Excellent but expensive

Belkin Pleated Neoprene Kindle Keyboard Sleeve Black/White

By Mrs L.C

When I first decided to buy the fantastic Kindle3 I thought it was only right to get the cover designed for it.

My first thought on which cover to get was that both the standard and the lighted one were brilliant but about a third too expensive. Looking at the prices I decided that I should economise so I bought the standard cover without the light thinking that I already have a simple clip on light that would do the job fine.

Both the covers (excepting the light) are the same so the following review applies to both models.

The cover arrived (before the Kindle) and it is very very good. It fits the Kindle perfectly and in so doing gives protection. I really like the way that it is styled, the leather is gorgeous, the colours lovely (I bought the burnt orange) and it is so easy to use. It attaches to the Kindle in a matter of seconds, and in use is simplicity. I really like the elastic closure band, no fuss, just does the job. I also really like the way I can fold the cover back, fix it with the band and then either hold the Kindle with one hand or rest it on a cushion or in a book stand for 'hands free' use. The inside of the cover has a lovely 'felty' feel to it, so not only does it completely protect the screen and buttons of the Kindle, but it is also non slip so rests very easily on an angled surface.

Attaching my clip on light was ok, but after only a few days the battery was going down (because I was using the Kindle so much!) so I decided to think again about the lighted cover!

Having initially disregarded the lighted cover due to its cost I began to see the advantages over having a separate light. The light is always there! After kicking myself a bit over having wasted money on buying the standard cover I ordered the burgundy red lighted cover. It is brilliant! It is so clever just having the light there all the time, safely tucked away when not needed, but instantly available in low light. I thought the light would be uneven and therefore annoying but it is a very gentle natural light and becomes unnoticeable once absorbed in the reading - which is very very easy to do.

I don't understand why anyone having bought the best e-reader on the market will want to buy a cover which slips off or is just a stick-on cover. Don't hesitate about buying the best cover designed for the Kindle which does the job so brilliantly. Yes it is expensive but it will last, is a quality product and makes my Kindle look an even more amazing piece of kit than it already is in its own right. If you want to buy and like it , click to>>>>>  Kindle Touch.

A couple of good, hard presses and your Kindle is safely housed -

 

  Amazon Kindle Lighted Leather Cover, Saddle Tan

At just over 56% of the cost of the Kindle, the cover is quite pricey... and I'm not entirely convinced it's worth it.

For your money you receive the neatest and best-fitting case/light combination available. The leather is smooth and well-stitched (for those of you who own Amazon Kindle Keyboard covers, the whole outside part of the new cover is now made from the same texture leather as the smooth section on the right-hand side of the front cover). The Kindle clips snugly and neatly into a hard rubbery tray-type slot which has sculpted edges to allow access to the page turn buttons, power switch and micro USB port.

A couple of good, hard presses and your Kindle is safely housed - and not coming out again in a hurry. The inset design is a really nice feature, making Amazon's the only case I've found that doesn't in some way obscure the front of the Kindle, whilst giving the best protection to the corners and sides that I've seen anywhere. The Kindle connects to the case via the two little square metal 'tabs' on its reverse side - these make contact with 2 small retracting prongs in the tray slot of the case. Very neat, and very easy to set up. The new, centered position of the reading light definitely feels less vulnerable than the pull-out style of the Kindle Keyboard covers.

One of the best features of the Amazon lighted leather cover is that it shares power with the Kindle, without causing too significant a drain on battery life (in my experience, less drain than having Wi-fi switched on). There's no need for heavy/cumbersome batteries that need replacing and add significantly to the bulk of the case - you just recharge your Kindle as/when needed.

The packaging the cover comes in is really minimal - a DVD/CD style envelope and the cover in a plastic bag inside. There were no instructions at all (and they're really not necessary), but also no sign of a warranty document: unusual for Amazon who include a 19-page brochure with even a basic camera lens-cleaning pen... though I'm confident that if anything goes wrong an email to Customer Services will work its usual magic.

So why not five stars for the neatest case + light solution around?

The case is very small, very light, very neat and extremely pocket-friendly. But what it's gained in functionality it has lost in quality. It doesn't feel anything like as robust as the Kindle Keyboard case. Although the felted lining is the same, there's no cushioning at all in the front cover and the spine is disappointingly floppy (there won't be anyone needing to ask if it can be bent back: it does this on its own). The reading light points directly down the page, creating a slightly shaded area in the upper corners of the screen and as it has no shielding at the top it shines into your eyes. Above all, though, I'm disconcerted by the lack of any form of closure. This doesn't inspire me with a great deal of confidence that things won't work their way between the cover and the Kindle screen when it's in my bag.

I loved the previous generation of covers, and expected to feel the same about this. Instead, it's a slightly damp and expensive squib that protects the Kindle in exemplary fashion at the back and sides but overall hasn't been as well thought-out as it could have been.