It's time to think about dear old Dad and his special day. And if you plan to get your guy an iPad 2, then you won't be surprised to find that there's a boat load of essential accessories to make his notebook experience even better. These go beyond the obvious covers and cases or even apps. I recently put a trio of iPad must-have gear to the test. Results follow.
Targus Stylus for iPad, $19.99 at most Best Buy stores
The rundown: This stylus is ready to go out of the package. It's about 5 inches long and a little slimmer than a pencil with the look of an ink pen.
Upside: The matte black stylus feels balanced in your hand. It includes a clip so you can attach it to your pocket or in your case. It's easy to use and the soft pad won't scratch your screen. I also like that the rubbery tip doesn't make any sound when it touches the screen.
Downside: The tip isn't tapered and it leaves a fairly large footpad, so if you're dealing with very small print, you have to take care to tap on exactly what you want on your screen. It's a bit pricey.
Bottom line: Tapping made easy.
Moshi iVisor AG advanced iPad 2 screen protector, $30 through store.moshimonde.com and most AT&T stores.
The rundown: This screen protector not only keeps smudges at bay, but also dims glare. The protector comes with either a black or white border to match the color of your iPad 2.
Upside: Very easy to apply without using any water or a squeegee type of applicator. It's not flimsy, so when it's applied to your screen, the protector adheres securely and there's no chance for air bubbles to pop up. No dulling of the screen view. It really does resist smudges and cleans easily.
Downside: Make sure that you line up the holes for the camera and power switch perfectly and take care to not bend or crease the protector during installation.
Bottom line: It's perfectly clear that this is the perfect screen protector.
Toddy Gear Smart Cloth, $9.99 and $14.99 through toddygear.com or amazon.com.
The rundown: Slip one of these handsome microfiber cloths in with your iPad 2 and you'll keep it in pristine shape. Toddy cloths measure 5 inches by 7 inches and 9 inches by 9 inches.
Upside: I like to leave one of these clothes lying on the screen in the iPad 2 case so that it's always at the ready. It features a satin smooth cleaning side that gives the cloth a little bit of heft and comes in a variety of colorful designs. The other side is made of soft microfiber that quickly removes any hint of finger prints that might get on your screen.
Downside: You'll end up using these for all of your electronic gadgets, so you'll have to buy more than one.
Bottom line: You'll feel lost without your Toddy.
