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So some good news...I saw on Facebook (portenzo is awake and writing today) that you can get a case without the corners and do it yourself.

I saw some self adhesive felt material that would look much better and not stick out.
 
I'm gonna go with the "ghetto" corners because I know it will hold my device. It is the same stuff from the iPad 1 and that stuff was good.
 
OUCH. Can you exchange it? Looks like some imperfections in the wood plus that corner does not look like the pictures.

Anyone else with a Portenzo have same problem?

I just don't understand what's the big deal about the corners, it was on the pictures that he posted on the the site, not like Portenzo is tricking anybody. Check them out, it's there...

Besides the 23.5 has a transparent edges, which I thought was pretty cool!
 
Worth the wait?

I'm not looking for a flame war but wanted to ask whether it's really worth waiting for who knows how long for a Portenzo vs getting a Pad and Quill. I see that SJ has an PQ. Thoughts? I'd rather not wait 60 days but wanted the opinion of those with the cases.
 
I'm not looking for a flame war but wanted to ask whether it's really worth waiting for who knows how long for a Portenzo vs getting a Pad and Quill. I see that SJ has an PQ. Thoughts? I'd rather not wait 60 days but wanted the opinion of those with the cases.

If you don't want to wait then you have your answer. Portenzo owners believe that the wait is worth it due to better quality vs pad and quill. I cannot comment on portenZo other than their poor customer service. But I would consider getting one once shipping times are back to normal. However at this point I might just pre order the iPad 3 version.

I have had the octavo for a few days now and love it more and more. Everyone who has seen it is amazed by it and I get lots of complements.

They are both great cases so really depends if you want to wait several months longer for that alleged marginal improvement in quality.
 
Let's hope so

Let's hope so. I look forward to reading some actual reviews.


Hi Skidadle, I think many, including myself would agree with you. The thing that has made me keep my order and continue to be excited for the case is that it seems the lack of custom service is unique to the last few weeks. If you look at other threads on this forum, you'll find that until recently the company was known for outstanding service both before and after products were purchased. That's one of the factors that swayed me in their direction. This will be my first Portenzo case and I emailed them twice in the weeks before the planned release date. I received very rapid responses (within hours). My sense is that they are overwhelmed by the current volume of orders and emails and don't have a system in place to deal with it. I hope this will be a lesson learned for them and that they will put the systems in place to better handle large volumes of orders.

Bottom line...I hope this is just a bad hiccup in the experience of dealing with what has apparently been a great company otherwise. Until two weeks ago, many considered their product the best of it's class with outstanding customer service to match. Fingers crossed, those of us who stick with Portenzo through this process will be rewarded with both a great product and great service in the future. Of course there are no guarantees and all we have is their (up until 2 weeks ago) very good track record to go in.
 
I think they should put everyone who is asking on the Portenzo Facebook page about their specific order at the back of the line. :) Would these people really be willing to take a delay on their order just to get an update on their one order of the thousands that are out there? Gosh, I really hope the Portenzo folks don't go checking up on those orders.
 
If you don't want to wait then you have your answer. Portenzo owners believe that the wait is worth it due to better quality vs pad and quill. I cannot comment on portenZo other than their poor customer service. But I would consider getting one once shipping times are back to normal. However at this point I might just pre order the iPad 3 version.

I have had the octavo for a few days now and love it more and more. Everyone who has seen it is amazed by it and I get lots of complements.

They are both great cases so really depends if you want to wait several months longer for that alleged marginal improvement in quality.

Thanks for the response. Do you have thoughts on the treegloo?
 
Thanks for the response. Do you have thoughts on the treegloo?

Their cases look great and I really love the customization aspect. The suede accents are a nice touch. I actually placed an order to test one out (ebony with accent).

If the Portenzo backlog dies down before iPad 3 I'd like to give all 3 a whirl and keep the top 2 for me and my wife. The only case I'm not interested in is the Dodo and ironically that has the largest following outside of these forums.
 
However at this point I might just pre order the iPad 3 version.

It's been 29 days since the release of iPad 2.
sadsmh.gif


The last update took 342 days to come. So even if you got your case 3 months in you'll still get ~252 days of use out of it, which is money well-spent imo.
 
Case

I got my case yesterday and haven't taken it out of it since. I had an dodocase for my original iPad and it was horrible. The spine broke the day after I got it and the corner pads started coming off. The new pads I got from them where not very useful.


I love the Portenzo. The iPad Is very secure while in the case. It's not super easy to remove the iPad from the case. The openings that have been cut for the volume and lock are great, I thought it would be harder to use since the buttons are almost behind the iPad, it actually works well. I love the sound groves, it really makes the speakers much louder since the sounds comes to you rather than going away from you. The smart cover part works great, I went with just the elastic and not the magnet closure, I like it a lot. The pads that hold the case don't bother me like they seem to bother others here. They are strong and keep the iPad in place. I don't think being able to see them takes away from the case.

That's the good, now for the bad in my opinion.

The opening for the sleep button is not centered, which is weird, maybe its because its so close to the edge.

7872972c.jpg


The iPad goes farther into the case on the left side because of the pad for the camera opening, I didn't get a camera opening but they decided to leave the little pad there anyways. I regret not getting the camera opening.

Right Side
42c5fdc4.jpg


Left side
71e83b14.jpg


c38bfc5d.jpg


There's also a little opening on top of the front camera that I don't know what it's for. Maybe its so you can use it to take the iPad out, but it's far too small to get any finger in there. Doesn't bother me, I just don't understand it's point. Edit: I'm dumb and it's been pointed out, it's for the mic. I forgot it was up there.

603a844a.jpg


I do like the case, its much better than the dodo in my opinion. I also ordered a Treegloo case to see the difference.
 
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Hole above the camera will be for the mic on the rear.

Like he said
 
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There's also a little opening on top of the front camera that I don't know what it's for. Maybe its so you can use it to take the iPad out, but it's far too small to get any finger in there. Doesn't bother me, I just don't understand it's point.

603a844a.jpg

Thanks for the pics. The opening is for the mic.

EDIT: beaten twice :eek:
 
the portenzo doesnt look impressive at all... especially with the power button section off :(

I will admit that I don't like that. I'd probably keep it until their backlog clears then have them send me a replacement. Others in the thread haven't indicated that the power button was off center so, maybe it was a one off mistake.

Overall however the case looks great. The corners look great. I have an OCD thing with corners.
 
yah.. i 2nd that.. it should of been centered.. hmm.. i like how there are some on fb that think the portenzo is the king of all and none of the others compare.. they are all copies of moleskine cases.. dodocase being the first.. but its good to have different choices.. cant wait til i get mine.. thanks for the pics and review.. my wife has treegloo coming and i have a pad and quill to compare..

btw what did you get levant or morocco?
 
yah.. i 2nd that.. it should of been centered.. hmm.. i like how there are some on fb that think the portenzo is the king of all and none of the others compare.. they are all copies of moleskine cases.. dodocase being the first.. but its good to have different choices.. cant wait til i get mine.. thanks for the pics and review.. my wife has treegloo coming and i have a pad and quill to compare..

btw what did you get levant or morocco?

i went with levant.
 
i went with levant.

thanks... i had just saw your post from wednesday on fb that you said levant.. what do you think of the corners? just wondering.. i mean as long as it holds it in there thats all im worried about.. doesnt look that bad.. but then again i only seen it from pictures
 
I got my case yesterday and haven't taken it out of it since. I had an dodocase for my original iPad and it was horrible. The spine broke the day after I got it and the corner pads started coming off. The new pads I got from them where not very useful.


I love the Portenzo. The iPad Is very secure while in the case. It's not super easy to remove the iPad from the case. The openings that have been cut for the volume and lock are great, I thought it would be harder to use since the buttons are almost behind the iPad, it actually works well. I love the sound groves, it really makes the speakers much louder since the sounds comes to you rather than going away from you. The smart cover part works great, I went with just the elastic and not the magnet closure, I like it a lot. The pads that hold the case don't bother me like they seem to bother others here. They are strong and keep the iPad in place. I don't think being able to see them takes away from the case.

That's the good, now for the bad in my opinion.

The opening for the sleep button is not centered, which is weird, maybe its because its so close to the edge.

7872972c.jpg


The iPad goes farther into the case on the left side because of the pad for the camera opening, I didn't get a camera opening but they decided to leave the little pad there anyways. I regret not getting the camera opening.

Right Side
42c5fdc4.jpg


Left side
71e83b14.jpg


c38bfc5d.jpg


There's also a little opening on top of the front camera that I don't know what it's for. Maybe its so you can use it to take the iPad out, but it's far too small to get any finger in there. Doesn't bother me, I just don't understand it's point. Edit: I'm dumb and it's been pointed out, it's for the mic. I forgot it was up there.

603a844a.jpg


I do like the case, its much better than the dodo in my opinion. I also ordered a Treegloo case to see the difference.

Thank you for the review on Portenzo Case. I'm waiting for my Composition 2 and really looking forward to it.

I don't like the look of Treegloo. It reminds me of a TV tray.
 
My Octavo sleep button is not centered either but the right edge is basically at the edge of the button. So while I think Portenzo could have moved it over by about 0.25", I think if it were centered it might leave a gap in the wood too close to a corner and so maybe the integrity would be compromised? Not sure as I am not a carpenter. But for both Pad & Quill and Portenzo to be uncentered seems bizarre unless there was a good reason. Or maybe they use the same vendor and machine cut outs for these plywood pieces.

Case looks nice though. Congrats!
 
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