There are lots of situations where you might want to use your iPad hands free. And the A-Frame stand is an elegant solution for most of them. If you want to prop the iPad up on the table then this will work well. Not so good for use in bed though as the width of the rear support is narrow and it would topple off easily. Combine it with a lap-table and you’d have a workable arrangement. The frame is made form solid aluminum with a rubber cradle where the iPad sits. A clever design feature is that it folds flat so it can go into a side pocket.

A stylish table top stand for you iPad.

Need a lightweight travel case for your iPad? Well this one is very slim and light, and also doubles as a prop and a stand. It has a stiff segmented cover flap that folds back underneath and acts as a prop or stand. Only in landscape though. If you want to prop up your iPad in portrait then you’ll need something in addition. But for viewing movies in bed or on the airplane then landscape is just fine. The case is held closed by a leather tongue and the iPad is held in it place so that you still have access to all its ports and buttons.

A great iPad travel case from Macally.

This landscape prop or stand from Macally is made from aluminum. Nice and strong and looks good as well. The only thing that could beat it would be titanium, but I guess that would be overkill. So this stand has an appropriately sized, rubberized socket into which you pop your iPad so that it sits flush with the surface of the stand. Any cables connect in behind so that you don’t seem all hanging out the front. It makes your iPad look a bit like a TV. The recessed socket is quite a clever design. The aluminum has a polyurethane coating to give it a nice look and a bit of protection.

A clever iPad stand form Macally.

Naturally as this product comes from Apple it has that classic apple slick look about it. It’s basically a Mac keyboard married with an iPad dock, but married in a nice way. Mac users will immediately feel at home on this keyboard. The dock part has the necessary features; it charges your iPad and syncs it with your computer as well as having the mandatory audio line out port for connection to powered speakers. Some of the keys are specific to the iPad, like a ‘home’ button that emulates the home button on the iPad. The keyboard is a nice burnished aluminum while the dock is that familiar shiney white plastic.

A classic apple accessory for your iPad.

You will definitely need a dock or cradle to charge your iPad or connect it to the Apple iPad keyboard. The Apple dock is called iPad Dock Connector to VGA Adapter, but expect 3rd party manufacturers to come out with cheaper (and more expensive) alternatives. We’re especially excited about turning the iPad into an entertaining system for our room. Hurry up BOSE and release your awesome cradle – we know it’s coming. Check back here to find the best iPad Docks & Cradles.