Finding the right iPad cover - review of the Incase Convertible Book Jacket

Like many iPad owners, I quickly realized that having an iPad meant exposing the screen and back to scratches, and I especially feared the results of throwing the iPad into a backpack. I did my research and ended up purchasing the Incase Convertible Book Jacket.

Finding the "right" iPad cover for you will depend on your needs. For me, I only realized after a bit of research that I really wanted some kind of stand. A sleeve, while able to protect the screen, would not help much in that regard. I also wanted something that snapped closed somehow.

(One terrific source I returned to repeatedly was The Complete Guide to iPad Cases and Protection at ilounge. The extensive article covers every type of iPad protection out there and helped me narrow down my options and understand the different terminology better.)

Apple's own case can act as a stand, but it worried me that some reviewers felt the Apple case was cheaply made and that its only redeeming quality was that it was a stand.
The Incase Convertible Book Jacket, while a bit more expensive and thicker than other cases, is worth every penny. (It lists at $59.95 U.S. vs. $39 for Apple's case.) The case feels sturdy, all side buttons and ports are exposed (if a bit snuggily), and it has a strap that wraps around the case when closed, keeping it from opening accidentally.

However for me the winning feature was the multiple angles you can place the stand.

By positioning the case cover-down and sliding your iPad up, you can sit the iPad into a groove on the inside of the cover that holds the iPad at an angle of your liking. This is great because the angle I need at the breakfast table is different than when I'm on the couch. Additionally you save your arm from soreness because you're not propping up your iPad all the time.

My one tiny complaint is that, because the grooves are not deep and the iPad is not locked into them, the iPad can slip down once in a while. This only really happens when the case is sitting on an uneven surface (*cough* my stomach *cough*) and is not really a big deal.

The Incase Convertible Book Jacket is available from the incase web site but you can also purchase it through your local Apple store ($59.95 U.S. / $64.95 Canada).