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iTap is a virtual keyboard with mouse app on the iPad that you can use as a replacement for your PC or Mac. When I saw iTap in the App Store, I immediately downloaded it. I wanted to see If I could be more productive with a virtual keyboard and a track pad. I wanted to try it for an entire week, but I was forced to stop using it after a couple of hours…

Installation

First, you need to install additional software whether you are on a PC or Mac. For the sake of this review, I installed it on a Windows XP machine. The installation is easy and I did not have any trouble pairing the iPad with my PC. Below is what the app looks like on the iPad.

Feeling

Some people complaint about virtual keyboards. I must say that I’m very proficient at using it, so my typing speed was not affected as long that I had to type text. Also, I don’t like using a mouse, so the big track pad is really easy to use and can replace an expensive Wacom track pad. Well, the good ends up here. Now let’s have a look at the issues I had. But first, here is how it looks in a real work environment:

Issues

• I’m a software developer and using Control, Alt and other keys, is a must­. There is not way to do that using iTap.
• You cannot drag a window by dragging in the title area.
• The app was not responsive when we had heavy network traffic.
• Scrolling in the Windows Explorer stops working at time for no obvious reason.
• The delete on Windows does not work.
• There is no speed setting adjustment for the track pad.
• The receiver app on windows does not run as a service. That means that If you reboot, you have to logon using the physical keyboard.
• There is no wrist protection option for the track pad.
• Only the mouse works with VMWare, the keyboard is not working.

My Conclusion…

In the end, except for looking cool this app is not a real replacement for a physical keyboard and/or mouse and is still buggy.