Tablets and smartphones have much computing power, but are designed to be used only as portable devices. And this raises an interesting question: if these are small accessories and more computing power than many desktop computers a couple of years, why not put them to work as substitutes? After all, the screen and the guts of a computer are already there. All they need is just a keyboard.

Apple has already thought of this, and its arsenal of accessories for your iPhone and iPad tablet laptop accessories can turn these into real computers. The most obvious starting point is an adapter and an integrated keyboard (69 dollars). The back of the adapter has a standard connection charge Apple and connection of accessories, as well as an audio port and stereo speakers.

But there are other alternatives. IPad a small dock, for $ 29, can be used to establish a radio link with a Bluetooth wireless keyboard-Apple (69 dollars) oo-party. This offers some benefits over the first “rigid” solution: first, lets you use a Bluetooth keyboard that already has at home and, second, if you buy a new keyboard now, you can use later with other accessories. It only remains to see if the sleek new iPad 2 and other accessories that will continue to be adjusted even first-generation adapter.

Bluetooth technology is the key to writing on the screen of a smartphone or tablet with a keyboard. Bluetooth keyboards there are a wide range of variants. The range between 40 and $ 60 range like Kensington, Sharon, snugg and others, with the typical dial the iPad and an integrated keyboard.

With these additions, however, the user has to accept that their slim tablet will become a kind of bulky mini-laptop. Other manufacturers offer their own versions of a dock iPad, including ZAGG, ZAGGmate your Bluetooth keyboard, which also functions as a “cover” for the touch screen (around $ 85).

There are other universal Bluetooth keyboard in various price ranges. On one side it has the classic keyboards, relatively bulky, between 30 and 100 dollars, depending on the manufacturer and the resources they offer. Special versions for portable use, such as made of silicone flexible keyboards are offered by Ricco (17 dollars) or CHIN FAI (30 dollars).

Keyboards i-Connex, however, are made of hard plastic but can be folded in half like a book (75 dollars). An appeal is initiated only for flexible keyboard SU-8W Nokia Bluetooth, although the model has been withdrawn from circulation by the Finnish manufacturer and can only be purchased through eBay. Another option is the mini-keyboards from manufacturers such as Hebron, which can hold in one hand while typing with the other (35 dollars).

But Apple smartphones and tablets are not the only ones able to work with these solutions. There are interesting ideas made by other manufacturers. Asus, for example, provides an inspiration with their Eee Intelligent Transformer Pad. The adapter itself is also a backup battery for extending the working time.

Chinese manufacturer Lenovo has announced for this summer’s launch of its LePad, which is actually two computers in one. As a single tablet, the device works with the Google Android operating system. But, when connected to the keyboard, it becomes a computer running Microsoft Windows 7.

The advantage of this solution is that the LePad can be used as a full PC, including a mouse, while the Android operating system IOS nor Apple provides this solution. But LePad may end up being an expensive toy: Current estimates calculate that the combination tablet and IdeaPad U1 base station can cost about $ 1,000, even in China.

Viewsonic, brand known for its displays, is proving a cheaper alternative. Your ViewPad 10 works with both Windows and Android, and will soon Avaliab for about $ 500, but no keyboard or adapter. Another unusual difference: while most of its competitors work with multi-core chips based on the architecture promoted by the British manufacturer of ARM chips, on the ViewPad is built around an Intel Atom processor.

In the U.S., Motorola has attracted attention with his concept Atrix, a laptop in which all the work makes it a smartphone Atrix connected to a port on the back of the unit. Laptop only costs about 360 U.S. dollars. With dozens of tablets based on the Android operating system announced for this year, the options begin to appear in the next few months.