After having seen this thread earlier today, I pulled out some easel type thingies I had bought a long time ago for a photo project and tested them out with my "iPad Model," which is a book that is just about the exact dimensions and weight of the iPad. One of the easels is metal and I'm afraid it would scratch up my iPad, while the other one is lightweight plastic, almost too lightweight. Off to Office Depot I went....
They carry a house-brand "Premium Book & Copy Holder", which is black plastic, very sturdy and has 3 adjustable viewing angles. The iPad can be positioned in either portrait or landscape mode, no problem, and there is nothing to interfere when one reaches forward to touch it. I took one of these out of the box and put my "iPad model" on it right there at the store, just to be sure it would meet my needs, and once satisfied, bought two of them. They're just $5.99 each. One will live in my bedroom and the other will be out here in the main living area, but it also will be spending a lot of time on my balcony when I'm out there with the iPad.
While not as elegant looking as the much-more expensive MacAlly bookstand, I think this will do just as nicely at a far more reasonable price. It folds flat for easy transporting in a bag along with the iPad if one wants to do so. The clips move out of the way so that they won't touch the iPad and the iPad will rest on a shelf area. This should be very useful!
Now all I need is the iPad......
ETA: here is a photo of the item. I notice that it's twice as much on the online store as I paid. Interesting....
