As Mother’s Day approaches, naturally the first thought in everybody’s mind will be to purchase a Kindle for their mother. That goes without saying, I’m sure! But then we find ourselves in the awkward spot of having to consider what accessories and such will be the most useful to include. It would be rude to give a give that practically requires the recipient to spend money as soon as they get it, right? I’ve looked around, given it some thought, and found a couple of the more interesting cases that might help out here. There are other things that would work with the Kindle, but having a good case is generally considered almost mandatory, for protecting the device if nothing else.
Kindle Lighted Leather Cover
This is the most likely case to catch your eye when you make a Kindle purchase. It’s made by Amazon, has a built-in booklight, a cord to hold the cover closed when not in use, and just generally does the job well. It’s a bit expensive at $59.99, but remember that that includes the ability to read in the dark without having to worry about extra batteries or clip-on lights.
Marware Eco-Vue Folio Kindle Case
I like the Marware Folio because it’s inexpensive and feels good. It’s just a basic Kindle case with an elastic strap to hold it open or closed, but the cover has a built-in strap to go around your hand which isn’t nearly as silly as I thought when I first bought one. The design is sound, it looks nice, and it can take an impressive beating. Probably my favorite of the inexpensive folio cases.
M-Edge Platform Kindle Jacket
When it comes to variety of selection, I would consider M-Edge the company to go to. They have all sorts to choose from and even a service to completely personalize your cover. This one is neat because it lets you stand your Kindle on a table or counter. Particularly useful when using the Kindle as a recipe book in the kitchen, I’ve found.
M-Edge Leisure Kindle Jacket
Unlike the others I’ve mentioned so far, the Leisure jacket for the Kindle is a complete enclosure for the device. It is water resistant, sand resistant, very durable, and reasonably priced. The entire front of the cover is a clear vinyl that allows you to access all of the controls(aside from the power slider) without exposing your Kindle to the elements. Something like this is a must for anybody bringing their reading to the beach or on a hiking trip, but it can also come in handy in pretty much any messy situation.
Oberon Leather Cases
When it comes to really ornate and impressive cases, Oberon is the place to go. They’re not available directly through Amazon at this time, which can be a pain, but it’s worth it if you’re trying to impress. Since all of Oberon’s Kindle cases are leather with pewter buttons they can require a bit more care than other case options. They do offer a number of designs for both of the most recent Kindle generations and the Kindle DX, the latter of which is a big help given the lack of good case selections for the DX at the moment.
Do NOT get the Kindle *cover w/ no light*, whatever you do. The hinges that connect the Kindle to the cover will eventually lose some of their non-conductive coating, and will cause the Kindle to experience random resets. I’ve experienced this personally! Apparently the covers w/light are designed correctly, since the hinges are designed to be conductive on those (to power the light).
Sorry, the above comment meant to refer specifically to the *Amazon* “cover w/ no light”.
Although the Oberon covers are somewhat expensive, they provide the feel and smell of a leather-bound book while providing excellent protection for the Kindle. I absolutely love mine.