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Home > iPad Accessory Reviews > Cases > Otterbox
Otterbox Defender iPad Case
What's hot: This case is TOUGH! What's not: This case is HEFTY.
Reviewed September, 2010 by Tom Slayton For those who take their iPad to work in the field, the new Otterbox Defender case for the iPad is exactly what you will need for max protection. From our various case tests, the Otterbox Defender is, by far, the best protection you can (currently) find that still allows you to actually use your iPad. It’s true that it adds significantly to the size of your iPad, but if you need the protection, a little extra size/weight is a small price to pay.
Size and Fit The Otterbox Defender Series case fits like a glove. Actually, it’s more of a gauntlet than a glove. The hard plastic shell snaps together cleanly and the silicone covers it perfectly. The only challenge you might find is getting the tabs on the silicone cover to fit completely into their associated slots in the plastic cover. If you encounter this issue, just run your fingers around the bezel firmly for the first few days to help them work all the way in. Ultimately, it settled into a perfect fit. Features and Quality The Defender does not simply achieve its level of protection through brute force. It is also extremely well-made with high quality materials. The plastic shell is rigid and sturdy while the silicone cover is thick and generous. All of the buttons are accessible through the cover while the headphone port is covered by a flap. The most innovative feature of this case is the presence of a slide-out panel at the base of the unit. While in place, the docking port is completely protected (although there are holes for the speaker grills). Slide it out, however, and you not only have instant access to the port, but also enough room on the bottom to dock it with Apple’s iPad Keyboard Dock and other iPad accessories that use the dock connector. If you like to use a stand for your iPad, like me, fear not. The Defender is not so large that it won’t fit on my much-loved Griffin A-Frame. While it is common for manufacturers to design their products to accommodate their own accessories, Otterbox deserves special kudos for going the extra mile to bring a product to market that works with as many accessories as possible.
Lastly, the case not only comes with a silicone screen protector, but also a highly innovative, hard plastic screen cover. Now I can just snap on the cover and leave my dorky neoprene netbook sleeve at home. This, however, is not the innovative part. Hidden inside the screen cover is an iPad stand that pops seemingly out of nowhere. It’s stable and very functional, right down to the little rubber feet on the outside that you don’t even notice until you realize that your iPad is not sliding around your desk while using it. |
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Conclusion A bold new offering, that goes for a different kind of convergence. Rather than meshing a phone with a PDA, the LifeDrive merges the PDA, hard disk-based MP3 player, photo viewer and portable video player into one machine. The name LifeDrive says it all: a device with a hard drive that's a part of your lifestyle (we're not sure that Mobile Manager says much of anything). Of course it will help you keep track of your contacts, appointments and tasks too, and you can use it to access the Internet and work with MS Office documents. Add in integrated WiFi 801.11b and Bluetooth and you've got quite a package for $499. Pro: Lot and lots of space to store documents, applications, MP3s, photos and videos. It's amazing how much you'll want to throw on this device once you experience the freedom 4 gigs provides. The 320 x 480 display, supporting both portrait and landscape modes is higher resolution than most portable video players' and is great for photo viewing. Excellent companion to a digital camera that uses SD cards. The excellent Pocket Tunes is included for your MP3 listening pleasure and sound through headphones is both good and loud. The desktop software makes it easy to transfer files, convert video and keep documents in sync. Works as a removable mass storage device, and you can use it like a flash drive with any computer that has a USB port (no driver required, just bring your cable). Wifi means fast wireless Internet access, and Bluetooth allows you to connect to your Bluetooth enabled mobile phone, GPS, keyboard and more. Battery life is quite good given the processor speed, large display and internal hard disk. The unit charges quickly. Data is persistent and will survive battery rundowns. Con: Battery isn't user replaceable so you can't swap in a spare on the road. There's a short delay when programs are launched (average of 2 seconds), though it's by no means unbearable. Price: $499 Web Site: www.apple.com Comparison Shopping: Where to Buy
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