One of the most common complaints about the iPad is that it's a sort of in-between device that can't really replace a notebook. Well, that might be so for now, but it looks like an add-on will be released next fall which will rectify the situation. It's called the ClamCase.
The ClamCase has been advertised as an all-in-one keyboard, case, as well as a stand for the iPad. They might say that it transforms your iPad into a notebook, but we think that it's probably more of a netbook than anything else.
The keyboard connects to your iPad via Bluetooth. It will be interesting to find out if there will be any additional tech installed under this keyboard, like say an extra hard drive. Now that would be really cool! Our guess would be no, but it's still an interesting addition to your iPad.
It will cost around $70 and currently the ClamCase website is getting a surge of traffic, so we couldn't find out much more. Needless to say that people will be buying this keyboard/case, even if there isn't any extra storage available. However, we do think that a solid state hard drive would be a perfect addition to the iPad. It's a bit ridiculous to turn a tablet into a netbook, but in essence, the ClamCase replaces three devices in a single and sleek package: a keyboard, a sleeve and a stand.
[via Ubergizmo]
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Comments (6)
Why?!?!?
As someone on the gizmodo comments, so eloquently, put it: "This is what you call missing the point."
i think this is a neat peripheral.
it's not trying to turn the iPad into a netbook or a notebook, it's taking the two popular accessories - the $69 iPad keyboard dock, and the $39 iPad Case and combining them for only $79.
i was hesitant to buy an iPad because of the extra bulk i would need to take notes in class with a keyboard, but this certainly changes the concept.
It's the guy on gizmodo who's "missing the point". Welcome to the age of handheld computers, where the computer will come by default in a handheld form factor, and allow you to dock it with various stationary or portable devices for other uses.
I'd like to see a similar laptop-like docking station for smartphones, providing a larger screen and a keyboard, plus peripheral interfaces. There's no technical reason why smartphones couldn't be used as desktop computers either, via a docking station, keyboard, mouse and monitor. The docking stations could even provide coprocessors and other helper hardware - more RAM, massive hard drives for archival storage - to supplement the capabilities of the handheld device.
In the future your computer will go with you everywhere you go, and you will be able to interact with it in many different ways depending on the form factor currently selected - phone, tablet, laptop, desktop, etc.
@sunport: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Palm_Foleo
If this didn't fold all the way around to be a nice stand for the iPad I too would say what is the point. But this looks like a nice hardcase, that functions as a stand for most of the ways you would have the iPad sitting, and has a built in keyboard; this looks like a good well thought out accessory. The only thing that could make this better would be a built in battery for extending the battery life of the iPad or for charging other devices. (a mifi maybe?)