I am always looking for better ways to hold an iPad. The TabGrip is an innovative solution that makes it easier to hold your iPad, and as a bonus it also functions as a stand. It was developed by Chulho Song, who is a licensed attorney in California but who has been involved in business, not the practice of law, for several years. He tells me that he actually had lawyers in mind when he came up with the TabGrip because he thought that they would be a natural market for a lightweight and versatile product that makes it easier to hold and prop up a first generation iPad. He sent me a free sample for review purposes, and I've been trying it out for the last few weeks.
The TabGrip itself consists of a flexible rubber strap that attaches to all four sides of the iPad using rubberized plastic grips.
Each grip has a groove inside, and you pull the TabGrip to slip it over each side of the iPad. Once attached, you have grips on all four sides of the iPad so you can easily hold the iPad in one or two hands with a far smaller risk that the iPad can slip out of your hands.
The TabGrip would be useful if that was all that it did, but additionally each of the grips opens up to reveal legs, making it easy to prop up the iPad in multiple positions in either a landscape or portrait position.
Because the grips extend past the width of the iPad, when you have the grips attached you can place the iPad face down on a table and the iPad screen (or back) is lifted so that it doesn't come in contact with the table, reducing the change of scratches.
If you have plans to give a presentation or be in a meeting where you will be walking around with your iPad in your hand, having the TabGrip attached make it much easier to keep a grip on the iPad. It also makes it easy to pass your iPad to someone else, giving them something to grip when the take it from your hands.
I see that one reviewer complained that once he got the TabGrip on his iPad, he couldn't remove it. I agree that it is a little difficult to remove the TabGrip. You get the hang of it over time, but the first time I tried to remove it I was a little worried about the pressure I was exerting to do so. (Tip: I find it easier to first remove the TabGrip from the shorter sides of the iPad, and then you will find it easier to remove the grips from the longer sides of the iPad.)
Another drawback is that holding one or two grips on the side of an iPad is, in my opinion, not a very comfortable way to hold an iPad for a long period of time. I find it much easier to use a product like the FreeOneHand or the GorillaMobile Yogi (I just wrap the adjustable legs around my hand). I suppose that, for me, placing one of my hands in the center of the weight of the iPad is a lot more comfortable than supporting the iPad just by holding it on one side or both sides.
Having said that, the TabGrip is an innovative product that provides a unique way to get a better grip on your iPad. In a business setting when you are walking around holding the iPad or passing it to a colleague, and in a game setting when you are "steering" the iPad turning it left or right, the TabGrip is a useful accessory for the first generation iPad.
The retail price for the TabGrip is $50, but you can get it for $40 right now both on Amazon and from the manufacturer's website.
Click here to get TabGrip via Amazon ($39.99)
Click here to get TagGrip from TabGrip.com ($39.99)
