Review: Front cover flops around like a wet noodle
Rating: 3 out of 5
Date: 03 3, 2014
In photographs this Kindle Origami Case looks like a work of art. It has one of those OMG designs that draws attention and awards. The front cover of the case folds, origami style, to create a stand that works in both portrait and landscape mode. Industrial strength magnets hold the kindle to the back cover. It is like a magic trick. There are no straps or ridges to hold the Kindle in place, just magnets. Amazing. If you hover the Kindle above the back cover you can feel the magnets trying to snap the Kindle and the back cover together. Magnets in the front cover also work flawlessly to turn the Kindle on and off as the case is opened and closed.But while the magnets are my favorite feature on the Origami case; the origami stand, ironically, is my least favorite. When you open and close the cover of the case it annoyingly flops around like a wet noodle. The groves that allow the front cover to fold into the origami swan pose causes the front cover to bend, fold, and wobble when you try to open it. It also takes a few attempts and several adjustments to get the origami stand positioned correctly. Once in place, magnets hold the stand secure, but it is always held at the same angle. The viewing angle can’t be adjusted. The angle is good for watching movies, but it is not ideal for reading or playing games.Another minor nit is that when the front cover is open and magnetically fused against the back cover, it is impossible to get to the volume controls. You need to wedge a finger between the covers and pry them apart before you can get to the buttons. The front cover needs a little bevel or grove that would allow easier access to the volume control.So I have mixed feelings about this case. I absolutely love the magnetic features in the case, but I find the origami stand to be troublesome and restrictive.