Compact.

The Belkin QODE keyboad is nothing if not compact.Today I went out with my iPad, a stylus and this keyboard just to see how much I could do with the stripped down rig. 

Look - the mug of iced coffee was more substantial than the studio gear. 

And flipped, so you can see the keyboard:

Open:

The keyboard works well, although it is a bit stiff and a bit small.  If it is located right at the edge of the table or desk, I can type comfortably. Even an inch further back and its a different story. Likewise when using it on my lap.  

As you can see, it is a lot smaller than a standard keyboard. 

 

As an easel it works fine.  It furnishes slots for two useful viewing angles.

 

And can be easily shifted for landscape or portrait orientation, which makes it very  flexible.

The slots offer a sturdy hold for the iPad which makes drawing on it with a finger or a stylus very effective.  In Portrait orientation I found it was a bit too flexible when drawing near the top of the screen - I had to anchor it with my other hand. In Landscape mode there is ample support for the entire screen.  

I also found that when writing with a stylus in my notetaking apps, it was comfortable and convenient.  

Dust in the Air

So much dust in the air today like a brown shroud over the mountains.  Drove out to Hereford for a Coffee and solitude and found myself driving into the cloud. At home, chaos, unrelated to the dust - mom depressed and self-berating today.  She's in one of her everything's my fault moods - I recognize them - I have my own days like that.  Every day she goes just a little further away.