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Booq’s Booqpad iPad 2 case mixes the old and the new

The iPad 2 Smart Cover looks pretty sweet, despite my esteemed colleague Brian Chen’s griping about it, and may itself be reason alone to buy the iPad 2. And as soon as the iPad 2 launches, you can expect case manufacturers to start coming up with clever uses for those internal magnets Apple has squeezed inside the new tablet.

But until then, it is business as usual, and my inbox has yet again been flooded with news of newer, thinner versions of existing cases. None of these companies seems to be panicking, although maybe they should: According to the Spanish newspaper El Pais, case-maker Zagg’s shares dropped 24% upon news of the Smart Cover.

If anything, Booq’s new case looks to the past instead of the future, stuffing in wad of paper on which you can do something called “writing” with a “pen.” It’s called the Booqpad, and also has slots for other Olde Worlde items such as a pen (or stylus), cash, and business cards. The paper refills are case-specific and feature sheets that are the exact same size as the iPad’s own screen. It shares something with the Apple case, though: you can buy plastic version ($50) and a leather one ($100).

It looks fine, although I’m really more interested in what these folks will come up with when they start playing with magnets. The Lady says she doesn’t like the new case as it offers no drop-protection, nor does it protect the back. She’s a serial gadget-dropper, so her concerns are understandable.

I have a few ideas. What about a case that sticks with magnets, but is like a book-cover. Think Amazon’s Kindle case, only with magnets instead of hooks. This would eliminate the straps and squeezy-edged grippers that are currently used. Or what about magnetic handles? Or a wall-strip like the magnetic knife-rack in your kitchen so you could hand the iPad up on a wall? Interesting stuff, right?

I’m sure that you all can do better though. Any ideas on clever uses for the magnetic iPad? Suggestions in the comments.

Booqpad [Booq. Thanks, Mark!]

See Also:

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