Keyboard covers
More about fun colourful covers for early Surface tablets
Introduction
Microsoft signature covers: these are attachable keyboards with a proprietary connector for the Microsoft's Surface series of tablet computers.
Here we'll be going over the original types made for earlier models, what they are in real scenarios and if they're any good.
Fun fact:
Earlier covers use a proprietary 6 pin connection type with magnets to hold the cover to device. It's been confirmed that third generation covers work with earlier devices and tablets themselves (Pro 3 and 3) can also use earlier covers. Physically the dimensions are different but protocol and connection is the exact same.
This trick will not work with any newer Type Covers made for Surface Pro 4 and up as those have changed the protocol and even connection.
Types of Cover
Touch Cover
"Touch Cover is a family of keyboards for the Surface that focus on interaction through the touch keyboard. When typing through this keyboard (provided that you do not have silent mode enabled), the PC makes sounds, which helps you navigate when typing."
Really, that's a fancy way to describe a capacitive keyboard. Touch Cover uses capacitive sensors under each key to register keystrokes, it works much like a touchscreen keyboard except you're typing on a piece of cloth. It gets the job done for quick messages or serving as a screen protector but that's it.
The difference between Touch Cover 1 and 2:
Material texture is a bit different but overall similar if not same. Second revision also adds backlight which replaces volume keys with brightness shortcuts. Microsoft also increased the sensor count from 80 to 1092 which massively improves response and accuracy.
Type Cover
One and only, the Type Cover. This one shipped with Surface Pro in 2013 and was cross compatible with all existing Surface tablets back then on its release. It uses traditional scissor switch mechanism found on laptops which made the cover much better for typist or people who wanted something more than an external touch keyboard.
Choice proved to be popular so it was kept and improved in the following years. Sadly the original cover only shipped in one colour so you had a choice between colourful Touch Covers or plain boring black Type Cover.
Type Cover 2
While not a lot more different in terms of keyboard it finally adds backlight and colour choices. Sadly the traditional clicky trackpad got replaced with a terrible software based cloth pad instead, not everyone liked the choice. It got removed later on newer covers
Note! Images below are quick photoshops to match the real deal, keycap colour is supposed to be darker, you have to deal with it. (There weren't any proper high quality photos to fetch :D )
Design between first and second revision is noticeable. second revisions as pictured above use different colours, have a capacitive like trackpad with virtual clicks and backlight on keys
Original cover has a slightly different black alcantara type material, physical trackpad with physical clicks and no backlight (picture below)
Power Cover
The Power Cover is a Type Cover 2 cover with an extra battery. It is stated that it will be able to charge the battery "up to 70 percent". The internal battery capacity of the keyboard is unknown.
Power cover works as a secondary battery for your Surface tablet, it provides additional juice to keep road warriors busy for much longer than usual. How does it work? Surface when plugged in first charges itself up to 80% and then does the same for cover, after that it fills both up to 100%.
Surface Music Kit
Quite uncommon but it's a thing.
Straight from Wikipedia -
Microsoft also showcased the Music Cover; a variation of the Touch Cover that serves as a DJ mixer with playback controls, a 16-button sampler, and three sliders. While mainstream public release has been announced, it will be distributed to musicians through the
Surface Remix Project
campaign.
Basically it's a Surface Cover that houses a DJ mixer and sampler controls.
Found an eBay link with a valid listing, can't guarantee anything but it seems these are available in a form or another.
https://www.ebay.com/p/1622566188
There's also an old review video of it in action: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JFqqHc8FBr4
Universal pinout
Pinout on the old cover types, should correspond to Surface 3 / Pro 3 covers too.
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