Portenzo iPad 2 Case: Now a Smart Cover

[radiogoober]

Mine is an original Dodo - not positive what the wood is - looks like it could be bamboo.

lol You can't discern bamboo from plywood? Bamboo can't be mistaken for any other wood.

Yeah, I'm sure many thousands. Most happy customers will never set foot in a thread like this, while other disgruntled ones will go out of their way to find them. Hmmmmm.....

I haven't read about more than a couple of "happy" customers. Most people are upset that this place hasn't even shipped their case, and all the others are complaining about the tremendously poor quality of these cases.

Look at all the pictures on this page alone. There's no consistency. On some of the cases there are multiple plys on the bottom of the case, and I bet those don't warp. The cases that have only a single ply of wood, those are probably the ones warping. You can see why they are doing that absolutely stupid "secret power button" thing, because you can't reliably cut out so much of the border and expect crappy plywood to not snap off. Plywood is not meant to be used like that.

There's another manufacture that uses solid wood, on edge, and mitered. That is a case where at least the frame won't break as easy. I still support a case made out of a plastic that had a vintage/wood/pages look, with the book cover.

I really wish the BookBook case didn't have such an absolutely horrible way of putting your iPad in

 

[glen e]

I would agree - if you are down to a few plys, it bends. Plus if the ply exposed is dark, no sanding will eliminate a bad look. I kept mine in my Waterfield cargo bag for a weeks worth of road work and not jammed in, just sitting in the outside flap. For being on planes and with other luggage, it bent slightly - just enuf - so the bottom is not tight. I'm done - sent it home.

the company that has asked me my opin makes iphone cases now - the frame should be aluminum or black high stress plastic that has a matte black finish or powdercoated. The pad needs to "snap in" like so many of the backs sold here recently. Screw the rubber corner pieces that will degrade over time. Then you can cut as many holes as you want. I don't think the cases are designed for the pad to be taken out daily - which many of us do that want something lighter at home.

But the real key to using plastic/alum is they will ALL BE THE SAME spec. There is too much variance to the wood aspect, if the wood is bad, the router dull or whatever, you get a case different that the one before it. Like when flintlocks were made before interchangeability of parts..no two are the same.

My opin - plywood/wood is great for antique furniture where uniqueness is the norm, no two are the same, bad for mass produced cases in the thousands where the corners must meet an exact spec to continue to work well over years.

 

[billhelm]

My iPad fit great in this case for a month or so, but now it sits uneven in the case and falls out on the right side. It's not really clear what changed to cause this. I waited so long for the thing that I don't even know if I want to even bother trying to exchange it. At this point, thinking of going back to a smart cover and finding some other kind of a sleeve to put it in when I travel.

I really wanted this case to work, because I really like it otherwise.

 

[Digidesign]

Sound like it's the wood variable, which may change shape over time especially under heat or humidity. Thanks to everyone who contributed to this thread, it helped me to make a decision for this case.

 

[star3124]

Sound like it's the wood variable, which may change shape over time especially under heat or humidity. Thanks to everyone who contributed to this thread, it helped me to make a decision for this case.

Yah me too. No matter how awesome the concept of a moleskin case is, there are just to many issues to contend with (power button, warp frame, falling apart at the spine, ipad falling out) that are just not worth the price and waiting time. To be fair Portenzo is still prob the best of the moleskin brands, but I'll still be canceling my order .

Can someone send me the STM skinny lol? They don't ship to Canada!!

 

[Sand Man]

My iPad fit great in this case for a month or so, but now it sits uneven in the case and falls out on the right side. It's not really clear what changed to cause this. I waited so long for the thing that I don't even know if I want to even bother trying to exchange it. At this point, thinking of going back to a smart cover and finding some other kind of a sleeve to put it in when I travel.

I really wanted this case to work, because I really like it otherwise.

All you need to do is e-mail Scott at Awsomeperson@portenzo.com with some pics and an explenation of what the problem is. They say that they stand behind there products. If it is there fault they have been allowing the customer to keep the case they are using until the new one arrives. Does your case have the secret power button or the opening for the power button??

 

[bluebermuda]

Holy crap, that looks absolutely horrible! Look how there's only a single "ply" holding the parts together. It seems Portenzo has some nice equipment but they don't know anything about wood!




Thousands huh? *rolls eyes*

Yes thousands. Simply peruse Portenzo's Facebook page and you will quickly see that they have over 15,000 in total orders.

 

[marina2042]

I bought this case but then received an order shipment for the Grove case I ordered. I decided the Grove cases matches my needs better. If anyone wants this case, let me know as it is brand new (only used once). It is black on black, has a camera opening, magna-grip, elastic band and a stylus holder. It looks perfect.

 

[Sand Man]

Yes thousands. Simply peruse Portenzo's Facebook page and you will quickly see that they have over 15,000 in total orders.

Not to mention how many Treegloo, Dodo Case and Pad & Quill have sold. These cases are for someone that wants a stealth case that looks good and offers a reasonable amount of protection.
It's like motorcycle tires for me. I have a brand that I prefer because it provides the handling I prefer, but it is not for everyone else. You all have made your point, know move on and quit making the water muddy around here. 8

 

[Mr.C]

I bought this case but then received an order shipment for the Grove case I ordered. I decided the Grove cases matches my needs better. If anyone wants this case, let me know as it is brand new (only used once). It is black on black, has a camera opening, magna-grip, elastic band and a stylus holder. It looks perfect.

Out of interest how do you find the Grove case ? I've got one on order but it probably won't arrive until sometime in August as they indicate 8-10 weeks delivery at the moment. The main reason I got one is for the leather smart cover which seems much nicer then Apple's.

 

[Sand Man]

Out of interest how do you find the Grove case ? I've got one on order but it probably won't arrive until sometime in August as they indicate 8-10 weeks delivery at the moment. The main reason I got one is for the leather smart cover which seems much nicer then Apple's.

http://www.grovemade.com/collections/ipad-2-case-features its a good thing that Apple comes out with a NEW I-Pad annually it seems. This case might warp pretty bad, but time will tell.

 

[radiogoober]

Not to mention how many Treegloo, Dodo Case and Pad & Quill have sold. These cases are for someone that wants a stealth case that looks good and offers a reasonable amount of protection.
It's like motorcycle tires for me. I have a brand that I prefer because it provides the handling I prefer, but it is not for everyone else. You all have made your point, know move on and quit making the water muddy around here. 8

Yes. If Portenzo made motorcycle tires, then you would only be able to park your motorcycle in the garage. If you actually took your motorcycle out on the road, the tires would shred and immediately fall off the motorcycle. But they'd be pretty tires!!!11!!11!!!1!!11!!one!!1!

 

[glen e]

Stick around goober...you're fun to read

 

[marina2042]

Out of interest how do you find the Grove case ? I've got one on order but it probably won't arrive until sometime in August as they indicate 8-10 weeks delivery at the moment. The main reason I got one is for the leather smart cover which seems much nicer then Apple's.

I ordered it back in April...took forever to come so I gave up and got a Portenzo. The day I bought the Portenzo is the day the Grove case shipped go figure....I have the iphone case from them as well and after about a years worth of use its still in perfect condition...it holds up pretty well.

 

[Mr.C]

I ordered it back in April...took forever to come so I gave up and got a Portenzo. The day I bought the Portenzo is the day the Grove case shipped go figure....I have the iphone case from them as well and after about a years worth of use its still in perfect condition...it holds up pretty well.

The only reason I ordered the case is because it was only $30 more then the leather smart cover on it's own. I'm more interested in the smart cover as it seems much nicer and likely to last longer then the Apple one. I figure I would try the case and if it didn't work out for any reason it would only be a $30 loss. It does look nice although I prefer to use my iPad with as little covering as possible.

 

[marina2042]

The only reason I ordered the case is because it was only $30 more then the leather smart cover on it's own. I'm more interested in the smart cover as it seems much nicer and likely to last longer then the Apple one. I figure I would try the case and if it didn't work out for any reason it would only be a $30 loss. It does look nice although I prefer to use my iPad with as little covering as possible.

The leather smart cover is pretty neat....but I actually like the Apple one just as much. The case does work with an Apple smart cover which is great because I have the blue one .

 

[Digidesign]

http://www.grovemade.com/collections/ipad-2-case-features its a good thing that Apple comes out with a NEW I-Pad annually it seems. This case might warp pretty bad, but time will tell.

Image

That's one of the most beautiful cases out there IMHO, and hey, if it ever warps so bad that it doesn't fit the iPad anymore, you can always use it as a cutting board

 

[Mr.C]

The leather smart cover is pretty neat....but I actually like the Apple one just as much. The case does work with an Apple smart cover which is great because I have the blue one .

That's good to know. I'm looking forward to getting it eventually although the wait is going to be long. I think I will like the smart cover even more then the Apple one. plus the wooden case seems much nicer then those other similar products by Portenzo, Pad & Quil etc. Hopefully it's not prone to warp. I'm not too bothered as I'm more interested in the smart cover.

 

[rkdiddy]

http://www.grovemade.com/collections/ipad-2-case-features its a good thing that Apple comes out with a NEW I-Pad annually it seems. This case might warp pretty bad, but time will tell.

Image

Doubles as cutting board?

 

[radiogoober]

Doubles as cutting board?

He was making a joke. A lot of cutting boards are made out of bamboo and look pretty dang similar to the back of the Grove case.

BTW don't wash bamboo cutting boards in your dishwasher. They're usually assembled with crappy glues and the bamboo will delaminate!

 

[As7eroidS]

anyone received their sky blue interior? post pics

 

[Sand Man]

Grove cases.....

I was just reading their Facebook page and as I suspected being that the case is made from Bamboo it is even more fragile than the moleskin books. Some guy actually SAYS he dropped his case roughly a foot and half from a carpets floor and it broke. To make it even worse he never got to use the case really because he had just gotten it the day before and was putting it in his computer bag the next morning.

HHHHHmmmmmmm, Bamboo may be pretty but it sure does not handle bumps and bruises very well. I guess that could go for all woods, but some will hold up a little better than others.

 

[glen e]

I should have a CNC /molded proto frame with a solid snap in operation in my hands soon, to post here....enuf of this "I hope mine works/holds up" wood crap.......

 

[Paik4Life]

I should have a CNC /molded proto frame with a solid snap in operation in my hands soon, to post here....enuf of this "I hope mine works/holds up" wood crap.......

Awesome...I wish I had access to someone with a CNC machine...

~Paik

 

[ffonsok]

Unbelievably pissed. Took my iPad out of the portenzo case to show the form factor to a friend. When I put it back in I pushed extra hard on the upper right corner to get it to seat properly in the rubber fitting. Felt a burst of pressure under my thumb and sure enough a small 1 cm crack appeared in the bezel. In the last 24 hours it's spidered a little bit, but still doesn't affect the screen. I'm planning on taking it into the apple store to hopefully get it replaced, but I'm out of the country for another two weeks. Hoping it doesn't get worse.

Anyone had any experience with this? I'm really hoping apple doesn't consider this accidental damage. Any amount of pressure I exert with my thumb shouldn't be enough to crack the famed "gorilla glass" screen. My iPad 1 went through far more pressure and usage than this.