Pitched at iPad owners yet not made specifically for Apple’s device, LaCie’s Coat Laptop ($15) and ForMoa ($25) cases are more affordable than most options that were designed solely for iPads. Coat Laptop is a soft padded sleeve with a microfleece interior and a dotted neoprene exterior, using a zippered pouch at the top of its flap to hold accessories, and sealing closed with an elastic strap. ForMoa is a miniature briefcase with hand straps and Velcro-sealed pockets on each side, plus a zippered mini-pocket, and a double-zippered iPad compartment. This particular case has a lot of excess room in the center — enough for a larger, thicker netbook — and uses the same dotted neoprene as Coat Laptop. Each design is available in five colors.
On May 13, 2010, iLounge published The Complete Guide to iPad Cases and Protection, a multi-page comparison of over 70 different iPad cases and film protectors, sorted by genre. The following details were added to this piece by that comparison article; please click on the link above for additional comparative discussion of similar protective options.
We typically steer clear of recommending sleeves for iPods and iPhones, but iPad users may find that they make more sense. The concept is to totally envelop the iPad inside protective material, using a flap or zipper to open and release the device when it’s needed. In almost every one of these cases, the designs speak for themselves—you either like how they look, or don’t—so we’re sorting them by price and focusing our brief notes on fit and scope of protection, with bare opinions otherwise.
Does LaCie’s Coat Laptop case fit? Yes. Is everything protected? Yes, except for the iPad’s top side corners, which can be a little bit exposed. The pocket’s just big enough for headphones and a USB cable, not much more.
Then there’s ForMoa. The price is right, but the mini briefcase-sized ForMoa is really oversized for the iPad—made more for a thick netbook than the slim tablet. That said, the iPad does fit inside, and the optional handles give you a second carrying option if you don’t want to hold the iPad under your arm. It’s not bad, not great.
Our Rating
Company and Price
Company: LaCie
Website: www.LaCie.com
Model: Coat Laptop, ForMoa
Price: $15-$25
Compatible: iPad (2010)