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My opinion

I love the iPad and have used it in the apple case, but for the iPad 2 i was thinking i could just slide it in, but with it being thiner it most likely wont be as snug, so there for i will be buying the smart cover (black) with my iPad2 16gb wifi (black, but i think apple should really design a product for the iPad2 that protects the back as well, but i also understand with having the rear camera u might not want a case like the original apple case because you would have to take out your iPad2 to use it.
 
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I also LOVE the original Apple case. I had one week with the iPad before the case arrived and I thought the machien was rubbish. Utterly terrible ergonomics. Just slightly too wide to grasp round the back with one hand vertically (like a phone) and just slightly too heavy to hold comfortably by squeezing in one hand at the side.

The Apple case changed EVERYTHING. Grippy and tactile, robust, useful positions, yet still incredibky minimal, thin and light. I also relly love the material (which in my experience is very easy to clean with a damp cloth). I actually love the edges too. They provide a little bumper area for small drops, and I am pretty happy to throw the ipad around wihtou a care in the world. It goes in my rucksack with no other cover and I have only taken it out of the cover 2-3 times in nearly a year of use. It still looks as good as new.

I use the iPad case to hold it in so many ways. Sometime I slot my fingers into the pouch behind the ipad, or carry i closed using the tab as a mini handle.

I also use the the slim space in the case to carry the occasional important document - like a passport or boarding card for example.

To me, new case lose a lot of the functionality, but I am sad to say that I am sure it will sell like hot cakes and the old iPad case will never rear its head again. Tempted to buy another old case just in case I by an iPad2. I am sure it will fit well enough, and a hole can easily be punched out for the camera if I really need it (doubt I will ever use the camera). Are the rest of the ports in the same place though?
 
I love my ipad naked, too beautiful to cover with a case.

Smart Covers gives me the best of both worlds. Added functionality without giving up the pretty design.

And, no. I don't use the iPad in bed anymore then I use it on the train, the car, at school, the library, the coffee shop.

In fact, I use it more outside the home, than I do inside the home.
 
I completely agreed with Steve Jobs when he gave the rationale for the Smart Covers, namely that the devices themselves look great and shouldn't be covered up. I prefer using my devices "naked," if you like.

Naturally, I worry about scuffs and scratches. My old iPod touch (1st gen) has a really scuffed-up back. That being said, such scuffs never happened to my iPad 1, even though I used it naked a lot.

My thought is that if I lay it down with the Smart Cover on, I should lay it down with the screen facing down, instead of on the naked aluminum back of the iPad.
 
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http://www.hardcandycases.com/candy-convertible-apple-ipad-2-case.html
Thanks, this looks perfect! I think I will order one. Or does anybody know any other 3rd party case that is as similar as possible to the original iPad 1 case from Apple (which IMO is almost perfect except for its tendency to attract dust)?

I think the Smart Cover is, uhm, smart, but not protective enough so I would always feel like I have to handle the iPad like a raw egg. Can you imagine stuffing it into the seat pocket on a plane with just the flimsy cover? :eek: ;)
 
The old Apple iPad case was a joke beyond a joke. Hated that thing with a passion, and I am disgusted Apple would release such a piece of crap product.
 
I completely agreed with Steve Jobs when he gave the rationale for the Smart Covers, namely that the devices themselves look great and shouldn't be covered up. I prefer using my devices "naked," if you like.

Also from a marketing point of view, Apple will want people to see other people using iPads. When Apple cover up all the sides and the back with their old cover you just look like your carrying around any other tablet. Which doesn't keep reminding people without iPad's how much they also want an iPad.
 
Also from a marketing point of view, Apple will want people to see other people using iPads. When Apple cover up all the sides and the back with their old cover you just look like your carrying around any other tablet. Which doesn't keep reminding people without iPad's how much they also want an iPad.

Yeah, that is probably true. Clever of them.

Still, if you have a Smart Cover, you can carry it around with the aluminum backside facing inward (i.e., with the black plastic Apple WiFi window facing toward your body), and then you won't function as a walking iPad advertisement.
 
I'll reserve judgement until I lay my hands on one, but I'm thinking I liked the first case better, too. The new cover looks flimsy, as if it could be jarred open or off pretty easily.

Anyway, I don't know that magnets should ever be the answer for electronic devices, especially personal ones likely to be thrown in bags with wallets (credit cards), USB drives, other phones, etc...
 
While the smart cover is...smart, I don't like it. I would much rather have a full body case that folded into a stand.
 
Not a fan of aluminum, and thus I'm not a fan of the smart covers. Aluminum scratches/dings/dents really easily, stays cold, is slippery, and it's doesn't even look that great, IMO. If they covered that up, or had a different material, it would be a different story. But as it is, I'm not interested in the minimalist approach to cases.
 
I prefer the old Apple iPad case, which is why I was really happy I found an equivalent case at Brookstone today. And it has a Bluetooth keyboard and cutout for the iPad 2's front camera.

This is it: http://www.brookstone.com/bluetooth-keyboard-portfolio-for-iPad-tablet-accessory.html (Note: Site requires Flash :rolleyes:)

For some reason the pictures are a bit weird because it DOES have a cutout on the front for the forward-facing camera, even though it doesn't seem to show it in the pictures or on the box. I saw the case in person when I went to Brookstone at the mall so bought one to make sure, otherwise I was going to return it. If you have a Brookstone (mine is located conveniently right next to the Apple store) check it out!

So far I really like it. The nice part is it has a "home" button. I put my iPad in it and it seems to work really well. My only gripe is it doesn't have a right shift key :confused:

Can't wait to get my iPad 2 to put in it :)
 
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Long live the OEM Ipad #1 Case. Liked it from the very beginning - Loved it from the 2nd day until Today. All of my Ipad's wear the OEM case and while its nature to get dirty could be improved it does/did 100% of what I want a case to do. I will be lost w/out it on the Pad #2 - as the OP said - I also hope Apple will mod the OEM to work. Just got a xoom and I was looking for a Ipad OEM style case -- and sure enough they have one that (albeit better and more sturdy materials) fits the bill.

I like many will end up buying the magneto case because that's all that is available. I predict that the sell through ratio will be through the roof.
 
Personally, I hate full-on cases (such as the original Apple's case). They add too much bulk, generally look ugly, and (as been said many times before) ruin the device design. This is especially true for an iPad 2 - putting such a beautifully designed device in a full-body case is an abomination.

Apple's latest Smart Cover is largely useless. The screen is the most durable and least scratchable part of the iPad.. The screen doesn't need "protection" like the aluminum back does. In most situations, you place iPad down on hard surface face up.. so what you want protected is the back and not the screen. Screen Cover is a nice design approach, but just not very useful.

What I prefer to both of the above is the skin style back covers. They don't ruin the design, don't add bulk, leave all the ports/cameras fully exposed.. and at the same time protect the most vulnerable part of the iPad (aluminum back) from scratches.

SGP makes very nice back skins, like this one. I have used one on my iPad-1 since day one, and it's still in like-new physical shape. So I am planning to stick to the same for iPad-2.
 
I really like the original iPad case. It's the slimmest most functional case I found. It also was the least expensive of the ones that did interest me. I'm intrigued by the Smart Cover. I thought the iPhone 4 bumpers were interesting from the beginning too. Still love my bumpers. I'll give the Smart Covers a chance.
 
I totally hated the original Apple iPad case. I regret buying it and it was a waste of $40 for me. It got dirty very easily and therefore didn't stay clean long. I ended up getting the Origami case from Incase and I have loved it since getting it. It protects the whole thing, not just the front, but when I want to use my iPad, I use it naked because it's a sleeve. When I want to use it on a desk or table, I move it into a triangle and it has little slots on the bottom of the triangle to hold the iPad. I hope when I do sell the iPad that they don't want the case, but if they do I'll get another one if the iPad 2 fits in it.
 
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The reason they did it is to not cover the back camera with the case and then the flap as well.

Not really- it's not like you can use the rear camera while the screen is still covered with the Smart Cover...
 
Haven't seen this posted yet. Seems to me that you could have problems because the microfiber side of the smart cover is the outside. If you get a little grit or dirt on it from say a kitchen counter won't that scratch the screen when you flip it back on?
 
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Loved the original oem iPad case. I wish there was a version for the iPad 2.
 
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Loved the original oem iPad case. I wish there was a version for the iPad 2.

Me too.
Seems kind of lame they missed the stamped Apple logo on the smart cover.
 
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My favorite iPad 1 case has been the Chinao and a lot of people say it is similar to the original apple case. I googled to see if theybwere making iPad 2 case and it looks like they are.

http://kevikev.com/CHINAO-Slim-Leather-Case-for-Apple-iPad-2-CHINAOPPUIPAD2.htm

I am not getting an iPad 2 for another month or so because I don't want one without a full case and I want to read some reviews on them first and my iPad 1 is ok...but I will probably get the Chinao if everything lines up properly.
 
My favorite iPad 1 case has been the Chinao and a lot of people say it is similar to the original apple case. I googled to see if theybwere making iPad 2 case and it looks like they are.

http://kevikev.com/CHINAO-Slim-Leather-Case-for-Apple-iPad-2-CHINAOPPUIPAD2.htm

I am not getting an iPad 2 for another month or so because I don't want one without a full case and I want to read some reviews on them first and my iPad 1 is ok...but I will probably get the Chinao if everything lines up properly.

That chinao looks different that the original. It has a textured look with holes everywhere. I need more pics to decide if I want the new one. I loved the chinao 1.
 
Yoobao make the best dead-straight clone of the Apple case. There are a couple of threads on here about it.
 
Thanks for suggestions above .. Checked
these cases out and like both very well.
Good reviews on youtube to get a better look.
 
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