
22 consumer reports JANUARY
FEATURE tablets
1 Logitech Tablet Keyboard
for Android .+
Compatible with: Tablets
running Android . and above.
What we like. It has large keys
with tablet controls and
shortcuts. It doubles as a stand.
What we don’t like. At .
pounds with case, it’s a bit
heavy. It uses four AAA cells that
you must replace. It lacks Screen
Lock and Brightness controls.
Bottom line. It’s versatile and
compatible with a variety of
Android tablets.
1 Targus Bluetooth Wireless
Keyboard
Compatible with: iPad, Android,
Windows all versions.
What we like. It’s very portable
and weighs . pounds. It has
large keys, including a number
of keys for shortcuts.
What we don’t like. It isn’t
customized for specific models.
There’s no stand or case. It uses
two AAA cells that you have to
replace periodically.
Bottom line. This is a good
choice if you’re on a budget
and travel often.
1 Samsung Galaxy Tab .
Keyboard Dock
Compatible with: .inch
Galaxy Tab.
What we like: The dock has
controls, such as Home, Menu, and
Lock Screen, plus app shortcuts.
The stand is handy for long periods
of typing, and the dock has an
additional speaker port.
What we don’t like. At .
pounds, it’s a bit heavier than the
Galaxy Tab itself. The tablet can
be used only in landscape mode.
Bottom line. Versatile and easier
to use than typing on the screen.
1 Zagg Zaggfolio Keyboard
Case
Compatible with: iPad and
later, Samsung Galaxy Tab .
different models.
What we like. It has large keys
and doubles as a protective case
and stand. There are tabletspecific
keys and shortcuts. The battery
is rechargeable.
What we don’t like. It’s bulky
and weighs . pounds. The model
for the Galaxy Tab . is a very
tight fit for that tablet.
Bottom line. It’s a lot more
versatile than other keyboards.
1 Microsoft Touch Cover
1 Microsoft Type Cover
Compatible with: Microsoft Surface RT.
What we like. Both are thin, can double as a cover, and have
fullsized keys and a convenient touchpad. The Touch Cover
weighs . pounds, and the Type Cover weighs . pounds.
What we don’t like. The tablet can be used only in landscape
mode. The Touch Cover’s flat surface can take some getting used
to, but the Type Cover’s keys move when you press them.
Bottom line. Both are well suited to traveling.
If you find your tablet’s onscreen keyboard awkward to use for more than a short time, consider one of these add-ons:
Do you need an accidentprotection plan? Probably not.
Tablet keyboards make typing a snap
1 Apple Wireless Keyboard
Compatible with: All iPads.
What we like. It’s small, weighs
. pounds, has large keys,
including some shortcuts, and
can be used with Mac computers.
What we don’t like. Buttons
aren’t customized for iPad, so
some serve no purpose. There’s no
stand, or Home or Lock button. It
uses two AA cells, which you
must replace.
Bottom line. Its small size makes
it well suited for traveling.
1 Logitech Ultrathin Keyboard
Cover
Compatible with: iPad and
later.
What we like. It weighs .
pounds. As a stand, it’s very
stable. There are customized keys
for important functions. The
builtin battery is rechargeable.
What we don’t like. The keys
are slightly smaller than on some
other models.
Bottom line. Even with the
stand, it’s lightweight and
portable.
In a recent survey of readers who bought
a new tablet since , almost one in five
bought a service contract or extended
warranty for the device. The figure was about
one in four for those who bought iPads.
The leading reason by far for getting a plan,
cited by percent of buyers, was to cover
accidental damage. But like most extended
warranties, a protection plan for a tablet
isn’t really a good buy, our data suggest.
For example, only percent of the , tablet
owners in the survey, conducted by the
Consumer Reports National Research
Center, had repaired their tablet for any
reason. And the vast majority of those tablets
had been repaired within their first year,
when many might well have been covered
by the manufacturer’s warranty or the free
insurance provided by some credit cards.
Though it’s true that manufacturer
warranties don’t cover accidents, fewer than
half of the repairs in the survey were made for
that reason. And only percent of those who
bought a warranty had used it for a repair.
Plans don’t come cheap, either. The median
price respondents paid for AppleCare, Apple’s
extended plan for iPads, was and, for
noniPad tablets, . AppleCare also has a
perincident charge for repairs due to an
accident. And should your iPad be damaged,
you won’t necessarily get a brandnew
replacement. Plan terms allow for repairs
to be made to your unit or for it to be
replaced with a refurbished unit.
If you must buy a plan to cover accidents,
try to pay as little as possible. For an iPad,
consider accidental coverage that’s cheaper
than AppleCare, such as the , twoyear
accidental plan sold at Walmart.
Touch
Cover
Type
Cover
Two models for the Surface
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