[Nexus 7 (2013) Accessories] Xenoterran:
Hi. While awaiting the arrival of my N7 2nd Gen, I've had time to peruse the XDA forums to find options for accessories. Ideally, I want a case for the new tablet, but not just any case. I have an iPad 3 and a N7 1st Gen and both have cases that follow the same design. I owned the iPad 3 first and it was the first time I had went shopping for a tablet case. I had an ASUS Transformer prior to that, but the keyboard dock served that purpose.

When shopping for a case for the iPad, there was a plethora of options to go with. Many different designs serving different needs but all were intended to fulfill a single purpose; that being to protect the tablet. As I shopped, I noticed one design element that predominated most of the cases. Virtually all cases employed a design that had the portion of the case that makes contact with the screen of the device also serve as the portion of the case that makes contact with the surface you place the device on while it is opened and in use. Even the official smart cover from Apple performed this way.

This is where I have a problem. Why would you want the portion of the case that makes contact with the most important part of a tactile screen to also make contact with every surface you rest the device on while you're using it? I don't care how careful you are with regard to where you place the device, there will be debris (e.g., dust/sand, food/fluids, etc.) that will transfer to the cover which will then transfer to the screen of your device (when closed). There is where I have a problem. I see the cases that other people use (the ones where the cover touches the screen and forms the base while open) and all of them look like they've been through the wringer. On some devices with these cases, you can see foreign matter embedded in the case and scratches on the screen where contact is made when the case is closed.

I don't like screen protectors because to me, anything that comes between me and the screen on a tablet muddies the experience. Without a screen protector, I need a case that ideally protects the screen. After a lot of digging, I found the perfect solution. Specifically, this one:

Poetic Protective Case for The NEW iPad HD / iPad 2 / iPad 3 /iPad 4 with Built-in Folding Cover Black

Why is it perfect? Here's my take:

1. Sturdy design. I don't like floppy cases because they don't really seem to protect against accidental knocks and dings.

2. Necessary cut-outs. All areas that need to be open (e.g., plugs, buttons, etc.) are easily accessed.

3. Built-in magnets for sleeping/waking the device.

4. UNBLOCKED speaker grills. Ugh! I hate cases that cover the speaker grills. Tablets have enough issues with sound.

5. Opens in a way that the portion that touches the screen doesn't make contact with the surface it rests on. *

* This is the most important aspect. When you open the case and set it up in angled view, the cloth interior is facing up. If you continue to collapse it down so that the tablet is flush with the surface you have it on, again, the cloth screen side is now against the back of the tablet.

I've seen posts from some people that object to having to un-clip two corners of the case to set the angled view every time they set up for that usage, but I honestly haven't seen this as that troublesome. After using the case for over a year, it still pops out easily, yet still stays in place when closed. For the peace of mind that the screen is being protected from exposure to the same material the tablet rested on before you closed it up, it's a no-brainer for me.

When I purchased my N7 1st Gen, I was pleased to find the exact same case in N7 form:

Poetic HardBack Protective Case for Google Nexus 7 Black

All the things I loved about the iPad case.. ..right there for my new Nexus 7.

Now, I'm getting the N7 2nd Gen and my case choice is obvious. While both previous cases were from Poetic, I'm not married to the brand. Other manufacturers have come out with similar cases to the ones I bought. I've seen one from Poetic for the N7 2nd Gen, but I'm waiting for the other manufacturers to catch up and show their versions.

I know everyone has different tastes and different cases serve different needs. Still, if the design has the potential of damaging the most important part of the device, then I can't see any pluses trumping that.

Anywho, my 2p. Thanks taking the time to read,