2023–09–24

Experimental iPad Configurations

Before I dive into the discussion of my ongoing experimentation with iPad modularity I think it would be helpful to provide a description of the physical space and context of my iPad use.

I work from a 200 sq ft tiny house which I share with 2 dogs and a cat. Over the past 15 years most of my work time is either in this small space or outside on a porch. In the house only about 30% of my work is at a desk, mostly it's done reclining on a futon. Those may seem like simple options but as I live on my own I have the freedom to reconfigure the small space fairly often. And even more so, within the space, I reconfigure the iPad arrangement constantly. This, in fact, is why I've come to love the iPad so much.

With a traditional laptop or desktop I have a screen or screens, keyboard, mouse and/or trackpad as the base configuration. But at a minimum the traditional computer must have the keyboard and pointing device. And of course with a laptop that keyboard and trackpad are not removable which is why I sold my MacBook Pro in 2017. Using it actually frustrated me because I came to dislike the fact that the keyboard was permanent.

I still marvel at the fact that the iPad, in its base configuration, seems like such a simple object. Just a rectangle of glass and aluminum. And though I can use it in this simple form I rarely do. The iPad is the core building block which, in my case, is always being used with at least one other component.

A 13" iPad Pro is not heavy but compared to its smaller counterparts it's less a hand held tablet device. Yes, it can be held in the hand and it can be used in portrait mode. But for me, the most likely, most natural pattern of use and function is in landscape mode, standing up on its own with the addition of a stand of some sort. But often with no keyboard. So, yes, still very much a tablet, just not a hand held tablet.

The delight of this device and form factor is best described in terms of nearly unlimited depth of variation and experimentation. This happens in two ways. The arrangement of the device in physical space as well as my interactions with the device via screen or a variation of input devices.

I'll note the possibility that my experiments are, perhaps, sometimes a bit off the wall but I enjoy trying out arrangements with keyboards and accessories that were not necessarily intended. I also enjoy customizing my space. So, for example, in my tiny house I often add and rearrange shelving near desks, my futon, and anywhere I might work or lounge with the iPad. This means that walls get shelving for the purpose of a standing desk. Other walls just get shelves solely for holding an iPad near a desk or extra display.

I should note too that because I've added an inner wall of reclaimed, rustic wood I don't hesitate to move planks of wood to accommodate shelving or anchors for shelves. It's a freedom others in more conventional housing may not have.

In some ways I treat the interior of the house as one of my reconfigurable building blocks that I arrange to suite my current comfort, thoughts and needs for a workspace. I move around a lot for a change of view and posture.

Let's have a look.

Starting off with the first iPad in the Keyboard Dock.

A first generation iPad is docked to the Apple Keyboard Dock for iPad. It's sitting on a wood plank table in front of a bowl of apples and near a window showing a view of trees and grass in the near distance.

My first generation iPad docked to the Apple Keyboard Dock for iPad. I'd already discovered the Gusto app and was using the iPad to edit website code and upload html/css files via the apps built in ftp. I loved that app!

An iPad sits on a wood shelf that is attached to a large dobsonian telescope base which is below the bottom of photo, not visible. The wood plank is held up with a pipe. So that it is at standing level. The telescope is at an angle away from the iPad.

The iPad, Sky Safari and Numbers are helpful for finding objects in the night sky and then recording details of observations

An iPad sits in a stand placed on two books near a window and on an old wood plank shelf or desk. In front of the books is a keyboard. A soft warm light out of frame on the left side. Plants are visible to the left and right of the window and iPad.

An iPad, stand, keyboard and a window. Perfect for an afternoon of work.

A plank of wood serves as an improvised lap desk. An iPad sits to the right, a blue coffee mug to the left and a keyboard in front.

A simple plank of wood serves as a light weight and sturdy improvised lap desk.

An iPad Pro being used with an aluminum Brydge keyboard. The iPad is oriented flat to the Brydge keyboard and being held vertically straight up such that the keyboard is serving to elevate the iPad off of a person's lap to eye level as they recline. A left hand is seen balancing the iPad. The screen displays the Reeder app for RSS.

Experimenting with the Brydge keyboard which had hinges that allowed the iPad to tip all the way flat if on a desk. Not that I'd use it on a desk that way but when held in my lap and straight up it was easly balanced and the iPad was elevated to eye level as I reclined. Really comfortable and sturdy.

A desk near a wood plank wall with various shelves. An iPad is in a stand on the desk near a keyboard. A second iPad sits on a shelf at eye level behind the desk

Many hours were spent in this cozy corner! I constantly tinkered with the shelf configuration.

A view of a room. To the right, in the corner is a desk, an iPad and keyboard. To the lower left is a larger iPad Pro in a stand sitting on a white shelf with a keyboard. A dog is sitting on a bench to the right of the photo.

A broader view of the cabin. Directly below the camera a beanbag resting against a wood plank room divider. I'd built an adjustable shelf to the left that swiveled. I colud plop down on the bean bag and move the iPad into a comfortable working position.

In nice weather I often work outside at a table. I used this set-up for a few months and it worked pretty well with iPad Air 2 displaying reference text which is being used to design a document on the iPad on the top of the shelf using Pages.

An iPad Pro in a Smart Keyboard Folio is arranged in a sort of A-Frame and is resting on a large wood block elevating it to eye height. The arrangement is an a metal table sitting on a porch. A keyboard sits in front of it.

This was a useful experiment with the iPad Pro in a Smart Keyboard Folio arranged in a sort of A-Frame and elevated to eye height.

An iPad Pro in a Smart Keyboard Folio is turned upside down at an angle that is optimal for using an Apple Pencil. Affinity Designer is the app being used and an oval logo can be seen in the application window. The arrangement is on a metal table on a porch outside. A keyboard sits in front of the iPad.

Flipping iPad Pro in a Smart Keyboard Folio upside down creates an angle that is optimal for using the Pencil with Affinity Designer, in this case working on a web graphic. Looks funny, works verry well!

An iPad Pro in a Smart Keyboard Folio is in a backwards A-Frame and resting on outstretched legs that are propped up on a table. A keyboard sits in front of the iPad Pro

Again using iPad Pro in a Smart Keyboard Folio in an A-Frame position resting on outstretched legs that are propped up on a table. Comfortable and functional as a variation from the usual.

An iPad Pro is in a stand on a desk sitting to the lower left of an attached external monitor resting on a shelf. A smaller iPad sits to the lower right of the monitor.

Using mirrored external display support for writing. Not as functional as the proper external desplay support we have now but was still useful for larger, eye level text.

An iPad in a stand is low and angled for use with an Apple Pencil. A monitor on a shelf can be seen in the background and is mirroring the iPad display.

An excellent angle for using the Apple Pencil. Heavy, sturdy stands like this are a fantastic addition to an iPad set-up, cost is usually less than $20. I've avoided the newer stands that have the magnetic attachments as I expect that they'll become useless with the next iPad design. The sturdy stand I have now will likely continue to accomodate future iPads.

An iPad Pro in stand sitting to the right of a monitor with a keyboard and trackpad sitting in front on a desk. The app Textastic is being used on the monitor to edit a website.

Using textastic to manage and update websites using the less functional mirroring to external display in iPadOS 15. Ah! The good old days of 2021

A standing desk has been improvised with a home built shelf on a desk. On the top shelf is a display attached to a Mac Mini. An iPad in a stand is to the right of the monitor. A keyboard and trackpad are on a second shelf below the top. Below that on the desk sits a smaller iPad.

An improvised standing desk. When I finally replaced my 2012 Mac Mini with an M1 which I expect to be the last Mac I'll purchase. It's used as a file server but at the time of photo Affinity Publisher for iPad was not yet available so I relied on the Mac for those projects and used the iPad to view reference text. Worked great with Universal Control!

An iPad Pro in a Logitech Combo Touch keyboard for iPad is propped up over a tri-angle foam lap desk as a strange but effective angle for typing which holds the iPad at eye level.

Yep, this is a bit riduculous! I was gifted this tri-angle foam lap desk. I didn't expect I'd use it but this is actually a very stable arrangement when I'm reclining on the futon. The Logitech Combo Touch keyboard at this angle is fairly comfortale.

An iPad Pro is resting in a sturdy metal stand with a Logitech keyboard below it. To the right is a mouse. These are all resting an a lap desk which is sitting on a shelf next to a wood plank wall.

My trusty, sturdy metal stand, iPad Pro snug in the Logitech case. These lap desks usually come with a foam bottom but I often flip it to put the foam on top. Much more comfortable for my wrists to rest on but the foam is still pretty solid and sturdy enough to put the stand on. I've usually got a pillow between the lapdesk and my lap to elevate it all up a bit.