The Compass iPad stand
March 19th, 2011 at 2:48 pm ETAfter a week I’m happier than I expected to be with the folding Compass iPad stand, one of the few iPad accessories I’ve seen that’s as beautiful a designed object as the iPad itself.
The Compass is a steel tripod that collapses into a sleek oblong mass slightly larger than a cigar, with a velveteen case (which I don’t always bother with), so it can be carried in a large pocket or tossed into your bag. It flips open to hold the iPad in 3 positions:
- like an easel, to hold the iPad in portrait mode (for reading) or landscape mode (for watching video)
- holding the iPad on a table at a slight tilt, in typing position
In all 3 positions, it’s stable on a table, and there’s enough resistance to make the touchscreen usable even when the thing is in portrait mode. It’s not so usable in typing position on your lap, but this can be done too if you set it on a large, solid hardcover book. I find I’m using the iPad a lot more often now that I have an easel to set it in.
ShareThis
Rich Mintz blogs on online fundraising and social media, American history and culture, bicycling and urbanism, food, technology, and other topics. Professionally, he's an expert in fundraising, constituency development, and social media for nonprofits, cultural organizations, cause-related marketers, and corporations. He is based in New York, where he serves as Vice President, Strategy, for 
March 21st, 2011 at 5:12 pm
[...] the Compass iPad stand, when folded and stowed in your bag, looks like a shiv on X-ray. My bag got stared at on the X-ray, [...]
April 16th, 2011 at 6:12 pm
[...] to have some success. In particular, the combination of the Twelve South Compass iPad Stand (more here) and the Marware Sport Grip iPad Case have made the thing much more useful. The rubberized [...]