I was recently at my local Best Buy, and was in the market for an iPad case. I wanted something that I could use for a stand, but also be fine when jostled around in my backpack. A smart cover was out, but this one caught my eye. For $60 (plus tax) I decided on the Targus 360° Rotating Stand/Case.

This was one of the earliest cases available, even on launch day. It’s made of imitation leather, even though it feels like the real thing. There is a strap, that will keep it closed. It is sort of similar to Apple’s original iPad case, you know except it can rotate.

Front of the Case

I really am not a big fan of the back design, but I guess it is required for it to rotate. The material that holds the plastic is a hard sort of plastic, and sometimes the edges slip out. The other half of the back is made of more of the imitation leather. Right in the middle you will see your Apple logo, there is a circle cut out of the case.

Back of the Case

So what does the bad boy look once it’s opened up? I really like the color scheme of this case, it has a blue inside that goes well with the black outside. You will see two carve outs in the case where you can use it as a stand. You can also see how the plastic holds the iPad in the image below. The cover will flip over and go behind the iPad, but it doesn’t work well for a typing stand like the smart cover.

Inside the Case

What about the rotation? This is the big sell point for this case, and honestly I think it is sort of a gimmick.

Rotation

I don’t like how the case will rotate when it isn’t in a stand, and honestly who is going to use the stand in portrait? When you use the case in portrait as a stand it just doesn’t look right. The case tends to fall over, and not stay up even after the lightest touch.

Portrait

When you use the case in landscape as a stand it actually works pretty good. It is easier just to put it up on the stand and watch movies in your lap. You get a nice base, this thing isn’t moving. I have never had it slip out of its grooves in the case. Something to keep in mind; the inside of the case will clean the cover of your iPad, really good. The Downside? You will have two strips of fingerprints down the middle of your device. Almost every time I open my iPad I will have a clean screen, except for the two strips. This is very annoying, and probably is the worst thing about this case.

Landscape

Is this case worth $60? Probably not. I just can’t find myself recommending it when its biggest feature (rotation) doesn’t even work that much. It also has that high price point. The biggest downside of course being the two finger print strips down the middle. You can find many other cases almost identical for only around fourty bucks. I would pass on this case.

[Image credit: iLounge]