Brydge is an iPad keyboard dock that wants to look like a MacBook Air

Brydge is probably one of the most elegantly designed keyboards docks for the iPad and this really is a compliment given the myriad of options available. It’s not much different than other iPad keyboard docks in functionality - you just get a keyboard with the option for additional stereo speakers, but it’s designed using premium materials like aerospace-grade aluminum for maximum durability. Of course, it also has a full QWERTY keyboard with specific iPad functions built in and it allows charging via USB.

Brydge also comes with a solid hinge offering 180 degrees of iPad rotation and secure hold of your tablet. The hinge itself is pretty elaborate and a patent for it is pending. The hinge is made of metal alloys and magnets, with a thermoplastic elastomer shell, all fancy words describing how you can easily hold the tablet and have the keyboard tightly attached and not falling.

Brydge has been on Kickstarter for a short while but it already broke its funding requirement of $90,000 and is on its way to become another solidly overfunded project. An early pledge of $150 would’ve gotten you the keyboard dock, but now that option is sold out and the minimum entry point stands at $170 for the dock without speakers.

What Brydge doesn’t provide is a mouse or a touchpad, both things you’d need if you want to emulate a MacBook Air experience on your tablet. If you’re fine with that, you need to know that Bridge will work with both iPad 2 and the new iPad, but does not support the first-gen Apple tablet. Overall, when you have the keyboard with the iPad closed, it’s just a hair thicker than the MacBook Air at 0.33 inches. Check out the video below for all the details, and jump on to Kickstarter if you want to reserve yours now.

source: Brydge on Kickstarter