CruxSKUNK Transforms iPad Into MacBook Air Surrogate Laptop

Brian Probst’s CruxCase CruxSKUNK turns your iPad into a powerful laptop that he says skunks all other keyboards, hence the unlikely name,

Probst notes that Crux has been busy making keyboard cases for iPads for about two years now, and needless to say they’ve learned a lot about design, manufacturing, and getting a product to market. The CruxSKUNK is the culmination of everything they’ve learned, he says, claiming that no other keyboard case can touch the fit, finish, attention to aesthetics, and detail that they’ve put into the CruxSKUNK, with over eight patents pending on the technology that comes in the device, which maintains the simplicity of the iPad while staying true to Apple’s design aesthetic and perfectly compliments the style of the iPad. He says most people who’ve shown the CruxSKUNK to have mistaken it for a Macbook Pro.

At 19 mm, the CruxSKUNK and iPad combination is about as thin as a Macbook Air and weighs about the same, so it’s just as easy to carry around, and the CruxSKUNK’s 6 mm base is claimed to be the thinnest keyboard for your iPad on the planet. This full-sized QWERTY keyboard is raised above the plane of the surrounding aluminum and has special function keys at the top for frequently-used functions .

For Bluetooth connectivity you’ll only have to go through the pairing process once with your iPad which will thereafter remember your CruxSKUNK .

The CruxSKUNK features a patent-pending hinge that allows for 360 degrees of rotation, letting you use your iPad in a multitude of positions.

The three main parts of the CruxSKUNK are machined from a single piece of aircraft grade aluminum in the exact same process that Apple machines its Macbooks and iPads. The Aluminum parts are then sandblasted and anodized to give them the same finish as the iPad.

Probst says they plan to have their first production samples coming off of the production line in the middle of October. Once all of the samples and components check out they’ll begin full production late October. The device’s various components will be manufactured and assembled in China where some thermoplastic hardware parts for the CruxSKUNK – hinges, hinge covers, keyboard, buttons, rubber feet and pads, PCB, battery, weight, and other small screws and hardware parts are in production and ready to go.

All that’s left is to start machining the aluminum parts and commence final assembly and packaging, the plan being to have the CruxSKUNK shipping at the beginning of December, just in time for Christmas.

Probst says the CruxSKUNK’s 350 mAH battery need only to be charged once a month, and the device is compatible with both the the iPad 2 and 3rd generation New iPad. The CruxSKUNK automatically turns your iPad on and off as you open and close the case, and features foam padding on parts that touch your iPad.

For more information n CruxSKUNK and Kickstarter participation in the project, visit:
http://kck.st/Ot1zxn