The original MoviePeg stand for the iPhone was a pocket wonder. The little chunk of plastic had a notch chopped from one edge into which could you insert your iPhone. The MoviePeg would then form a kickstand, firmly propping up the phone for movie-watching duties. Even our ever fussy NYC Bureau Chief, John C Abell, bought one and continues to use it.
The new MoviePeg for iPad has a tougher job. Not only does it have to deal with a much bigger, heavier iDevice, it has to work in four different orientations, either upright or laid-back in both landscape and portrait formats. For the most part, it does a good job. In one area it shines, and in another it hardly works at all.
The new MoviePeg comes in two parts made from thermo plastic elastomer. They join together by male and female circles in the flat edge, which lock firmly in place. Pull them apart and then slip the iPad into the slots for a firm fit. Well, almost.
Because of the compound curve that is the iPad’s back, the slots only match the shapes when in the correct spot. Put them too near to the corners and they work, but the contact isn’t snug. An inch or so in from the edge is enough. The MoviePeg also seems to limber up after a little use, gripping better after the first few hours. Maybe they need to grab a little finger-grease to get started?
The MoviePeg is outstanding for typing. It holds the iPad very firmly at around 30-degrees and you can tap away in comfort, or easily read at the breakfast table. Slide the pegs down and tip the iPad a little steeper and it remains firm, perfectly good for movie-watching and more than adequate for poking the screen without knocking it over. In landscape mode, then, the MoviePeg does great.
Switch into portrait orientation and things quickly wobble out of control. Laid-back, it is fine, but try to prop the iPad upright and the stand just can’t cope. So unstable is it that I actually blew it over from over a foot away.
There are a few other quirks. It may be good for typing, but if you want to do this on your lap the unstable base of your flabby legs means things will soon shake loose. Also, grabbing the iPad to move to another room is annoying. You either have to to dismantle to setup, or hope that the pegs don’t drop off as you walk (they will).
If you type or use your iPad on a table, and need a stand that is light and small, the MoviePeg is great. If you watch movies in bed, or need something semi permanent from which grabbing your iPad is easy, or if you do any work in portrait format, it doesn’t work so well. On the other hand, it is so portable and so cheap (£13, or $20) that it’s good to buy and toss in your bag.
Available now, in black and limited-edition Clockwork Orange.
MoviePeg product page [MoviePeg. Thanks, Paul and Kate!]
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