Joule iPad stand review

Element Case's Joule is a premium iPad stand. A heavy, polished block of metal that looks like a work of art — or perhaps a discarded industrial component — it comes with a detachable metal bar that can be adjusted three ways for different viewing angles. As far as designer iPad stands go, it's hard to imagine something fancier that is not completely absurd. As it is, this one is expensive enough: $130 solves your exceedingly first-world problem. It's gorgeous, but there's a flaw! There's no way to snake the charging cord into it, so it can't do charging duty. P.S. It strikes me is how this and, say, a $1 business card holder, each exemplify the two poles of 'minimalism.' Joule is the end that costs a lot, is beautiful, lasts forever, simplifies decisively, but carries a vague whiff of ubiquitous consumption in unnecessary places. The $1 business card holder seems more truthful in that it offers the bare minimum required to fulfill its function, but is actually a bit crap. All in all, it's easy to see why one would pay $30 for the one from Apple that actually charges the damned iPad. Element Case Joule

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Anonymous

clearly we would all stop talking shit if the iPad floated- that would science-fiction-y enough to get us all off.

also- I use the house iPad for referencing web recipes and am thrilled the ad show someone else doing so
Anonymous

I bought a $3 picture frame easel at an art supply store. rubber coated wire. works perfectly! I use a 1 1/2 ” roll of masking tape to prop the back up when I want a lower typing angle-perfect! I’m carting it around in a perfectly fitting padded manila envelope!
Felix Mitchell

Their website says ‘patent pending’.

Charging that much for two pieces of metal screwed together is insulting. Claiming it’s an original design is obscene.
- Anonymous
  
  Their patent that is pending is likely a design patent, which covers look but not utility. Essentially, it would only protect them from someone making a carbon-copy from their original.
freshacconci

Hey kids, DIY:

http://woodworking.about.com/od/woodworkingplansdesigns/ig/Free-Woodworking-Plans-Gallery/Oak-Book-Stand.htm
Dr. Dave

Nobody else is commenting on the fact that you can’t charge your iPad in this device despite it being called the “JOULE”??

I’m disappointed in you nerds.
Jonathan Badger

Bah, there should be a seskimo crabble for the ipad — anything that has been designed by a sexy eskimo (at least by Dr. Ashens interpretation) has to be good.
Anonymous

Nevermind the iPad stand, who is the girl in the photo, and how do I meet her?
simonster

Is there a reason you can’t just put your iPad in this dock upside down and attach the charging cable to the top?
- Rob Beschizza
  
  No reason at all. That’s what I do, in fact! But you know, I didn’t just not actually pay $130 to have to have an ugly cable trailing a foot in the air.
  - iguanoid
    
    “I didn’t just not actually pay $130 to have to have an ugly cable trailing a foot in the air.”
    
    You could bedazzle your cable and gussy it up a bit.
adralien

Premium? that’s a significant percentage of the cost of the iPad! C’mon, $20 tops!

Played with an iPad the other day and I must say it’s gorgeous, it doesn’t get hot, doesn’t have fan noises, and is otherwise totally useless for nerdy Canadians. App store doesn’t work (“not available in your country”) and you can’t hack it in any way.

I know Apple is protecting both their revenue stream and their user experience, but it’s like holding the holy grail and being told you’re a heathen and damned to limbo all at the same time.

Balls to this, you can buy 2 cheap netbooks for the same cost and race them.
Rob Beschizza

If you just surf the net, email, watch, read, consume, etc. the iPad is much much better than a netbook. The instant-on, battery life and perceived performance is much better. But I still haven’t managed to get much work done on it. A few things in movable type’s backend don’t play well with the iPad’s browser, and the extant blogging apps are just awful.
- adralien
  
  (slightly off topic, probably rehashing existing arguments pro/con iPad)
  
  Absolutely. I’m convinced Apple of all companies can turn a tablet into something that won’t lead to chapter 11 like so many before… I worked on extended run-time solutions for early tablets, and I’m amazed at computing power vs. power consumption.
  
  -but- (and it’s a big but) I think they need nerds on their side, and be able to run an interpreter or something that avoids their whole developer network and app store. Python, Java, open-whatever, just -something-… they’ve killed hypercard already…
  
  This thing is so close to being a killer tool; It’s an awesome piece of kit. However it’s turning computing into consuming, which I’m not sure I want to encourage.
  - dculberson
    
    “it’s turning computing into consuming”
    
    I’ve said the same thing about monitors and keyboards. Ever since they came out, it’s been all about staring at this screen instead of actually interacting with the computer via the truly creative lights and switches. No real computing can take place with phosphors or LCDs.
    
    (To clarify, I do not believe all computer peripherals need to support content creation. I do not complain that my router doesn’t allow me to program in COBOL or that my MP3 player doesn’t give me root shell access.)
  - TEKNA2007
    
    This thing is so close to being a killer tool; It’s an awesome piece of kit. However it’s turning computing into consuming, which I’m not sure I want to encourage.
    
    Roger that. Actually creating something beats the **** out being a media consumer. (Do I miss broadcast TV, mass-market music, first-run movies? No, no, and no.)
    - Brainspore
      
      Actually creating something beats the **** out being a media consumer. (Do I miss broadcast TV, mass-market music, first-run movies? No, no, and no.)
      
      Creating new stuff is great but passive consumption of media has its place too. That’s why most of the books in my library aren’t filled with doodles.
Anonymous

I’m pretty sure I submitted a tip for my 30 Second iPad Stand which is, hrm, well, about 100% cheaper than this monument to consumerism, and easy to make anywhere.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YfFKT-VtK4s
kmoser

What’s with the multi-level wood backsplash? I’m sure it looks all “Euro style” or something but it would be a bear to clean.
Anonymous

“vague whiff of ubiquitous consumption in unnecessary places”

Welcome to boingboing
calypso

I’m worried that her attention is divided between the iPad and the cutting task. There’s a half-drunk glass of merlot there too. Her iPad should include a first-aid app.
dculberson

But will the Joule make your home as beautiful as your vaguely Asian yet thoroughly disaffected girlfriend? We can only hope.
darren

My primary iPad stand is an Apple //c. The iPad’s dimensions match up exactly to the old Apple //c 10″ monitor. It’s striking.

I also use a $3 magazine stand. Looks great, works great, and I can run the charging cable in either orientation.
iguanoid

Is she making dinner for her iPad?
Phil

And in complete and utter contrast, turn a wire coat hanger into the perfect stand for either orientation in 30 seconds without any tools! About 100% cheaper than this icon of design.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YfFKT-VtK4s
xyglyx

What the heck is “ubiquitous consumption”? I am a ubiquitous consumer…of oxygen.
buhbuhcuh

Thank god she has that iPad to help her slice fruit.
- Pantograph
  
  I bet it would make an awesome iCuttingboard.
- Kaz
  
  She’s obviously not using the iPad to help her slice fruit – that would be silly. She’s obviously using it to determine the proper wine pairing for apples…
Xenu

Put the iPad in the stand, then grab the top of the iPad and push really hard.

Now you’ll have a broken iPad. Yay!