Can anyone who has the blue case post some real life shots of it. It is hard to tell what it may look like in real life from the website.
TIA.
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STM Grip - Pics and my impressions
- Thread starter psychonaut
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I just ordered the Berry color from Amazon/Beach despite going with my initial impression that it was a bit feminine. I do think Black is a bit boring and it will differentiate more so I never lose it.
How do you guys with Berry color like it? I think I will have to see it to believe it.
I can't wait to get it!
How do you guys with Berry color like it? I think I will have to see it to believe it.
I can't wait to get it!
I just ordered an STM grip from Amazon/Beach today too, but chickened out and opted for the safer boring(?) black option, so mine "won't stand out" in a crowd. The black actually looks more charcoal color to me and I like that. I live in the same State as where Beach Audio is located (California), so estimated ground delivery to me is showing as this Friday 4/13.
I just ordered an STM grip from Amazon/Beach today too, but chickened out and opted for the safer boring(?) black option, so mine "won't stand out" in a crowd. The black actually looks more charcoal color to me and I like that. I live in the same State as where Beach Audio is located (California), so estimated ground delivery to me is showing as this Friday 4/13.
I like the black
just think it looks like 90% of the cases out there.Lucky you, says 17th for me
NYC hopefully it's earlierI just ordered today too. (Rick, your reviews are phenomenal. I made this purchase primarily on your recommendation!).
Same here. I've got to stop watching his videos, I always wind up spending money after I do.
BJ
Lol. Same. I just order the black today from Amazon and I just got notice that I'll be receiving it tomorrow.
I currently have the Switcheasy canvas. I am trading it to my friend for a Apple Bluetooth keyboard
I currently have the Switcheasy canvas. I am trading it to my friend for a Apple Bluetooth keyboard
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Lol. Same. I just order the black today from Amazon and I just got notice that I'll be receiving it tomorrow.
I currently have the Switcheasy canvas. I am trading it to my friend for a Apple Bluetooth keyboard
Great move...I had the SwitchEasy Canvas and ended up selling it to get the GRIP. I tried to like the Canvas, but just couldn't stand the smell, bulk & weight.
I should have my blue one by the end of this week and I'll post some pics/video of it.
Umm no. When I spoke to the guy from Europe STM he said it wouldn't be in the UK, as far as I remember he also said it wouldn't be in Europe.
Yeah, import from the US is what you will need to do. Doesn't bother me apart from the delivery time, it generally works out cheaper though then buying from the UK!
Uh, that sounds expensive - I am in Denmark, so everything ordered outside of EU will cost 25 % extra in tax.
I'm in the UK and have two on pre-order from US companies - basically I'm waiting to see which ships first!
One is from Radtech who by all accounts are a good company to deal with and they seem to take particular pride in shipping their stuff anywhere in the world. I used the 20% code and with the current exchange rate it should work out a little under £30 including shipping. Only downside is the risk of getting caught by customs on the way in, with the taxes and handling fee this will bump it up to over £40.
The other is good old Amazon. I like their expedited shipping option which automatically includes import taxes making the grand total around £35 with no nasty surprises on entering the country. The downside is that it will ship "within 1 to 2 months" so who knows when they might actually get stock. I'm hoping it will be around the same time Radtech does.
There is a third option. An eBay seller from Hong Kong has several colours available for £38 and apparently the package will be marked as a gift so you shouldn't get stung for customs charges. I asked him if this was new stock with the fixed magnet issue and he said yes, but didn't specify if it's the proper fix or just the patched version. I'm a bit nervous ordering from Hong Kong though in case it's a 3rd-party knock-off and there's probably little chance of returning it if I'm unhappy.
I will gladly let you all know how it goes and if it was worth the hassle and waiting.
One is from Radtech who by all accounts are a good company to deal with and they seem to take particular pride in shipping their stuff anywhere in the world. I used the 20% code and with the current exchange rate it should work out a little under £30 including shipping. Only downside is the risk of getting caught by customs on the way in, with the taxes and handling fee this will bump it up to over £40.
The other is good old Amazon. I like their expedited shipping option which automatically includes import taxes making the grand total around £35 with no nasty surprises on entering the country. The downside is that it will ship "within 1 to 2 months" so who knows when they might actually get stock. I'm hoping it will be around the same time Radtech does.
There is a third option. An eBay seller from Hong Kong has several colours available for £38 and apparently the package will be marked as a gift so you shouldn't get stung for customs charges. I asked him if this was new stock with the fixed magnet issue and he said yes, but didn't specify if it's the proper fix or just the patched version. I'm a bit nervous ordering from Hong Kong though in case it's a 3rd-party knock-off and there's probably little chance of returning it if I'm unhappy.
I will gladly let you all know how it goes and if it was worth the hassle and waiting.
Returning Mine
Well, I've given it about a week and have decided to return it. Before I ordered the Grip, I was strongly against it because I had purchased a Kicker for the ipad2 and determined that it was not good, mainly because the cover would not lie flat when folded back. But when I saw the review video of the Grip, I was impressed that it would lie flat. So I pulled the trigger. The material looked nice and the smell eventually dissipated. However, my complaints are listed below:
1. The camera connection does not fit without removing the case. This is a huge oversight on the part of any case maker. The camera adapter is an extremely useful accessory and to have to pry your iPad out of its shell every time you want to load photos is a pain. Another couple of millimeters and it would have fit. There's no reason the opening needs to be that small. STM obviously didn't consider this.
2. The material, while sturdy and slick looking, shows grease very badly. And it's not that easy to remove. I'm not talking about fried chicken hands, I'm talking about normal skin oils or hair oils that are present on people's hands.
3. The kick stands are a pain to pull out and put back, especially the bigger one. Its a clever idea, but they just feel too flimsy and failure-prone. I also don't like the fact that the case doesn't secure itself in the propped up position, it just rests in the groove.
4. The design of the stand results in a large footprint that while certainly stable, takes up a lot of room and because the micro suede material contacts the surface, it can get dirty easily, but more cumbersome is trying to move the case around on anything other that a table or desk (like a bed or lap) because the microfiber grips the surface.
5. When the cover is folded back in book mode, the lip closure sticks out (as it also does it either if the stand modes). Also, with the hinge being so plyable, the iPad causes the case to sag when in the book mode. I find this most annoying because this is probably the position that I use the case in the most.
All these things have made me decide to return the case. Sorry STM.
I always liked the STM Skinny, except for the poorly-wearing material. So, I'm going to try the Boxwave Nero Leather Smart Nuovo case, which is basically a faux leather Skinny. We'll see how this one looks.
Well, I've given it about a week and have decided to return it. Before I ordered the Grip, I was strongly against it because I had purchased a Kicker for the ipad2 and determined that it was not good, mainly because the cover would not lie flat when folded back. But when I saw the review video of the Grip, I was impressed that it would lie flat. So I pulled the trigger. The material looked nice and the smell eventually dissipated. However, my complaints are listed below:
1. The camera connection does not fit without removing the case. This is a huge oversight on the part of any case maker. The camera adapter is an extremely useful accessory and to have to pry your iPad out of its shell every time you want to load photos is a pain. Another couple of millimeters and it would have fit. There's no reason the opening needs to be that small. STM obviously didn't consider this.
2. The material, while sturdy and slick looking, shows grease very badly. And it's not that easy to remove. I'm not talking about fried chicken hands, I'm talking about normal skin oils or hair oils that are present on people's hands.
3. The kick stands are a pain to pull out and put back, especially the bigger one. Its a clever idea, but they just feel too flimsy and failure-prone. I also don't like the fact that the case doesn't secure itself in the propped up position, it just rests in the groove.
4. The design of the stand results in a large footprint that while certainly stable, takes up a lot of room and because the micro suede material contacts the surface, it can get dirty easily, but more cumbersome is trying to move the case around on anything other that a table or desk (like a bed or lap) because the microfiber grips the surface.
5. When the cover is folded back in book mode, the lip closure sticks out (as it also does it either if the stand modes). Also, with the hinge being so plyable, the iPad causes the case to sag when in the book mode. I find this most annoying because this is probably the position that I use the case in the most.
All these things have made me decide to return the case. Sorry STM.
I always liked the STM Skinny, except for the poorly-wearing material. So, I'm going to try the Boxwave Nero Leather Smart Nuovo case, which is basically a faux leather Skinny. We'll see how this one looks.
I have to agree wholeheartedly with all these points, especially the point about the grease showing on the case and the iPad sagging while in book mode. This is a very accurate description of the case's flaws. I think I might try out the DeviceWear Ridge now.
valid points, but in my opinion this is as close as i am going to get to perfect. i'm tired of buying and returning cases for this thing. the skinny's microfiber lays flat against surface in stand mode too and it doesn't appear to fold back as neatly as the grip. i also prefer the lip to a big flap for closing the device.
+1.
The 5 criticism's may indeed be valid, but there is no perfect case out there; it's all a matter of what features make the most sense for the most people:
Camera Connector: This is something that only a fraction of the The New iPad's owners have, and those of us that do use them maybe 4x a year. The fact that the iPad easily removes from the case makes this a plus, not a negative. The alternative being a big opening at the bottom which most of us hate.
Material: All cases show fingerprints. This case is ridged, so will show less smudgery than the hundreds of cases/shells that lack a surface texture.
Kick Stands: It's a nice feature, not a dealbreaker, and his complaint is that they're too thin. Well, for the 1% of the time I'll actually use them, it's better to have them thin than be fat and pudgy adding bulk for the 99% of the time that I don't.
Fold Back: This is the design flaw in all iPad cases, nothing new here. In book orientation, all folio-style cases put the cover in your hands. Those that buy any folio know this going in, nothing better/worse about this design.
What he doesn't point out are actually the things that matter most to the most people:
Super-Thin design adds minimal bulk.
Back shell with complete protection.
Magnets function properly.
Easy open/close without a strap or buckle.
Stylish.
Affordable.
BJ