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Home > iPad Case Reviews > Case Roundup July 2010
iPad Case Review Roundup: Speck Fitted, iSkin Duo and Proporta Maya II
Editor's note: don't miss our full selection of iPad case reviews.
Reviewed July 2010 by Tom Slayton
Speck Fitted iPad Case
Editor's rating (1-5): 
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Overview
Speck’s Fitted case for iPad is a stylish way to protect your iPad from bumps, scratches, and scrapes. The 2-piece, snap-together construction provides a perfect fit while the fabric cover on the back gives you a chance to express your individuality.
Size and Fit
The Fitted case is true to its name in that it fits; and well. The 2-piece construction means that even the front of the iPad is protected by the case’s bezel. This is important if you ever have to lay your device face-down. All buttons and ports remain fully accessible via cutouts, including the docking port. However, if you intend to sync your iPad in a docking stand or use Apple’s keyboard dock, you will need to remove the case to do so. This is my only real gripe about the Fitted case. To be fair, however, this is likely to affect only a small percentage of iPad users as most of us sync with docking cables, rather than actual docks.
Features and Quality
The Fitted case’s entire back is wrapped with a very durable fabric giving your iPad a classy tailored look. The plastic itself is not the shiny, brittle variety. Instead, Speck has opted for a more flexible, rubberized product, giving it a very substantial feel. If you’ve ever worried that your iPad was going to slip out of your hands, you will appreciate the design/construction choices of this case. All of the cutouts are in the right place, and do a nice job of protecting them from bumps without actually covering them. Although my preference is for silicone iPhone cases, the iPad is an entirely different animal, and due to its significant mass, you will be glad to have a rigid case the first time it goes to ground (knock wood).
Style
The Fitted case’s fabric cover is its real selling point. After all, there are quite a few rigid iPad cases on the market but I couldn’t find any others with this feature. While you may prefer your phone case to be styled like a snowboard, odds are if you’re carrying an iPad around in a business environment, a subtler, more professional look is likely the way to go. The Fitted case is available in 5 styles (houndstooth grey, fadeaway grey/black/green, fadeaway grey/black/pink, pink/grey plaid, and black/white plaid) so you are likely to find something that suits your tastes.
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Summary
Speck’s Fitted case does a great job of providing substantial protection for your iPad while still delivering plenty of style. The fit is excellent, with the cutouts providing full access to all buttons and ports, including the docking port (although it does not allow the use of an actual dock). The lack of an included screen protector detracts somewhat from its value, however not everybody uses one (including me) and their value is debatable. If you’re looking for a way to protect your iPad while still expressing your individuality, the Fitted case may be just what you need.
Pro: Fabric-wrapped cover provides a great deal of style. Rubberized 2-piece hardcase provides good protection, is easy to grip, and fits your iPad perfectly. All buttons and ports are fully accessible. Rigid design protects from bumps, scratches, and scrapes, and may provide some protection from drops.
Con: You must remove your iPad from the case to place it in a dock. Does not come with a screen protector.
Price: $49.99
Web site: www.speckproducts.com
iSkin Duo iPad Case
Editor's rating (1-5):
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The iSkin Duo is a silicone iPad cover that comes in a variety of color combinations. It is designed to protect your device from dirt, grime, scratches, and scuffs by completely covering everything except the screen, ports, and controls.
Size and Fit
It’s obvious that the iSkin Duo was designed solely for the iPad unlike many other covers and cases that popped up on or around the iPad’s launch day. iSkin seems to have spent the last few months making sure that the duo fit exactly right; and they succeeded. All of the cutouts and areas where controls are accessed line up perfectly. The only exceptions are the holes for the speaker grilles, which are a bit smaller than the speakers, themselves. It is likely, however, that this is intentional. If the cutouts were as large as the speakers, the cover might be susceptible to tearing.
Features and Quality
The iSkin Duo has a wonderful feel to it, with variances in thickness and texture throughout. The portion that covers the front bezel is the thickest, while the back is thinner and smooth. They even went to the trouble to reinforce and texturize the areas where you are most likely to hold onto it while in portrait mode. The thoughtful inclusion of a tiny plug for the headphone jack is a welcome feature, as is the large cutout surrounding the docking port. This last feature means you probably won’t need to remove the cover to dock it. This tends to be my biggest gripe with most iPhone/iPod/iPad covers and I’m glad to see that this matters to somebody besides me.
Style
The iSkin Duo is available in 7 colors (yellow, red, clear, pink, blue, black, and purple) so it is likely you will find one that suits your taste. The portion that covers the bezel is black, however, on all of them; most likely to avoid contrast issues while using the device.
Summary
The iSkin Duo is not cheap, but it is an excellent silicone cover for your iPad. The wide variety of colors and the thoughtful design decisions make it both functional and stylish. The ability to dock your device without removing the cover is a HUGE plus, as is the headphone jack “plug,” and the reinforced and textured edges. While it is unlikely to be much protection against drops, it will certainly protect your iPad from dirt/grime/dust/scratches. There are certainly cheaper silicone covers out there but you are unlikely to find one that is as well-designed and stylish.
Pro: Silicone skin helps keep your iPad clean while providing good scratch/scuff protection without adding much weight. Built-in earphone jack plug. Generous cutout around the docking port makes it more compatible with accessories. Stylish.
Con: It probably doesn’t offer much protection against drops, although I (thankfully) didn’t have the opportunity to test it. Pricey for a silicone cover.
Price: $49.99
Web site: http://www.iskin.com
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Proporta Maya II Pouch
Editor's rating (1-5):
Discuss this product
Overview
The Maya II Sleeve is a sleek storage pouch for your iPad that is designed to protect it while in transit. Because you must remove your device to use it, this product is best suited for those who prefer to use their iPads naked.
Size and Fit
The Maya II Sleeve is roughly the size of a piece of notebook paper. It holds your iPad snugly and offers surprisingly robust protection from bumps and scrapes. While this product would most likely be of no help at all if you dropped your iPad, to be fair, any case/sleeve/pouch that could protect something with as much mass as an iPad from a drop would be comically bulky.
Features and Quality
The Maya II is not what you would call feature-rich. However, it does not set out to be. Instead, it strives for style and class; and for the most part, it succeeds. I counted four different types of materials used in its construction; all stitched firmly together with straight, even seams. None of these are leather, in spite of the fact that it implies the use of leather on its packaging (“leather style protection”). Depending on your point of view, this is either a good thing or a bad thing.
Style
The Maya II can best be described as an Italian driving glove for your iPad. The stitching, materials, and workmanship all come together to give it a distinctly international feel.
Summary
The Maya II provides basic iPad protection with flair. While there are a number of designs to choose from, all of them ooze with style. The padded case and soft interior are functional and feel great. The outer case, which is constructed of “leather alternatives” however, made my hand sweat. If you like to use your iPad naked and are looking for a stylish and non-leather way to protect it while in transit, this may be for you.
Pro: Stylish, padded sleeve with a soft interior lining to protect your iPad while in transit.
Con: No access to your iPad without removing it from the sleeve. Expensive for a product made from "leather alternatives".
Price: $29.99
Web site: www.proporta.com |
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