Review: Hatch & Co. 2-SKINNY Keyboard Case for iPad

by Bill Palmer

Keyboard cases give iPad users not only protection, but also the ability to type on a physical keyboard instead of the iPad’s built in virtual keyboard. The catch is that because such cases have their own electronics built in, they tend to add more bulk than a standard case would. Hatch & Co offers the 2-SKINNY, which answers the question of just what it would take to deliver an iPad keyboard case that’s not really any thicker than a standard case.

In general terms, the 2-SKINNY follows the same path as most keyboard cases. It’s a clamshell design with the keyboard built into the inside panel which faces the iPad when closed. Rather than dealing with docking ports or cables, the keyboard simply pairs up with the iPad wirelessly, and runs on its own battery which can be recharged via micro-USB. But the 2-SKINNY diverges from its counterparts in that it’s simply a think hard plastic case, eschewing the bulkier leather or metal found elsewhere. And rather than employing a trifold design for the purposes of standing the iPad up, a half panel behind the iPad folds out to form a stand. A pull-tab uses the weight of the iPad itself to allow for a crude, but effective, system of adjusting the angle of the iPad while typing.

The keyboard consists not of keys which can be physically pressed down, but instead of capacitie “keys” which are simply touched and don’t move; a raised lining around each key allows your fingers to differentiate between keys. To make things more clear, and to allow you to work effectively in the dark, each key name and the lower right corner of the ring around it optionally light up. I’ve tested keyboard cases with touch capacitive keys, and ones with backlit keys, but never both on the same product. It’s a clever combination.

I wasn’t sure quite what to expect from a keyboard case this thin, but in the end I found that you’re not giving up much in exchange for the svelteness.

Rating: 4.5 stars out of 5 • Price: $99 • hatchnco.com

About Bill Palmer

Bill Palmer is Editor in Chief of Beatweek Magazine. His editorial contributions include interviews with musicians and iPhone industry coverage.