I was a little annoyed when my iPad arrived last week when, as predicted, the case I ordered from Apple at the same time was nowhere to be seen.  In fact, it would be three long days before the case finally arrived.  This drove me absolutely crazy.  Being a new device, there were no third party cases available yet, and I was not planning to just sit around with this on my desk.  I had big plans for my daily commute on the train, not to mention my recent trip to Florida.  so, I scrounged and foraged through old cases and bags until I found something that would work temporarily until my permanent case arrived.

Finally, after three long days, I received that crucial second package from Apple.  I am not going to lie here and say that I did not use the iPad at all during that time, I used it plenty.  I will say, however, that the iPad is a dense device, which feels like it weighs far more than its meager 1.9 pounds.  Additionally, that shiny coat is also pretty slick.  So, slick and heavier than expected…yeah, you are going to want a case for that.

The first thing I thought when I saw the box containing the case was “Wow!  This is one skinny case.”  Which is exactly what I had been hoping to find to protect my ultra-slim new device.  As soon as I opened the box though, my “WOW!” turned into something more along the lines of “where is the rest of it??”  Which was quickly followed by, “I paid $40 for this??”

The case itself is made from a soft microfiber.  Soft, but nothing fancy.  The case itself is a book style case, meaning the cover is hinged on one side.  The nice thing here is that the case will accommodate either landscape or portrait mode.  In terms of protection, however, I was utterly disappointed.  This may secure your new investment against the routine dust or scratches, but don’t expect this to help when the iPad drops off your desk or gets stepped on by a five year old. The only protection for your iPad are a few reinforced panels.  No extra padding or foam here. 

In fact, not only does it not protect your iPad well, but it can also hurt you.  Once your iPad is loaded into the case, a small ridge appears along the seam, around three sides of the case.  This ridge actually could be pretty sharp, and while I did not actually cut my hand on it, that did not seem to be terribly far fetched either.

Along the top, bottom, and one side of the case are slots for all of your controls and jacks.  This all worked just fine, although I will say depending upon the charger you are using, the case could interfere with that connection.

The left hand side is where the real magic happens.  This is where you will find the hinge.  Though as you can see, this is not just a normal hinge, it is actually a double hinge.  This allows you to fold the flap back and tuck it into the notch on the back.  Once this has been accomplished, the case is transformed into the perfectly angled stand.  It is light and thin enough to rest on your lap, and the angle is perfect for reading, typing, and other tasks.

Although I loved this feature which turns your case into a stand, it also led to some additional frustration with this case.  When the case is closed, there is nothing holding the cover shut.  It really needs a magnet or snap or something there.  Meanwhile, the hinge has been bent backwards for a considerable period of time while in use.  The end result, when it is time to put it all away, is that the hinge may not close all the way, which seems to defeat the purpose of the case in the first place.

I won’t say that this is a terrible case.  It did get the job done for the most part, and the stand is absolutely fantastic.  I will say, however, that this is not a $40 case.  The material and construction of the case felt much more on par with any number of cases which came free with any number of devices.   Apple should have followed that lead.  I would have been perfectly happy with this case had it been included for free with the iPad…as it should have been.  As it was though, given the fact that I shelled out $40 for this case, I simply cannot tell Steve Jobs and the folks at Apple that I feel good about my decision to purchase one.  Numerous third party case manufacturers have already indicated that they will be offering iPad cases, and I am looking forward to the opportunity to upgrade this one.

The iPad case is available from Apple for $39.99.