The same fate befalls many ""--which combine a physical keyboard with a protective case--made for the original iPad. Because the iPad 2 is thinner and has a different shape on the back and edges, many of these keyboard cases simply don't fit the new iPad (see the section on cases, below), even if their keyboards, which are usually Bluetooth, work fine with it. A number of keyboard-case vendors have announced that iPad 2 versions are in the works.

Standalone Bluetooth keyboards fare better. Any standard Bluetooth-wireless keyboard can pair with the iPad, letting you type on real keys in any app where you can enter text--the iPad 2 hasn't changed anything in this respect. However, as I , a standard Bluetooth computer keyboard will be missing iPad-specific special-function keys, such as the many found on the iPad Keyboard Dock. If you're in the market for a Bluetooth keyboard, consider one that includes these keys, such as .

What about wired keyboards? When the original iPad debuted, we . Unfortunately, iOS 4.2 seems to have , and one result of that change is that USB keyboards, even low-power ones, no longer work with the original iPad. That change seems to have carried over to the iPad 2 and iOS 4.3, as none of the wired keyboards we tried with the iPad 2, via the Camera Connection Kit, worked. (We haven't tried the powered-USB-hub trick, mentioned above when discussing USB microphones.)

Accessory vendors have , but what if you've already got a case for the original iPad? Or what if you've found a great deal on older iPad case on clearance? Will it fit the new model? Maybe.