Do they still make keyboards for first-gen iPads?

March 26, 2013 8:02 AM

I inherited an old, first-generation iPad. I'd love to get a portable keyboard for it so I don't have to lug my ridiculously huge laptop everywhere. I've been doing some Googling, but it's hard to sift out keyboards that will work with the old, obsolete first-generation devices now that it's 2013. I want actual hard keys. Is an Apple wireless keyboard my only option?
posted by topoisomerase to Technology (11 answers total)

Best answer: Are you looking at wireless keyboards, or wired ones? Any bluetooth keyboard will work just fine with it - not just the Apple one.
posted by Tomorrowful at 8:09 AM on March 26, 2013 [2 favorites]

I got this cheap-ass but decent-looking keyboard for my iPad 3, but it works fine with my wife's iPad 1. Has useful iPad-specific function keys.
posted by Rock Steady at 8:16 AM on March 26, 2013

A coworker uses a Zagg keyboard with her first-gen iPad in meetings.

It uses actual hard keys.

She's been very pleased with it.
posted by fredericsunday at 8:34 AM on March 26, 2013

I bought a Zaggmate for my iPad 1 just a few months ago. Works great. The first-generation iPad is just not that old!
posted by escabeche at 8:42 AM on March 26, 2013

I have a Zaggmate for my 1st gen iPad. It's a great keyboard and I've done full-on writing + coding on it (and this from someone who uses a full-size USB keyboard any time I have to use a laptop).
posted by curious nu at 8:59 AM on March 26, 2013

Have you looked on ebay to see if anyone is selling an old keyboard for an iPad?
posted by musofire at 9:14 AM on March 26, 2013

Any bluetooth keyboard will work fine. If you mean that you want a keyboard with an integrated case, you are probably out of luck. I have one of these stupid-cheap keyboards. It's ok but I don't use it all that often.
posted by chairface at 9:31 AM on March 26, 2013

I would *not* recommend the Aluratek case/keyboard here. The power switch and keyboard proved flaky after about 3 months. Kensington and Adesso seem to be more reliable from others' reviews.

In my defense, the Aluratek looked like a good possibility for me to avoid having to carry an iPad 1, case, and separate Apple keyboard at the time I bought. I should've paid more attention to the lack of reviews anywhere at the time.
posted by thatdawnperson at 3:58 PM on March 26, 2013

The Logitech / Zagg iPad keyboard "cover case" for iPad 2/3/4G *will* fit an iPad 1, albeit at a more perpendicular angle than the slimmer devices enjoy. I have several of these cases and iPad 1, 2 and 4 all function fine. The fit is just a little tight. You can get the "new" on eBay for around $35 - $45.
posted by plook at 4:29 PM on March 26, 2013

Apple made their own Keyboard Dock for the first-gen iPads; you can still find these on eBay and they're not wireless.
posted by anildash at 9:15 PM on March 26, 2013

Response by poster: I ended up with a Bluetooth tablet keyboard (a keyboard with a case that folds into a stand) by Logitech. It's not a fancy keyboard/case combo, but whatever, it works.

Thanks, all!
posted by topoisomerase at 6:30 PM on August 31, 2013