Accessories KlearKase - are you going to get one?

[VictoriaP]

Mine's on the FedEx truck and out for delivery, so it should be here fairly shortly. I'll have a quick look posted by EOD. Something more in depth, including pictures, should be done by the end of the weekend, contrasting both the KlearKase and the Guardian.

Y'all can forget about videos from me though.

[VictoriaP]

(Most of these observations have already been posted at Kindleboards, so if you're over there, apologies for duplicating)

First off, a horror story:

Amazon shipped it in a box along with 4 bottles of carpet cleaner I had ordered, and very very little padding. The Klear Kase comes in a decorative cardboard envelope--THIN cardboard--with no real padding. When I opened the box, the Klear Kase was on the bottom, underneath about a gallon of carpet cleaner. My heart simply stopped. I thought for certain it would be cracked at the least, shattered into multiple pieces at worst. Instead, it was 100% intact. Given that it had traveled 1000+ miles loose in a box with about 8 pounds of moving, shifting weight, and came out without damage, I'm pretty sure this is one case that will survive most falls!

Next up--Water. Yes, I did an immersion test. No, I didn't put my Kindle inside first.

What I did what take it out, take it apart to get at the little jewels packaged inside which are intended to cover the joystick (and are a requirement, not an option--see below), then put the lot back together without a Kindle in it. Tucked the jewel into the joystick area, because otherwise the case would have had a hole in it, then dropped it into a pan of water. Because it was empty, it floated--it won't do that with a Kindle in it as there's no room for air, and air = buoyancy. But since it was floating, I left it that way for a minute to see if the side/top seals would hold. Next, I took my hand and pressed it into the water for about 20 seconds, then pulled the whole thing out and wiped the outside thoroughly. There was no water to be seen inside the case. Opened it up--the inside of the slider locks was damp, but the water had not penetrated the seals.

Now, with a Kindle actually in it, there's not a whole lot of room for error. If you don't seal the slide locks correctly, if the o-ring seal around the edge of the unit is damaged or dirty, if you don't set the plugs in tightly over the on/off switch and charging port--all these are places where water could potentially get in there, and I can see why Klear Kase has opted not to guarantee it against full immersion. Additionally, the "jewel" over the joystick is a potential problem in more than one way, but especially as far as water goes: The jewel attaches to the KINDLE, not the case, and is surrounded by a silicone seal in a non permanent fashion. This is one place I can see full immersion being a possible issue.

Having said that...I suspect, as I saw on another forum, the Klear Kase would probably protect a Kindle from a quick dip, if it were fished out promptly enough and if the Kase was put together correctly. I'm not quite confident enough that I want to try it outright, but I feel good enough that I could see using it around water without constantly worrying about it. Personal opinion only, and your experience may vary, as always. (And if anyone has a dead Kindle they want to send my way to try it out, PM me!)

Quick review:

The case comes in 9 pieces that must be used: A front and back piece, 6 sliding "locks", and the aforementioned jewels, one of which must be placed over the multidirectional toggle switch for navigation through the Kindle menus. Silicone seals cover all buttons and are easy to manipulate through; silicone plugs cover the on/off switch and the charging port. These plugs must be firmly reseated or else the integrity of the sealed unit will be compromised. The silicone, like all silicone, is somewhat sticky to the touch, but not nearly as much so as that used on the Guardian. Still, after just a few hours, I can already feel the dust starting to accumulate in those areas.

The case is lightweight, adding about 6 ounces to the overall weight of the naked Kindle. It's about twice the thickness, and appears to add about 1/4" to 3 of the 4 sides of the unit. Dimensionally, it is unlikely that this case can be combined with any others, even cases that use a corner strap system are unlikely to have that much give in them. The unit is comfortable in the hand so far, though I haven't had much time to read on it, and glare so far is moderate. Unfortunately the Northwest summer is late in arriving--hopefully the sun will come out for a bit this weekend so I can give this case a full workout!

A few other random thoughts:

If you're looking for something to use every few nights in the bath, it may be more nuisance than it's worth. It's not particularly difficult to put together and take apart, but there are 9 pieces involved (including the jewel and not including the two plugs), so that's 9 pieces you have to put on and take off each time. And you'll need to remember where you put that jewel, which is tiny and not attached to the case in any way. It really is designed for "put it on and leave it on use". I'm going to be playing around with all that over this weekend and will add my thoughts to a full review.

That jewel....sigh. It's cute. But I would've MUCH rather had a permanent fixture in place instead. As mentioned above, it's a potential issue for liquids, though the seal is tight enough that it shouldn't be a problem for dust or debris. It's not the easiest to snap onto the joystick, and removing it three times so far has left me worrying each time that I will break the joystick off the Kindle. This is one thing that I didn't anticipate being a problem with taking the Klear Kase off and putting it back on regularly. And you can't use the case without it, as doing so both leaves a hole in the otherwise sealed case, and makes it difficult, if not impossible, to use that switch. Their brochure suggests you can leave the jewel on full time; however, it sticks up significantly from the Kindle and will not be compatible with any other case or sleeve.

Overall in the very brief time I've had it, I do like it. The build quality seems fine, and as I said, I'm impressed with how well it withstood the rigors of shipping. I'll probably have a lot more to say later when I've had some time to look it over more thoroughly.

[Pickering]

Thanks for the review

[HaggisMacJedi]

Any pics?

[nerys]

what about a DX case? also can you incorporate "slotting" into the left side to allow the attachment of the stock (optional) leather case?

[KlearKase]

@nerys

We do not currently have plans for a DX version but will be exploring the option soon. It took significant resources to design and manufacture KlearKase for Kindle 2 over the past year. Based on how it performs in the market, we will select additional gadgets based on demand.

We do not have plans for slotting in the left side. We have received several questions about a compatible sleeve/cover and are exploring possibilities. The included carrying case is meeting most owners' needs, but we understand that many users prefer a book-style cover.

[suecsi]

Here we go again - not available outside the US ......

There seems no rhyme or reason as to what cases are available for International shipment. It's like geo restrictions on books all over again

[nerys]

well I imagine the included case has less to do with meeting owners needs so much as its the only option period :-)

still if you came out with a DX case I would probable buy it :-) and then hack a cover fit for it :-)

[KlearKase]

@suecsi

Since our launch was on Amazon's selling platform and it does not support us selling internationally, we are now working through the complexities of international sales and custom selling solutions. We will post an update as soon as this solution is live. We value each and every one of our customers and absolutely want KlearKase to ship worldwide.

[Pushka]

Dear Klear Kase, it isnt hard selling to countries outside the USA. Well, to Australia anyway, as customs is not collected on goods of this value.

[blackcat]

The UK should be straight forward as well - :-)

[KlearKase]

It's a little more complicated than expected which is why Amazon doesn't simply support international sales for non-media products. We'll post a note as soon as a process to accept international orders for KlearKase is running. Thanks again.

[jasonfedelem]

Mine came in the mail yesterday and I put it on when I got home lastnght.

Overall, I would recommend it, but I do have several issues.

The plastic that covers the screen is my main issue. Definitely reflective, and hampers reading somewhat. I may get used to it with time, we'll see. I would have preferred to see a non reflective material, such as a clear silicone, but such is not the case. EDIT: After 24 hours of use, I'm getting used to it.

The hole for the power switch at the top gives just enough room to get your fingernail in there and slide it. It would be nice to have a little more room to the left.

Mine may be unique, but the silicone for the power switch will not stay in the anchor hole. It pushes in just fine to create a water seal but is not actually attached to the case. EDIT: My wife, who has much better eyesight and is much more dexterious, was able to fix this for me.

Typing on the keyboard is easy, which is huge for me.

Overall, a good product which I have no reservations about its ability to do its job: protect my Kindle.

[Skydog]

For anyone who will be using their KlearKase periodically, requiring multiple assemblies, there is no need to be concerned about unintentionally mixing the order of pieces being assembled. (a caution from the manufacturer) I noticed that each piece is stamped on the curved part of the plastic with its corresponding position on the case. For example, "LB" (left bottom), "RT" (right top), and the two obvious bottom pieces with "L" and "R."

I was about to label these myself when I made the discovery. Brilliant.

[andrys]

You've done a good job of promoting it, responsibly, mainly answering questions.

Great for homes with children and pets!

- Andrys