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Road tested: The Apple-branded iPad case

by Erica Sadun Apr 12th 2010 at 1:30PM

I'm going to come right out and say it. I hate the Apple iPad case.

I thought I'd like the fact that it protects the iPad and works as a stand. I don't.

For US$39, I really thought Apple would deliver a protective case that perfectly augmented the iPad using experience. It didn't. Unfortunately, I pre-ordered my case before Victor gave the case his once over.

How do I hate the case? Let me count the ways. I hate the hard edges that constantly catch my fingers whenever I pull the case out of my handbag. I hate the folding bit that never folds back quite flat. I hate how the bottom of the case keeps me from easily putting in or pulling out the docking cable. I hate how unstable the whole thing is, especially when I try to stand it in portrait mode or in full-up landscape (rather than laying down-ish landscape) orientations.

For the $40 I paid, I was hoping for more. Or at least...better. I've tried giving the case a shot on a day to day basis, but after using it for a while I'm just giving up.

For now, I'm going back to a padded envelope--at least until more and better cases hit the market. As Mike Rose puts it, "Padded envelopes are cheap, readily available, and involve no labor." If the same-old-same-old ennui drags you down, you can apply duct tape and an Apple label to spice things up.

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I'm going to come right out and say it. I hate the Apple iPad case. I thought I'd like the fact that it protects the iPad and works as a...
 

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79 Comments

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Michelle S

I added a identity plate to my iPad case in the event I misplace it, great idea
http://newpcgadgets.com/products/ipad_vanity_plate/index.html

April 26 2010 at 6:30 PM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
Dan Mosqueda

Here is a different case a friend of mine bought: http://www.quirky.com/products/30-Cloak

From Quirky

April 13 2010 at 7:24 PM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
timangel777

Hey EVERYONE,

Tim Angel here, i know exactly what you are talking about man out of all these companies i was really surprised how none of them could come up with good ideas for an ipad case. But to be honest i think the apple case is one of the better ones funtion wise but not protection wise. I am writing you guys right now from China, I am 25 years old and i am a huge apple fan so i decided to invent my own case. Soon my cases will be in production. I have posted You Tube Videos since the begining of my company a couple months ago. All I can tell you guys is that my case will make an ipad owners life much easier where ever you go.

Its fully adjustable by the way!

www.ZooGue.com

April 13 2010 at 3:16 PM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
mrchin

Sorry, but I think the case is the best of all out so far. It can stand, unlike most others. Except for an InCase that has a plastic wedge that you've gotta carry around with you. It's nice and slim and perfectly fits the iPad. No issues with plugging in ports. How difficult can that be? And perhaps the reason for being unable to fold the flap under the iPad to seal it can be due to your carpal tunnel or arthritis?

April 13 2010 at 9:57 AM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
Talobab

I have to agree with a lot of others here, I really like the case. I don't usually like cases, but this one is light, small and fits the iPad well. Also, the different options for angling the iPad work well (although I do agree that the straight up landscape one is very tippy). In my opinion, it's a good case. It is too bad it doesn't fit in the cradle with it on, but in my opinion, that's more about the cradle than the case. The design of the cradle is such that you can't have that area covered with anything and expect it to fit.

April 13 2010 at 12:56 AM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
Bill Hennan

I brought back the Apple case and went with the Incase. I never opened it our used it as my iPad 3G is of course not yet in my hands. The talk of sharp edges with a dust magnet reputation put me off. The only attribute I liked was its thin profile.

The Apple Store was happy to have it. They said they can't keep them in stock. On the other hand they can't keep the Incase one in stock either.

April 12 2010 at 10:44 PM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
macmaniac

I don't know what people did not like this case.
I bought 3 cases before even I bought this case but I never liked them so on April 3rd I went to Apple Store and got this case and loved every thing about it, except it too prone to catch the dust, other then this it is a awesome case.

April 12 2010 at 10:27 PM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
Noah Ramon

I would love, LOVE, to see Speck do a version of the ToughSkin for the iPad.

April 12 2010 at 8:59 PM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
Kevitivity

Too bad...

I actually quite like it - I like the stand feature and industrial feel. I don't have any problems with accessing the dock connector...

April 12 2010 at 7:55 PM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
Jrmy_macias

This is the worst review I have ever heard on tuaw. All I heard was a bunch of crying!!!! ...poor baby, you caught your finger on the soft smooth edge? YOU SOUND LIKE A LITTLE GIRL!!!


I love reading tuaw but this was the worst ever.

April 12 2010 at 7:05 PM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
2 replies to Jrmy_macias's comment
danieltian

Can't take the truth? Take your own crying elsewhere. This was an honest review.

April 12 2010 at 7:40 PM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
Jrmy_macias

I can't take the "truth"?? Hello? The review is an opinion. Not the truth. Big difference buddy. But nonetheless, it sounded like the whining of a spoiled teenager.

"the hard edges that constantly catch my fingers whenever I pull the case out of my handbag." (boo hoo! learn from your mistakes.) "I hate the folding bit that never folds back quite flat." (come on now, is it really preventing you from doing anything at all with your iPad? Enough to hate it?) "I hate how the bottom of the case keeps me from easily putting in or pulling out the docking cable" (seriously? Are you that weak? Is it really that difficult that you hate it?)

I know that this too is an opinion but these reasons do not pass as serious problems. To me they sound very much like the blogger has his own physical and mental issues to deal with. Like I said, I love tuaw but this is by far the least useful review I have ever read.

April 13 2010 at 12:20 AM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
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