Hands-On: Hard Candy Sleek Skin For iPad

Making the decision to spend the hundreds of dollars, euros, pounds, or whatever currency you had been hoarding for that iPad you finally have in yours hands was probably difficult enough, but now you have to decide what case to protect it with.  You can't go naked forever, trust me, I have been trying since April 3rd, but it just puts too much pressure on yourself when handling it away from the comforts of your padded sofa.  That's why I finally decided to give the Sleek Skin by Hard Candy a try. The Sleek Skin is constructed of shock-absorbing TPU rubber that won't stretch or pull when handling, much unlike the cheaper silicon skins that are available.  It also adds very little bulk to the device.  Getting the case onto your iPad is a bit more difficult, however, thanks to this special rubber.  It really doesn't stretch at all, so getting the last corner over the edge of your iPad can be a bit tricky, but once it's on you will see why it was worth the hassle. Hard Candy's Sleek Skin fits the iPad rather snugly with very little space in between the edge of the iPad and the case.  The longer edges are by far the best fitting, as the top and bottom have a slight gap.  The case is somewhat tacky feeling unlike the smooth and slippery surface of the iPad, but surprisingly, the it is easy to clean. Every port on the iPad is accessible with the case on, including the dock connector, speaker, and microphone port, so you won't ever have to pull the case aside to get to them.  The screen is also entirely accessible, but Hard Candy developed an intelligent and simple system to cover the screen when not in use or when transporting your iPad. The Sleek Skin, like the company's comparable Street Skin, features four nubs situated on each corner of the case.  These nubs are what the snap-on screen enclosure attaches to in order to protect your screen from the elements.  The enclosure snaps on tightly and almost adheres to the screen itself, providing a thick protective coating when not in use.  For storage purposes, the enclosure can attach the same way to the back as it does to the front.  Doing so adds some bulk, so if you won't be using it all that often, I recommend just putting it in a safe place where you won't forget about it. The only other slight downside to this nifty screen enclosure is that the nubs can and will hook on random objects.  It's not like the nubs are going to break off though, and they really are only a minor nuisance.  It's just something worth noting. If you are looking for a rock solid yet stylish case for your iPad, Hard Candy's Sleek Skin is definitely worth a look.  It comes in a variety of translucent colors, allowing you to actually see that giant iconic Apple on the backside of your iPad.  It offers protection for both the back and front of your device without adding much bulk, and it's fairly affordable at $39.99.  To top it off, Hard Candy will ship your case for free to the UK, EU, Australia, and Canada in celebration of the iPad's international release. Here's a handy tip for those who thought you needed a book-like case to prop your iPad up.  Head to your local office supply store and pick up a basic plastic business card holder for as low as $.99.  The Sleek Skin is, well, sleek enough to fit inside of the holder comfortably, just as it would without the case.

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