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zen and the art of ipad maintenance
So why oh WHY is it so damn hard to find the right iPad case? Is it just me? am I just SO picky that I cant be satisfied with any of the 307 options that pop up on my amazon search? probably... theres always something that turns me off... its too bulky, it doesnt have a stand, the color is gross, the leather is ugly, heavy, cold, too velcro-y... the list goes on. so where is my perfect iPad case? the search continues. Lets start from the top.
When I got my iPad I thought, mmm... Im going to need to protect this little beaut. It is a FABulous little device as are all thing Apple- a thing of beauty (as far as electronics go of course.) simple. elegant. thin. purrr...
now that's an important word here...(not purr) thin. the iPad is 0.5" thin and all of the covers that 'cover' the device- aka the front and back add a substantial amount of bulk. part of me is like duh, thats how it protects it but it seems like such a shame to go covering up and adding to something that is already very well thought out...
am I wrong?
There are options other than folios/magazine/book covers such as the skins and such but Im thinking if your going to cover it up you might as well protect the front (the erm- GLASS) from potential damage. neh?
maybe not! If lightweight and thin are your main prerogatives and you arent fussed with a protection 'flap' then the skins are probably the way to go.
Now I have done a LOT of searching reading and comparing and have come up with a few options which I will share with you folks. brace yourselves.
This little number is the thinnest and lightest one I have found that is also pretty (enough). The iSkin clear Duo is a lightweight, tactile skin that is quite popular. I applaud its transparency- paying homage to what it is meant to look like... plus it comes in other colors too if thats your thing...
They run about $35 on amazon which I'll admit I find shockingly high for what essentially is just a flap of plastic but this one review (which I consequently cant find to save my life and it is driving me NUTS) gave it such positive feedback Im thinking it actually does whats its designed to do (protects it)
I also like the look of the MiniSuit Apple iPad case skin in white. no idea if its any good but its pretty...
HARD SHELL CASES
I am a fan of the incase snap ipad case as far as they look and the concept. Its the rubbery material so it wont slip from your hands but it perforated so that it can breathe better (and probably not get as hot?)
also around $35
BEST reason to buy- the description talks about 'lightweight' and at 0.2 oz, uh... yes please.
but Id like to take this opportunity to mention that the iPad alone is already 1.5 lbs -not THAT much for a device that can do all this but a helluva lot more weight than your average book (or reader for that matter: the new kindle is 8.5 ounces, the nook is 11.6 oz, and the sony eReader is 9.6 oz) so how much weight do we really want to add?!
mark my words, the next one is going to be MUCH lighter... (apparently also smaller in screen size which I find very odd... Im sure they have a good reason for doing so- maybe to help with the 'weight' issue but honestly, that big old 9.6" screen is one of the reasons I heart this device so much. I wouldnt want to watch Buffy on anything smaller...
MOVING RIGHT ALONG
The Incipio SILICRYLIC for Apple iPad is a very groovy little case too.
$38 makes it only a few bucks more than the other shells but it does SO much more in terms of protection...
for example its made from a durable hard material but it has shock absorbing silicone core so if (godforbid) it should get dropped, you stand a better chance of it not crapping out on you. NICE.
Ive yet to find an actual weight spec on it but according to Dizzy Doug it doesnt add much. another bonus!
Another case worth mentioning is the modulR iPad case which has earned a lot of high praise for its being both a cover and stand with a whole fancy accessory system (like detachable durable cover, stands, slip mounting system for walls, hand and shoulder strap, etc...) if you want to read more about it, check out this review. A real bummer about this is that on its own its about $49 but once you have added all the cool accessories it starts being more like $100. boo hiss...
And if skins and hard shells don't float your boat then you have 2 more options, the magazine jacket type cover that has a flappy front or some sort of a sleeve so essentially it protects the iPad when its not in use. I love this concept but I know that Ill drop it trying to get it out of the sleeve or something equally horrifying.
A lot of these are made from a leather or a leather wannabe which does add a certain amount of sophistication to the whole thing. The nice thing about leather is that it is a warm, strong material and it adds a little warmth to the equation.
I ordered (but returned) the Yoobao AYL Slim Genuine Leather Case Folio with 4-in-1 built-in Stand for Apple Ipad Tablet (Brown) which at $35 is actually a great case. The plus sides are it is only 10 oz and keeps the iPad relatively thin even with the front flap (due to the 6 strong snap in housings- big plus) and the front flap acts like a kickstand so I can watch Buffy hands free. I feel that it is pretty well protected but the down side is the 'brown' I ordered is actually dark orange and (as my friend Leslie so kindly pointed out) because of the texture it looks like it was made with the skin of a basketball. I shit you not. I tried to get over it but I couldnt, so if you want this case I would strongly encourage to go with the black unless you're a big b-ball fan.
The Toblino: Leather iPad Case is quite similar but the leather looks a little prettier and its about $5 cheaper. and a little heavier weighing in at just under 11 oz.
You wanna talk about some pretty but oh-so-freaking expensive cases? check out the Vaja leather iPad case, holy moly is this thing pretty. But priced at a whopping $220, I would expect it to purr when I stroke it...
There is also the uber-cool Twelve South BookBook for iPad which is a little pricer than I would like at $70, a little heavy at 1 lb plus the whole zipper thing isnt great. (for me) but it is SERIOUSLY neat-o.
Im at a loss on which is the best flap cover- I have yet to find one I really dig (meets my harsh criteria which is has a cover which is also a kickstand, NICE material, relatively light and not too bulky, thin and cute and doesnt break the bank...)
is that too much to ask? clearly...
I have seen the Incase Convertible Book Jacket for iPad in action and although it does the trick I find it very bulky and cumbersome.
Its also up there at $60 and a little heavier at 12.2 oz but it sells well and can be purchased in any apple store.
I am interested in the Tuff-Luv Bi-Axis suede case... its pretty cool looking and suede (so a little different) Its sells for $40 which doesnt break the bank and looks like it could cost more.
I have yet to find the weight specs, the box weighs 13.6 oz so Im hoping its more like 11-12 oz... any ideas here?
other groovy features: the integrated 5 setting feature for both landscape, Viewing angles 20 Degrees - 70 Degrees in landscape mode, and single setting in portrait mode. sweeeet...
Like I mentioned earlier, Im paranoid that Ill go through all the trouble to get one of these and then Ill drop it but it may be a wise idea to get one of the to go with your skin (for traveling) but if youre not made of money like the rest of us then scratch that idea.
this is my FAVORITE sleeve. The Coffee Milk Sleeve by a company called Aligata. Its handmade with very soft suede leather... (make me purr) Its around $65 which is steep for a sleeve but not for pretty suede. great BALLS this is good looking item...
The much more affordable yet still rather spiffy option would be the Incipio underGROUND for iPad which at $18 is a steal. Handmade from textured wool weighing in at a light 8.5 oz this pouch is a damn good deal and would be my personal choice. The interior is lined with premium soft suede so both front and rear side of your tablet remain safe from scratches.
And (drum roll please) last but not least is the ever popular Incase Neoprene Sleeve for iPad. The $35 price tag is fair considering it is made of neoprene (the material is an insulation material, most notably used in wetsuits but particularly useful as it has shock-protection) Most handy if you are prone to dropping objects.
and the interior is faux fur lined. aww... squishy AND furry...
So you see, many many options, and I have hardly even scratched the surface! but these were my favs and I hope you have been able to benefit from it and aren't ringing your hands "what does it MEAN?!" You gotta make the decision for yourself. as do I... what will it be?
A light and easy skin?
A more durable hard shell?
A flappy stand up number?
A pretty (pointless?) sleeve?
STAY TUNED!
But seriously, at this point I for one am exhausted from all the dorking out and you probably want me to put a cork in it so I will conclude with this.
If you drop it you'll be so-sad
so be smart and protect your i-Pad!
When I got my iPad I thought, mmm... Im going to need to protect this little beaut. It is a FABulous little device as are all thing Apple- a thing of beauty (as far as electronics go of course.) simple. elegant. thin. purrr...
now that's an important word here...(not purr) thin. the iPad is 0.5" thin and all of the covers that 'cover' the device- aka the front and back add a substantial amount of bulk. part of me is like duh, thats how it protects it but it seems like such a shame to go covering up and adding to something that is already very well thought out...
am I wrong?
There are options other than folios/magazine/book covers such as the skins and such but Im thinking if your going to cover it up you might as well protect the front (the erm- GLASS) from potential damage. neh?
maybe not! If lightweight and thin are your main prerogatives and you arent fussed with a protection 'flap' then the skins are probably the way to go.
Now I have done a LOT of searching reading and comparing and have come up with a few options which I will share with you folks. brace yourselves.
SKINS
This little number is the thinnest and lightest one I have found that is also pretty (enough). The iSkin clear Duo is a lightweight, tactile skin that is quite popular. I applaud its transparency- paying homage to what it is meant to look like... plus it comes in other colors too if thats your thing...They run about $35 on amazon which I'll admit I find shockingly high for what essentially is just a flap of plastic but this one review (which I consequently cant find to save my life and it is driving me NUTS) gave it such positive feedback Im thinking it actually does whats its designed to do (protects it)
I also like the look of the MiniSuit Apple iPad case skin in white. no idea if its any good but its pretty...
HARD SHELL CASES
I am a fan of the incase snap ipad case as far as they look and the concept. Its the rubbery material so it wont slip from your hands but it perforated so that it can breathe better (and probably not get as hot?)also around $35
BEST reason to buy- the description talks about 'lightweight' and at 0.2 oz, uh... yes please.
but Id like to take this opportunity to mention that the iPad alone is already 1.5 lbs -not THAT much for a device that can do all this but a helluva lot more weight than your average book (or reader for that matter: the new kindle is 8.5 ounces, the nook is 11.6 oz, and the sony eReader is 9.6 oz) so how much weight do we really want to add?!
mark my words, the next one is going to be MUCH lighter... (apparently also smaller in screen size which I find very odd... Im sure they have a good reason for doing so- maybe to help with the 'weight' issue but honestly, that big old 9.6" screen is one of the reasons I heart this device so much. I wouldnt want to watch Buffy on anything smaller...
MOVING RIGHT ALONG
The Incipio SILICRYLIC for Apple iPad is a very groovy little case too.$38 makes it only a few bucks more than the other shells but it does SO much more in terms of protection...
for example its made from a durable hard material but it has shock absorbing silicone core so if (godforbid) it should get dropped, you stand a better chance of it not crapping out on you. NICE.
Ive yet to find an actual weight spec on it but according to Dizzy Doug it doesnt add much. another bonus!
Another case worth mentioning is the modulR iPad case which has earned a lot of high praise for its being both a cover and stand with a whole fancy accessory system (like detachable durable cover, stands, slip mounting system for walls, hand and shoulder strap, etc...) if you want to read more about it, check out this review. A real bummer about this is that on its own its about $49 but once you have added all the cool accessories it starts being more like $100. boo hiss...And if skins and hard shells don't float your boat then you have 2 more options, the magazine jacket type cover that has a flappy front or some sort of a sleeve so essentially it protects the iPad when its not in use. I love this concept but I know that Ill drop it trying to get it out of the sleeve or something equally horrifying.
Magazine jacket/book covers
aka. covers with a flap
aka. covers with a flap
A lot of these are made from a leather or a leather wannabe which does add a certain amount of sophistication to the whole thing. The nice thing about leather is that it is a warm, strong material and it adds a little warmth to the equation.
I ordered (but returned) the Yoobao AYL Slim Genuine Leather Case Folio with 4-in-1 built-in Stand for Apple Ipad Tablet (Brown) which at $35 is actually a great case. The plus sides are it is only 10 oz and keeps the iPad relatively thin even with the front flap (due to the 6 strong snap in housings- big plus) and the front flap acts like a kickstand so I can watch Buffy hands free. I feel that it is pretty well protected but the down side is the 'brown' I ordered is actually dark orange and (as my friend Leslie so kindly pointed out) because of the texture it looks like it was made with the skin of a basketball. I shit you not. I tried to get over it but I couldnt, so if you want this case I would strongly encourage to go with the black unless you're a big b-ball fan.The Toblino: Leather iPad Case is quite similar but the leather looks a little prettier and its about $5 cheaper. and a little heavier weighing in at just under 11 oz.
You wanna talk about some pretty but oh-so-freaking expensive cases? check out the Vaja leather iPad case, holy moly is this thing pretty. But priced at a whopping $220, I would expect it to purr when I stroke it...
There is also the uber-cool Twelve South BookBook for iPad which is a little pricer than I would like at $70, a little heavy at 1 lb plus the whole zipper thing isnt great. (for me) but it is SERIOUSLY neat-o.
Im at a loss on which is the best flap cover- I have yet to find one I really dig (meets my harsh criteria which is has a cover which is also a kickstand, NICE material, relatively light and not too bulky, thin and cute and doesnt break the bank...)
is that too much to ask? clearly...
I have seen the Incase Convertible Book Jacket for iPad in action and although it does the trick I find it very bulky and cumbersome.
Its also up there at $60 and a little heavier at 12.2 oz but it sells well and can be purchased in any apple store.
I am interested in the Tuff-Luv Bi-Axis suede case... its pretty cool looking and suede (so a little different) Its sells for $40 which doesnt break the bank and looks like it could cost more.
I have yet to find the weight specs, the box weighs 13.6 oz so Im hoping its more like 11-12 oz... any ideas here?
other groovy features: the integrated 5 setting feature for both landscape, Viewing angles 20 Degrees - 70 Degrees in landscape mode, and single setting in portrait mode. sweeeet...
SLEEVES
Like I mentioned earlier, Im paranoid that Ill go through all the trouble to get one of these and then Ill drop it but it may be a wise idea to get one of the to go with your skin (for traveling) but if youre not made of money like the rest of us then scratch that idea.
this is my FAVORITE sleeve. The Coffee Milk Sleeve by a company called Aligata. Its handmade with very soft suede leather... (make me purr) Its around $65 which is steep for a sleeve but not for pretty suede. great BALLS this is good looking item...
The much more affordable yet still rather spiffy option would be the Incipio underGROUND for iPad which at $18 is a steal. Handmade from textured wool weighing in at a light 8.5 oz this pouch is a damn good deal and would be my personal choice. The interior is lined with premium soft suede so both front and rear side of your tablet remain safe from scratches.
And (drum roll please) last but not least is the ever popular Incase Neoprene Sleeve for iPad. The $35 price tag is fair considering it is made of neoprene (the material is an insulation material, most notably used in wetsuits but particularly useful as it has shock-protection) Most handy if you are prone to dropping objects.and the interior is faux fur lined. aww... squishy AND furry...
So you see, many many options, and I have hardly even scratched the surface! but these were my favs and I hope you have been able to benefit from it and aren't ringing your hands "what does it MEAN?!" You gotta make the decision for yourself. as do I... what will it be?
A light and easy skin?
A more durable hard shell?
A flappy stand up number?
A pretty (pointless?) sleeve?
STAY TUNED!
But seriously, at this point I for one am exhausted from all the dorking out and you probably want me to put a cork in it so I will conclude with this.
If you drop it you'll be so-sad
so be smart and protect your i-Pad!
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