Jul 7 2010

9 iPad cases made to get attention

I only got my iPad a few short weeks ago and when I used it in public at coffee shops or while driving down the highway, eating a sandwich and talking on my cell phone, I turned heads.

“Ooooh!! Is that the new iPad?” they asked excitedly.

Now, the iPad is already old hat. If anything it seems it’s played out.

“Jeez, is that another freakin’ iPad…pffft!” they say to each other as if I can’t hear.

Well, I’ll show them. We can all show them! With the iPad cases I’m about to show you, you will once again have people’s attention as you pull out your technology in public.

iPad Bacon Case – Let’s start this off with the obligatory mention of bacon. The iPad Bacon Case sells of Etsy for US$59 and is handmade by @filzstueck of wool felt. It, along with the next item on our list has garnered much press for the creativity in its design. I can only hope that part of the process of making the Bacon Case involves adding that rich hickory-smoked aroma. Maybe  that can be offered as an option at time of purchase!

iMaxi – We all knew this was coming. The iPad/Sanitary Pad jokes started even before the device was officially announced, so once the name was uttered by Steve and entered into the Book of iDevices, we knew somewhere someone was scrambling to make an iPad case that would further imprint those maxi-pad jokes on the minds of the tech using public. That case exists and it is called the iMaxi and sells for US$30.

iBallz – Though it’s not exactly a case, the makers of the US$19.95 iBallz do promise it will protect your iPad from spills, sticky surfaces and drops “without adding weight, blocking buttons and adapters or sacrificing style.” The four balls of the iBallz are placed on the corners of your iPad and the cord running through them is cinched and locked to keep them in place. With practice, iBallz may also double as a set of bolas for capturing prey if thrown just right. They come in six colors and can be repurposed to protect other devices.

GelaSkins – Again, not strictly speaking a “case”, GelaSkins are extremely eye-catching and do protect your iPad from minor scratches and dings. You can choose from a vast selection of styles selling for US$29.95 or you can choose make your own for US$—simply upload your own images or choose something from one of GeleSkins’ many collaberators.

Temple Bags iPad case — “Throw me the iPad! I’ll throw you the whip!” If that phrase doesn’t bring up images of Indiana Jones, the iPad case from Temple Bags certainly should. It’s not cheap at US$149, but it looks beautiful. It’s a brown leather & military re-purposed iPad case that features both vertical and horizontal viewing stand options, a padded shoulder strap, and an internal pocket.

This is the iPad case I’d expect Dr. Jones to use… though I just can’t imagine him using an iPad.

SwitchEasy RibCage – This H. R. Gigeresque sleeve is made from faux leather¹ and looks morbid and creepifying for a modest US$34.99. The SwitchEasy RibCage is available in either black or white and its shock dissipating ribcage design protects the iPad’s screen while also drawing curious looks from everyone around you.

BOOK for iPad – Our next two cases were designed to look like books and this one is simply named just that: BOOK for iPad. BOOK is a hand made hard cover book jacket on the outside, with an iPad sleeve on the inside. When you’re ready to put away your iPad, simply shelve it! BOOK sells for US$89 and you can even add custom text for and additional $15 or custom text and a logo for another $25.

DODOcase — This is the first iPad case I bought… and I’m still waiting for it. To me, the DODOcase looks like a large Moleskine notebook. I happen to be a little addicted to Moleskine notebooks, so the purchase was unavoidable. Made from faux leather and constructed using traditional book binding techniques, DODOcase covers are designed to fold back so you can stand your iPad. An elastic strap keeps your iPad sealed tight when you are on the go. The DODOcase will set you back US$59.95²

Important update: Since posting this story, my DODOcase arrived in the mail. The level of quality is not what you see in the photos and videos on the DODOcase website; the corners are poorly covered (sharply angled and not rounded), the piece has rubber cement and who knows what else all over it, the little “dedicated to” label inside was peeling off when I first opened it and worse, get this, it doesn’t hold the iPad!! In the video» Patrick at DODOcase shows the case being shaken upside down and the iPad being held firm. My case can’t even be turned sideways without the iPad falling out.

ClamCase – I’m not sure if the ClamCase is really for those of us who want to show off our tech or not—it makes your iPad look like a laptop! It may work better as a form of camouflage in a busy café dotted with people working on laptops. It sports a built in Bluetooth keyboard and the ability to twist the screen backwards and close the case. It basically makes your iPad act as a tablet PC. Nifty idea… but there is one catch right now.

The ClamCase isn’t even available yet³ but is promised to arrive in the fall of 2010. They haven’t even set a price point yet, but they did post a nifty video showing a CGI version twirling around looking awesome.

There you have it…

So that’s my list of attention-grabbing iPad cases. Any one of these should get you a few interested looks as you’re out iPadding around town. What do you think? Was there one I missed? Let me know in the comments.

1. I guess I should have mentioned that the Bacon Case was made from faux bacon [↩]
2. though those of us who ordered the first edition paid a bit less—ouch!! [↩]
3. some say it will never make it to market [↩]

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By RickMacMerc • Featured, gadgets, iPad, News • 8 • Tags: aroma, Auto, Bacon, Bags, bolas, Book, case, coffee shops, creativity, DODOcase, Draft, Etsy, gelaskins, highway, iMaxi, Indiana Jones, iPad, maxi pad, moleskine, old hat, Ooooh, phone, press, prey, pullout, purchase, ribcage, sanitary pad, slider, strap, technology