to protect my screen

One of the unfortunate drawbacks of using these privacy filters is that they add a bit of thickness to the screen, which can make the screen rub against the keyboard.  Over time, this can cause a key-shaped abrasion pattern on the privacy filter, with a buildup of scratches up over time.  

To prevent this, I've always used RadTech's Screensaverz - microfiber screen protection cloths.  Not only do they prevent abrasion between the keys and the screen, they also prevent the transfer of finger oil (from the keyboard to the screen), and they double as cleaning cloths.

This is another area where a MacBook Air-specific version of the product makes a big difference.  I tried to repurpose my RadTech Screensavrz cloth from my previous computer, but it was too thick for the MacBook Air and prevented the screen from closing fully.  You can order the RadTech Screensavrz from Amazon, as well - I got the "Indigo" version.

And, I like to protect the computer itself

One of the main draws for a MacBook Air is its light weight.  I decided to try another RadTech product to help protect the computer as I carry it around:  RadTech Radsleevz (yeah, I know - funky spelling…) in matching Indigo.  Man, was this a good choice.  These are extremely thin, and make it easy to hold on to my computer while I carry it around.  It is form-fitting for the computer, and adds almost zero bulk to my MacBook Air.  That means I can stick it in my bag without taking a lot of room, and its TSA-friendly design means I just drop it in the bin in the interrogation line at the airport.

So, if you're a MacBook Air user like me, I hope this gives you a few ideas on how to travel light while protecting your privacy, your screen, and the pretty silver case of your computer.

Go pitch yourself

I get a lot of calls from various technology vendors in my day job.  Some of the "pitches" are good, but most are mediocre.  This week I got one I found to be particularly lousy - and it was a voice mail, which was intended to get me interested enough about the vendor to call them back.

What do you do?

Here are some of the problems I found with this particular message:

• I have no idea who this company is.  Their name was "cool sounding" but absolutely not descriptive.  This in itself is not a problem - the problem is that I listened to the pitch but it never told me anything about why I should call back.
• I have no idea what this company does.  The description - and this is a direct quote - was, "We deliver powerful capabilities through our platform, using  patented technology."  What?

I played this message for my wife and we laughed at how ridiculously vague this statement is.

Needless to say, they didn't get me to call back, which was their desired result.

At least you got that right...

Granted, they did get a few things right on the call:

• They did say their company name, clearly enough for me to understand it.
• They did provide their name and contact number, and even repeated the number slowly so I could write it down.

But that wasn't enough.

What's your pitch?

That got me thinking - when I leave messages about my company, am I any better?  I came up with a good little "exercise" that I'd like to share here:

• Call and leave yourself a voice mail, as if you were "cold calling" someone about your business, with the goal of having them call you back to find out more.
• Listen to the message and see if you would call yourself back.  
• Is it clear what you have to offer?
• Is the message short and to the point?
• Is it clear why what you do would be valuable to someone who doesn't know about your company?
• Is it clear who you are and how to get back in touch with you?
• Bonus points: Did you give them the option of calling you back or emailing you?
• If you missed the mark, adjust your pitch, call back, and try again until you are happy with your message.
• Now that you're happy with it, recruit a friend or relative that isn't "close" to your business, and ask them to critique your message based on the same kind of criteria.  Once again, use their input to adjust and tune your message.

I found some rough edges in my own pitch, for sure.  Not as bad as that guy who told me, "We deliver powerful capabilities through our platform, using  patented technology," but I had some room for improvement.

 Give it a try - pitch yourself - and see what you learn.

Accountability and granularity

Lately, I've been involved in a debate about accountability  What's at the heart of the debate? Clarity regarding how much detail is required  for someone to feel like they have enough information to hold another person accountable.  

In my particular debate, the question revolves around accountability for some longer term goals.  The person making the commitment, let's call them Mr. Committer,  has made some bold declarations (more directional in nature, although there are some measurable aspects that are clear enough to give a "pass / fail" grade).  These declarations won't be complete for at least a year.

Starting with these bigger picture goals, Mr. Committer created a sort of "work back" list - in other words, they began to break the larger commitment down into smaller steps and arranging them in a sensible order, to create an execution plan.

When this person presented their plan to two other people for review, there was a lot of consternation from one of the managers (let's call her Ms. Stickler) along the lines of, "Hey, I don't have enough here to hold you accountable," or "I don't know what to hold you accountable for."  

Break down the breakdown

As we began to disect the situation, we discovered that the issue was primarily one of detail:

• Ms. Stickler wanted a fully-fleshed out plan with way more detail than had been presented.
• Mr. Committer complained that he wanted to be held accountable for his results - the "big commit" - and not the specific steps followed to achieve the results.
• Ms. Stickler asked, "How can I hold you accountable over the next few months if I don't have a specific set of steps you'll be following?"
• Mr. Committer retorted, "A lot can change as I learn along the way and I don't want to be locked in - how can I innovate with you bearing down on me about specific steps so early in the process?!?"
• and so forth…

Shift the focus

So how can we break this conflict?  In our case, we are trying to focus less on the detailed steps along the way and, instead, have been brainstorming some interim indicators that must be met regardless of the detailed steps we choose to follow.

This, in itself, is still a difficult discussion, but it is far more productive (and far less stifling) than a debate about what specific steps will be taken.  In other words, I think we've successfully shifted the emphasis away from the activity, and toward a focus on the desired results.

This transition has been difficult, because we are fighting human nature and personalities in the process (detailed/control-oriented personalities vs. big picture/don't micromanage me personalities).

Any tips or techniques I can steal from you?

I'm sure we didn't get to this point in the easiest way possible.  Have you seen this kind of situation before?  Have you cracked the code (or at least come up with best known methods to make this easier)?

I'd love to hear your proven techniques for dealing with this kind of issue - please share!

Is your laptop bag getting too heavy?

What better time than now to go through your laptop bag and find ways to lighten your load?  When I was preparing to hit the road this week, I noticed just how heavy & cluttered my laptop bag was.

I set aside some time on Sunday night to reduce my “travel weight” by getting rid of some things in my bag.  Here are some strategies to help you if you decide you want to lighten your load:

1. Move into a smaller place

   • Nothing forces decisions like having to fit your stuff into a smaller laptop bag.  This is a good strategy if you want to become less of a packrat with the things you carry along with you.  Don't go too far, though - remember sometimes you need room to bring back the things you bring on the road with you.
   • I have done the "try out" process on laptops before since I have a local luggage store with a very customer-friendly return policy.  I buy a bag, take it home and, if I don't like how it accommodates my stuff, I return it.  You can do the same via eBags - their selection is amazing - but it might take a little longer due to the shipping time..

2. Start with a clean slate

   • This is an extreme approach.  You empty your bag ad put in absolutely the bare minimum of “stuff” back in.  Travel like that for a while, and only add in things that a) you discovered that you really needed during a trip; and b) you are absolutely sure you will need within your next 3 trips.

3. Find lighter alternatives to the things you carry

   • This is the kind of approach that extreme backpackers take when they select their backpacking gear – ultralight tents, cups, etc.  You don’t have to go that far, but you could do things like:
     • carry a Kindle instead of books;
     • carry an iPad instead of a laptop;
     • move to a smaller / lighter laptop;
     • carry a smaller note pad instead of the larger one you’ve been lugging around;
     • stop carrying chargers you seldom use on the road;
     • find multi-purpose items (like a single charger that will charge multiple devices)

4. Audit your stuff

   • If you can’t decide what to leave behind and what to keep, audit your bag at the end of each trip.  What things did you ignore, what things did you use?  Are there things you can drop from your bag for your next trip?  If you’re not sure, leave it behind and see how much you miss it.
   • If you are a GTD follower, you could weave this into part of your inbox processing at the end of a trip – don’t just empty your inbox -- empty your bag, too.

These are just some ideas to help you lose some weight really quickly and make it easier on your back.  Got strategies of your own?  I’d love to hear them.