Why protect your Tablet PC with a cover?

Anyone who has bought themselves a Tablet PC such as the Kindle Fire HD or who has been lucky enough to have received one as a gift will most likely want to keep it looking shiny and new and to protect it from harm. Scratches, scuffs and impact damage will quickly make that nice, shiny looking device look old, battered and over used. Impact damage my even cause it to malfunction. Some sort of cover or case will help prevent this damage. But with such a wide range to choose from it can be difficult to find the ideal one for your needs and lifestyle.

Who needs a cover or case?

A case or cover for your Tablet PC, whatever the model, would be a good, small, extra investment for anyone who carries their Tablet PC around from place to place or even just wants to make it look individual and to stand out from the crowd.

Why you might need one

The main reason for putting a cover around your Tablet PC is to protect it from getting scratched, scuffed or otherwise damaged. Even though it is pretty tough, dropping it could cause damage. It may bounce up undamaged, but would you like to risk it? Or perhaps your main consideration is simply to change its appearance and to ‘pretty it up’ and make it look special.

Choices of Covers

So what are the choices in covers or cases for Tablet PCs? The term 'Cover' can include several quite different styles of product, each designed to protect or enhance - or even both. The basic types of products are:

• Covers

• Cases

• Sleeves

• Jackets

• Skins

• Screen Protectors

So which is right for you?

Choosing the perfect one from this list is easier once you know their individual features and benefits. They are all are aimed at making the tablet look better - or at least different, to make it more convenient to use or to give it protection from external dangers that could damage it. But which type do you need?

Cover and Cases

Covers and Cases seem to be interchangeable names for similar items. Some manufacturers call their product a Cover while others use the name Case. Let’s call them Covers in this article. Basically covers are used to hold the tablet in a safe, padded interior. The outside of the cover is a durable material that gives further protection from external forces. Some are in the style of Folio Cases and resemble the old style pocket books of the same name. The Tablet is held in the Cover during use and also when it is out of use. They are secured closed my means of an Elastic strap, a Velcro type of material, a zipper or, in some cases, by a magnetic catch.

Sleeves

Sleeves, as the name suggests, are covers that a Tablet can be slid into to protect it while it is not being used. That is the key to this particular design. Sleeves are for use only when the tablet is not in use. They will provide the tablet with a great amount of protection but only when it is stored inside the sleeve. A cover or case would be better if 'full-time' protection is required, but for many people a sleeve is more than adequate and an ideal choice. They are very convenient and easy to use as the tablet can be simply popped in or out as required.

Jackets

Jackets, like cases and covers provide all round protection when the Tablet is either in or out of use. They generally wrap around the tablet much like a tool roll. When opened they often provide a means of standing the tablet at an angle for hands-free viewing of movies or photos etc. They are very well padded and provide a high degree of protection to keep the tablet safe from harm.

Skins

Skins for the Tablet PC, are primarily for giving it a very different appearance. They are a thin, self-adhesive plastic film that is precision pre-cut to fit each sort of tablet perfectly. So you must make sure you purchase the correct one for your particular device. They can be a little fiddly to fit but there are videos available that show just how to do it properly and easily. Once installed they really do give a very individual look to any e-reader or Tablet PC. They do not provide much impact protection but they will help prevent the Tablet PC from getting scratched and scuffed.

Another benefit is that when the Skin itself starts to look worn or even if a new look is desired, they can be easily peeled off and replaced by a new one. Handy if you find that someone else has picked the same design! The range of designs is very wide though, so picking one that is unique among your friends and family is easily achievable. A Skin can be used in conjunction with covers and cases so providing 'prettiness' and protection at the same time.

Screen protectors

Screen protectors are very thin, clear films that adhere to the tablet’s display screen to prevent it from getting scratched. Although the screen is very tough you may want to be doubly certain of keeping it scratch free during general use or from accidental damage. A Tablet PC in a cover and a skin and with a screen protector will be safe from most dangers and will look good too.

I hope this has given you some help in deciding how to choose the right cover for your Tablet PC.

Most suitable

The choice of covers for the Kindle Fire Hd, in particular is vast, but hopefully you will now have a better idea of which type of cover will be the most suitable for you and your particular Tablet PC. Of course once you have picked your ideal cover you will still need to decide on a color! But I'll cover that subject in another article.