CES 2010 - KindleBoards meets M-Edge

[Harvey]

Today, at the Consumer Electronics Show (CES) in Las Vegas, I finally got to meet the folks from M-Edge. M-Edge, as you know, is the fine maker of eBook covers, cases, sleeves, and stands, and has a great line-up of Kindle products.

Here I am with Devon and Allison, begging for some hands-on time with the Guardian. (I kid, they were very generous with their time for me.) By the way, M-Edge personnel frequent our board quite often, especially the Accessories section. One of them even mentioned "Betsy the Quilter" by name. We are lucky to have you, Betsy!

Sorry for the head glare in these photos...



The Guardian case is really well-designed. The Kindle sits on a cradle of cross-braces, leaving air pockets beneath the Kindle - which accounts for the case floating even when loaded with the Kindle.



Four latches are used to securely close the hinged case. The latches are made of heavy-duty plastic and seem more than adequate in terms of sturdiness. In fact, the whole case has the feel that it's made to take abuse.



The ingenious part of the Guardian is the flexible covering over the keyboard and controls. This is a "transparent polycarbonate" according to the M-Edge product engineer that I spoke with today. It lets you actually use your Kindle's controls while it's protected in the case. You can access all buttons and keys, except for the on/off switch. The 5-way controller is also usable in the case, although maneuvering it through the covering takes a little practice.



The cushioning, rugged plastic, and waterproof seals make this a heavy case compared to the other covers and sleeves in the M-Edge product line. That heft is worthwhile if you're looking for peace of mind with your Kindle at the beach, the pool, the spa, or the bathtub. Hats off to M-Edge for applying creative and thoughtful design into this innovative eReader products.  

Release date for the Guardian case for Kindle is set for spring 2010; pricing has not yet been announced. I'm very impressed with how intentional M-Edge is about listening to its customers, who have had influence on their designs and color choices. They're a company that aggressively looks to provide better products and new innovations to eReader accessories. And they definitely appreciate you KindleBoards members who try their products and comment so passionately about them in our forums..!

[Marguerite]

I have only seen the Kindle 2 in the pictures that I have seen.  Are they making one for the kindle 1 as well?

[Seamonkey]

or the DX (or will it be DXi now?)?

I certainly appreciated the M Edge case I had for my K2. 

[911jason]

I have only seen the Kindle 2 in the pictures that I have seen.  Are they making one for the kindle 1 as well?

I know you hate to hear it, but I doubt you'll find many new products coming out for the K1 since it's a completely different form-factor and is no longer manufactured. Their prospective customer pool is finite, and although the average KB'er may still be buying lots of new accessories for their K1, the non-KB'er which is the majority of K1 owners, probably already has a case and doesn't do a lot of shopping for new accessories.

[Pushka]

Hey thankyou Harvey although I suspect you are having a great time!  I am off to Fiji in May - I am in Australia so this will be ordered as soon as it is released! Thankyou for your objective review.

[lisa.m]

WooHoo! Thank you for the great review Harvey. This is definitely going to the beach with me this summer!! 

[Flechette]

Have to agree~  Both hubby and I are waiting for the bad news on these - the price~  We want two!

We're frequent beach go-ers and we recently fell in love w/ cruising ~  absolutely must have this case 

[nicuknitter]

I really hope they are planning for the DX also.  I spend most of my summer reading by the river, beach and pool.

[Betsy the Quilter]

I know you hate to hear it, but I doubt you'll find many new products coming out for the K1 since it's a completely different form-factor and is no longer manufactured. Their prospective customer pool is finite, and although the average KB'er may still be buying lots of new accessories for their K1, the non-KB'er which is the majority of K1 owners, probably already has a case and doesn't do a lot of shopping for new accessories.

Yes, but we KB K1'ers sure do love our accessories!  LOL!  I would buy an M-edge product if they offered one for my K1!  Despite loving my Oberon immensely.

I'm keeping this in mind for a K2 if I ever get one.  I think it would be great for traveling to all kinds of places, not just beaches, as it looks like it  gives the Kindle lots of support when jamming it in and out of purses/messenger bags/backpacks while traveling but still being able to use it easily.

Betsy

[Ann in Arlington]

My first thoughts on seeing that case up close and personal (via Harvey) is that it would be an EXCELLENT solution for our deployed military folks. . . .if it keeps out water, I'm sure it keeps out sand!  Looks like a well designed product!

[geko29]

I have only seen the Kindle 2 in the pictures that I have seen.  Are they making one for the kindle 1 as well?

Very unlikely, especially seeing as the cases they used to make for the K1 have been discontinued.  Which is too bad, because I wouldn't mind picking up another one--the saddle brown leather one I've had for 16 months has seen a LOT of use (still looks pretty good though).  In fact, the Amazon case is still in the Kindle box, wrapped in tissue paper.

[Todd]

definitely looks like a keeper...since living near the beach and an avid TUB reader i will have to get one! 

[VondaZ]

I really like this, but I think it is going to be annoying that you can't operate the on/off switch. I have one of the waterproof bags now for reading the Kindle in the tub or at the beach and I can't operate the on/off switch with that either. The problem is, if I stop reading for a while, the Kindle goes to sleep, then I have to open it up and touch it with wet hands or expose it to sand and dust just to turn it back on again.

[drenee]

Betsy, Medge knows you and mentions you by name -- how exciting!!

I love this case.  I'm very excited about it. 
Harvey, thanks for all the great pics. 
deb

[Dana]

Really like the looks of this...  great protection for the Kindle...  Looks waterproof and practically crush proof too.  I, too, would like to see access to the on/off switch... but.... this is still cool.

[Jason in OH]

I agree with the comments mentioned earlier about the on/off switch. I think that's going to be a critical issue that seems easy to overlook at this point. But once you're actually using the product in a wet/sandy environment, it compromises the entire point of the case if you must open it up to wake your Kindle from sleep. I'll be interested to hear the comments of the early reviewers who use it in its intended environment.

[sebat]

It reminds me of the case I use on my camera for underwater photos.  I'm excited!

[HappyGuy]

I have a K1, so sorry if this is obvious, but ...  isn't the on/off switch used to sleep/waken the K2? I would think in that case that access to the on/off switch would be vital.

[Susan in VA]

Much as I like the look and feel of my Oberon, this cover looks like the way to go for travel. 

If they make it for the DX as well, it seems like it would be perfect for those people who use theirs out and about on the job with blueprints, screenplays, maps...

[drenee]

I'm seeing an orange and a red and a blue.  I wonder if there are any other colors.
deb

[Shellybean]

This goes a long way toward makeing the Kindle more kid friendly though the on and off switch being unaccessible could be a bit awkward.

My 10yo son is an voracious reader and he is constantly eyeballing my K2. I seriously considered a K1 for him for Christmas but decided against it because of the fragility. He's not known to be the most conscientious about putting things where they are safe when he's finished and I'm very afraid a K would die an awful death by being stepped on on his bedroom floor...

[sebat]

Isn't the on/off switch used to sleep/waken the K2? I would think in that case that access to the on/off switch would be vital.

I guess I missed that the first time around. 

If I can't access the on/off switch without opening the case, I would not even consider purchasing this.  I know it's possible and easy to do...I can access all the buttons and sliders on my Canon camera without any problems. The camera case has an extender inside that pushes the slider when I push the slider on the outside of the case.

If it seals like the underwater camera case, one grain of sand could make it leak so I wouldn't consider opening it down on the beach.  I also don't want to grease my kindle up with sun screen. I want to be able to seal the case before I leave the house and not open it back up until I get home.

[gadgetgirl003]

If I can't access the on/off switch without opening the case, I would not even consider purchasing this.  I know it's possible and easy to do...I can access all the buttons and sliders on my Canon camera without any problems. The camera case has an extender inside that pushes the slider when I push the slider on the outside of the case.

If it seals like the underwater camera case, one grain of sand could make it leak so I wouldn't consider opening it down on the beach.  I also don't want to grease my kindle up with sun screen. I want to be able to seal the case before I leave the house and not open it back up until I get home.

I totally agree with you. Shoot it would go into sleep mode just going from my room to the beach. Hopefully, as m-edge sees peoples comments about it, they will consider slightly redesigning it and making the on/off button accessible.

[Magenta]

Thank you for the update and pictures.  

I tenth the comments about the on/off switch.  Without access to that, the case looses it's appeal.  

I just want to mention the designers should take a look at the underwater housing for cameras for switch control ideas.  While they don't need to make this case usable at depths below 100 feet, having access to all the controls is totally possible.  I'm sure they could invent an outside means to quickly flip the power switch. 

[Prazzie]

Love it!  I want it!

I don't mind not being able to access the on/off switch.  I use the M-Edge Leisure jacket most frequently.  Although it is easy to zip open the top and slide the switch, I just hit the toggle button down and back up every now and then to keep my K2 awake while I'm not actively reading.  Although being able to access the on/off switch would be great, it's not a dealbreaker for me.  I would like to buy this when it becomes available (M-Edge can set aside a blue one for me so long!).