TECH SPOTLIGHT

Pelican’s sturdy tablet cases worth the assembly trouble

Special to the Arkansas Democrat-Gazette - 01/10/2014 - The Pelican Vault Series cases for iPad Air (left) and iPad Mini offer rugged protection, but it may take time to get the tablets into the cases.
Special to the Arkansas Democrat-Gazette - 01/10/2014 - The Pelican Vault Series cases for iPad Air (left) and iPad Mini offer rugged protection, but it may take time to get the tablets into the cases.

How many of you got a tablet computer for Christmas? And how many of you have already scratched or dropped it?

It’s not uncommon, and it’s easier to do than users might think. Although everyone is careful with the new toy in the beginning, eventually the tablet ends up at risk for drops, dust or even water damage.

There are a slew of cases available to protect from these hazards, but few are as formidable as the new series from Pelican - a company known for making military-grade protective cases.

The new Vault Series isno exception. These cases are not for those looking for something sleek, thin and light. They are big, bulky and add quite a bit of weight to a tablet. But for those looking for some serious protection, these cases definitely fit the bill.

The Vault Series includes cases for the new iPad Air and the iPad Mini. According to the company website, it plans to also soon offer a case for the Samsung Galaxy S4.

I tried out the cases on a new iPad Air and an older iPad Mini with Retina Display.

The cases are made of a thick plastic with silicone ribs inside that grip and protect a tablet. A brushed-metal spine serves as a hinge for the protective cover, which latches strongly to the right side of the case to protect the tablet’s screen. Silicone covers the tablet’s buttons, and silicone tabs cover the Lightning and headphone ports.

If you like changing your tablet’s case frequently, the Pelican case isn’t for you. This case is meant to stick around for a while, because you practically have to disassemble it to put a tablet into one. For example, with the iPad Air case, a user has to disassemble it, front and back.

As proof of this, the cases come with an accessory: a hex screwdriver to undo the screws that hold the case together.

For the iPad Mini case, users just have to unscrew the top frame that encircles the front of the Mini’s screen to place the tablet in the case. But an iPad Air case has to be disassembled completely, including pulling the top off, unscrewing the top frame and pulling out all the screws from the back to get the tablet into its proper spot. Then you must put all those screws back into place.

Once the screws are out, the front frame comes off, allowing the tablet to fit into the case. The instruction card in the packaging shows how to pop the front frame off, but it’s a bit tougher than it looks. I was afraid of damaging the frame while I was trying to get it off, but I didn’t on either case. Once again, this task is testament to the fact that Pelican cases aren’t ones a user will want to switch out often.

The cases hold the tablets well, and they stand up to some serious abuse. It’s easy to see how they protect tablets from dust and water splashes because they cover every part of a device. They aren’t waterproof, though, so immersion lasting longer than a second or two could still put a tablet at risk. But the case does fine against nature’s basic elements, so it would be great for the outdoor types.

The cases also are rugged and provide good protection. They withstood drops,presses and even a punch or two without any problems, as the tablets came out without a scratch.

Although the Mini case performed very well, I did have a slight issue with the Air case: I had major problems adjusting the volume.

I don’t know whether the rubber covers for the volume buttons are not quite in the right place or just aren’t pliable enough. I suspect over time they might loosen some and work a little better, but for now, they’re very hit and miss. I had to hit them just right and press very hard to adjust the volume. Again, I didn’t have this problem with the Mini case at all.

The Pelican cases aren’t glamorous or easy to install, but if you’re looking for some serious protection, these are the cases to get. They’re rugged, sturdy and well-designed. They’ll do a great job protecting those new Christmas toys.

Melissa L. Jones can be reached via email at [email protected].

Where it’s @

The Pelican Vault Series for iPad Air retails for $99.95. The Vault Series for iPad Mini retails for $79.95. The Vault Series also will include a case for the Samsung Galaxy S4, coming soon. More information is available at pelican.com.

Business, Pages 23 on 01/13/2014

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