In Search of a Case to Protect the iPad
By NICK BILTON
The Apple iPad, so sleek and glassy, should be in a design museum, watched over by heavily armed guards with fierce dogs. But millions of iPads are bouncing around in backpacks or purses where they are gradually and inexorably scratched, dinged and pummeled by far less important objects.
While the iPad’s aesthetics are exemplary, its built-in protection is a bit spare, especially when it comes to its 9.5-inch screen. Transporting the iPad can sometimes resemble a trip home from the grocery store with a dozen really expensive eggs.
But fear not, iPad owners: thousands of armed-guard-like cases are available to protect your frangible computing device.
These cases have some problems, though. Some are pretty and sumptuous but offer no real protection. Those that do offer safe harbor from the elements can make you feel as if you have put handcrafted Ferrari seats in a dump truck.
Over the last few months, I set out on an iPad case expedition, fiddling with more than 100 cases in search of the best iPad guardian angel. Sadly, I didn’t find the perfect case for my dear gadget, although a few came close.
The official Apple iPad case, which costs $40, is extremely practical, offering the appropriate openings for headphones and power and folding into a stand, but its rubbery case can feel a little downscale.
There are, however, hundreds of other options. A close copy, and my favorite case, is a $50 sleeve from Macally called the BookStand that can fold in a number of directions to improve typing or allow lean-back viewing. The BookStand is not perfect. Its lightweight feltlike material feels somewhat dainty, offering a little less protection than similar folding products.
Macally also offers a range of other iPad accessories, many of which didn’t make sense to me — like a chrome case.
A number of cases are actually sleeves that fit around the back of the iPad, protecting its rear side, but leaving the glass completely exposed and vulnerable. These are not meant to protect an iPad in a crowded backpack, but are intended for a cosseted coffee table iPad.
If you are clumsy and think your iPad requires more protection from the rest of the world, then Incase, a company that specializes in computer bags with protective phone and laptop coverings, has a number of hardy cases.
The Book Jacket for $50 and the Convertible Book Jacket for $60 are the most practical.
These black cases are made of a thick, padded material that will allow you to drop your iPad from several feet. I did this, accidentally, of course, and I could not find a dent, scratch of ding. The convertible jacket doubles as a stand with multiple viewing angles.
Incase also sells slick Neoprene Sleeves that come in a number of colors, including gray, neon green and bright pink. These cost $40 and are designed for slipping the iPad in and out, as with a traditional laptop carrying case.
One of the more beautiful cases I came across is handmade by book binders in California. Called the DODOcase, it costs $60 and makes the iPad look like on old sketchbook with a leather-bound jacket. Although I fell in love with the style, the bamboo shell makes it much heavier than other cases. (If that strikes you as expensive, you can always try to make your own from an old book. The instructions can be found online.)
The DODOcase is not the only handcrafted option to protect your iPad. Etsy.com, the online crafts marketplace, offers a trove of iPad cases that have been glued, stapled and sewn together.
Some of my favorites include an Army camouflage bag for $135, a leather Victorian rose pattern case for $90, a gray felt case in the shape of an owl with big yellow eyes or a penguin for $62, and a number of monster patterns made by Latayaya for around $45 each. Search for “iPad cases” on the Web site to sift through the 1,500-plus offerings.
Etsy also offers a number of bright and amusing options for children, including a felt sleeve that looks like an Etch A Sketch ($34, almost twice as much as the real toy). Another artist there sells covers with vintage comic books embedded for $50. A company called iLuv offers a spritely jumble of colored silicone rubber cases that look as if they were plucked from a bag of Peanut M&Ms. Amazon.com sells a number of clear silicone cases, some for only a few dollars.
If you want to transport the iPad with other accessories, including your phone, portable keyboard and even a paper pad, a company called M-Edge sells a large padded sleeve called the Method Portfolio. At $120, the M-Edge is costlier than other sleeves but offers sturdy protection while allowing you to transport more gadgetry and trimmings without having to carry an actual bag or backpack.
If you’re seeking only protection, and don’t mind some extra weight, take a look at a product called the BRUDAcase. Cut from a slab of maple or cherry wood in the Amish Country of Pennsylvania, this case feels like a box someone would use to store expensive cigars, or in this case, an iPad.
You don’t always have to carry your iPad in a separate case. A company called Scottevest offers “iPad compatible clothing” including a variety of fleeces, windbreakers, vests and jackets, for both men and women, which feature large pockets for the iPad.
The Scottevest clothing line isn’t going to make it onto any Paris fashion runways soon, but for those hoping to go bagless these outfits offer a practical solution.
Finally, if you plan to keep your iPad for the next century and pass it down to your grandchildren, the Saddleback Leather Company has the perfect case for you. For $55, you can transport your iPad in a gorgeous leather pouch that is made of a “stout and thick full grain boot leather.”
Saddleback says the case can be “stretched to fit like a pistol in a holster.” The leather case is so tough it comes with a 100-year warranty — for a product that will be technologically obsolete in 18 months.
