For a real keyboard the Type Cover is really very thin. In conjunction with a Surface Pro both together for a tablet or an Ultrabook, however, again very thick. But you can still live with. A modern Ultrabook is folded significantly thinner definitely.
The magnetic connection is very stable, you can lift the Surface Pro with it, it even shake a bit and keeps it. This allows you to use on your lap is also restricted. The structure is there more stable than one would think, but the viewing angle is so steep that it in practice rather around torments himself with it. Who often works with notebook on her lap, is not happy with Surface Type Cover +.
When using it on a surface, it should be flat. On a couch, it is a shaky, but still usable. A notebook is much more stable in such a situation.
The keyboard itself is very easy to operate, the pressure point is well palpable, the keys have a normal size and the German keyboard layout is exactly as you're used to from normal keyboards. With a proper, big keyboard there obviously can not quite keep up, but you can write it fluently and quickly. I like it!
The imprint is especially when the number keys smaller than usual and the White on Black, it is harder to read in the dark. A keyboard light would have been handy, but is unlikely to be feasible in the thickness. Therefore, a pity that there is the cover only in black (as opposed to Touch Cover).
The number of simultaneous key presses is very limited, the apparatus since, depending on many different keys can handle. In everyday use it does not matter, some games are so but unplayable. In Skyrim (running passable on Surface Pro!) I had eg. Through the limitations issues, in conjunction with the Alt key, I am to max two keys at the same time come. Without Alt there were more. Forwards (arrow in front) racing (Alt) while jump (spacebar) goes in Skyrim eg not. The touchpad is one in this bill the way also in! Goes around running and with touchpad, race and look around will not do.
Well, the Surface Pro is now certainly not primarily designed for gamers, but that the parallel key presses are limited so massive, I've still with no keyboard experience.
The key layout is partly also a bit unfortunate. The F keys are eg loud / quiet, Play / Pause, Search, etc. occupied and can only be used in conjunction with the Fn key as F keys. Okay, but the Fn button is only right, for something like Alt-F2 are needed as two hands. If MS times offering a switching possibility, but it has a new problem. Because F9-F12 are high Pos1, End, Page Up, Page Down. The be able to use only with Fn, is not exactly brilliant.
Get a bit small are the left shift key and the return key. Completely missing the right Ctrl key, the context menu button, the right Windows key. That makes some annoying shortcuts. Furthermore missing contaminated sites as rolls, break and pressure. That does not bother further, when pressure is due to the somewhat unfortunate screenshots (Windows key + Volume Down to the Surface's doing well).
For Caps Lock, there is unfortunately no indication. Neither on the Type Cover, even in Windows. 8
Unfortunately, there is also a magnetic holder when the cover snaps shut. Since the cover (unlike the Apple version) but can not be folded, it will remain so always closed, since one always has his fingers on the cover page. When folding the rear of the cover off. Unfortunately, Windows 8 is something flawed and offers when you tap input fields then not always the touchscreen keyboard. A reboot solves the dilemma, let's hope that is still not resolved.
When it snaps shut, it puts the Surface to standby. Unfortunately, with a considerable delay and without acoustic feedback. This is the iPad with cover confidence-inspiring. When Surface you never know exactly whether it has now worked. Unlike the iPad, the standby is not stopped when you open, you must still press the button.
Pleasant I found unfold, fold cover until Kickstand back the variant Kickstand. This one has a very robust stand, with which you can make the surface lying on the couch on her stomach.
The touchpad on the Type Cover is one of the bad variety. It can indeed be used quite, but I always catch that I then unconsciously grab at feinmotorischeren Actions for stylus and the touch screen to grobmotorischeren.
The felt-like back, I feel as pleasant, but this is such a material where there is freezing some people should run down his back. Just as some can handle no Styrofoam. If you try it in the store.
Unlike other covers it stinks not pushy chemically. Although it smells artificial, but from a normal viewing distance you can tell them anything and on your fingers it will not stick.
The build quality is generally OK, but does not act as an exceptional quality. For the price you can expect in terms of more noble.
All in all technically impressive with a few good ideas, but with a few avoidable and some unavoidable defects. And all for completely exaggerated exorbitant price. But did not affect my rating, the two star trigger's the disadvantages mentioned.