This is an interesting case and design. The only possible con that I can see in the design is that the inside liner of the cover (whatever it's made from) is going to be in contact with the table, etc. when it's in the display positions, which could transfer dirt, grit, etc. to the screen when closed.
Got a tip for us?
Let us know
Become a MacRumors Supporter for $50/year with no ads, ability to filter front page stories, and private forums.
New STM Kicker iPad2 Case Is Available
- Thread starter Blorzoga
- Start date
- Sort by reaction score
If they break off, send the thing back! I doubt they'll break off though. It looks like if your iPad was in "typing mode" (whatever you call it, where it's at a 30' angle to horizontal), you'd basically have to step on it to break the kickstands.
But, in STM's defense: Their early batch of STM Skinny cases had an issue where if you folded the cover all the way back, the magnets would turn off the screen. They immediately released a "patch kit" that fixed the issue. They sent it out free of charge to anybody who had the issue. It took about 3 days for mine to come in.
STM is a good company. I have absolutely no worries or reserves in ordering this new case from them.
Ahhh! Thank you for posting, I did not know it was available yet!
Edit: Just ordered black!
OUCH that's brutal. I got it for 38.95 shipped from eBags before the price hike. Mines already shipped too so I guess they can't renege on the price!
Same here. They must have listed it at the lower price by mistake. Either that or they saw what other sites were charging and increased it. Eiher way, we lucked out.
Just got my kicker...it's going back
I was really looking forward to this case. I received it today and was very disappointed. First of all, it was broken. One of the corners that houses the magnets was broken and the magnet came out. That was probably ebags' fault for shipping it in an unpadded plastic envelope. But the real problem is with the case. The material is ok, but when you fold the flap back, it does not lie flat. The kickstand mechanism protrudes too much. It doesn't lay anywhere near as flat as the Skinny. And the stand positions are not very stable. What more can I say, I'm sending it back. They should have just made a leather skinny without the tab.
I was really looking forward to this case. I received it today and was very disappointed. First of all, it was broken. One of the corners that houses the magnets was broken and the magnet came out. That was probably ebags' fault for shipping it in an unpadded plastic envelope. But the real problem is with the case. The material is ok, but when you fold the flap back, it does not lie flat. The kickstand mechanism protrudes too much. It doesn't lay anywhere near as flat as the Skinny. And the stand positions are not very stable. What more can I say, I'm sending it back. They should have just made a leather skinny without the tab.
Yikes. That sucks to hear. I'm literally walking out the door to go pick mine up.
I have mixed feelings about the Kicker by STM.
Good:
- I think the leather material looks very, very nice. I have the black and it looks very professional, it feels like quality material, and it keeps the same low profile as the STM Skinny (maybe a couple of mm thicker?)
- The "smart cover" auto on/off works perfectly
- The cover has magnets to keep it closed so it just doesn't flop open
- No issues with folding the cover all the way back and the screen turning off
- The "kick stand" works very well.
- STM still has the best "clip in" system on the market for cases
Bad:
- The case doesn't have the "tab" that the STM Skinny had, so if your twist the cover a little the screen pops on and off. I would have concerns if I put this in my bag while traveling that the cover would move, switch on the screen, and kill my battery
- It does have a bigger foot print than the STM skinny when you try to use the case as a stand
- The kickstand prevents the case from lying flat.
Neutral:
- Blorzoga said when cover is folded back the iPad doesn't lay flat. This is true. But I think it will lay flat after a little bit of use. It seems the "hinge" (for lack of a better word) is just a little tight. I hope it stretches out a little.
Honestly I think the leather case + tab (without kickstand) would have been the ultimate case. Overall, I'm going to keep it. I really like how it looks and it feels nice in my hands.
Good:
- I think the leather material looks very, very nice. I have the black and it looks very professional, it feels like quality material, and it keeps the same low profile as the STM Skinny (maybe a couple of mm thicker?)
- The "smart cover" auto on/off works perfectly
- The cover has magnets to keep it closed so it just doesn't flop open
- No issues with folding the cover all the way back and the screen turning off
- The "kick stand" works very well.
- STM still has the best "clip in" system on the market for cases
Bad:
- The case doesn't have the "tab" that the STM Skinny had, so if your twist the cover a little the screen pops on and off. I would have concerns if I put this in my bag while traveling that the cover would move, switch on the screen, and kill my battery
- It does have a bigger foot print than the STM skinny when you try to use the case as a stand
- The kickstand prevents the case from lying flat.
Neutral:
- Blorzoga said when cover is folded back the iPad doesn't lay flat. This is true. But I think it will lay flat after a little bit of use. It seems the "hinge" (for lack of a better word) is just a little tight. I hope it stretches out a little.
Honestly I think the leather case + tab (without kickstand) would have been the ultimate case. Overall, I'm going to keep it. I really like how it looks and it feels nice in my hands.
I think they should have just made a leather (or pleather) Skinny. Why mess with perfection?
I'm with you. Perhaps a patch of Velcro to hold the tab from slipping, but otherwise the STM skinny is just about perfect.
I suggested (to STM) a retractable tab that would slide into the flap, out of the way to allow only the magnets to keep the flap closed but would slide back out to use the stand. The Velcro or equivalent retainer would be nice too
I'm really torn on this case. I received my Kicker this afternoon and I also have a Skinny.
The "leather" material is definitely nicer than the material on the Skinny. I also like the straight cover instead of the fold (plus no tab!) as it makes it easier to fold backward and hold it without it collapsing. Unfortunately, like some have already mentioned, mine won't fold flat. I'm hoping there is a breaking in period just like the Skinny.
What I'm really unsure of is the kicker. While it's not annoying on the back, the plastic just feels cheap. I'm not sure how long it will last without breaking. It's sort of difficult to pop out the kicker, and when you want to snap it back, it requires a bit of effort to click it as you have to make a pass over all the edges of the stand to snap them in.
Also, what's up with the three indents on the cover? I can only make use of two of them with the kicker. The small kicker will go into the middle indent while the long kicker only goes into the one furthest from the edge. I can't get either of the kickers in the indent along the edge. I was kind of hoping the three indents allowed us to choose the angle, but I guess that's not how it works. Anyone find out what the unused indent is for?
Anyway, I'm going to they it this weekend and see if I can make up my mind. I may be shipping it back come Monday.
The "leather" material is definitely nicer than the material on the Skinny. I also like the straight cover instead of the fold (plus no tab!) as it makes it easier to fold backward and hold it without it collapsing. Unfortunately, like some have already mentioned, mine won't fold flat. I'm hoping there is a breaking in period just like the Skinny.
What I'm really unsure of is the kicker. While it's not annoying on the back, the plastic just feels cheap. I'm not sure how long it will last without breaking. It's sort of difficult to pop out the kicker, and when you want to snap it back, it requires a bit of effort to click it as you have to make a pass over all the edges of the stand to snap them in.
Also, what's up with the three indents on the cover? I can only make use of two of them with the kicker. The small kicker will go into the middle indent while the long kicker only goes into the one furthest from the edge. I can't get either of the kickers in the indent along the edge. I was kind of hoping the three indents allowed us to choose the angle, but I guess that's not how it works. Anyone find out what the unused indent is for?
Anyway, I'm going to they it this weekend and see if I can make up my mind. I may be shipping it back come Monday.
Mine arrived broken so I sent it back anyway. I was not impressed by the case at all. Besides being broken, the cover was warped, probably from the heat. The fact that it wouldn't fold back and lie flat was a complete deal breaker for me. In addition, I thought the typing position was much less stable than with the Skinny. The kickstand only supported the center, so the iPad would rock side to side while typing. And the three indents puzzled me as well. When I saw the picture I thought there were 3 typing positions and three viewing positions. I suspect they made the indented cover with the intention of having three positions for the kickstand, but things didn't work out. Anyway, i'll be sticking with my Skinny.
Returned mine also. I was disappointed in nearly every aspect of this case. Appearance, functionality, quality. I have seen better for 1/2 the price.
Unfortunately, another no on this case. I have the Skinny and like it quite a bit. Should have waited on the kicker before ordering it, but thought STM was so close with the Skinny that the Kicker would be my perfect case.
The material is pretty disappointing. Feels cheap. The cover doesn't fold back flat. I think the pull out stand is kind of silly, especially since it means having the ridges on the front cover. There are so many covers out there with the two position folding cover. It shouldn't have been that hard to make a Skinny with better material (how about some leather), no tab, and a conventional way for the cover to fold into a couple of stand positions. Everything else (slim profile, good mounting system with magnets on the corners) would have been great.
The material is pretty disappointing. Feels cheap. The cover doesn't fold back flat. I think the pull out stand is kind of silly, especially since it means having the ridges on the front cover. There are so many covers out there with the two position folding cover. It shouldn't have been that hard to make a Skinny with better material (how about some leather), no tab, and a conventional way for the cover to fold into a couple of stand positions. Everything else (slim profile, good mounting system with magnets on the corners) would have been great.