iStand portable iPad stand review: Excellent form and function in a nostalgic design 
The iStand portable stand for tablets seems to be a rebranded OEM version of the Twelve South Compass iPad 2 stand. In which case you get the same form and function at only a fraction of the price.
This nifty iPad stand (it should work equally well for other tablets with 7 to 10-inch screens) looks like a delicate, high precision version of the compasses we used to use during math (or was it arithmetic?) classes in grade school, though it turns out to be anything but. Despite the slim profile and all the hinges, it’s a surprisingly sturdy and simple-to-use stand for iPads and other tablets.
The first thing you notice when you take it out if its packaging is the heft: it feels as if you were holding a similar-sized monkey wrench (it can probably serve the same purpose when you need a weapon for self-defense).
In terms of function it’s more like an easel than a compass: you open the two front “legs” sideways, and push the hind “leg” out toward the back to form a tripod. Two fold-out tabs near the bottom of the front legs hold the lower edge of your iPad, which can be placed in either landscape or portrait mode. I personally prefer landscape mode when using the stand in conjunction with the Apple Bluetooth keyboard. Strips of silicone rubber cover the tips of the “feet” to keep them from slipping on whatever surface you place the iStand on, on the fold-out tabs and on the others surfaces that comes in contact with your tablet. One improvement this version has over the original Twelve South model is that nearly the entire surface of the front “legs” is coated in silicone rubber, compared to only a small strip at the lower part of the “legs” for the Twelve South model.
In this configuration it is the perfect desktop complement. You can keep your iPad in view, in whatever orientation you prefer, to monitor your Twitter feed, or email, or to serve as an extended screen for your computer. In landscape mode you can also keep your iPad plugged into a charger.
You can set it up like a regular easel and set the iPad in either portrait or landscape mode
The iStand can also be configured to hold your iPad at a shallower angle by using the shorter, fold-out “foot” at the back, and thus set up your iPad for use with the onscreen keyboard. This versatility also makes the iStand an ideal travel accessory for the iPad.
You can set it at a shallow angle for typing on the screen
It’s a no brainer, I think, to get this instead of the Apple dock, even if you plan to use it solely on your desk. It’s cheaper by two-thirds (Php1,490 vs Php557), lets you set the iPad in either orientation (and keep the iPad syncing or charging in landscape orientation), and is easy to grab and pack away, even in the smallest of iPad bags or folios.
Fit and finish are not top notch, but it's not a deal-breaker
The retail price of the iStand portable tablet stand is a bit of a mystery — I got one for Php557 at the MP3 stall near the escalator on VMall’s 3rd floor, but the same accessory is listed at Php757 in the WellCom store in Megamall’s Cyberzone. In either case, that’s still just a fraction of the Twelve South Compass’s $39.99 (roughly Php1,700) price on their online store and Amazon.
Price: Php557 (MP3 store, VMall) to Php757 (WellCom, Megamall)
Likes
- Sturdy build
- Compact, packs flat for portability
- Holds the iPad in either portrait or landscape mode
Dislikes
- Fit and finish is a bit rough
- Much heavier compared to other stands
- Not enough space at the bottom to attach a charge and sync cable when holding the iPad in portrait mode
