The combined weight of the iPad with its aluminum chassis makes for a tablet that can easily slip out of your hand. It’s heavy, the frame offers little grip, and it’s not always comfortable to hold in one hand. While I personally have no problems in just using the iPad 2 naked with or without the Smart Cover, I do recognize the need for third party cases in the market, which offer a verity of grippy textures, widths, and additional functionality that add a personal or professional touch. If we’re aiming for professional and handy, the HandStand by Hub International offers a unique take on appearance and ergonomics by adding a rear grip and elastic strap. Clearly, this is a product designed to address walking around with the iPad and holding it with a free hand.
The HandStand has a great idea behind it — take the iPad and make it easier to hold. Constructed around a polyurethane frame, a rotating puck was embedded with an elastic hand strap and grip. The combination of the protective case — soft to the touch with grips (bumpers) on each edge — and the rotating grip allow the iPad to float freely in hand while protecting the aluminum frame from dings or scratches. Able to absorb a beating, yet somewhat chunky in design thanks the protruding handle on the back (which can be used as a stand for typing), the HandStand has good intentions behind it.
Built to be strong and long lasting, the HandStand is little too tough for its own good. The edges, rigid and lipped to wrap around the iPad’s edges, are very stiff. So stiff that getting your iPad into the HandStand is a task to be accomplished by weightlifters. I cannot see someone small in stature being able to wriggle the iPad into this case. If there’s a trick to easily sliding the iPad in, I haven’t discovered it. The corners in particular are difficult to pull back to wrap around your iPad. My best advice is try to get the corners first before folding the sides around.
Once your iPad is secured in the case, the fit is extremely snug. Your iPad certainly isn’t going anywhere. Thankfully the molding is spot on, giving you access to all of the ports and switches on your iPad without fuss. I do take issue, however, in that I couldn’t connect Apple’s Camera Connection Kit to my iPad in this case. In a revised design, the opening for the dock connector needs to be a lot wider.
The HandStand feels nice, but what how comfortable is it? Personally I think the rubber bumpers along the left and right edge are pretty great — they’re thick enough and the case is really grippy. You don’t always need to have your hand in the elastic strap, and I when I’m on the couch or at the table these larger grips fit to my hand quite nicely. Then again, the iPad is always leaning on my knees or the table itself.
When you want to type, you can turn the iPad sideways so that the iPad rests on the rear handle. Great in both portrait or landscape orientations, you can type and tap with just a little wiggle.
The main feature of the HandStand isn’t terribly impressive, however. The idea is that slipping your hand through the strap and placing your fingers over the handle is more comfortable than holding your iPad at the sides. It’s not. The elastic strap is fine, but in this position your wrist holds up all of the iPad’s (and the case’s) weight. The grip itself is additionally uncomfortable — I really did not like placing my fingers over this thing. Preferably, I would like to see cut outs for your fingers or knuckles so your hand remains flat. I simply did not like this contraption on the back of an otherwise hardy case.
Granted, there is some utility here as this grip is used to ‘spin’ your iPad. Instead of having to change your grip, you can simply rotate your iPad around the palm of your hand. That’s pretty nifty (and works smoothly), and is most useful in an office environment where you’re either working with the iPad all day or you need to take notes at a meeting. It’s a feature I can only see being useful while you’re standing, at least that’s where I found it most appropriate.
Getting the iPad out of the HandStand is a lot easier than getting it in, although I’m not happy with what I found after I did so. Imprinted along the outer edge of the circular grip (the iPad side) is a ring of text. I assume this text, as you rotate the iPad, rubs along the back of the iPad. My iPad 2 had a circular donut around the Apple logo, as if someone had left a tire mark on the aluminum frame. At first I was scared that a permanent mark would be left, although it did eventually rub off after some elbow grease. That kind of marking is exactly the kind of thing a case should prevent.
The HandStand is a good idea hindered by an uncomfortable grip and inflexible design that makes it difficult to use with your iPad. Despite the intention, it’s just not ergonomic. Coupled with a bad idea on the inside of the case that ended up leaving marks on my iPad, I can’t recommend the HandStand, which is currently available for $49.95 via Hub International.
