There are a couple of things you should know about me. I think gadgets are here to serve us, not the other way around. At no point will I change myself to make the gadget more comfortable. I also think gadgets, especially those well designed ones, are meant to be used the way they are. I’ve used my iPhone for two years now, without any skin. I for one can’t understand how people can keep the plastic film on the screen for months after buying something. (I think I’m gonna pursue a little rant here). It’s the stupidest thing. “You get a better price when you sell it”, is the biggest reason. But why would one give themselves a substandard experience of a product just to get a slightly better price a year later? Prices fall due to progress in technology and design, not because of a measly scratch.

Anyway, as far as the iPad goes, I readily lend it to anyone who wants to use it (provided of course I can do without it during that timeframe). Even kids play with it. It is, to me, just a tool. When I first got it, I didn’t feel like putting it in a case. It’s a beautiful device, so why spoil it with a cover, no matter how pretty the cover may be.

But the iPad is a different beast. While its form factor makes absolute sense when you’re holding it in your hands, reading through Instapaper, there are a lot of factors that take over. For one, you need the inclination while typing. Second, it’s the people. The iPad is so attractive, that people can’t stop peeking at what you’re doing, and asking about the iPad in general. This means one can’t use it out and about without having your fair share of stares and occasional questions. It’s also quite a bit slippery to carry around. A case makes a lot of sense for the iPad.

What did I want in a case then? I saw Preshit’s case in Mumbai. It was alright, but it was more of a sleeve, since you had to pull out the device to use it. I needed to be able to use the iPad while in its case, but also be able to pull it out whenever I wanted. I also wanted inclination for typing. And third, it had to look good.

The DODOcase (henceforth, dodocase), to me, was the only one that fit the profile. At $50 a piece, it wasn’t the most expensive one (although $25 for international shipping is a cost I learnt of after making my decision), but it certainly was the most beautiful. Elegant faux leather cover, with a vibrant red inside. The iPad just fit into foam pads on the sides. The most important thing about the case, was its simplicity.

That’s my friend Axel posing with the dodocase on a street in Mapusa town.

Only after ordering it did I realise it takes up to six weeks for them to make one of these. Wow, that’s a long wait. After a few weeks I even forgot I was even getting a case.

When it finally arrived, I realised a lot had to change. The t-shirt that I kept permanently on my desk (to prevent the back from scratching) had to go (+1). Yes, I know I mentioned that I don’t care much about scratches, but I’m not going to intentionally damage it. The cane stool I kept under my desk, so it could charge, had to go (+1). The newspaper roll I used to provide inclination while typing, also could be done with (+1).

So, to get to the actual review, the Dodocase is great. It stands up (in landscape) real nice, on practically any surface; my polished granite desk had no problems holding it up. Only the smoothest of glass tables will cause the stand to slip, but then even that’s no big deal considering the fall is cushioned by the case itself. Its incline for typing is not as good as I thought it would be. The problem is the wood adds height on the lower end of the pad as well, so you can’t rest your hands on your thighs or the desk while typing. In fact, I prefer my newspaper roll technique or even iPad flat on the lap. Also, it can’t prop up the iPad in portrait.

Using it outside is fantastic. No one knows you have an iPad! You can open the case, fire up Instapaper, and read a full article in peace. Even if you fold it, the bamboo covers the sides of the iPad very nicely.

The dodocase does add weight to the package, but oddly enough, it’s well distributed. While holding just the iPad is definitely lighter, I sometimes feel the case makes it more comfortable to hold. Like there’s less pressure on the wrists. In any case, you’re going to want to be seated for this. Its not that that heavy like you can’t hold it in one hand for five minutes, but it’s not light enough that you would. The iPad feels surprisingly light by itself after using it with the case.

The beauty of the dodocase, is it’s so easy to slip the iPad in and out of its seat, you don’t have to think twice about yanking it out and using it vanilla. In fact I’ve been using it that way even after I got the case. But when I do want to rest the iPad somewhere, or carry it along, the case does a phenomenal job of keeping it safe, upright, and inconspicuous. My only concern is how resilient the material is going be in the long run. It seems strong, but this is bamboo and cloth we’re talking about here—not gonna last nearly as long as something synthetic. Some say instead of worrying about the iPad, you now have to worry about the case. If you want to preserve it, you’d have to look after it. I however think it would however look rather splendid with a little wear and tear. If I may point out one other flaw, is that you can’t just close the lid without shutting off the display, as the material creates spurious touch events; might just end up forwarding some questionable emails to unintended recipients.

Is the dodocase the best case? I don’t know, because this is the only one I’ve used so far. Is the dodocase everything that they say it is? Apart from the poor incline for typing, it’s an absolutely stunning and beautiful piece of workmanship. It’s very elegant, perhaps a little too elegant—makes me feel like a jeans and tee wearing slob at a black tie event. But considering I am usually a jeans and tee wearing slob at black tie events, I think this fits me perfectly.