Camera Connection Kit ROCKS

Question

After a several weeks wait, I finally received my camera connection kit today. It's small, simple, and easy to use - just plug it in, and it works - at least that was my experience.
I bought it primarily to download photos from my camera, and be able to review them while out in the field - something that in the past, I either had to download to my laptop, or view the pictures on the 2 inch screen on the back of the camera. I took some pictures, plugged in the USB cable, and the Ipad instantly gave me opportunity to download. Once downloaded, I was able to use FILTERSTORM APP (Free I believe) to do some pretty powerful editing. Yeah, I can do all that with my computers, but it was fun to see that I could also do it all from the iPad just as easily. I don't plan on traveling with my laptop any more (unless I have to), so it's great to know that I can do this stuff.
But beyond the photo transfer, what I wasn't ready for, and am totally thrilled with is the ability to hook up a usb keyboard through the camera connection kit, and type away on the iPAD like never before. I had heard that you could hook up a keyboard, so I tried it with the original iMac wired keyboard that I had stashed away after I bought the bluetooth keyboard (the aluminum small one). Unfortunately, the wired keyboard requires too much USB power, so it didn't work. But I have an assortment of old dell keyboards, including a pretty basic plastic usb keyboard, and I plugged that in, and it works great. When you connect, you get a stern warning from the iPAD that the device isn't supported, but after you dismiss it, the keyboard works just great. I'm even finding that the keyboard's arrow keys allow me to have better control over editing that the native ipad editing (select, cut, copy, paste). I bet if I were using an apple keyboard, I'd have even better control!
I'm so impressed by how much better my iPad experience is (when it comes to having to type), that I'm going to have to reconsider the whole idea of spending $70 on another bluetooth apple keyboard. Maybe I'll look for something cheaper, but I sure do like those apple keyboards. The built-in pop-up keyboard on the ipad is good for a little typing, but nothing substantial. that's been my experience.
Next on the list of things to try, I've heard that the camera connection kit supposedly allows you hook up USB audio devices. I have a specific need/desire to be able to do some audio recording, with higher quality than what you get with the built-in mike. I'm exploring the idea of doing some pro audio recording - 2 track line input from mixing console at concerts, or even audience microphones. Yeah I have other equipment that does this, but I'm intrigued about the 64gb space, and the long iPad battery life. Beyond the iPAD, I'm thinking that the camera connection kit may even offer the same functionality on the new IPhone4, where I'm really thinking ahead to doing some video recording, with high quality stereo feed, an alternative to buying a new HD video camera. Maybe this stuff is just a dream, and in the end, I'll be better off just doing all these audio & video projects with the normal devices, and not the iPad. But I'm interested in exploring just how much the iPAD can do.
Anyway, thanks for letting me ramble on. I really haven't enjoyed typing much on the iPAD until I hooked up this **** keyboard.
So.. bottom line, camera connection kit... THREE THUMBS UP!

Answer 1

For external keyboards, I've been using the apple aluminum wireless one, myself. I actually bought that keyboard mainly because it was the smallest full-sized wireless keyboard around. So I was pleasantly surprised that the iPad itself was built to use Bluetooth devices such as that (and other things). So I really don't have much of a use for the additional capabilities of the USB connection. But, it's good that you we're finally able to get your kit. I guess, my mistake was actually trying to search for stores to get the item instead of trying to order it online, first. Otherwise, it seems you miss out on the accessory this summer.