I am planning well in advance of my June 1 purchase of a New iPad, and have been narrowing down my case choices. The only cases out there that seem to meet my configuration requirements are the SwitchEasy Canvas, Speck PixelSkin, STM Grip and possibly the upcoming Hard Candy Chrome Bezel with integrated screen protection. But I am troubled by something I saw today.

On a visit to WalleyWorld to pick up a prescription, I stopped into their iPad display. Cases from Belkin, Speck, Incipio and Griffin were on the shelves. I picked some of them up to examine. And I was very disappointed to find that they were all shoddily-made toys that I would not wrap a fish in, let alone anything as elegant as an iPad.

I saw loose seams, frayed edges, children's-toy plastic, cheap elastic, bad stitching, scratchy linings, blemished covers, and the list goes on. So much for the glossy pictures of these goods on the makers' websites, and the glowing reviews from the blogosphere. This makes me wonder if it is worth it to spend $40-60 for a folio case unless I can at least handle it first, or if I should just go for a back-protector shell and a good screen protector. (I have ruled out the Smart Cover because of the numerous complaints about it that I have read.) Either that or sacrifice the iPad's svelteness and easy handling by springing for an expensive DodoCase or Vaja. I'd rather be true to the device's high-quality ethos than wrap it in a more utilitarian but low-quality case.

I'm leaning now toward the SwitchEasy Canvas, but I'm afraid when it arrives, it too will turn out to be a slapdash piece of junk despite the good reviews it has received. What should I do? Ask around at the Apple Store (60 miles from my house)? Continue my research at a Best Buy? Go minimal with a TPU or silicone back/side protector? Any advice/experiences appreciated.

Well your certainly on the right track by doing your homework and seeing what's out there. I've gone through three cases trying to find something that feels right. I eventually went with a TPU back and an Apple Smart Cover. I had read reviews for the Smart Cover and was hesitant but am quite happy with it. It is wildly overpriced though.

Good TPU backs can be found on Amazon dirt cheap. Good luck!!

Sent from Latveria

Originally Posted by dchristo

I am planning well in advance of my June 1 purchase of a New iPad, and have been narrowing down my case choices. The only cases out there that seem to meet my configuration requirements are the SwitchEasy Canvas, Speck PixelSkin, STM Grip and possibly the upcoming Hard Candy Chrome Bezel with integrated screen protection. But I am troubled by something I saw today.

On a visit to WalleyWorld to pick up a prescription, I stopped into their iPad display. Cases from Belkin, Speck, Incipio and Griffin were on the shelves. I picked some of them up to examine. And I was very disappointed to find that they were all shoddily-made toys that I would not wrap a fish in, let alone anything as elegant as an iPad.

I saw loose seams, frayed edges, children's-toy plastic, cheap elastic, bad stitching, scratchy linings, blemished covers, and the list goes on. So much for the glossy pictures of these goods on the makers' websites, and the glowing reviews from the blogosphere. This makes me wonder if it is worth it to spend $40-60 for a folio case unless I can at least handle it first, or if I should just go for a back-protector shell and a good screen protector. (I have ruled out the Smart Cover because of the numerous complaints about it that I have read.) Either that or sacrifice the iPad's svelteness and easy handling by springing for an expensive DodoCase or Vaja. I'd rather be true to the device'shigh-quality ethos than wrap it in a more utilitarian but low-quality case.

I'm leaning now toward the SwitchEasy Canvas, but I'm afraid when it arrives, it too will turn out to be a slapdash piece of junk despite the good reviews it has received. What should I do? Ask around at the Apple Store (60 miles from my house)? Continue my research at a Best Buy? Go minimal with a TPU or silicone back/side protector? Any advice/experiences appreciated.

Don't get a case lol unless you plan on dropping it. I understand a case for a phone, but I don't have a case or screen protector on my iPad, have had an iPad 2 since launch, and my new iPad since launch, never had a scratch on either one, front or back. I did use a smart cover for a while on my iPad 2, but stopped after it annoyed me opening and closing it all the time lol

The bear motion is good as is this one:

http://www.stmbags.com/catalog/ipad-...y3-ipad3rdgen/

I have the Garrison by Bodyguardz which is very similar to the skinny. Very high quality case.

Stuff at Walmart gets picked over. I would not buy a case there away.

What exactly is making you rule out the smart cover?

Exile, I have seen comments that the Smart Cover needs to be handled very carefully to avoid scratches to the screen and body, and that it will not lie flat on the right edge when closed. Plus, it just seems as if you're getting so little for the money. What do you think?

AQ, thanks for pointing me to the Bear Motion, which is now on my list of finalists, along with Portenzo. It's too bad that lightness, slimness and some functionality have to be sacrificed for construction quality, but the Bear and Portenzo seem to have a good balance. I guess I shouldn't be surprised that when thinness and lightness are the top priorities, quality and elegance are going to suffer.

Bear Motion does not seem to have its own website, and from the reviews, it's a little hard to get an idea of the full range of their latest New iPad products. Do you know a useful site?

The Bodyguardz Garrison and STM Skinny look like fine cases, but I think they share a design flaw with a lot of folios, in that the workstand positions require folding the inside cover directly over onto the table surface or your lap. If the tabletop is dirty, the inside cover will pick up the schmutz and rub it all over your iPad screen when you close it up. I don't want to have to be cleaning the inside cover or wiping down my work surface every time I use the stand feature. That's why I'd prefer a stand that uses the outside cover as the base.

Oh, did I mention that I'm picky?

Scratches... I find that hard to believe unless you have some grain of sand or something on the glass side of the smart cover; then wipe the glass with the smart cover. Or... being careless when taking off the smart cover and some how manage to scratch the glass with the edge of the magnet hinge.

It sits perfectly fine for me. Probably just a user error who ever said that theirs doesn't sit flat.

You're probably right, Exile. The SC certainly is a brilliant concept, and using it with a silicone back protector like the Scosche Glossee was my original vision. Who knows, I may go back to it in the end. Or I may go that direction for home use and get a nice case for when I travel.

Let me ask you a question: One accessory that appeals to me greatly is the upcoming Spigen Glas.t tempered-glass screen protector (The very best in screen protection, GLAS.t Premium Tempered Glass Series. [COMING SOON] / SPIGEN SGP Blog). I figure that at 0.4mm thick, it's about as thick as four sheets of paper. Do you think the SC would play nice with it?

Check out iDan's review of the Otterbox Defender.

The New iPad Case Review - Otterbox Defender Case

Sent from my iPad 4 HD mini