deskthority

I'd like to put together a mechanical keyboard as a gift for my father. He spends most of his Web time on an iPad. I do not know much about apple products and was wondering what the best approach for this project might be. Any recommendations on layout and controllers. I could hack up a production keyboard accessory if needed.

Some options I have heard of that you could check out:
* EneBrick: USB-Bluetooth bridge, keyboard power, tablet charger and tablet stand in one.
* Gon's keyboard works has some PCBs with a Bluetooth module as an option, but the firmware is not open.
* Bluefruit EZ-Key: a Bluetooth keyboard/mouse controller. It has several interfaces, but the most useful one is where you send it raw HID keyboard reports over serial.
* Older iPads have supported USB keyboards through a Camera adapter to the dock connector. I don't know if it is supported now.

All iPads support USB keyboards via the appropriate "camera connection kit". (Apple changed the connector once, so changed the adaptor too.) You'll get a misleading "This accessory is not supported by this device" warning come up on the iPad that you need to dismiss before typing. But otherwise it's seamless and works with damn near anything. I even run my IBM Model F Kishsaver on the iPad every once in a while!

As for Bluetooth: the easiest way to go is with a keyboard built around it from the start. The Filco Minila Air is the obvious choice, as well as some more recent ones on MassDrop and the like that I haven't followed. Bluetooth works a lot more elegantly than popping dongles in the iPad. But whatever you do, you'll need a stand for the iPad, which is a pain to type on when lying horizontal.

I'm thinking a custom TKL with Mx switches with some sort of stow away stand.

Just to add one keyboard working with iPad : hhkb with hasu controller.