Hefty iPad stand with a price to match

The iPad is great for video, but after about 15 minutes of holding it up, we start looking for ways to use it hands-free. Griffin’s A-Frame gives your arm a rest and sports a minimal style that doesn’t detract from the iPad itself. If it weren’t for the logo plastered on the front, it could almost pass as a piece of modern sculpture. But don’t be fooled--there’s quite a bit of substance here to go with that style.

The A-Frame folds up, but it's still too heavy to carry around regularly.

A-Frame is as hefty as it is attractive and weighs nearly as much as an iPad. It’s built out of thick aluminum with hard edges and silicone grips. It’s clear that this isn’t a stand to lug around; it’s a desktop solution. But the weight adds to A-Frame’s functionality. Unlike lighter competitors, the A-Frame stays put as you use your iPad, touching, pinching and scrolling through games, webpages, movies, and documents.

Griffin didn’t stop at simply building a sturdy stand, however. Small details help the A-Frame stand out from the competition. For instance, a small recess on the speaker side of the silicone cradle actually makes the iPad a tad louder when you put it upright. The cradle is also wide enough to fit an iPad outfitted with a number of different cases, including Apple’s iPad Case.

The stand looks and feels great when the iPad is positioned in either landscape or portrait mode. In portrait mode, a well-designed cut-out in the back lets you plug in for charging or syncing without visible wires. You can also fold up the A-Frame and place it on a desktop, and it’ll keep your iPad at an easy typing angle, which also works well if you’re using a Bluetooth keyboard. It’s a spiffy functionality that you never realized you needed until you have it.

Quality comes with a price, but with a cost as hefty as the aluminum, this stand may not be for everyone.

A-Frame
COMPANY: Griffin
CONTACT: www.griffin.com
PRICE: $49.99
REQUIREMENTS: iPad
Sturdy. Speaker recess improves sound. Supports portrait, landscape, or table-top orientation. Smartly designed cut-out for plugging in or docking.
Really expensive. Heavy enough to not be portable.