Filed under: iPad
TUAW Review: DODOcase for iPad makes Moleskines weep
When the iPad was released in the US, I lined up in Boston with the other early adopters. Apple employees handed out snacks and drinks while a lone PR person distributed coupons for the DODOcase. A few days later I used mine and several weeks later it finally arrived.After spending a week and a half with the DODOcase, I can say that it will make nearly any customer happy. High build quality, good looks and a secure fit ("like a glove" is an understatement) make the DODOcase worth the price tag and wait.
Looks
The most obvious aspect of the DODOcase is its close resemblance to a Moleskine notebook (note some side-by-side comparison shots in the gallery below). The look is dead on. It's larger than the largest notebook but about the size of the softcover 18 month planner. At first glance (frankly, at 2nd and 3rd glance as well), most people will assume that's what you're carrying.
The exterior cover is of a slightly different grain than the notebook, and the interior is a beautiful red. The elastic strap is a perfect fit and, along with the bamboo interior, keeps your iPad securely in place.
Gallery: DODOcase for iPad
Build
Each one of these things is hand built in San Francisco, CA. The feel is absolutely solid. A carved bamboo frame sits on the right hand side of the case's interior. Each corner features a bit of foam padding that holds the iPad in place with certainty. Not a fraction of a millimeter is wasted. The whole thing feels absolutely solid and high-end.
Use
I've been keeping my iPad in the DODOcase while using it, because everything is accessible while the iPad itself is protected. The headphone jack, volume button, screen rotation lock switch, 30 pin connector and on/off button can all be used with the DODOcase's lid open or shut. Since the iPad doesn't get unusually hot under typical conditions (extended sun bathing is another issue), there's no problem with keeping it confined.
When not flat on its back, the case can be positioned as a stand (landscape or portrait orientation) or slightly angled for better typing. Just fold the cover underneath for a great angle when using the software keyboard.
Complaints
This sounds silly, but it's such a nice looking case, I find myself protecting it as I would the naked iPad, which sort of defeats the purpose. "Ooh, careful! Don't scratch up the case!" But that's my own paranoia seeping through.
At the end of the day, it's a fifty dollar iPad case. Can you find one that's cheaper? Of course. Heck, Apple makes one. But this beauty is worth the few extra bucks for its looks, exceptional build quality and usefulness. Heck, it even included a hand-numbered, signed index card thanking me for my purchase. That's nice.
If you feel that your precious deserves a worthy companion, the DODOcase is it.
![TUAW [Cafepress]](http://www.blogsmithmedia.com/www.tuaw.com/media/tuaw-cafepress-promo.png)
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 2)
fooyork said 11:11AM on 5-04-2010
Does anyone know if they will ship to the UK? I am currently carrying around my iPad in a dust bag which came with a pair of shoes!
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c_standley said 11:19AM on 5-04-2010
Postage to the UK is $25
h2oboy704 said 3:21PM on 5-04-2010
Wow. Makes me want to get an iPad just so I can get the case to go with it.
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bradcrandall said 11:33AM on 5-04-2010
Thanks for the review, Dave, as I was planning on getting one for my upcoming iPad (gotta wait for the money, first, so about a month and a half away).
I do have a quick question: how long did it take to arrive, and how much bulk does it add to the iPad itself, as in thickness? I'm not a bit fan of cases that are so thick that they increase the size of the product by 50% or more, and thus is the reason for my inquiry.
Thanks!
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Adam said 12:28PM on 5-04-2010
It's one of the thinnest iPad cases out there, and he mentioned it arriving several weeks after delivery. There are swamped with orders, I would put yours in asap.
bradcrandall said 12:50PM on 5-04-2010
Thanks Adam. I'll order mine in the next couple of days.
Paul said 11:57AM on 5-04-2010
Welp, I just bought one, and I haven't even picked up the iPad yet. Still waiting on the city to give my tax refund.
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Billin said 1:05PM on 5-04-2010
Can we have pics of the case being used as a stand in each orientation? One of the things I love about the Apple case is its little tab in the back, under which you can tuck the flap, making the case into a triangle-shaped stand. Tucking the flap in also props up the iPad at an angle in landscape orientation, making it easier to type. I'm wondering how well the Dodo case handles this.
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edwinfirmage said 1:09PM on 5-04-2010
Me too. Any case that I would buy must have this feature, to make typing a little easier.
Paul said 2:02PM on 5-04-2010
If you go to the manufacturer's website, there are videos demonstrating that very thing.
Billin said 2:19PM on 5-04-2010
Thanks, Paul! I watched the video demoing the case's stand abilities here:
http://www.dodocase.com/blogs/news/1607412-videos
In short, it appears that the landscape and portrait stand modes are great, and the typing configuration is okay, but it doesn't seem to tilt nearly as much as the Apple case - eyeballing it, I'd say the Dodo case only raises the back maybe half the height that Apple's case does. Still, on the whole, the case looks fantastic.
va_lemon said 1:08PM on 5-04-2010
@Dave Caolo, could post a picture or two with the front cover folded under? Would like to see the angle it provides for typing on lap.
Thanks!
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Harbinger said 1:21PM on 5-04-2010
I'd like to know if there is any likelihood of scratching the iPad while in the case. That's my biggest reservation.
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Maerhyl said 1:31PM on 5-04-2010
I really love this case. This is what I was waiting for. However, I would like to carry the iPad in my pad folio. Does the case flips under? If not, that might be cumbersome then to have a pad folio flipped opened and then the case opened too.
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Ted said 1:45PM on 5-04-2010
Go to the Dodocase website. There are several videos showing it being used in all the positions.
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Doug said 5:13PM on 5-04-2010
I ordered first day it was available and it came in before the iPad 3G. I really like the case and goes well with the my moleskine notebooks. It actually serves a nice security purpose as when the iPad is in the case, it looks like a true moleskine or a book. The only downside is that I did not get the personalized note card. Oh well, I will survive. It is a great case, but not perfect for every use. I would say evaluate it with your needs. I recommend highly.
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Superslau said 7:43PM on 5-04-2010
I've been trying to buy one but PayPal gives me an error when I try to sign in from the purchase page... so I guess this case isn't going to fly for me...
It looks really good so I'll have to try again tomorrow.
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TJ Luoma said 11:57PM on 5-04-2010
It's an *at least $60* case, since shipping is $10 to the US.
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Charlie said 3:04AM on 5-27-2010
Fantastic "green" product, no leather = no slaughter, jesus I hate to think of animals cats and dogs included getting clubbed to death in China just so we can protect our iPads, even Apple stopped making leather cases good on em!
This case is worth a hundred bucks, hand built in California too, best iPad case this year 10/10 .
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judith said 8:55PM on 7-19-2010
I have a custom made DODO case and everyone who sees it wants it. It is beautifully designed, totally functional and was designed by the best man I have ever met---my son!! He made me a special one and had it gold embossed with an Abe Lincoln quote: "all that I am or ever hope to be I owe to my angel mother". I'm not sure I'm an angel mother but HE IS an angel son. Thank you for the gift and for making it with such integrity. I am a proud mother because I have an angel son.
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