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I need to use a mouse with my ipad pro. What gives?

I know this has been a question before. Has Apple pulled their head out yet and made it possible to pair a mouse with this thing. I have things to do and little time for what the world will be like in the future. Right now I need a mouse to work with my ipad pro. Or send me some kind of futuristic device that allows me to place my cursor where I want it without having to reach out and touch the **** display everytime i want move something or cut and paste or select an object, etc. The pen has it's moments but touch screens are for drawing not for a replacement to the mouse. I would like a pair of glasses that know exactly what my eyes are looking at within a micron and then when I blink that would place the cursor then I could say "select next word" and it would just do that. You know or,.... maybe for now a mouse....

iPad Pro Wi-Fi + Cellular, iOS 11.2.6, 12.9

Posted on Mar 5, 2018 3:46 PM

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381 replies

Jun 4, 2019 12:23 PM in response to IdrisSeabright

why being so rude? this is a discussion between well educated people, you obviously do not share our opinion on the implementation of a mouse on a tablet and it is perfectly fine, but why reacting so negatively towards people that have reasonable reasons to ask for one?

What is certain , is that adding a mouse will definitely not affect your way of using your tablet, nor will affect the ipad technosystem, it will be a positive add for a lot of people in this 24 pages discussions, get to the first page and just count the number of people that are reacting the same way you do, 5-6 people, very vocals... has intolerance definitely burried our way, humans, to communicate?

And i will add that implementing a mouse wont radically change our way of working unless software developers seriously take the Ipad pro as a tool used by professionnals and not a nice good to have tablet for nerds....As you said, Microsoft office on tablet is very poor, maybe time to work a bit on it...

Jun 4, 2019 12:49 PM in response to Istyrl

You nailed the direction of the discussion well. I’ve learn to ignore the rudeness. It’s not new. I’ve been with  discussion forums since 2008 and it has been there since, so i’ve gotten used to it. I think as you noted it’s the challenge of understanding that we are all so very different. We have the same machines but we use them differently because we are different and as such do things differently.


I agree with your conclusions. This support will help those who need it but will not affect the experience of others who don’t. Am beginning to like accessibility more and more and funny, that is my area of work.

Jun 4, 2019 2:09 PM in response to lobsterghost1

@rbrylawski, I'm looking to buy the same setup you appear to have -- 11" Space Gray iPad Pro with the Brydge keyboard case of the same color. I have the Zagg rugged case for my iPad AIR 2 and really like it but it's chiefly plastic and too light, tips forward on uneven or soft surfaces. Is the Brydge reasonably hefty, such that it makes a decent counterweight to the iPad when open? I'll likely add the Pencil and a mouse, of course.

Jun 4, 2019 2:48 PM in response to Gongfermor

The 11" Brydge for iPad Pro 11, weights 1.14 lbs and is perfectly balanced so you can adjust the angle of the screen 180 degrees with NO imbalance whatsoever. It's also cool how you just pull the iPad out of the two small hinges to use the iPad as a tablet anytime you want. I also have the Logitech Slim Folio for iPad Pro 11, but the Brydge is IMHO, so much better.

Jun 5, 2019 4:16 AM in response to IkechukwuNwanze

Came onto this video, demonstrating both a two-button wireless mouse and a wired mouse with adapter, utilizing iOS 13, now, which he says will be known only as iPadOS. Thought you might enjoy.


The accessibility button on the lower right he so often uses is available, now, however. I’ve got mine set up to do a one-handed screenshot, vs. the two-handed grab two buttons original method. Makes life so much better.


Interesting the single button Apple mouse won’t work yet.

Jun 5, 2019 5:15 AM in response to ilovedaisies

This is awesome. Thanks for sharing. Just a note, your link might be taken down because i posted a similar link showing mouse support on the beta and the moderators deleted it saying it violated the discussion guidelines but i've saved the video.


This is what am talking about. Am telling you with this, my iPad will jump to 99% usage. Only thing that will take me to my Mac is apps that don't have iPad support.


Am so tempted to run the beta or maybe the public beta but don't want to loose research data so will just be patient till September.

Jun 5, 2019 6:11 AM in response to Gongfermor

Hi, Gongfermor,


I had several Zagg’s back before I got the iPadPro. The Zagg’s tipped backwards, terribly, where I’d lose my data, often, with my fingers landing on the screen in the wrong place, trying to catch it. Never again...


With the Pro, 1st generation, I got the SmartKeyboard, which was very stable. However, I wore clean thru the keys down to the wires which wasn’t good. At least, with other keyboards, I’d wear holes in the keys, but could still use them.


I replaced that with the Logitech, and couldn’t have been happier: great action and stability, backlit keys and a back row of keys which made changing the volume instantly easier.


More to the 3rd generation of the iPadPro, and, sadly, only the SmartKeyboard was available. I’ve been watching, closely, as competition crops up, and had thought of the Brydge, but wondered if it hit only the ‘middle’ ground. There’s no wedge-like cover behind to help hold it up. So, I’m extremely leery about tipping. And the reviews weren’t all that great. When the time comes, I’d have to read reviews more closely.


But besides the Apple, the Logitech, the Brydge, I’d seen something about an Evergreen or Ever-something, too, recently, which I can’t find right at the moment. And I just stumbled, too, onto the upcoming Touchtype Pro which is due in September, utilizing a standard Apple keyboard. Quite interesting.


For sure I would move away from the Zagg, though, unless they’ve changed things substantially.


Here’s a few links:


The best, per Wirecutter: https://thewirecutter.com/reviews/best-ipad-pro-keyboard-cases/


Apple Insider’s take on the Brydge: https://youtu.be/DRU9eoW22AU


The upcoming Touchtype Pro: https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/sajidcreative/worlds-most-versatile-ipad-keyboard-case-touchtype


Hope this helps!



Jun 5, 2019 6:14 AM in response to ilovedaisies

I have both the Logitech Slim Folio Pro and Brydge. While I like the extra protection the Logi provides and it even provides an extra way to store the Apple Pencil, the Brydge keyboard runs circles around the Logi in just about every regard. That's of course my humble opinion, but having typed extensively on both, the Brydge simply ROCKS.

Jun 5, 2019 6:35 AM in response to lobsterghost1

How much added weight does that Brydge keyboard add to the weight of the iPad Pro?

I have the original iPad Pro and I can't even imagine having this a part of the iPad or even a keyboard case.

I like to keep my iPads as light as possible and I choose cases that are fairly light and aren't very bulky.


I while we are discussing many things here I am going to add my thoughts on all of this.

Glad everyone who wanted mice and trackpad connectivity got it. Glad that conventional USB flash memory drives and both wired and wireless external drives will connect and work, also, in the very near future.

But here is what I really think about all of this.


I thought paying over $1000 for my 2015 iPad Pro with the accessories available back then was just crazy, but at that time I had waited so long for larger screen iPads that I could NOT pass up the opportunity to own one right off the bat.

The “problem” is now that Apple is allowing iPad/iPad Pros to connect up all of the existing laptop stuff to an iPad, I think this is what has drove up the pricing on iPad Pros, now.

The top end 12.9 inch iPad Pro is nearly $2K!

If I decide to trade up at some point, I would have to either go for an 11 inch screen iPad Pro ( having used a 12.9 screen for over three years, going back to even a slightly smaller screen will be a disappointment ) or settle for the 10.5 inch screen iPad Air or iPad whatever in the future!


Plus, how portable is your iPad Pro going to be, now, when you are schlepping around all of this extra stuff with you that you had to schlep around when you used a laptop?

That is why I learned to use every onboard iPad resource and why I carry small wireless drives that can either fit into my pockets or I can take and easily throw into my small iPad carry case/bag.

Your iPad Pro is going to look more like regular laptops look like with all sorts of stuff wired/dongled off of it all the time.

Even with wireless stuff, while easier to carry and deal with, you will still need to carry it!

I still do some stuff with my iPad Pro as a musician, and I can’t believe all of the wired stuff I have to take with me and connect just to play and record or play live music from an iPad!

It’s ridiculous!

One of the things I have to take is a light, but rather large 76-key iOS/Lightning compatibel/connected, MIDI keyboard controller, iOS/Lightning comoatible USB docks with power adapter for microphones and other electronic instruments, and an extra storage drive and I, also, have to travel with a lot of other seperate audio gear, as well!

When I have to travel like that, nothing is really portable about an iPad Pro, any longer.


At least when I am doing creative art and design work, at home or “on the go”, all I have to take is my iPad Pro, a stylus and either a small portable external Bluetooth speaker and/or headphones to listen to music or videos while I work and a small portable wireless drive I can still use and keep in a shirt or pants pocket.


Just sayin’

Jun 5, 2019 6:36 AM in response to MichelPM

I have the 11" iPad pro. The Logitech Slim Folio Pro 11 weighs 1.22 lbs. The Brydge, weighs 1.14 lbs. There's a magnetic cover to protect the back side of the iPad supplied with the Brydge. It adds a couple ounces. It's still lighter than my larger full sized laptop by a long shot. And where the Logi provides one viewing angle for typing only, the Brydge offers adjustability to 180 degrees. Plus the ability to just pull the iPad out quickly to use it like a tablet.


I long ago went Bluetooth on headphones, from BT Earbuds to Full on Over-the-Ear Studio monitors costing hundreds of dollars. I've always used a BT Keyboard on my iPads, but this is the first time I got one I consider to be the best one can have.


I'm still not sure if a mouse will do that much for me. I have a Logi mouse which can be paired with up to three devices and one of the videos I watched last night the guy was using my exact mouse with his iPad. So there's no reason I won't connect my mouse if it ends up being included in the final version of iOS13 when released. I'm just not sure how much I'll actually use it.

Jun 5, 2019 6:42 AM in response to lobsterghost1

I can't use BT headphones or BT audio sources when actually recording or playing live music.

There is too much latency.

The BT latency doesn't matter when just listening to music as you'll never experience this.

But for audio recording, overdubbing and and for video AND audio work most not too expensive Bluetooth headset do not cut it. They are even worse for live playing.

I need to use a mouse with my ipad pro. What gives?

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