You Know You Need a Case for Your iPad. Now How Do You Go About Choosing One?

If you are one of the millions of people out there who own an iPad, you know how prevalent one is to your everyday life. You use it to communicate with families through FaceTime, listen to music on your iTunes playlist as you run on the treadmill, or respond to a boss’s email as you’re heading out the door.  While an iPad is more durable than you would think, an iPad case is still an important accessory that you should own in order to protect your iPad as best as possible. An iPad can cost upwards of $600-700, so keeping it in top condition is certainly a priority. But then the question comes to mind over which iPad case you should buy? Here are some things to keep in mind:

• iPads are not one size fits all: Of course, you know that iPad Minis are different in size from regular iPads, but a first generation iPad is not the same size or shape as an iPad 4. If you’re looking at third-party cases, you’ll need to remember this. Third and fourth generation iPads are the same size and shape, so you can buy an iPad 3 case for an iPad 3 or an iPad 4. An iPad 2 case can usually fit an iPad 3 or iPad 4, but it’s not a guarantee. And sometimes a case that’s just for an iPad 4 won’t fit an iPad 3.  Admittedly it can be confusing, so it’s best to review what the instructions say, so you know for sure.
• Different cases offer different protection: If you’re looking into iPad cases, you should consider the type of protection you need. If you travel a lot with your iPad, you’re going to need a tougher case, like a folio, which offers complete protection. You wouldn’t want something like a shell or skin if you take it with you in a laptop or messenger bag because little protection is provided for the screen. However, if you only use it around the house, a shell or skin is fine.
• Price matters: You’re purchasing a case, so you can save money by preventing the need for a new iPad. However, if you’re spending a couple hundred dollars on a new iPad case, you’re not really doing yourself any favors in terms of savings. You can easily find a fantastic iPad case for under a hundred dollars. 

Three Things You Should Buy Your Child before College

June is marked with graduations of all kinds. One of the hallmark moments in a child’s life is the time they get to don the cap and gown and hear their name called as they accept their diploma. Many high school seniors will eventually move on to college to extend their studies and heads towards a particular career path, and this move into the next progression of life can be intimidating for some.

If you are a parent of graduating senior who is moving on to college, there is a wide variety of things you can purchase to make the transition to college much easier. Here are several that come to mind:

• iPad 2: Because the newest generations of iPads are often $500 on the low-end side, the iPad 2 offers many of the same features as the newer models, but you can purchase one at a reduced price as the demand isn’t as great. Among the many features included, the iPad 2 has a front facing camera, so your child has no excuse to skip Skyping with you on Sundays. There are a million apps out there to help your child stay organized, learn a new concept or stay connected. And you don’t need to worry about getting a data plan either as most colleges do have WIFI throughout the classrooms and dorms. However, this blogger certainly recommends you get an iPad 2 hard case as accidents have been known to happen in the dorm.
• Microwave: Although your child probably has a meal plan of some sort, there will be times when they tire of dorm food – there’s only so many times one person can eat pizza and tacos. By having the bare kitchen essentials like a microwave, your child will have some control over what they eat. Perhaps, they’ll even avoid gaining the dreaded Freshman 15. In addition, certain classes (we’re looking at you, Organic Chemistry I) have been known to cause a few late night study sessions, and carb-loading on microwave popcorn and other feel-good snacks are a necessity to sanity.
• Iron pad: There will be times your child might need to make a presentation or interview for an internship or a job. Unfortunately, interviewers and professors look down on wrinkled shirts. While there might not be enough room for an iron in the dorm room, an iron pad offers space-efficient way to keep shirts and pants wrinkle-free. Plus, they’re relative inexpensive at $19.99.