Now, I know there has been a lot of buzz around the Dodo case since it first came out, and I saw it and like most other Moleskine enthusiasts, loved it! However, there were always a few things that kept me from actually purchasing a Dodo case. First of all, I did not like the red interior of the Dodo case. I would have much rather preferred the interior to be something less bright and flashy like a simple black or a tan or beige interior. The second issue I had was with the Dodo bamboo seat and the way the iPad is fastened into place. The four corner tabs that hold the iPad in have been reportedly having issues which cause the iPad to fall out of place. So, for a case that already offers minimal shock absorption, the last thing I wanted was for my iPad to be unsecure inside it.

So, enter the Portenzo case. This guy has the same styling of the Dodo and reportedly the same homemade in the USA stamp of approval, however, those few issues that kept me from purchasing the Dodo case are elevated in the Portenzo.

First of all, this case has a black interior. Portenzo gives you an option. Since they are handmade one by one, you can pick to have a red or black interior. So, I chose black and I am happy with it! The second element of the Portenzo case that drew me to it was the “Sure Grip” corners in their bamboo seat. Instead of protruding from the top of the case the way the Dodo corners do, these corners sit inside the bamboo casing and to me seemed like a safer option.

So that is an overview of why I Purchased this case, but there are also a few other reasons this case is a unique option.

For one, you can select the exterior leather of the case, either a black morocco (which is similar to the exterior of a moleskine) or a black Levant leather which has more of a grain to it. Portenzo also makes an ostrich leather casing as well as a red exterior notebook case.

Now, something new with Portenzo that was not an option when I made my purchase is a stylus loop with a space cut out from the bamboo so that you can keep a stylus in your notebook. A cute and useful idea for anyone who regularly uses a stylus with their iPad. I for one am not one of those people, but it’s nice to get the option.

So, let’s discuss the quality of this case as a protection option for the iPad. As you can see, this case is comprised of a hardcover and a bamboo seat to hold the device in place. Nowhere is their padding and nowhere is their plastic or waterproof materials. This case is as delicate as a book, and therefore this is NOT the case to let your toddler interact with the iPad through, and for that matter, if you yourself are a klutzy or device dropper, this is also not the case for you. This case and others like it will not survive a fall unless your dropping it on a mattress. Bamboo splits, leather rips and your ipad could very well end up in pieces if you do not show this case as much care as you would a naked iPad. But, that being said, if you are an adult or young adult who is careful and respectful of your devices, this case offers plenty of iPad protection and may very well be the case for you.

So, what sort of protection does this case offer if it’s not padded or waterproof? Well, since this is a book style case, you clearly have screen protection, and speaking for the Portenzo case alone here, this is some decent screen protection, perhaps among the best you will find out there. Short of keeping your iPad in a titanium shell, your screen will not see better protection from any other mainstream iPad case currently manufactured. Next, you have nearly full body scratch protection. Something that differs between the Portenzo and Dodo case is that the Portenzo case covers around most of your ipad so that only the ports and switches are visible. The dodo case’s seat exposes more of the iPad’s aluminum body which could result in scratching. Finally, the “Sure Grip” corners are exactly what you’d expect. These corners keep the iPad in place, no matter how much I flip the case over or shake it, the iPad is not falling out. It is actually quite a tricky process to even remove the iPad from this case, but once you figure it out you see that the iPad is just soo secure that you know you will not be suffering any accidental detachments of your iPad from the case. The final element of protection that I want to mention is the elastic strap. I couldn’t imagine owning a flip style case for any device that did not incorporate an enclosure to keep the front flap closed, however, I have seen flip cases without such methods. For me, I think, what is the point of a flip cover if you can’t keep it closed? Well, there is no point to that, which is why I love the elastic closure of the Portenzo case. Not only does it keep the front cover down while the ipad is not in use, but you can flip the cover back and use the elastic to hold the cover down while you are enjoying your iPad.

So, what are the other features of this case? There aren’t many other features, but there are one or two I will mention. You can flip the front flap back while resting your ipad on a surface and it will create a slight angle that is useful for typing. You can also stand your ipad in landscape or portrait mode on its own for watching movies or reading, however, if you are using the ipad in landscape and placing it on a slick surface you will want to put something behind the flap of the case to keep the case from slipping down.

So, that is the Portenzo Notebook case for the iPad! If you have any questions, please let me know and I will try to address as many as I can. This case retails for $59.99 with a special offer of free shipping for a limited time.