Twelve South

To use a case or not on your iPad? It’s an age-old question with two staunchly divided factions. If you subscribe to the no-case philosophy — for whatever reason — you can probably skip this post. However, if you prefer to keep your iPad in a case, then read on.

I put cases on my gadgets for one simple reason: safety. I’m rough on them and I have two young kids. The safety and protection of a case is self-evident. Gadgets simply have a longer life-span when they’re covered by something. Especially if you use them outdoors or while traveling. Out in the field high-use devices are more likely to get damaged due to a slip, drop or fall. And with kids, cases are even more essential.

I’ve tried a lot of different cases for the iPad, including the Apple iPad case, various skins, shells (like the Otterbox Commuter case) and sleeves (like the Waterfield sleevecase). While each has its merits, I’ve found what I believe to be the holy grail of iPad cases: BookBook for iPad ($69.99) from Twelve South.

For starters, it’s drop dead gorgeous. It’s beautifully aged and feels like an antique leather bound copy of Huckleberry Finn. I especially like that fact that the faux-book design makes it completely anonymous allowing you to go into a meeting, class, coffee shop without the inevitable “Say, is that an iPad?!” It’s also extremely secure because it doesn’t scream “Steal me!” when people see it. It’s more like, “Oh, he’s a bookworm, better leave him alone.”

When you open the zipper, you’ll see the iPad on the right nestled snugly under two leather corners at the bottom and held in place by an elastic band at the top. It creates a nice snug fit without obscuring any of the iPad’s ports or buttons. The genius though, is in in the black leather string and button visible to the left. They allow the BookBook to be pitched into an A-frame stand for watching movies, videos or slideshows. Simply open the BookBook past 180 degrees to your desired viewing angle and bring the string under the case and tie it around the leather button. It works surprisingly well.

Twelve South also makes BookBook cases for the MacBook Pro (in two colors) that are just as beautiful. Pictured above is the iPad case sitting on top of the MBP case.

I can’t recommend the BookBook for iPad enough. After using one on my MacBook Pro, I couldn’t wait for the iPad version to arrive — and I wasn’t disappointed. The iPad’s size and thin form factor work particularly well with a case like the BookBook and result is an awesome synthesis of form and function. Granted it’s a little spendy at $70, but for this level of material and build quality, it’s money well spent. After all, you spent $500-800 for your iPad, it’s worth a few extra bucks to protect it.

BookBook's next chapter: iPad case/stand

Mac accessory maker Twelve South, which brought us the wonderful-looking BookBook case for MacBooks earlier this year, is out with a sequel for the iPad.

Like its predecessor, BookBook for the iPad is a handmade, hardback leather case that gives the device the feel of a vintage book. As a bonus, the $70 zippered case doubles as a fully adjustable, hands-free stand. Just fold the two covers backward to form a "V," then stretch the inside string under the case and wrap it around the button on the inside left cover.

Twelve South likes to say the novel design of its BookBook adds an extra level of security, as thieves (in some quarters at least) would presumably be less likely to make off with a work of 19th century literature than an Apple gadget. Maybe, but we just like the antique touch.

BookBook for iPad is available in a dark brown cover with black trim on the spine and a more vibrant brown cover with red trim on the spine. Note that both spines feature the label "BookBook," so you probably won't want to tell the cute girl sitting across from you on the train that you're reading "War and Peace" when you're really playing Angry Birds.

Clever Case for Your iPad – BookBook from Twelve South

If you’re ashamed of your technology obsession and want to hide your shiny new iPad form your Luddite friends, we have the perfect iPad case for you. Twelve South, maker of popular Mac and iPad accessories like the Compass and BookArc, has released a version of their BookBook case for the iPad.

The BookBook case looks like an old vintage book that would be right at home in a library from a few hundred years ago. Each case is made of hand-distrssed hardback leather, giving it that old-world look and also ensuring that no two cases look the same. Ten hours of hand stiching goes into each of these cases so you’re guaranteed a unique look.

The case may look old, but Tweleve South made sure your 21st century gadget is well protected. Each corner of the case is reinforced and the spine and inner frame are all built to make sure your iPad is protected during daily use. When not in use, the case can be closed with two zippers that both have leather pulls designed to look like old-fashioned bookmarks. Another “feature” touted by Twelve South is the fact that the BookBook disguises your high priced gadget from would-be thieves.

The BookBook also comes with a simple but innovative stand mechanism. On the inside of the case you’ll find a button and a string which are used to stand the case open. This clever mechanism allows you to adjust the case to the exact viewing angle you want next time you’re surfing the web or watching a movie.

With the BookBook case for iPad you really have a one of a kind iPad accessory which is sure to be a conversation starter the next time you have it out in public. The BookBook is available in either black (brown with a black spine) or red (brown with a red spine) and can be had for $69.99 from the Twelve South website.