Have you tried to use the combination of AirPlay and Universal Controls on a Mac to control the ASIAIR, to decide if you actually prefer a mouse interface to the touch interface?
You basically still need an iPad as the intermediary (i.e., to run the ASIAIR app in the iPad). So this solution is not to save money, but for those that want to control the ASIAIR from a mouse and keyboard on a Mac, and already have an iPad. To save money, just get a cheap Android tablet (and IMHO, it will still have better GUI than using a mouse with ASIAIR).
On the Mac, allow itself to be used as the Airplay screen (to show what is on the iPad screen):
https://support.apple.com/guide/mac-help/set-up-your-mac-to-be-an-airplay-receiver-mchleee00ec8/mac
Then allow the Mac's Mouse and Keyboard to control the iPad by using Universal Controls:
https://support.apple.com/en-us/HT212757
Both Mac and iPad have to be on the same WiFi network (although I think it might also work even if the Mac has no WiFi, as long as you connect the Pad to the Mac using the USB cable that you use to backup the iPad). Even an Intel Mac will work with Universal Controls.
Basically, the Mac acts as the display for the iPad (set up screen mirror at the iPad), while the Mac's keyboard and mouse are used to control the iPad.
Before the above mechanism, you had always been able to use VNC to control and view an iPad from a Mac (Intel or Apple Silicon), but may need to pay for VNC server if you don't already have a license, although VNC clients are always free. The above is all from Apple, and already included in macOS and iOS.
Once you have tried it, you can decide if a mouse interface is a pleasant way to go with the ASIAIR app.
Chen
