This case is just totally awsome & it can have a smart front cover if you want!
Just got my Otter Case Defender for Ipad 2 from GleeMobile.com and I got to wonder what the negative fuss is about.
This case is GREAT!
I love it, and so will you, don't listen to the detractors and complainers here, this thing rocks!
It looks absolutely great and is so well thought out and designed, accommodating and protecting the Ipad 2 in every single way.
Not only that, there are a couple things worth highlighting right off the bat!
The front cover can be easily made into a SMART COVER!
How about that! I'll get back to this in a minute.
This makes this case all the more attractive!
Also: The Otterbox Defender is definitely Ipad back skin protection friendly. Very important detail for some of us.
I have a Wrapsol skin protector on the pack of my ipad 2.
I think it is fair to say this skin protector by Wrapsol is one of the thicker ones out there, so this is great to know and people should know that one can utilize other protectors based on this fact.
In my experience, having used both Zagg, and BSE (worst skins ever), are seemingly a great deal thinner and definitely much more stickier in feeling, but they should work if your using either one of those.
My Ipad 2 slipped right into The Defender's plastic casing without one problem, no snags, no tight fit, slid right into its protective cover and snapped into place beautifully!
What a joy knowing I can take it out of the Defender anytime I want and not have to worry about the back protection when changing cases.
Very good news to all that like to utilize this option when using your Ipad,
The Otterbox Defender is definitely Ipad screen protector friendly!!!
So are you using a different screen protector like, SGP, Wrapsol, or Power Support Anti Glare, which is what I use,
NO PROBLEM! Use them, don't remove them, they integrate beautifully with the Defender!
You do not have to use the one supplied by Otterbox. Keep it as a spare. Its probably not as good as the ones mentioned above!
I would think this would be fairly obvious but some seem to think this a prerequisites of using this durable protective enclosure, not at all, use whatever your little heart desires!
Now some thoughts based on some of the negative things I have read written about this case.
Yes it is lighter, so much lighter and wonderfully lighter making it so much easier to handle and use!
Makes the entire experience totally different than using the original Defender with the Ipad 1. It extraordinary that it feels so much lighter than the original in its defender case. The exact weight was noted earlier but it really feels significantly different when using.
The best way to explain is Its like the difference between reading a hardback book and a paperback. It is a totally different feeling of weight in your hands.
It has the same great rubber grip, nothing changed her much from the original
Yes Otterbox shaved off some of the margins around the screen!
So what!
It's such a better design and one doesn't miss for one second the former bulk of the original Defender. Once you pick it up and start using it, you'll forget all about whatever was once there!
Most importantly I did not think even for a moment that Otterbox sacrificed anything in overall protection when they made this design decision.
The Ipad is totally entombed in its protective shell and surrounded by the rubber outer casing and is fully protected all the way around.
Also great news is this Defender installs so much easier and faster than the original. It will from now on take you far less time to get your Ipad 2 in and out of this case. I want to be able to change cases when ever I want and I don't want it to be a chore! I do think I'll end up using this one quite a lot!
And, whoever said something about there not being adequate space to protect the screen when laying the Defender on a flat surface? That doing so was leaving it exposed and susceptible to screen scratches?????
WHAT???? Absolutely false, nonsense, more rumors and innuendo!
There is no way the screen will get damaged being close to a flat surface. NONE! There is without doubt a very comfortable margin of space between the case and screen and whatever flat surface it is placed faced down on
There should have no worries about this, especially if your using a screen protector, which everyone does who uses this case.
Yes the speaker grill is open, again, a big so what!
I was a little worried about this until I saw how they creatively designed a way to enclose this bottom section of the ipad by fully recessing the speaker grill into the Defender's case. The speaker is not susceptible to any kind of drop or mishap.
It's not a water proof case after all, maybe just maybe somewhat water resistant.
In the Defender case it is sufficiently recessed into its protective environment to protect it from minor spills or drops into a wet or damp surface, especially if that it doesn't have any depth to it. This is a theory and I'm not testing, but it sure looks that way!
If you drop it in a puddle or submerge it in an ocean, lake, river, whatever, your going to definitely have a problem.
To my knowledge there isn't a case out yet that will prevent this kind of water damage to the open speaker grill.
they removed the very annoying charge cover door, thank goodness!
To remove and access the charging port, simply unsnap your rear flap and pop the charge cord in and your good to go. So much smarter design.
Also much has been also said about the volume button closure not staying securely closed. I did not find this to be the case with my case, though I can see this potentially being a problem down the line.
There are two things I would like see improved and these are simple straight forward things Otter could do right away with out any problem what so ever.
There are home fixes for both, but these are things that should be addressed by Otter to improve the quality and add a feature to this already great product.
The first is the headphone jack seal.
I would recommend Otter consider changing this from a straight flap that is supposed to button down and close securely be changed to include a rubber nipple on middle part of the flap which would simply be used like a plug going directly into the headphone jack.
This would seal that port completely and securely. I think there is probably a home remedy for that, but I'll have to give that some further thought.
The way Otter choose to do it seems to be not as secure in a closed position as one might want I can see this easily popping out, a little like the first defender, which was annoying.
Compared to the back flap for the charging port the headphone jack is no where near as securely closed. I wonder why they did not see this potential problem.
I want to be clear on this, it does stay closed, it just could stay more closed more securely.
Given the great amount of complaint and furor I had read and was expecting, this proved to be again a little bit blown way out of proportion. People you just can't believe everything you read!
The flap definitely stays in place once secured, a little wiggle here, a little wiggle there seems to do the trick. Mine is in there and seems to be staying put.
The other thing I discovered is something I have not seen mentioned.
Why did they not make their front cover Smart?
Why not utilize the great sleep/wake feature, could have been easily accomplished as it took me all of ten minutes to do!
This would have made a nifty additional feature for the Defender another great selling point, for this case, and, a simple one for Otter to have included during the design and manufacturing of the case, yet it was not done.
Until now!
I simply placed a small sliver of a magnet with some double sided tape to the inside part of the front cover and
BINGO,
Now we have an Otterbox with smart front cover, now that's great!
I have included a few pictures of placement, upper left hand corner of front cover you'll see the magnet. Obviously the double sided tape showing in the pictures would not be the case once you affix the magnet permanently, You would see nothing!
This is a fairly simple and straightforward fix. Just do a little testing with a small piece of a magnet, and some double sided tape will work.
I am not going to affix the magnet to the inside of the case permanently right away as I want to see how it works for the next couple of days but so far, it hasn't failed once when removing the front cover and placing it back on!
Put the cover on, nighty night Ipad,
take it off good morning Ipad!
I think this makes a nice little additional feature for this already exceptional case!
So the bottom line for me is two thumbs way way up and I couldn't be happier with this case.
As I said I got mine at
GleeMobile.com and for a very fair price, I might add
I do think there are some coupons floating around out there, so look around.
They are a huge distributer of Otterbox have a great relationship with them, and I have heard from them directly that they'll be receiving their shipments much sooner than those notorious discounters who are all trying to undercut everybody else.
Gleemobile also have free shipping, no tax, all the more reason to throw them the business!
I highly recommend your checking them out for all your accessories and especially this case, do not believe the naysayers, this case is hands down awesome!
-Magnet attached with double sided tape to inside Otterbox Defender for Ipad 2 front cover
Ipad on front cover not completely closed.
Ipad off front cover completely closed.
