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Portenzo Alano and Boomerang cases for iPad mini: review and giveaway
The release last year of the iPad mini resulted in many accessory manufacturers scrambling to redesign full-size iPad cases for the smaller footprint of the mini, and now we're seeing the fruits of their labors. Case manufacturer Portenzo recently released both the Alano (starting at US$99.95) and Boomerang (starting at $69.95) iPad mini cases. Check out the review of these two cases, and then stick around to have a chance to win one. Design Both the Alano and the Boomerang share a number of design features that I'll cover shortly. The big difference is in the exterior treatment. For the Alano, it's a leather cover made from what appears to be stiff boot leather -- the version I received for testing is called the Indiana Journal (possibly because it looks like something Indiana Jones would carry with him on his journeys), which has a price tag starting at $119.90. The Boomerang uses a whimsical and fun retro 50's boomerang pattern done in bookbinding linen -- I think the Jetsons might approve. %Gallery-183649% On the inside, both of the units are virtually identical. There's a laminated wood frame that holds the iPad mini in place. That frame is not as nicely made or finished as the one on the inside of the beautiful Pad and Quill Aria iPad mini case ($89.99) reviewed earlier this month, but it does the job. One thing I initially thought to be very odd is that the Portenzo frame does not include a cutout for the on/off/sleep/wake switch on the top of the iPad mini. However, there's a clever solution to turning the iPad on and off -- you simply push down on the front of the top right corner of your iPad, and that bumps the switch up against an internal wedge that pushes it down. Brilliant idea! There's an optional ($9.95) cutout on the left side of the frame that includes an elastic loop for holding a stylus, as well as cutouts in the proper places for the speakers, Lightning port, volume toggle and orientation lock, and headphone jack. The cover, when open and closed, turns the mini on and off. The case itself can fold to stand up in landscape orientation -- the Intellistand option ($19.95) uses two very powerful magnets to prop up the stand without the need for flaps or Velcro, another impressive option that's different from most other manufacturers. Finally, there's an elastic band to hold the cover securely in place when in transit and protect the rear-facing camera. Oh, if you want an opening for that camera to look out of? It'll cost you $4.95. Functionality The Portenzo cases work quite well, and I must admit that I find their "push to turn on" design feature to be something I'd like every manufacturer to consider. Hopefully, Portenzo has patented that feature so they can license it to others to adopt and pull in some royalties. In addition, the magnetic Intellistand option is quite nice, although it only works in one orientation. The powerful magnets provide a way to keep the stand steady or keep the frame stuck to the back of the case without resorting to the usual "cheap" method of slapping Velcro everywhere. Likewise, the stylus cutout is a nice feature for those who use styluses. It works with a variety of readily-available styluses, although some of the larger ones like the Pogo Connect are a bit too wide to allow the cover of the case to close properly. If I have one complaint about the Portenzo cases, it's that all of the really nice features are add-ons. It's like buying a car with a nice low base price, and then finding out that you add another 30 percent to the price tag to add necessary options. In this case, the Alano Indiana Journal case starts at an already pricy $119.90. By the time you add in the Intellistand, Stylus Compartment, and Camera Opening options, the price tag jumps to $154.75 -- a lot for an iPad mini case, even one that is nicely designed. Conclusion Portenzo's Alano and Boomerang cases are lovely to look at and use, with some optional features that really increase their utility. However, the pricing structure for these cases makes them quite a bit more expensive than the competition. Pros Nice design, and the Boomerang has a fun retro material that harkens back to the 50's The push-to-turn-on feature of both cases is a unique way to turn an iPad mini on and off without the need for a cutout or pass-through button Optional Intellistand works very well Both designs use cover magnets to turn the mini on and off automatically Cons Expensive when compared to competing products, especially when adding multiple options Laminated wood frame holding the iPad mini isn't as well made as that found on competitors Interior of the Alano Indiana Journal case is unfinished and rough Who is it for? iPad mini owners who want the ultimate in case utility and who are willing to pay a premium for extra features Giveaway We have one Portenzo Alano Indiana Journal and one Portenzo Boomerang iPad mini case to give 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 March 25, 2013 11:59PM Eastern Daylight Time. You may enter only once. Two winners will be selected. One will receive a Portenzo Alano Indiana Journal iPad mini case valued at $154.75, while the other receives a Portenzo Boomerang iPad mini case valued at $104.80. Click Here for complete Official Rules. Loading...
Portenzo's limited-run Alano iPad cases stand out ... and stand up (updated)
Sometimes I really love my work, and this week has been one of those times where the love of good craftsmanship has made my job a lot of fun. First, I highlighted the latest in a series of amazing iPad cases from the folks at DODOcase, and now I get to tell you about the handmade leather Alano iPad cases now available from Portenzo. These cases start at US$124.95, and the pricing goes up depending on the finish and options that you select. As such, the Portenzo Alano iPad cases are really in a class of their own -- they're the Lexus of iPad cases. Design As I mentioned, there are options that you can request when ordering your Alano. Those options are what make the case so unique. For example, you can start out with just a plain-Jane black leather cover at no extra cost. If you'd prefer the awesome Tesoro design, which features an old map of the Mediterranean tooled into the leather, you'll pay a premium of $29.95. %Gallery-162012% There are six finishes available, three of which are showing a status of "sold out" right now. The three available finishes are the Midnight Black, Black Widow Wingtip, and Tesoro. For the elastic band that holds the case closed in transit, there's a choice of nine different colors. If you'd like to have the case personally embossed in one of four styles, that's an additional $14.95 charge. Get the IntelliStand feature, which I'll discuss shortly, and you'll add another $19.95. Want an opening for the rear-facing camera? Add $4.95. A stylus and a stylus compartment can be added for another $9.95 each, and you can even have the stylus personalized for another $4.95. Adding options to a Portenzo Alano case is just like adding options to a car. You can start out with a fairly reasonable price tag that suddenly balloons to a lot of money. In the case of the Tesoro case that I'm reviewing, the available options bring the price up to $179.80. So, are you getting your money's worth with this case? In my opinion, yes. First, the Tesoro design is very eye-catching and people will ask about it. Next, the IntelliStand feature is something that you won't want to miss, as it provides an extra bit of flexibility in how you can prop up your iPad. Rather than describe the ways that you can bend, fold, and otherwise flex your Alano case, here's a short video from the folks at Portenzo: Pretty cool, huh? If you read my review of the revised DODOcase the other day, you'll note that the lack of a more flexible stand was one of my criticisms. The IntelliStand is a great way to add the flexibility of more mundane cases to a beautifully rendered leather case. Portenzo's iPad tray is also a work of art. It uses laminated wood strips to fully encase the iPad, with specially-designed rubber-like inserts that cushion the corners. There's a specially designed cutout that encloses the speaker area on the iPad 2 and new iPad, and it does a much better job of allowing sound "out" than other similar cases I've reviewed. Both this cutout and the camera hole cutout are lined with neoprene pads. The camera hole is cleverly sized and placed so that the iPad camera lens is protected by the elastic band while in transit. How do these cases look? They use one solid piece of leather as the cover, so you see the leather both on the inside and outside. The Tesoro case is just breathtaking -- it's honestly one of the most beautiful iPad cases I've ever seen. The cases are made in the USA (Saint Louis, MO for those who are wondering), and the attention to customer service is awesome. Each case comes with a hand-signed wrapper on the outside describing how leather products will change in appearance over time, as well as a personalized tag showing the custom features of your case. One more thing: if you want a special piece of art or a corporate logo on the cover, contact the staff at Portenzo and they can give you pricing on creating a laser-engraved special edition. Functionality Enough of my gushing over the looks of these cases; how about how they work? The cases come with the traditional magnetized cover to turn your second- or third-generation iPad on and off. Due to the natural flexibility of the leather, you'll want to make sure that you use the elastic band to keep the cover closed as it has a tendency to open up and turn on your iPad if you don't. All buttons and ports are easily accessible on your iPad with the exception of one -- the on/off sleep/wake switch. To access that, you'll need to remove your iPad from the case. I was surprised by this omission, since I do a lot of screenshots of my iPad screen for reviews and I need access to that button. Update: This video shows that there's no need for an external power button like the one on DODOcases. There's a "hot spot" that you push to turn the iPad on and off. The IntelliStand function is wonderful. When you just want the case to do its job of protecting the iPad, it's out of the way. When you want to stand the iPad up for viewing a movie or something, you just pull the cover behind the iPad out a little ways and the magnets holding the flexible part in place give way. Find your favorite iPad position, and let go, and it stays in place. Your iPad will definitely be protected in style in the Alano cases. Conclusion Of all of the iPad cases that I've reviewed over the past two and a half years, the Portenzo Alano cases are without a doubt the most unique. They are literally one of a kind, with each case being hand made of a unique piece of leather, and the details are outstanding. You'll pay a bit more for the quality and the style, but you are definitely getting your money's worth. Pros High-quality construction of leather, wood, and other materials Does not use stick-on pads in the corners of the iPad tray (still a problem with DODOcase) IntelliStand option is a clever and well-implemented way to have more flexibility in using the case as a stand Many ways to customize your order, including outside finish, addition of IntelliStand or camera hole, different elastic band colors, embossing or custom laser engraving (contact Portenzo for details) Good warranty and return policy if you're not completely happy with the case Extremely easy to put the iPad into and take the iPad out of the case Made in the USA Cons No access to the on/off sleep/wake button on the top of the iPad Who is it for? iPad owners who are willing to pay a premium for a truly luxury iPad case Giveaway Regrettably, I have to loosen my grip on the Portenzo Alano Tesoro case and another one with a plain black leather finish, as I need to give them away to two lucky TUAW readers. 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 August 11, 2012 11:59PM Eastern Daylight Time. You may enter only once. Two winners will be selected. One receives a Portenzo Alano Tesoro custom iPad 2/3 case valued at US$179.80, while the other receives a Portenzo Alano Midnight Black custom iPad 2/3 case valued at $149.85. Click Here for complete Official Rules. Loading...
