Bests & Worsts Reviews from Amazon

This is probably the best looking and fitting case that adds minimal weight to the Kindle Fire HD on the market. There's lots to like about this case, but the focus of my review is on the 3 things I'm having problems with that I know people may have questions about or problems with so that's where I'll start. (I have listed the positive features of the case at the bottom of my review or you can read them in other 5-star reviews) 1.THE STAND FEATURE -------------------------- How well does the case stand open in landscape and portrait orientation and how is this accomplished? Landscape ------------ Horizontally it is very stable for use in landscape mode as long as the surface isn't too slippery. The optimal viewing angle for this case is about 45 degrees. Beyond 45 degrees almost any surface I tested it on (wood, glass, plastic, steel, formica, granite, a bed sheet) was too slippery and it fell flat either immediately or within 30 seconds. Portrait --------- Vertically it can stand in a pretty stable position but the viewing is limited to a 90 degree angle with the surface it is on. In other words in stands perfectly straight up and can not be angled at all. How the stand works ----------------------- Rubber edging and a rubber anchor strip is the basis for creating the standing positions for this case. You open the case by lifting a 3.5" long rubber tab(the anchor) with the word "kindle" carved into it that extends about one eighth of an inch out from the case itself. The edging of the side of the case that cradles the Fire is entirely wrapped in a rectangular rubberized strip. This is what keeps it very stable in landscape position and also why it isn't quite as stable in a portrait position as there is no rubber strip on the top or bottom of the front cover of the case. Is a 45 degree horizontal angle and a 90 degree vertical angle good enough? -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- If you're viewing movies or reading in landscape view it's very good. If you're following a recipe or like to read in portrait mode with it set on a table, it's doable but not very ergonomic. A better alternative would be to purchase a separate stand like AmazonBasics Portable Fold-Up Travel Stand for the new iPad, iPad 2, Samsung Galaxy Tab 10.1 and 7.0, Kindle Fire, Kindle Fire HD, Kindle Touch (Black). However, what is NOT ideal is that there is NO good angle for typing on the touch key pad. Your only two options for typing are a 45 degree angle or flat on a surface. To me this is a serious drawback as I type a lot on my Fire and need to be able to do so quickly and with no fuss. To be easy to type on, a case must be able to achieve about a 25 degree angle of incline and this case can only do that if you lean it on a book or prop in on something. 2. HOLDING THE CASE CAN BE AWKWARD AND SLIPPERY ---------------------------------------------------------------- I'll get right to the point on this one. The denim type material used on the left inside of the cover is too slippery. If you use a tablet in the manner I do, by folding the front cover around to the back, the only way to safely hold it with one hand is by putting a finger between the front and back of the case. If you choose to hold it with your thumb on the bezel(smooth glass) and your other fingers on the back it's going to slip. My 22 year old son already dropped the Fire HD when holding it this way because he said his hand got sweaty and slipped off the denim. So, if your hands sometimes get sweaty or are occasionally greasy, you must hold it by putting a finger between the folded back covers to get a secure grip on it. If you really want this case for the other features, I would suggest two things. First, when you're holding it with your thumb on the bezel and you other fingers in the back, keep your hand slightly tilted so the weight of the Fire HD rests in the palm of your hand. Second, get an elastic band to put over the front cover to slip your hand into to provide better stability for reading in portrait mode. When I purchased the Fire last year I loved it so much that I was happy with pretty much any cover. Now that I've moved on to the Fire HD I want the most versatile cover available. If only Amazon had included an integrated elastic hand strap. 3. PROBLEMS WITH THE HEADPHONE JACK AND VOLUME BUTTON COVERS ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Despite being covered, the volume buttons are no easier to find or press than on the bare Fire HD. I had hoped they would work more like a case I have for a different device where the volume rocker is covered with a raised, very soft silicone that made using it with the case much easier than without. My husband, who is determined to keep this case, has painted a thin neon green line along the edge of the case where the volume controls are. If you only use the headphone jack to plug in a stylus to keep it from getting lost the opening will not be a problem. We use it for headphones and to plug into a couple different speakers. Here you might run into some problems. The rubber edging is built up pretty high around the opening for the jack. We had problems getting the pin fully inserted on 2 pairs of headphones. Here again my husband has remedied the problem by trimming down some of the edging with a utility knife. OTHER MINOR PROBLEMS WORTH MENTIONING BECAUSE THEY BOTHER ME -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- a) Too much flex in the binding material(spine) which causes it to twist too much and feel loose. (especially when you are holding the case like an open book) b) No padded cover. I know Amazon engineers were going for a slim design and although the front cover seems hard enough it's quite thin. I'm just not sure how protected from impact the screen would be if dropped on a hard surface. c) No loop for a stylus, not even an itty bitty one. Many people find a stylus works better for typing and sensitive applications. d) The magnet closure not just on this case but others like it is supposed to turn your Fire off when closed. I think many people new to tablets and the Fire HD will think this means it turns everything off. That just isn't true. If music is playing or an audiobook is downloading when you close the cover, these processes continue. Music, for instance, must be manually turned off. CONCLUSION: -------------- The case is very nice with a few drawbacks. I'm not sorry we purchased it as it's a great looking case. It may suit your needs perfectly. As for me, it's just not the highly versatile case that I'm still looking for and the stand really doesn't work that well. The viewing angles are quite limited and trying to make it stand at anything beyond the optimal angle will result in it collapsing. I usually love the products that Amazon creates but with this case I feel that they just didn't try using it in real world situations. I feel like they tested it on the board room table and it seemed good so they went with the design. Have you ever seen the movie "Big" where Tom Hanks plays a kid who becomes an adult after being granted his wish to become "big" at a carnival. He ends up working for a toy company and telling them what's wrong with new toys and why they aren't good or won't sell. I wish Amazon had used that mentality with the testing of this case. Rating 2-stars not 5: -1 star because my husband had to trim the opening for the audio jack and paint on a neon line so we can find the volume rocker. -1 star because is does not provide a good typing angle and for $45 it should. -1 star for the Amazon R&D person who came up with the good looking but slippery denim material idea. A summary of the positive features: --Very stylish and cool looking! --Very light weight, minimalist design; does not add unnecessary weight to the device. --The Fire HD fits into the case smooth as butter, like a glove. --All the cutouts are perfectly placed for total access to USB and HDMI ports and headphone jack. --There is a cutout on the horizontal edge of the case above the camera eye where the microphone is located. This is a feature that is missing from most cases being sold right now because no one but Amazon really knew or took note of the tiny pin hole microphone on that edge. --The outside of the cover feels nice and the denim material on the inside front cover looks good and doesn't look like it will attract dust or stain easily. --A magnet holds the case closed securely and puts the Fire HD to sleep when you close it and wakes it when you open it. Note: I received this case as a gift so it does not show up as a Amazon Verified Purchase. 7/15/13 UPDATE: The price of these cases has finally dropped to a reasonable level and you can save even more right now if you go to Amazon Local and get the "Free Voucher Worth 50% Off Select Kindle Fire Accessories, Amazon.com, LLC, Sold by Amazon.com, LLC". This will allow you to buy this case for $17.49. The voucher is good through 7/28/13-->EXPIRED