iPad Keyboard

If you preordered an iPad keyboard dock with your iPad, it should arrive soon. Apparently, iPad keyboards aren't as delayed as previously rumored. And in some cases, the keyboard is arriving before the iPad. Earlier today, my favorite author/tweeter, Susan Orlean, (you might recognize her name from the role played by Meryl Streep in Adaptation, the movie based on her book The Orchid Thief) tweeted: "Is this cruel or what? My iPad KEYBOARD arrived today. iPad? Two more weeks for my 3G model. Grrrr."

Susan, I hear your frustration! It's like unwrapping a brand-new Blu-ray disc you received as a gift but not having a Blu-ray player to watch it with, or getting a fancy new gadget only to find that, no, batteries are not included. According to the Apple site, iPad keyboards ordered today from Apple's online store will ship in late April. iPad 3G models are shipping at the end of the month, so there's only two more weeks to wait. Though sadly, staring at an iPad-less keyboard on a desk won't make it any easier to wait.

Although there's sure to be a boatload of handmade third-party cases hitting the market soon (my fave), Apple has designed its own iPad case to protect your new gadget . . . at a cost, of course. The very businesslike iPad case ($40) doesn't just protect against scratches and scrapes, but it also pulls double duty as a convertible stand for when you're watching movies or TV shows. Other Apple-issued accessories include a keyboard (and accompanying dock) for when you need to do some serious data entry, as well as a charging dock that holds your iPad upright. All accessories will be available when the iPad begins shipping in 60 days.

Otherwise, Griffin and designer Tom Bihn have also hit the ground running with their selection of (soon-to-be priced) cases, sleeves, and bags, which were just announced yesterday afternoon.

To see more of Apple's accessories, as well as Griffin's sleeves and bags, just read more