Logitech Solar Keyboard Folio for iPad 2 and iPad (3rd/4th generation) (920-003907)

by Logitech

• Built-in light-powered Bluetooth keyboard for iPad 2 and iPad (3rd generation). Powered by indoor and outdoor light
• Protective folio: Protects the front and back of your iPad 2 and iPad (3rd generation) wherever you take it
• Auto on/off: Instantly wakes your iPad 2 and iPad (3rd generation) when you open the folio and sleeps when you close it
• Multi-view stand: Holds your iPad 2 and iPad (3rd generation) at the right viewing angles for either watching videos or typing

Product Details

• Product Dimensions: 16.8 x 10 x 0.7 inches ; 1 pounds
• Shipping Weight: 1.4 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Shipping: Currently, item can be shipped only within the U.S.
• ASIN: B007RNCLBY
• Item model number: 920-003907
• Batteries 1 Lithium ion batteries required. (included)
• Average Customer Review: 3.6 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (126 customer reviews)
• Date first available at Amazon.com: April 12, 2012

Product Description

From the Manufacturer

 

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Logitech Solar Keyboard Folio

Protects your iPad. Powered-by-light keyboard.

Your iPad* deserves a companion as versatile as it is. This all-in-one protective folio—with built-in light-powered keyboard—is the best way to protect, hold and type on your iPad* wherever you go.

* For iPad 2 and iPad (3rd/4th generation)

Features

 

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Light-powered wireless keyboard

• Built-in Bluetooth keyboard for easy typing and surfing on your iPad*
• Powered by any light—low light and lamp light, indoors and out
• Fully powered, you can type on it for two years—even in complete darkness¹
   
  1. Based on 2-hour usage per day average.

 

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Protective on-the-go folio

Rest easy with durable style and hassle-free protection for the front and back of your iPad*.

 

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Instant On/Off

Your iPad* is ready when you are—it automatically wakes when you open the folio, and sleeps when you close it.

 

Typing mode

Entertainment
mode

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Versatile viewing stand

• Holds your iPad* at just the right viewing angle for watching entertainment or typing emails
• Entertainment mode places the media keys at your fingertips—play, pause and change volume instantly
• Typing mode lets you enjoy the full keyboard

 

 

Compatibility

What's in the box

• Logitech Solar Keyboard Folio
• User documentation

Works with:

• iPad 2
• iPad (3rd/4th generation)

iPad sold separately.

 

Product Description

Built-in light-powered Bluetooth keyboard for iPad 2 and iPad (3rd generation). Powered by indoor and outdoor light

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

54 of 55 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Logitech Solar Folio - iPad May 20, 2012

By J Carder

Logitech Solar Keyboard Folio for iPad 2 and iPad 3 (3rd Generation) (920-003907)

This keyboard has almost everything you could hope for in such a small package!

What I like:
- The keyboard layout is fantastic! Logitech did a great job at putting all the keys in just the right places. There is just enough room in between the keys that hitting two keys at once is rarely ever an issue.

- The keyboard is NOT cheap rubber! Although very hard to tell from the pictures online, it is made out of grey plastic on a plastic base, and NOT RUBBER. The feedback when typing is very similar to a MacBook keyboard...plastic, but sturdy!

- This keyboard is smart! The two positions (really three if you count opening the tablet so the keyboard is on the back of the iPad) are recognized by the keyboard as such: in "typing" position all the keys operate as you would expect and the alternate functions using the fn & 1-delete keys will perform various functions such as volume, copy/paste, etc.; in "media" position, the alternate functions are performed by hitting the ctrl-delete keys without the need for the fn key. The keyboard has a sensor inside that recognizes where the iPad is in each layout. (It even turns the keyboard off when flipped behind the iPad!)

- This keyboard has all the right holes in all the right places! The docking area for the iPad has a hole for every input you need, including the speaker AND back camera...sometimes overlooked by folio cases...that's right booqpad agenda, I'm looking at you!

- This keyboard DOES NOT DIE!... As long as you place the solar cells up when not using the folio, you should never run out of power when typing again!

What could be better:
- After reading all the reviews and seeing the Logitech Ultrathin, I wish the build quality was a little more solid...but maybe that is comparing apples to oranges. This is a folio, doesn't need to be charged, stays together all the time, protects the iPad (front and back), and offers more than 1 angle of operation!

- It's expensive. Right now, the keyboard folio runs for $129.99 MSRP about everywhere. I'm sure the solar battery is what makes it so pricey, but the rest of the folio is made out of either plastic or some rubber-ish materials which should justify some sort price cut in version 2.0

- It's a little tricky to close at first. The whole trick to closing the folio is focused on the placement of the solar battery (that little silver and red cylinder). If you put the edge of the iPad behind the cylinder when closing...it will close...but it's not pretty and probably not good for the folio. I've found that by lifting the iPad a little, sliding back to the front edge of the battery, and then closing the folio; you'll have no problems. Maybe I'm making this more of an issue than it really is, but definitely something that can be designed better for Solar Folio V2.0.
- It opens on its own...but very rarely will this be an issue. Just think of how many times you worry about a book opening when in a bag...not that often, right? Although it's not a huge issue, I will definitely add it to my suggestion list for the next time I sit down for a brainstorm session with a Logitech design engineer. :P

End thoughts:
Although there are some downfalls, I definitely recommend this keyboard folio for its layout, simplicity, small form factor, and ample protection. Read more ›

69 of 78 people found the following review helpful

2.0 out of 5 stars Close, with one critical design flaw May 17, 2012

By ctdada21

I picked this up at best buy the other day and I have already returned it. The overall design of the product is stylish and practical with one very critical design flaw: there is nothing keeping the folio closed except the weight of the keyboard. The magnetic closure that you feel when opening and closing the box is because there are magnets in the packing NOT in the folio. This means that, if you are not holding the folio properly it will fall open. So, while the keyboard is comfortable and responsive, the folio does not add a lot of bulk (as far as keyboard folios go), and the two viewing angles are creative and practical, the lack of either a magnetic closure or band to keep the case closed is a deal breaker (especially at such a high price point). Logitech had to be aware that this would be an issue, which is why there are magnets in the packaging, creating a false sense that the case magnetically seals itself closed. My advice: go with the Ultra-Slim Keyboard Cover instead (if you are worried about covering the back of the iPad, simply attached a Belkin Snap Shield or similar product).

10 of 10 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Bluetooth Keyboard Case Works Flawlessly, Adds Minimal Weight/Bulk July 27, 2012

By Lynne E. TOP 50 REVIEWER

Amazon Vine™ Review (What's this?)

The LOGITECH SOLAR KEYBOARD FOLIO is easily the best of the three Bluetooth keyboard products that I've tested. (The others are the iHome Bluetooth Keyboard for iPad 1 and 2 and iPhone (IH-IP2101) (no case, about $40), and the Targus Versavu Keyboard Case for the New iPad (3rd Gen), Wi-Fi / 4G Model 16GB, 32GB, 64GB THZ17101US (Black) (padded case, about $70).) Setting up the FOLIO is a snap: you slip the iPad into the flexible silicon easel tray, move the easel to the "Type" position, turn on your iPad's Bluetooth, and let the iPad find the Folio's keyboard.

The Folio converts your iPad into a "netbook" with an almost full-sized keyboard. The keyboard is virtually noiseless, has a pleasant, soft "touch" for typing, has the usual specialized function keys (including a volume key), and is big enough to easily accommodate my large hands. The easel has two comfortable viewing positions, one for typing and one for media viewing. The Folio offers full scratch and screen protection for the iPad, as both the front and back of the iPad are covered. The Folio is extremely slim and lightweight-- good points, in my view--but there is NO padding to protect your iPad from jarring or other mishaps. Whenever you like, you can easily remove your iPad from the Folio's silicon easel tray.

The Folio's Bluetooth keyboard is powered by the solar cells on the front of the case. To fully charge the batteries, you place the case face up in a well-lit room for about six hours.... To check whether the batteries are sufficiently charged for keyboard use, you press the "Battery Status" button on the side of the Folio. A LED light will blink once in green if you have an adequate charge, once in red if you don't. No light means your batteries are dead and must be recharged, using the solar panels. (At first, I thought that my Folio's batteries weren't charging, because the "getting started" booklet made me expect a steady green LED light when the batteries were adequately charged. An excellent chart on the Logitech web site, under the question "What does the LED mean on my tablet keyboard?", cleared up my confusion.)

Without fail, the Folio turns my iPad 2 on and off when I open and close the case. (The iPad general setting for "iPad Cover Lock/Unlock" must be set to "On".) When I open the case, the LED light blinks briefly until the iPad finds and connects to the keyboard. When you turn off Bluetooth to save iPad battery power, your iPad will find the Folio keyboard again without difficulty when you turn Bluetooth back on. (The Folio only connects when the easel is set to "Type" or "Media Viewing" position.)

The only thing that I don't love about the Folio, is that you have to be quite careful when closing it. The edge of your iPad must be in front of the little "roll bar" at the Folio's spine, or else the cover won't fully close (and a hurried, careless, forceful closing could damage your iPad screen). Because this lightweight case adds an excellent physical keyboard to my iPad while adding minimal weight and bulk, I rate it at 5 stars ("I love it" on the Amazon scale). This is the iPad case that I will be using in the future. Read more ›

19 of 23 people found the following review helpful

3.0 out of 5 stars Good keyboard with issues May 14, 2012

By JR

Good Stuff:
- Easy setup
- Two angles to use the screen. One for typing and for media watching.
- I will give it average+ for sturdiness.
- Keyboard - All the keys feel good to type on except for the Spacebar (see below).
- Easy to carry

Bad Stuff:
- The space bar is horrible. I keep having to backspace to add space between words. There is something wrong with the design. I am now more focused on the space bar issues than what it is I am typing. I am hoping that it is just an issue with my keyboard, however, I have heard spacebar issues while searching in the web.
- I wish there was a creative way to make sure the folio does not open up by mistake while the iPad is stored away.

Update from May 15th.

I like this keyboard, but it was too bulky for me along with lingering spacebar issues. I believe the space bar issue was specific to mine since the design cannot be this bad. I wish it had a way of having it staying closed. Having a lack of clasp worried me that it would fly open. However, I will still say that it is a good balance of decent keyboard with protection for the iPad.

I returned it and instead got another Logitech keyboard (Ultrathin model). This key board is beautiful and fits with the overall look and simplicity of iPad. Every key is responsive. However, there is no protection for the back of iPad. I guess, I can't have it perfect. Logitech Ultrathin Keyboard Cover for iPad 2 and New iPad (920-004013)