Booqpad
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Booqpad gains iPad Air 2 compatibility, still has a magnetic personality
Last April, TUAW reviews a very unique iPad Air case - the Booq Booqpad - that melded a magnetically-attached agenda case with a paper notepad. At the time it garnered a 4-star rating thanks to its flexibility and that paper notepad. Today I'm looking at the BooqPad for iPad Air 2 (US$60.00) and we'll see if that changed. Specifications Exterior dimensions: 7 x 9.5 x 0.9 inches (178 x 242 x 24 mm) Weight: 0.88 lbs (0.4 kg) Compatible with: iPad Air 2 only Color: Gray only Comes with removable/replaceable 50-sheet paper notepad Design Like the previous iteration of the Booqpad, the new version consists of a slim folio that, when opened, features a paper notepad on the left side and a magnetically-attached tray for the iPad on the right side. A slender magnetic catch keeps the cover closed while you're in transit. Around the outside of the paper notepad side are slots for business cards, and you can get refills for your notepad in blank, lined, or graph paper formats ($10 for 3 pads). That catch is different from the one on original iPad Air version of the Booqpad, which was rather wide and could actually hold a Pencil by FiftyThree stylus. The case also acts as a stand, with the section of the folio that the polycarbonate iPad tray attaches to folding to accommodate a variety of angles. Should you decide that you'd like to use the iPad Air 2 on its own without the folio, just give it a pull and the tray/iPad combo comes out. Just bring that tray back to the folio and hold it near, and it snaps right back into place. Functionality While I still like the idea of the Booqpad, I'm not sure that I'm quite as enthusiastic about it as I was last year after seeing dozens of other iPad case/stands. It definitely fills a specific niche, but it doesn't have the adjustability of some competing folio-type cases. In addition, Booq used to include a screen protector with each Booqpad. That's no longer the case, which is a little odd - perhaps the company found that nobody was using the screen protectors? Maybe the idea of having a paper notepad alongside your iPad excites you, and if it does, then the Booqpad is just the case for you. Otherwise, it might be worth your while to just grab any old folio type case and slap in a Post-it® 5 x 8 inch notebook pad. Conclusion About a year after the first Booqpad arrived on the scene, we're seeing the new model for iPad Air 2. Booqpad is still unique, but we're wondering if that's because no other manufacturer really thinks a combo paper notepad/iPad case is worthwhile. It's a well-done case; it's just that the idea seems a bit less exciting than it did a year ago. Rating: 3-1/2 stars out of 4 stars possible Giveaway OK, if you're just dying for a Booqpad, hold onto your hats because we're giving one away. Here are the rules for the giveaway: Open to legal US residents of the 50 United States, the District of Columbia and Canada (excluding Quebec) who are 18 and older. To enter, fill out the form below completely and click or tap the Submit button. The entry must be made before January 16, 2015 11:59PM Eastern Standard Time. You may enter only once. One winner will be selected in a random drawing and will receive a Booq Booqpad for iPad Air 2 valued at $60. Click Here for complete Official Rules. Loading...
Booqpad: Combining iPad tech with good old paper
Booq makes some nice products for Apple fans, and one of the more recent announcements from the company was for the Booqpad for iPad Air (US$60 for grey, $95 for black/stone). While it looks like just a plain-Jane folio case for the newest iPad, it actually has some more tricks hidden inside. Let's take a look: Specifications Dimensions: 7 x 9.5 x 0.9 inches (178 x 242 x 24 mm) Weight: 1.19 lbs (.54 kg) Materials: Nubuck lining, polyurethane exterior Paper: 50-sheet A5-format pad Design Highlights So what's the difference with the Booqpad compared to all of the bazillions of other folios for iPad Air? For one, when you open it up there's a good old paper notebook on one side of the folio with your iPad Air on the other. This is great for those of us who -- despite years of using our iPads -- still sketch or take notes with pen and paper. The outside of the Booqpad has a nice soft finish to it, and in either grey or black it's at home in the executive boardroom. The grey version has a wide magnetic latch that keeps everything closed when you're on the move, while the black/stone version appears to have a single snap button. What's wonderful about this design is that it's completely symmetrical, meaning that it can be set up for right-handed users (iPad on the left, notepad on the right) or left-handed users (notepad on the left, iPad on the right). It's all done with magnets. The tray that holds the iPad can be lifted off of the folio, turned 180°, and then slapped into place. There are slits on the paper side of the Booqpad that can hold the pad in two positions as well. When in use as a stand, the Booqpad is quite the contortionist! It can be set up to hold your iPad in a number of positions: Functionality Highlights I have to admit that I like the Booqpad a lot. It offers solid protection, a flexible stand, and the ability to take notes on paper (or at least make paper airplanes if you're bored in a meeting). There's no cheesy Velcro holding things in place, or complex pivot mechanisms that have a tendency to break or jam. Using strong magnets in strategic positions allows the Booqpad to be set up to be comfortable for you. Booq provides a screen protector with the Booqpad as well to keep your iPad Air looking new as long as possible. Sure, the Booqpad doesn't have a built-in battery pack or keyboard, nor is it made of exotic materials. But if you're looking for a reasonably-priced, solid iPad Air case that can be used in a number of orientations, you've come to the right place. Conclusion Booq hit the sweet spot of iPad case design with the Booqpad. While many iPad Air cases only seem to hit two of the three criteria for a really good case -- those being flexibility, looks, and price -- the Booqpad wins the trifecta. Rating: 4 stars out of 4 stars possible Giveaway Someone out there is going to give our review sample a good home. Here are the rules for the giveaway: Open to legal US residents of the 50 United States, the District of Columbia and Canada (excluding Quebec) who are 18 and older. To enter, fill out the form below completely and click or tap the Submit button. The entry must be made before April 22, 2014 11:59PM Eastern Daylight Time. You may enter only once. One winner will be selected in a random drawing and will receive a Booqpad for iPad Air valued at US$60. Click Here for complete Official Rules. Loading...
iPad 2 accessories: The flood begins
No sooner had Steve Jobs bid farewell to the crowd at the Yerba Buena Center for the Arts in San Francisco yesterday than the TUAW inbox began filling with news of iPad 2 accessories. While many of the accessories aren't as snazzy as the bath tub lid-inspired Smart Covers, I thought you might like to take a peek at what manufacturers have been working on under NDA. Booq is coming out with a nice looking folio case for the iPad 2 that includes a non-digital component -- a built-in and replaceable paper notepad. The Booqpad for iPad 2 (below) starts at US$49.95, with a "luxury option" available at $99.95. The notepad sheets are the same size as an iPad 2 screen and are perforated for easy removal. Knowing Dave Caolo's penchant for cool notebooks, I've been asked by his wife Mia to tell him to not buy one of these.
