15 must-have iPad cases (photos)

Emblazoned with the helpful phrase "Don't Panic" in large, friendly letters, this is definitely the iPad case of choice for geeks of certain vintage (at least until someone comes up with a Tardis case).

For the uninitiated, the same phrase is printed on the cover of the fictional "Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy" (not to be confused with the novels, radio serials, and films of the same name). It makes sense, as the Guide was a kind of proto-iPad in the first place: a tablet-size informational tool (although it's always been portrayed as having a physical, almost Kindle-like keyboard).

As an actual iPad case, it works reasonably well. The faux leather material looks decent, and the lid closes with magnetic snaps, which beats straps and buttons, hands down. There's a tiny kickstand on the rear panel, which may seem confusing at first. It allows the front flap to fold over and lock into place at a typing-friendly angle only slightly higher than the official iPad case.

Price: $28.95

(http://www.mycaseconcepts.com)

At nearly $60, the case is expensive for faux leather, but the Workbook has one killer feature that video viewers will find very useful, and which Mophie calls "infinite viewing angles."

There's a tiny Velcro strip on the left edge of the iPad compartment, and the interior front flap is made of a Velcro-gripping material. The back panel is hinged, so that one can set the screen at nearly any viewing angle, and it will hold securely. It's great for tabletop or airline viewing.

It's a very smart feature, but we're less fond of the elastic strap that holds the case closed; it's a hassle to snap on and off.

Price: $59.95

(http://www.mophie.com/)

This new version is a little bit thinner and lighter than the original, but this is still a big, hefty case that may take up too much room in your bag.

The case's best feature remains that the entire iPad screen is uncovered, with no straps or sleeve edges touching the glass. But, once your iPad is snugly inserted, it can be hard to remove.

That said, this case is built like a tank, and offers some serious protection along with its good looks.

Price: $59.99

(http://www.padandquill.com)

Though an iPad looks almost precariously fastened to the inside of the iCover because of the minimalist design of the four translucent plastic corner-grips, the case held our iPad well when we used it and felt very reliable. It's affordable at less than $40, and it looks considerably more attractive than Apple's case.

Price: $39.99

(http://www.cyberacoustics.com/)

The front pocket is large enough to fit an iPhone, and an inner sleeve is narrow but could hold a few important papers. The Folio also bends back to transform into a picture-frame or keyboard-riser design, but this case is really best as a heavy-duty travel sleeve for the iPad user on the go.

Price: $89.99

(http://www.booqbags.com)

It's a lot to pay for a skin, but if you're looking for an iPhone-like way to color up your iPad, this is it.

Price: $64.99

(http://www.iskin.com)

While the KeyFolio beefs up the size of the case nearly to the dimensions of a laptop, at least you're much less likely to need a laptop if you're traveling with one of these. And at $99, it's also less expensive than the combined costs of most separate keyboards and cases.

Price: $99

(http://us.kensington.com)

Our one issue is the long (seriously, it's almost 8 inches) leather tongue that slides into a slot on the front face to close the case. It's unwieldy, and when the case is open, it has no where to go, so it just sort of flops around.

Price: $59

(More info here)

Our one issue is the long (seriously, it's almost 8 inches) leather tongue that slides into a slot on the front face to close the case. It's unwieldy, and when the case it open, has no where to go, so it just sort of flops around.

Price: $59

(More info here)

One we figured out the right way to set up the Napa, we liked its adjustable kickstand-style riser, which lets you set up five different viewing angles.

Price: $49

(More info here)

One we figured out the right way to set up the Napa, we liked its adjustable kickstand-style riser, which lets you set up five different viewing angles.

Price: $49

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Price: $24

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Price: $24

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As an iPad sleeve, it doesn't provide much in the way of padding or pockets, so we don't see much in the way of practical application, but it does have one killer feature that helps it stand out. A pull-tab on the top of the sleeve easily extracts your iPad when tugged on, which is actually a better way to remove potentially delicate electronics from form-fitting cases than digging at them with your fingers.

Price: $30

(More info here)

As an iPad sleeve, it doesn't provide much in the way of padding or pockets, so we don't see much in the way practical application, but it does have one killer feature that halps it stand out. A pull-tab on the top of the sleeve easily extracts your iPad when tugged on, which is actually a better way to remove potentially delicate electronics from form-fitting cases than digging at them with your fingers.

Price: $30

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Price: $39

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Price: $39

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Button snaps in the back undo and transform the Venture into a one-angle stand for landscape viewing of videos and light-touch computing. We wish it had more elevation angles and used something other than snap buttons, but we can't complain about the build quality other than a slightly floppy front-cover hinge and the fact that it exposes the iPad's side edges. One odd note: for unexplained reasons, the Venture has a small hole cut above the screen for where the iPad's phantom camera was supposed to be. Hmm...

Price: $89

(More info here)

Button-snaps in the back undo and transform the Venture into a one-angle stand for landscape viewing of videos and light touch computing. We wish it had more elevation angles and used something other than snap buttons, but we can't complain about the build quality other than a slightly floppy front cover-hinge and the fact that it exposes the iPad's side edges. One odd note: for unexplained reasons, the Venture has a small hole cut above the screen for where the iPad's phantom camera was supposed to be. Hmm...

Price: $89
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Price: $29

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Price: $29
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Price: $29

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Price: $29
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