Geekscape Tech Review: Brydge 9.7 Keyboard for the iPad Air and iPad Air 2 and the Brydge 12.9

I realize that what you are looking at in the image looks to be an overhead view of a MacBook Air or MacBook Pro. However, if you look closer at the shots from different angles, this is an iPad on a Brydge keyboard.

Yes, this is a Brydge, and it is spelled as incorrectly as a super-hero of the nineties (because poor literacy is kewl). When I saw this product on display at CES with an iPad in it, I thought I was looking at a small MacBook, and perhaps this is the point of this product.

Yes, there are some people that want a Bluetooth 3.0 keyboard when they type on an iPad, and might welcome the set-up of a laptop. This is the beauty of the Brydge, as it can turn an Apple tablet into a laptop, or the next best thing, at least. It’s great for someone who is more productive when hearing the clickity-click of keyboard buttons, rather than being dependent on touchscreen technology. So it is perfect for the older generation, like me. By the way, the hinge can go back 180 degrees, better than most laptops.

The good news is the Brydge keyboard has 3 month’s of battery life on a single one hour charge via included micro USB cable. It really is a wondrous product for those who wish to transform an Apple tablet into an Apple laptop, at the lowest possible price.

Yes, there is a lot of good reasons to purchase a Brydge 9.7, and it can be found on the Brydge site for about $129.99 in Silver, Space Gray, and Gold.

In addition to the Brydge 9.7, I was also pleased to try out the Brydge for the 12.9 inch iPad Pro. Other than the bigger width, I wasn’t certain what I was expecting. The 12.9 inch iPad Pro fits right in the clamps, and it then folds up together.

Part of the surprise was the light weight, because an iPad Pro 12.9 and the 12.9 inch Brydge actually weigh less than the 13-inch MacBook Pro. That’s good engineering, considering that the keyboard is all aluminum.

So, how good is the battery life of the Brydge 12.9? Like the model for the 9.7 inch iPad, it is good for 3 months on a full charge, and can be charged via the included micro USB cable. As an added bonus, the keyboard has backlit keys.

The Brydge 12.9 is available on the Brydge company website for a price of $189.99. It is available in Silver, Space Gray, or Gold, and both of these products might be marked down for the holiday season.

Also, do you want to hear more about the latest in technology? In early January, there is a big event in Las Vegas known as CES (Consumer Electronics Show). I want to go and report on it, but I need some help. I have a new GoFundMe site that will “Send Mark (me) to CES 2017”. Please click here and make a donation.