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  1. Member Seeker47's Avatar
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    Not sure whether this is the best section to post this, or if I would do better taking it to some other users' support site entirely. But I exhausted the scope of what they could suggest to me at a local Apple store, and some of you may have some good answers ?

    I have a 12.9" Ipad (Pro ?) that was purchased between 1 and 1.5 years ago. So, it does not have that newer-models' wireless connector underneath one long side. (That looked pretty good, for adding a keyboard they did sell at the Apple store . . . but I'm not going to scrap this Ipad and buy a new one just to get it.) I'd like to find a good, reliable example of the following, which I gather is going to have to be from some third-party manufacturer.

    1. A keyboard, preferably not Bluetooth-based. With the exception of the factory hands-free setup my car has for use with a cell-phone, I've found Bluetooth to be flakey, sporadically dropping connections for no apparent reason.

    2. A docking station, or alternative means for multiplexing the otherwise very limited In | Out connections, for things like USB devices. They make these things for laptops. Or even basic USB hubs, at least. The problem may be in having good compatibility with the Apple device, for something they don't themselves make or approve.
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  2. Member Seeker47's Avatar
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    Thanks for your reply. I need to determine exactly of what Gen my Ipad is, for which finding the invoice or invoice date may provide a clue. But I think it likely predates the Nov. 2018 model (Gen 3), which may rule out the Kanex, or the competing solutions from Satechi or Hyperdrive. Your first link seems to be a proposed product, only.
    When in Las Vegas, don't miss the Pinball Hall of Fame Museum http://www.pinballmuseum.org/ -- with over 150 tables from 6+ decades of this quintessentially American art form.
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  3. Explorer Case's Avatar
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    Originally Posted by Seeker47 View Post
    I need to determine exactly of what generation my iPad is.
    Settings﹥General﹥About﹥Model name. That entry gives the marketing name and generation.
    Settings﹥General﹥About﹥Model number. That entry toggles between part number and model number when tapped.
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  4. Member Seeker47's Avatar
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    Originally Posted by Case View Post
    Originally Posted by Seeker47 View Post
    I need to determine exactly of what generation my iPad is.
    Settings﹥General﹥About﹥Model name. That entry gives the marketing name and generation.
    Settings﹥General﹥About﹥Model number. That entry toggles between part number and model number when tapped.
    Thanks, Case.

    IPAD Pro 12.9 (2nd. gen.)
    Model # A1670
    Model (Part ?) # MP6G2LL/A
    Software ver. 12.3.1

    Still would like to find out -- for sure -- whether any of these are going to be compatible:

    https://www.frys.com/product/9401331?nearbyStoreName=false&site=frilanding072718
    {the most in line with what I was looking for, but I'd still need to get past the sole port
    thing . . . }

    http://matias.ca/aluminum/backlit/ {but it's Bluetooth, so likely not what I wanted}

    http://matias.ca/60/pc/

    The keyboards that the Apple stores have now are for a later gen. of hardware, with different
    connections.

    I inquired at the website for one of those docking station type deals, but did not get a
    definitive answer as to the compatibility.

    [EDIT: reviews were not so good on the Matias, so now looking for info re the older (wired) Apple
    keyboards that were originally intended for i-Mac but which may now only be available as refurbs,
    or a Satechi keyboard that required an adapter.]
    Last edited by Seeker47; 1st Dec 2019 at 17:37.
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  5. Explorer Case's Avatar
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    Originally Posted by Seeker47 View Post
    but it's Bluetooth, so likely not what I wanted
    You iPad has bluetooth. Wireless keyboards are an option.
    Apple website lists their own new version wireless keyboards, and the Logitech and Belkin connected keyboard as compatible/fitting this model iPad.
    Apple Store - iPad Accessories - Keyboards - iPad Compatibility: iPad Pro 12.9-inch (2nd generation)
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  6. Bluetooth Keyboards usually work with your iPad...Lots of Good reviews on Youtube


    If you want a branded one that works , try the logitech one
    Last edited by teodz1984; 4th Dec 2019 at 10:17.
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  7. newer-models' wireless connector underneath one long side.
    the connector you are referring to are smart connect dock.. similar to pogo plugs..
    https://fortune.com/2016/04/26/logi-base-ipad-pro-charging-dock/
    These propriety tech means expensive prices... Since the usually need certification to work with Apple ...
    Last edited by teodz1984; 4th Dec 2019 at 10:16.
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  8. The keyboards that the Apple stores have now are for a later gen. of hardware, with different
    connections.

    I inquired at the website for one of those docking station type deals, but did not get a
    definitive answer as to the compatibility.
    thats the problem with apple.. they keep changing ports to keep sucking up the money of customers
    Last edited by teodz1984; 4th Dec 2019 at 10:16.
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  9. Member Seeker47's Avatar
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    Originally Posted by Case View Post
    Originally Posted by Seeker47 View Post
    but it's Bluetooth, so likely not what I wanted
    You iPad has bluetooth. Wireless keyboards are an option.
    Apple website lists their own new version wireless keyboards, and the Logitech and Belkin connected keyboard as compatible/fitting this model iPad.
    Apple Store - iPad Accessories - Keyboards - iPad Compatibility: iPad Pro 12.9-inch (2nd generation)
    Thanks for that link. (And also to teodz1984.)

    I took the opportunity of Cyber Monday to order a trio of Satechi solutions, including a wired keyboard and a port expansion doohickey that may have previously been mentioned here. They seemed to have mostly favorable user reviews. Got a nice combo discount on them, now we'll see if they work. If not, there are now some alternatives to explore, thanks to you. I can report back on this in due course.

    Do people also use a mouse of some sort with their IPADs ? Not sure of how much value that might be: after all, the IPAD is essentially a tablet. That said, I recall the MicroSoft Surface was trying to have it both ways, as a tablet that could (with the right configuration) stretch itself into being a pseudo-laptop.
    Last edited by Seeker47; 5th Dec 2019 at 12:11.
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  10. Member Seeker47's Avatar
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    Originally Posted by teodz1984 View Post
    The keyboards that the Apple stores have now are for a later gen. of hardware, with different
    connections.

    I inquired at the website for one of those docking station type deals, but did not get a
    definitive answer as to the compatibility.
    thats the problem with apple.. they keep changing ports to keep sucking up the money of customers
    Much as MS keeps on arbitrarily renaming and relocating many previously familiar features in Windows -- for no good reason, or maybe just to frustrate us ? But I guess that helps to justify their selling a "new and updated" product that was perfectly fine in its earlier UI incarnation.
    When in Las Vegas, don't miss the Pinball Hall of Fame Museum http://www.pinballmuseum.org/ -- with over 150 tables from 6+ decades of this quintessentially American art form.
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  11. Member Seeker47's Avatar
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    Update: I bought this wired keyboard

    https://www.amazon.com/Satechi-Aluminum-Keyboard-Numeric-Keypad/dp/B07DRCWHM3/ref=sr_1...s%2C276&sr=8-5

    which looks to be of good quality with good features, quite capable, and would be the one I'd like to use. I was hoping to use their docking station that I also got

    https://www.amazon.com/Satechi-Aluminum-Adapter-Charging-Headphone/dp/B07K6YFW7X/ref=s...s%2C302&sr=8-5

    to connect it, which from the description looked like my 2018 model (2nd. Gen.) Ipad Pro would be on the compatibility list. However, the connector would not connect at all, and I did not want to try to force it to. The connector has the same shape as the native Ipad charger connection, but there seems to be an extra thin metal bar in the middle. A simple male / female connector mismatch ? (I have no familiarity to speak of with the Apple hardware.) I'm leaving messages for Satechi, but have not heard back.

    [Re the whole docking station or hub thing, I'm still looking to get those extra device ports, to get around that very limiting solitary connector on the Ipad.]

    The Kanex solution appears to be for Gen. 3 and later only. The DoBox Pro that you linked looks promising, but I'm not seeing where it has emerged from that Kickstarter campaign to become a shipping product. Nothing about it on Amazon yet, although there are some other links for this general category, such as

    https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07M6R3CPB?ref=dacx_dp_9172981550101_6334097010001&aaxitk=6H...j-MxPL8fqkJGIQ

    That one is cheap enough to be a low-risk experiment.
    Last edited by Seeker47; 22nd May 2020 at 17:03.
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  12. Member Seeker47's Avatar
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    Originally Posted by Rain26 View Post
    logitech
    Could you be more specific ? Product link ?
    It's not Thunderbolt (?), doesn't seem to be any recognizable flavor of USB, despite the published specs.
    You wouldn't think this would turn out to be this difficult . . . .
    Thus far, I have not been able to correctly identify the connector for my 12.9" Gen 2 Ipad Pro: nothing I have tried so far in my attempt to "multiplex" that damned solo connector (to accommodate a keyboard, flash drive, or etc.) seems to fit, and I would not try to force one in, even if the size appears similar. The Satechi multi-port gizmo did not fit, nor did one from Kanex. Have not been able to get any response from Satechi for comment. The repeated pandemic closures of the Apple stores has not helped, either. I took some photos of the connector, and of the charger plug that came with the Ipad, which of course does fit that connector, and I could post them here. In the meantime, I noticed this item in a Frys weekly email circular

    https://www.frys.com/product/9990956

    That connector looks to be of the right size, and has the same sort of "hash marks" on it. Maybe a clue ?
    When in Las Vegas, don't miss the Pinball Hall of Fame Museum http://www.pinballmuseum.org/ -- with over 150 tables from 6+ decades of this quintessentially American art form.
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  13. Member Seeker47's Avatar
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    Well, I may finally have the answer. Stopped by a Best Buy (Yes, they are still in business -- someone just asked me) and spoke to the Apple specialist there. He identified the connector type as 'Lightning', but that this would do me little good. He said that nothing else other than charging -- with the included charger -- would work there, for wired use. That this generation of Ipad (and by extension the later ones too) were designed to be tablets ONLY, and not for taking on anything like the functionality of a general computer or laptop. So you wouldn't be installing a bunch of regular office apps such as you are using on your desktop system; it's mainly just for email, light web browsing, looking over photos, maybe viewing a movie on an airplane flight. Thus spake the Best Buy Apple guy. The dual-usage, "have it both ways" solutions pioneered by Microsoft Surface and that I see being copied by others came later. Had I known that upfront, back in 2017, I might never have taken this detour into Apple-ville. (It may still hold some value for wireless email or web-browsing, like while half-watching a ballgame, but that's about the extent of it.)

    It seems that some auxiliary connection might still be possible -- like for a keyboard -- via wireless Bluetooth, but most of my experience with that tech has turned out fairly dismal. Bluetooth has just been flakey, everywhere I've tried to use it except with the hands-free cellphone support in my car.
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  14. Member Cornucopia's Avatar
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    I use a logitech k780 bluetooth multi-device keyboard (goes between surfacepro, macbook, ipad & android phone) - daily, constantly, for months on end - and haven't had a single hiccup with using it.


    Scott
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  15. Member Seeker47's Avatar
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    Originally Posted by Cornucopia View Post
    I use a logitech k780 bluetooth multi-device keyboard (goes between surfacepro, macbook, ipad & android phone) - daily, constantly, for months on end - and haven't had a single hiccup with using it.


    Scott
    Thanks. Sounds like that would be worth checking out -- provided that there is some way to sync it with this Gen 2 Ipad . . . .
    When in Las Vegas, don't miss the Pinball Hall of Fame Museum http://www.pinballmuseum.org/ -- with over 150 tables from 6+ decades of this quintessentially American art form.
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  16. Member Seeker47's Avatar
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    Originally Posted by Cornucopia View Post
    I use a logitech k780 bluetooth multi-device keyboard (goes between surfacepro, macbook, ipad & android phone) - daily, constantly, for months on end - and haven't had a single hiccup with using it.
    Scott
    Your suggestion prompted me to read through a whole bunch of (mostly 'Verified Purchase') reviews on Amazon, and traversing a few different models. It was looking like the Logitech K375S was recommended over several others. Also, an emerging pattern stating that some of the Logitech products used to be a lot better than ones made more recently, in terms of design, durability, and quality control, and that their Customer Support has latterly been trending towards the dismal. I should note that I've been a long-term customer for some of their products, though with not much by way of recent examples.
    When in Las Vegas, don't miss the Pinball Hall of Fame Museum http://www.pinballmuseum.org/ -- with over 150 tables from 6+ decades of this quintessentially American art form.
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  17. Member Cornucopia's Avatar
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    Other than a bug in the C922 (EDIT: not C922 but C920S) that someone else mentioned in a recent thread here, which is not exhibited in its older cousins the c920, and c930e, I have not witnessed ANY drop in quality control with Logi items. And in fact have been very pleased by their corporate performance, even during our recent pandemic trials.
    I have to grade quality for AV tech for my University, and I would still now give them an overall A (maybe B+). No complaints here.

    Btw, I bought my spouse a k780 for her work about 18 months ago, and I liked it so much (and kept borrowing it) that she got me one for my birthday, just so I'd leave hers alone.


    Scott
    Last edited by Cornucopia; 18th Aug 2020 at 19:40.
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