Review: Nice for the Price, But with a Weird Operational Quirk
Rating: 4 out of 5
Date: 01 8, 2014
The Belkin Chambray cover for myKindle Fire HDX 7"arrived and seemed like a really solid item for the price. No bells and whistles like theAmazon Kindle Fire HDX Origami Casethat is much more expensive, but a clean looking cover that does the job - protect my Kindle from small bumps and scratches and supports itself while standing in landscape mode. My only hang-up is the mystery into why the design of the cover opens to the right as if you are reading a book from the back pages to the front. While that is a very minor issue, it does make the design seem flawed and feels awkward when reading Kindle books.In reviewing products, I usually use the following framework in my evaluation - product looks, fit/quality, and function. Below are the highlights of my thoughts for these categories.Looks : No one is going to stop you on the streets to compliment your Kindle's case with this Belkin Chambray cover. It is made of hard, molded plastic on the back and a felt/fabric front cover to protect the screen. The black and gray combination is pretty blah, but that is what I expected given the product description. It wasn't for me to show off my Kindle, it was for protection.Quality: The quality seems sturdy and well put together. While Kindles are not the most expensive tablets on the market, you want to protect your investment with something that doesn't feel like it won't do the job. I feel very comfortable having my Kindle toss around in my work bag or laying it on the table at the local coffee shop without fear that it will fall apart or let something mess up my device.Function: This is where I had the biggest gripe with the Belkin Chambray cover. The Kindle Fire HDX has the headphone jack and volume control on the top edge of the device with the power button and micro-usb plug on the opposite edge. When using your HDX in portrait mode, like while reading a book, the front cover is bound to the back frame on the right side. Along with the rigid faux-leather of the binding, it is awkward to fold the cover back and at times feels like creasing it back will damage the case. That is my biggest gripe, however, it is not a big enough issue to say the Belkin Chambray cover doesn't do it's job of protecting my HDX while allowing me to have a way to make it stand by itself in landscape mode while watching movies.Overall, this is a really good, economical cover that feels solid and well made. It would be nice to have more flair with the design, but this cover seems more in line with someone who may not want to be very self-expressive with things like this. It's purely for the functional Kindle user that wants a good value for their money.