Long a staple of the corporate businessperson, the standard leather organizer has gotten an upgrade for the digital age with Macally’s Bookstandpro 2 Premium Leather Case & Organizer ($50). Clearly designed for professional iPad 2 users, this faux leather case holds the tablet alongside other common accessories a worker may need. While it is useful, the implementation is a bit kludgy; of all of Macally’s recent releases, Bookstandpro 2 feels the most as if it was thrown together.
A nice looking zipper-shut folio, the case is different from most in that the iPad 2 is situated on the left side rather than the right. Attached to the inside of the case is a hard plastic shell, the same that we have seen and been rather impressed with on other recent Macally offerings. The tablet fits in securely, with proper cutouts for all of the buttons and ports; the case also rotates all the way around, so it can be positioned in any orientation.
To form a stand, the corners of the front flap can be folded in towards each other and attached with Velcro. Fold the right half of the case underneath to serve as a base and the iPad 2 can be positioned in landscape or portrait orientation. The angle formed is approximately 45 degrees—a little too high for typing, and a little too low for comfy viewing. Like the similarly designed Shellstand 2, the rear camera can’t be used without folding the case, rendering photography and rear videography inconvenient at times.
What’s otherwise notable about Bookstandpro 2 is what’s located on the right side of the folio. Sewn to the inside of the cover is a band made of the same rubbery material as the lining, designed to hold a small notepad if you supply one yourself. There is also a removable insert the width of the cover that attaches over that band. The case uses Velcro and metal buttons to hold the insert in place; when folded back, it exposes an elastic pen holder and three slits in the faux leather for holding business cards or other similarly shaped objects. Macally built in tabs to prevent the metal buttons from scratching the glass face of the iPad 2 if the insert is not being used. Unfortunately the whole piece feels kind of cheap and tacked on, although we certainly can understand why some users would find value in it.
Ultimately, though there were certainly some good to great cases in the bunch, Bookstandpro 2 is the weakest of Macally’s new iPad 2 offerings. While it looks pretty nice from the outside, the innards feel cheap and kludgy—extras that actually take away from the overall experience. That said, users who want to maintain a traditional leather-like folio appearance while carrying classic office accessories may find it to be a decent option.
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Our Rating
Company and Price
Company: Macally
Website: www.Macally.com
Model: Bookstandpro 2 Premium Leather Case & Organizer
Price: $50
Compatible: iPad 2