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Chinao folio case (open bezel, auto sleep/wake)

Donka said:
Thanks. I sometimes use my in the gym to watch videos when I am on a treadmill/cross trainer etc. I basically strap it to the display panel on the machine. Is it held very securely?
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If you're strapping it then wouldn't the straps hold it down? If you're solely relying on the case to secure the ipad then I wouldn't trust this style of case because of the shake created when the treadmill bounces from your weight. I have a treadmill and use the Belkin Snap Shield because the case slighlty covers the ipad's bezel. Nothing will shake the ipad out of that case. Also, I use industrial strength velcro to secure the snap shield to the treadmill.
 
sotie said:
I finally received Chinao's Vaja Clone in Black Leather yesterday. I bought it as a gift for a friend but I snuck my ipad in it and took some quick pictures to post here. I purchased it from the person that we're not allowed to mention. If you google "chinao ipad 2" the website I bought it from comes up first in the search results.

I'm very happy with it! If I didn't already own a Vaja Libretto I would pick this over it considering that I paid $160 for my Vaja. I wish this was released a couple of months ago before I ordered the Vaja!

Here are some quick thoughts...

It's very professional looking and would be very appropriate for a business meeting. There's no chemical smell; it has a very faint leather smell to it. The leather has a nice feel to it; there isn't a lot of padding but it feels good. There is a magnet for auto sleep/wake. When the cover is folded over the back I couldn't trigger the sleep/wake. The interior is a soft grey microfiber. All port cutouts perfectly line up. The stitching is really nice. I really like the care they took when wrapping the leather into the corners (look at picture #5 below). When I shook the ipad upside down it didn't fall out. When the case is in the typing and video viewing positions it's very sturdy and secure.

I could only find one negative to report: The top cover on the one I received overlaps the case body a couple of millimeters too much (picture #3 below).
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I have to say, I am really impressed with this case! The negative you pointed out- the overlapping front cover, I actually think is a positive. I have seen a few Vaja cases , where the cover is just a little too short. The overall design, lack of exposed corners, functionality, is great!
 
sotie said:
If you're strapping it then wouldn't the straps hold it down? If you're solely relying on the case to secure the ipad then I wouldn't trust this style of case because of the shake created when the treadmill bounces from your weight. I have a treadmill and use the Belkin Snap Shield because the case slighlty covers the ipad's bezel. Nothing will shake the ipad out of that case. Also, I use industrial strength velcro to secure the snap shield to the treadmill.
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Thanks for the feedback. What I normally do is flip the cover round the back and put a strap around this and the display on the machine so the iPad is effectively havnging from this like a picture. It means it does rely on the case being secure.
Looks like I'll be sticking with the case I have.
 
Donka said:
Thanks for the feedback. What I normally do is flip the cover round the back and put a strap around this and the display on the machine so the iPad is effectively havnging from this like a picture. It means it does rely on the case being secure.
Looks like I'll be sticking with the case I have.
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Yeah, while this feels really secure I would not put my faith in it on a treadmill. A case that covers the bezel is your best bet.
 
laurenr said:
I have to say, I am really impressed with this case! The negative you pointed out- the overlapping front cover, I actually think is a positive. I have seen a few Vaja cases , where the cover is just a little too short. The overall design, lack of exposed corners, functionality, is great!
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Now that you mention it... my Vaja Libretto doesn't extend far enough to the edge and it really bothers me.
 
sotie said:
Now that you mention it... my Vaja Libretto doesn't extend far enough to the edge and it really bothers me.
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Yes, you see, the problem with the Vaja design of the top cover, is that they tried to fit it into/inside the frame of the bottom encasement. It not only looks better to sit on top, with the slight overlap, but it is actually more functional that way, as displayed by the Chinao case you showed us.
 
Someone asked me privately what the weight of the Chinao Leather Vaja clone is so I thought I'd also post it privately here... it's 10.9 ounces. :)
 
Has anyone bought the wheat leather case on ebay? It's higher priced than the black or orange leather cases available elsewhere, but the wheat color looks nice in the photos.
 
wacomme said:
Has anyone bought the wheat leather case on ebay? It's higher priced than the black or orange leather cases available elsewhere, but the wheat color looks nice in the photos.
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It's a different design than what is being discussed here.
 
kayjay said:
It's not an open bezel design. I agree that the color looks very nice, but I really prefer the bezel uncovered.
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Good to know. I thought it was open bezel. Does it show that it's not open bezel on the website? I can't tell.
 
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Ipadgrandad said:
you should always go with a case that meets your needs, that wheat colored case looks like the trim is very thin still leaving most of the bezel open unlike some cases that the trim goes all the way to the edge of the screen. The other is completly open they both look very nice it looks like ill have mine tomorrow i went with the orange vaja. ill post pics this weekend, a week with the smart cover and i feel dumb spending $69 + tax for no protection at all
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I look really forward to seeing the pictures of the orange/tan cover! And don't feel too bad about wasting one case. I've also just bought seconds:p, which actually looks pretty similar to this case.:eek:
 
cookie1988 said:
it depends on u,for me,i really love the wheat color,i have this and i also have a vaja case,if you dont mind the design of the back of wheat case,i think its good.the wheat leather is better than the vaja one.so choose your like.
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What's different about the back of the wheat case? Also, how much of the bezel is covered with the wheat case? How is the leather? I hear it's nice.
 
wacomme said:
What's different about the back of the wheat case? Also, how much of the bezel is covered with the wheat case? How is the leather? I hear it's nice.
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This is too funny. You're the one that originally wrote that you saw the wheat colored case on eBay and now it's as if you've never seen it before!
 
sotie said:
This is too funny. You're the one that originally wrote that you saw the wheat colored case on eBay and now it's as if you've never seen it before!
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Not really. I can't tell clearly from the photos how the bezel is covered. It seems to be a thin lip around the entire ipad compared to the snap-in version that connects at the corners.

I also don't know how easy it is to remove the ipad from this case. The main reason I don't like covered bezels compared to the snap-ins is because I often remove the ipad from the case; I want a folio case that enables easy removal of the ipad.
 
I have the same case in the PU red/brown material, and that's my only complaint with the case. The cover moves around enough when I carry it around that it activates the wake/sleep over and over, which is annoying. But that's probably going to happen with about any case that doesn't have some kind of latch or closure to hold the cover still.
 
The Wheat is fantastic :cool: Really liking the color...its a good change ya know? From standard issue black/brown leathers.
 
flatline82 said:
The Wheat is fantastic :cool: Really liking the color...its a good change ya know? From standard issue black/brown leathers.
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How do you like the small lip around the bezel? Is it easy to take the iPad in and out of the case?
 
I enjoyed the original Apple Case (Though I went with a higher quality clone case for it as well.)...so the lip doesn't bother me and its super easy to take out.
 
I see you guys are comparing this to the Vaja Libretto, but on the Vaja the magnets hold the cover shut. The Vaja snaps shut just like a Smartcover.

Does this case snap shut using magnets or does the cover flap around?
 
I just wish Chinao would release a folio iPad 2 case with the rear flap from the iPad 1 case. Thats the only thing I don't like about their current cases.
 
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