Review: Excellent quality and workmanship
Rating: 5 out of 5
Date: 12 27, 2013
I bought this hesitantly after seeing several bad reviews, and I am glad that I ended up getting it.  Our family has had 7 kindle tablets over the years, and this is the nicest cover I have ever found.The Kindle Paperwhite easily snaps into the case where it is held snugly in the form-fitting interior.  The case is cut to make it easy to access the buttons and USB charger.I love how the case turns the kindle on when I open it and turns it off when I close it.  I find that to be a very smart feature, and skipping the on/off button makes the experience more like reading a book.  The magnetic closure keeps the device firmly closed as I transport it often.Several reviews comment on the grain of the leather, and having worked in an industry that sells leather products I would describe it as a fine grain leather.  It is more what you would expect on a book or Bible cover than the medium grain that is often found on purses.  I am sure that leaving a grain on the leather in this case goes toward the safety aspect of not wanting a smooth grain that would be slippery.  To those who complain that it is not as fine as canvas, I would simply reply that it is leather, not canvas, and it should not be expected to be the same.The picture I chose was one of the many, many stock photos they offer as choices and was of a well known painting.  I considered going with a photo of my own, but was put off by some of the reviews I read.  Now that I received the item, and have had the opportunity to look at the grain of the leather, I can see how a person submitting a portrait may be put off by the texturing that would appear on the skin.  This does not mean though that there is a defect in the design, simply that the consumer should consider the slight grain in deciding what photo to choose.  I think that I would have still been just as happy with the product if I had chosen a good quality portrait, but I understand the concern some may have.As to the border around the picture, there is approximately a quarter inch border that frames the photo.  About one-eighth of an inch from the edge of the photo is the line of stitching on the leather, and then there is another one-eighth of an inch between the stitching and the edge for a total of one quarter inch.  It frames the design well, and in my opinion provides a higher quality look than if the photo continued to the edge and the stitching ran through the photo.I feel that the quality of the imprint it excellent, and seems like it will hold up very well over time.  I have had the cover for about a month, and have not seen any deterioration in the imprint.I am definitely happy with this product and will likely be eventually purchasing similar covers for the rest of the kindles in our household.