I ordered the Aura2 case for iPad 2 one week ago and it arrived today.
First, please note: if you "like" iSkin's page on Facebook, you'll get a 15% off coupon good for your entire order. I ordered the aura2 ($100) and two iphone 4 cases, so the 15% really made a huge difference.
Here are my impressions of the aura2, in case they might be helpful.
The materials are indeed high quality, and the case is attractive in person as in the photos at iskin.com. The brushed aluminum looks different from leather, but it is similar to and as nice as fine leather. The stitching is quite good, better than on cheaper cases I've seen. I would say the color of the case in the photos at iskin.com is pretty accurate (at least on my monitor).
The aura2 case weighs about 8.5 ounces. My previous case weighed only 2-3 ounces (a very thin leather case), so I definitely notice the added heft.
I would describe the case as having 4 main parts (securely attached to each other). First, there's the main part of the case: the back, which is a kind of envelope into which you slide the ipad2. Your ipad is secured into this part by a 1" narrow flap that securely closes with velcro.
Then there's the front cover, which has pockets on the inside for business or credit cards and slips of paper, such as memos. (They say the front cover is shielded to protect your credit card information; I nonetheless urge you NOT to store your credit cards in your ipad case!) Inside the front cover there are also two vertical ridges that are supposed to hold the ipad at two different viewing angles. These ridges don't stick out very far, and as a result, the ipad can easily slip out of the desired viewing angle. That's a minor annoyance.
The third part of the case is a piece of black material that looks like ballistic nylon that you might find on luggage. (Well, black on the outside, grey microfiber on the inside to match the inside front cover.) Though, it's a finer version of ballistic nylon, it looks good, and complements the look of the whole case. This black material connects the main part of the case (the back which holds the ipad) to the front cover. It's like the hinge of a book (for lack of a better way to describe it). It does not run along the entire left edge of the case; it starts about 1/2" from the top and goes to about 1/2" from the bottom. It flexes a lot. As a result, the front cover may not always line up perfectly with the main/bottom part of the case, especially when the front cover is completely folded around the back, like when you might be reading a book on the ipad. This is a minor annoyance to me.
The fourth piece of the case is a hard flap that normally folds flat against the back of the case, between the back of the case and the black ballistic nylon piece that connects the back/main to the front cover. This hard flap sticks out about an inch when extended, and runs vertically near the left side of the ipad (when in portrait orientation) or near the back side when in landscape orientation for typing. The purpose of this hard flap is to prop up the ipad for typing. You know how some USB keyboards lie flat on your desk, but have little feet on the back that you can fold down so that your keyboard will be at a more comfortable typing angle? That's what this flap does. When not needed, it lies flat against the back of the case, but underneath the black ballistic cloth piece, and neatly out of sight.
In typing mode, as shown in the iskin pictures, the front cover becomes what iskin calls a privacy shield. However, it only shields your screen from the view of people directly across from you, not people to your sides, such as strangers you're seated next to on a flight. So, this feature is of limited value, in my opinion. However, this shield also blocks sunlight from your screen, making the screen easier to see in bright daylight (provided the sunlight is coming from across from you, not from your sides).
When the case is closed (or open in whatever position), the camera and all ports are accessible, though the volume rocker switch and mute switch are hard to reach, hard but not impossible. Another minor annoyance. Remember that 1" flap secured by velcro that holds your ipad in place in the bottom/main part of the case? When the case is closed, that flap is cleverly positioned in the spine of the case, so there is absolutely zero chance your ipad will fall out of the case. (Besides, that 1" flap has a very secure velcro closure, which I'm sure will continue to be secure for years.) When the case is completely closed, the four corners of the ipad are somewhat exposed, but they are recessed, so even if you drop the ipad it's unlikely there will be direct impact to the corners.
The build quality is very good, for the most part. That iSkin emblem is slightly cheap looking (even if it weren't bent).
I really don't like how tentatively the case holds your ipad at your desired viewing angle - just a tiny bump and the ipad will slide to a lower viewing angle. Not great if you're laying in bed with the ipad on your lap or tummy.
I'm not crazy about the privacy shield. And the weight, I'm still getting used to the weight.
Maybe I'm being picky. I've seen a lot of cases, and this one looks and feels nicer than most. But then, this one costs $100. If it cost $50, I'd say get it in a heartbeat. For $100, I'm not so sure.
But maybe most cases have their own little quirks.
So, I still need to think about whether I want to keep it.
p.s. - sorry about the long length of this post, i'm not good at being concise. i hope for a few of you the extra detail is helpful.
