Once in a while I like having a keyboard case for my iPad. If I am using my iPad for business email, for example. Basically I do not like typing long messages on the screen.
After looking at many options for my iPad 3, I went with the ClamCase pro. Pretty heavy, but great typing feel and very good protection (I dropped it onto a concrete parking lot! iPad fine, case had some expected scratches).
So when offered for the iPad rMini, I preordered.
I have to admit, this is a pretty slick case. As you should know by now (based on other reviews), there is not a lot of aluminum in the case--just the keyboard surround. But I am impressed with the plastic shell material. A nice matte finish. White only.
Just a few comments before the photos:
Weight:
It does add weight (see below). Personally, this does not bother me, as I normally have the rMini on a table anyway. Also, coming from an iPad 3, the total weight is still pretty reasonable.
Typing:
To save space, they cut a row of keys. This is fine with me. While the keys are small, I can type with no problem. Feel is quite good. Not a Macbook, but not bad either. I like it, but it's a personal choice.
Hinge:
The hinge, of course, is one of their strong points. You can flip it all the way around like a book (not bad, either). You can also align it with the keys down, which is perfect for movies on a long flight.
Quality control:
OK, I like ClamCase, but they do have some problems. On the first order for my iPad 3, there was a magnet problem regarding the sleep function. On the replacement, there was one key just high enough so if you squeezed it, iTunes would kick in. (I fixed this myself).
On this one, there was also a problem. The extension key for the sleep button was too thick, and pushed on the button all the time. It is always possible, of course, that my mini's sleep button sticks out further than most[wow, should start a thread on this
] Since I find returns a pain, and I like fiddling, I fixed this pretty easily. The button in question (photo below) is two parts. I just used a needle probe to pry off the inner part, sanded it down a little, and pushed it back in. Works perfect now.
Below are several photos to give perspective to the case. Again, I will not be using it all the time, but when I am traveling and expect to be typing a lot this is a slick option.
![664FD237-0E91-466F-9332-16FE78C347F4_zpsgnrx9d1y.jpg]()
![098141F0-1D95-42D1-8F9D-6226B1A77431_zpsgalqfvpv.jpg]()
![9ED36825-9F6D-4DA6-8E02-27249CBAB295_zps8fvxbuqm.jpg]()
![EFDD7E41-0EED-40C9-A9B8-0DC8E9A1CEE0_zpsmipmashl.jpg]()
"movie mode"
![CE4BDD7F-4616-45AA-A24B-637C4B1561B0_zpsffxxv7uv.jpg]()
For perspective, here are some weights. Some are published, some I weighed at home.
![Weights_zps063a3c0a.jpg]()
The button I needed to fix was the sleep button. This is the black button on the lower right hand side. A needle probe on the inside easily took apart the two-part button. I did nothing to the outside portion. I sanded the flat side of the inside portion to reduce the thickness. Working super now.
![26DF745A-A748-461D-A03A-B01F2546C49D_zpsi0hyym7c.jpg]()
After looking at many options for my iPad 3, I went with the ClamCase pro. Pretty heavy, but great typing feel and very good protection (I dropped it onto a concrete parking lot! iPad fine, case had some expected scratches).
So when offered for the iPad rMini, I preordered.
I have to admit, this is a pretty slick case. As you should know by now (based on other reviews), there is not a lot of aluminum in the case--just the keyboard surround. But I am impressed with the plastic shell material. A nice matte finish. White only.
Just a few comments before the photos:
Weight:
It does add weight (see below). Personally, this does not bother me, as I normally have the rMini on a table anyway. Also, coming from an iPad 3, the total weight is still pretty reasonable.
Typing:
To save space, they cut a row of keys. This is fine with me. While the keys are small, I can type with no problem. Feel is quite good. Not a Macbook, but not bad either. I like it, but it's a personal choice.
Hinge:
The hinge, of course, is one of their strong points. You can flip it all the way around like a book (not bad, either). You can also align it with the keys down, which is perfect for movies on a long flight.
Quality control:
OK, I like ClamCase, but they do have some problems. On the first order for my iPad 3, there was a magnet problem regarding the sleep function. On the replacement, there was one key just high enough so if you squeezed it, iTunes would kick in. (I fixed this myself).
On this one, there was also a problem. The extension key for the sleep button was too thick, and pushed on the button all the time. It is always possible, of course, that my mini's sleep button sticks out further than most[wow, should start a thread on this
] Since I find returns a pain, and I like fiddling, I fixed this pretty easily. The button in question (photo below) is two parts. I just used a needle probe to pry off the inner part, sanded it down a little, and pushed it back in. Works perfect now.Below are several photos to give perspective to the case. Again, I will not be using it all the time, but when I am traveling and expect to be typing a lot this is a slick option.
"movie mode"
For perspective, here are some weights. Some are published, some I weighed at home.
The button I needed to fix was the sleep button. This is the black button on the lower right hand side. A needle probe on the inside easily took apart the two-part button. I did nothing to the outside portion. I sanded the flat side of the inside portion to reduce the thickness. Working super now.
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