Looking for a case for the New iPad

[dwright17]

I have had the new iPad for 2 weeks now and love it! I only bought the iPad itself since I wasn't sure I would want to keep it. I have a vision impairment, and previous models were difficult for me to see. I'm absolutely thrilled with the retina display on this model; it was all I could've hoped for. So, YAY - I finally get an iPad!

I was wondering what cases you all like for your iPads. I've seen mixed reviews on the Smartcovers, although I saw one in person last Sunday and it looked great to me. I would also like a protection on the back, unless you all tell me it's not really necessary. Because of my vision impairment, I still often have to hold the iPad closer than most of you, so I'd like to go minimalist with a protective cover. Half the draw of the iPad is the lack of weight, so I'm not necessarily wanting to add another pound of protection or else my arms will ache in the process!

I've looked at a silicone wrap by Kays Case, but it doesn't support a Smartcover since it wraps around the entire iPad. I looked at the i-Blason back cover that does work with a Smartcover, and that looks nice also. I have no idea how to post the links to these on Amazon; I tried here and it didn't work; sorry. Does anyone have any comments on these, or others you've discovered that work well? And I'd also love to hear your experience with the Smartcover as well. Thanks!

[Badger]

Incipio makes a feather-weight case that works with the Smartcover. I have one of their cases for my phone, and I like it very much. I think you just have to make sure that they have released an updated case that accommodates the new iPad's slightly thicker dimensions.

I'm glad the iPad is working out for you!

[rabergnc]

Switch Easy (switcheasy.com) makers a nice cover - the Canvas - which encases the ipad, uses the magnets to turn the device on/off and allows you to set the viewing angle as you like. The cover also folds completely over so you can just use the ipad in you lap. It protects the screen and the back from scratches and being banged up.

If you are going to use an Apple smart cover, Switch Easy also will have available a Cover Buddy - a polycarbonate shell for the back - very thin and light, good protection against dings and scratches. I had one for my ipad 2 and am waiting for them to release the version for the new ipad - they have said it is in the warehouse and will be available on the website shortly. (I have no affiliation with either company - just a satisfied customer!)

[backpack]

Breve for iPad or iPad 2: TOM BIHN

Tom does make a bag for iPad!

[AVService]

Otterbox is my Go-To case for an iPad but I work with mine in rough environments every day too.
They make the thing a lot bigger but that is not always a bad thing?
Just another option.

[daisy]

I took a tumble while carrying my iPad 2 in a (non TB) bag - although it was well protected on one side by nestling against the Tom Bihn braincell holding my macbook13, I fell onto the bag with the other side down. The contents of the front pockets were jammed against the iPad, and even though it was in a padded slipcase (sadly not TB), the edge of my iPad was dented.

In any other position, the dent would probably have been cosmetic and simply annoying, but it was right on the volume control switch resulting in the vol control icon being permanently on.

Amazingly, Apple replaced it.

My new iPad is in a Cygnett "Lavish Earth" folio which protects the edges from bangs, uses the magnetic on/off feature and fits in my Ristretto for iPad (just). It does add some weight but is nice to hold and folds to a stand with several positions.

[TXGirl]

I have the iPad2. I have the Portenzo Composition style, smartcover w/Zum case, and currently using the Switcheasy Canvas. Ive also had the Best Skins Ever on the back of my iPad (loved) but removed it to use the Zum case & Switcheasy Canvas.

Portenzo
Pros- cool case, when in public it's discreet doesn't yell "I have an iPad", sleep awake feature
Cons- limited to different angle positions, adds some bulk & weight, some have reported the wood warps over time. (I haven't had any issue)

Apple Smart Cover w/Zum back-
Pros- very slim & hardly adds any weight, protects the back of iPad, interlocks w/ smartcover to prevent smartcover from coming off iPad.
Cons- doesn't offer much protection from a fall, some reports say smartcover scratches iPad over time.

Switcheasy Canvas-
Pros- multiple viewing angles, protection, sleep awake feature, clasp to keep the cover closed
Cons- adds bulk & weight

[historygal]

You might want to check out the Knomo iPad leather folio case. It is very minimal and works like the Apple smart cover (sleep/awake feature), but has a protective back. The Apple Store near me carries a few Knomo cases including this one. The brand has become quite popular lately, since Pippa Middleton has been photographed around London carrying her Knomo laptop bag.

[dwright17]

Thanks for the great ideas, everyone. Wow, this makes it really hard to choose! I think I'll go for the ultra light back cover with the smart cover and then tote it around in a cache.

@rabergnc, you first posted Scosche as a brand and I ran off to look it up, and when I came back, you had changed the brand name to Switcheasy. Did you not like the Scosche back cover? I kinda liked the idea of the soft shell rather than hard shell. The Zum looked nice, too. and I love the Canvas, but just don't want that weight! So many choices . . . Maybe I should get more than one!

[moriond]

Thanks for the great ideas, everyone. Wow, this makes it really hard to choose! I think I'll go for the ultra light back cover with the smart cover and then tote it around in a cache.

@dwright17 I use the Cache for my iPad, and the combination you mention should work well. However, you mentioned having difficulty using previous models of the iPad due to vision impairment. I recommend that you try the VisionAssist app ($5.99 by Slinkyware). Your iPad's camera has the same resolution as the iPhone 4 camera. The VisionAssist app works for all current iOS devices with cameras, but in addition to acting as a magnifier, it has a lot of features especially for low-vision users: among other things, it will let you adjust your color table contrast scheme, and if you connect wirelessly to an Apple TV you can project magnified images onto a large screen monitor or TV.

I'd also recommend that you open the iPad User's Guide under the Safari Bookmarks menu, and read through the section on "Accessibility". This will tell you how to configure your iPad with zoom magnification under the "Universal Access" features. You can also set the home button up to let you toggle "VoiceOver" on or off, which will let you have page content read to you using the built-in screen reader. This does require learning different gestures to navigate, but if you only want the current page read to you, you could simply toggle VoiceOver on, do a two finger flick up to "Read all", and then toggle VoiceOver off again, without having to learn any other gestures. This is getting off the topic of bags, so if you have further questions, start a thread in the "Not About Bags" section of the forums.

correction: I mean, if you have further questions, start another thread in the "Not About Bags" section with a different title, reflecting a subject that doesn't reference iPad cases.

HTH. moriond

[dwright17]

Thanks for the info, Moriond; the VisionAssist app sounds fantastic! I've gone through the Accessibility features of the iPad and have it set up really well for my needs now. There's no end to what we learn on the TB forums!

[moriond]

Thanks for the info, Moriond; the VisionAssist app sounds fantastic! I've gone through the Accessibility features of the iPad and have it set up really well for my needs now. There's no end to what we learn on the TB forums!

One more suggestion for your web browsing: Get the Readability "Read Now" bookmarklet and put in into your Safari Bookmarks bar. The easy way is to do this on your MacBook Air, where you can drag the icon to your Bookmarks menu bar, and then sync the bookmarks to your iPad, but the page will provide you with instructions on how to do this for your iPad via copy and paste. Then, in the Settings menu entry for Safari, turn on the switch for "Always Show Bookmarks Bar". This feature lets you enlarge the text in articles displayed in the Safari web browser. You can do that with the "Safari Reader" function under iOS 5 on your iPad, and also on your MacBook Air, by clicking on the small, "Reader" icon that shows up in the right side of the address bar, just next to the refresh icon, for some URLs. However, the Readability bookmarklet has some advantages:

• Custom contrast and color schemes
• ability to set wider margins for pages (helpful if you also use the zoom settings, since you don't have to pan as much)
• works in slightly more settings than Safari Reader, because the algorithm for identifying an article on a page with multiple text items is slightly better -- for example, will handle some forum site comments.

Saving the bookmarklet to the Bookmarks menu, and turning on "Always Show Bookmarks Bar", will let you tap this bookmark position in Safari on your iPad to display articles on pages of mixed content with larger font, color contrast, and increased page margins. (Customize the settings the first time you use this). On your MacBook Air, you can press Command-1, Command-2, etc. to automatically activate the first 9 bookmarks on the Bookmarks Bar, so if you save the bookmarklet to one of these positions, you can use a keyboard shortcut to activate a view with larger fonts, etc. (You can also activate the Safari Reader function by pressing Command-Shift-R.)

HTH.

moriond

[rabergnc]

Thanks for the great ideas, everyone. Wow, this makes it really hard to choose! I think I'll go for the ultra light back cover with the smart cover and then tote it around in a cache.

@rabergnc, you first posted Scosche as a brand and I ran off to look it up, and when I came back, you had changed the brand name to Switcheasy. Did you not like the Scosche back cover? I kinda liked the idea of the soft shell rather than hard shell. The Zum looked nice, too. and I love the Canvas, but just don't want that weight! So many choices . . . Maybe I should get more than one!

Sorry for the delayed response - I do like the textured back. The cover buddy from switcheasy is a soft touch. The cover buddy is a bit less expensive and seems to do as good a job as the scosche back cover. Either will work nicely. If you 'like' scosche on their Facebook page, you can get a discount on your purchase!

Cheers

[dwright17]

Thanks @rabergnc! I appreciate the comparison, and the tip on a discount!

[dwright17]

@ Moriond -

Thanks again for the great vision assistance help! I'll try that when I get home tonight. I downloaded an app called Readability for iPad but I haven't tried it yet. Fortunately, so far everything has worked just with the settings on "large font" and such. I'll look at the Readability bookmarklet, though. That would be really helpful. Thanks!