Pad and Quill, makers of handsome book-like iPad cases, just released their first iPad 2 case.  Unlike their iPad 1 cases which they simply referred to as “The Case”, Pad and Quill has given their newest creation a more creative name.  The Pad and Quill iPad 2 case has been christened The Octavo, and according to Pad and Quill it is “music to the iPad lover’s ears”.  So what do we think of Pad and Quill’s latest creation?  Read on and win one of 5 Octavo cases!

When Apple introduced the iPad 2 they took everything that was great about the iPad 1 and made it better.  Pad and Quill has taken the same approach with the Octavo.  The Octavo is very similar to their iPad 1 case, but smaller and with new features that make it even more enjoyable to use.  Yes, the Octavo is an iPad 2 case that is actually enjoyable to use.

Design

For those who have never seen a Pad and Quill iPad case, you may have seen one and not even noticed.  That is because Pad and Quill cases do not look like iPad cases at all.  They look like books or like old world moleskin journals.  But open up the book and impress your friends with a hidden iPad.  Seriously this has got to be one of the most stealthy iPad cases on the market.  If you are looking to discreetly carry your iPad 2 around, this case can help you do that.  But open up the case and well, you are going to attract some attention.

Opening the Octavo case (or any Pad and Quill case for that matter) is like performing a magic trick.  People do not expect to see an iPad inside and when they do they stop and stare.  Some will even talk to you and say things like “Wow, that is an iPad case?!” and “Where did you get that?  I want one.”  It can be fun, if you are the sort of person who likes attention.

So, how does Pad and Quill pull off this trick?  Pad and Quill router cuts baltic birch wood to within 1/20,000 of an inch to create a perfect fitting frame for the iPad.  They then send this frame to a book binder who wraps it all up in a attractive Italian bonded leather cover.  To complete the illusion, Pad and Quill adds a book marker to help you get your iPad out of the snug fitting case and a moleskin strap to keep your “book” closed.

You can customize the look of the Octavo to suite your taste / needs by choosing one of three different interior colors and optional interior pockets for keeping papers.  I received the camden blue which looks amazing with my white iPad 2.  Also available is classic red and field green.

Functionality

Just as Apple slimmed down the iPad 2 to make it easier to hold, Pad and Quill has slimmed down their Octavo iPad 2 case to make it their slimmest, easiest to carry iPad case yet. This is not to say it is a small case because adding a wood frame and book cover adds bulk to the iPad 2, but it also adds a substantial feel that I like.  The iPad 2 feels well protected in the Octavo case which is not something I can say about the Apple smart cover.  A friend of mine recently dropped her brand new iPad 2 that was protected only by a  smart cover on the floor and cracked the screen of her beautiful new iPad 2.  Accidents happen, so it is good to have a case that protects your iPad 2 from all directions such as the Octavo.

Speaking of the Apple smart cover, Pad and Quill took one of my favorite features of the smart cover and added it to the Octavo.  The front cover of the Octavo has a magnet in it to automatically wake the iPad up when the cover is opened.  I can’t tell you how satisfying it is to see the iPad instantly light up and come to life as soon as the cover is opened and go to sleep as soon as the cover is closed.  Those with the smart cover will know what I am talking about.

The Octavo has cuts outs for all the iPad 2 buttons, switches, etc. and even has a cut out for the new iPad 2 camera.  I found a fun trick with the iPad 2 in the Octavo case is to take unsuspecting photos of your friends since it looks like you are reading a book until they hear the “click” from the digital camera shutter.  All the buttons are fairly easy to access, though the tapered back of the iPad 2 makes it a little more difficult to access the buttons on this case than the previous Pad and Quill iPad 1 cases.

One of my favorite features of the Octavo (which is carried over from the iPad 1 Pad and Quill cases) is the innovative sound channel which takes the sound coming out of the iPad and channels it toward the listener.  This feature seems even more important with the iPad 2 case because the speaker on the iPad 2 has been moved more toward the rear of the iPad than it was on the first generation iPad.  The Octavo case takes sound coming from the back of the iPad 2 and acoustically redirects it toward the listener.  It actually makes the iPad 2 speaker sound louder and better.  Those who appreciate good acoustics will really love this thoughtful design.

With the Octavo you can take the book cover and fold it back behind the iPad to raise it up for typing but the typing angle is so low that it is negligible.  You can also stand the Octavo up on a table with the cover behind the screen in landscape mode, which I found to be useful.

Conclusion

There are many different iPad 2 cases to choose from, but there are few as elegant and well made as the Octavo by Pad and Quill.  The Octavo is highly recommended for anyone looking for a unique, stylish iPad 2 case.

Win one of 5 Octavo cases

We are happy to announce that Pad & Quill is giving away 5 brand new Octavo iPad 2 cases to you, our precious readers! We will announce the list of happy winners here on 18 April, 2011.
Update: the giveaway contest ended and we have our winners!
Thank you all for participating, here’s the list of happy winners:
Suncube
Henning334
MichaelArea52
nancy mcrainey
Tsmith1534

Winners received an email containing a coupon code to shop at the Pad & Quill website. Winners were drawn using random.org.