Marware Vibe Standing Case for Kindle Fire HD 7″, Purple (will only fit Kindle Fire HD 7″)

Bought this for my Kindle Fire HD that I just received today. Some pros and cons:

PROS
– Fits Kindle Fire HD 7″ perfectly, and is easy to remove and install. Clips hold the device firmly in place.
– Adds minimal bulk or weight to the device. There is barely any gap around the Fire, so you’re only adding about a millimeter, on all three dimensions, by adding this cover.
– Has an elastic strap to ensure the cover stays closed. This is a nice feature that my old Kindle Keyboard’s lighted case had, and I prefer an elastic closure, if possible.
– Great feel, smooth leather feels great in the hand. Inner liner is fuzzy and will protect the screen well. Love that I can get it in red, for the “fire” aspect of the Fire HD’s name.
– Stands up on its own in landscape mode (though see my concern, below).

CONS
– Case is really stiff for stand-ups; I’m sure this will work itself out, in time, and I rarely use the stand-up feature anyways.
– Major issue with how you orient the Fire HD – camera-right or camera-left. Depending on orientation, you’ll have partial functionality either way.

ORIENTATION ISSUE
– The issue is that, basically, you have two installation options:

1) Camera-to-the-right: This puts the HDMI/USB on the left, and power/headphone/volume on the bottom. This allows the camera to be “up” when you stand the unit up in the case and allows for the auto-sleep to work. However, it prohibits the Fire HD from charging or displaying on HDMI when the case is closed or deployed in “stand mode,” and prohibits use of non-Bluetooth headphones while propped on lap in portrait orientation.
2) Camera-to-the-left: This, I believe, is the desired installation option (and is, based on Amazon’s case). However, when standing the case up, it results in the camera being on the bottom, and auto-sleep will not work.

If you look at the Amazon-branded case, it specifically uses the orientation I, personally, prefer – Camera-to-the-left. They even have special cutouts for the USB and HDMI on the right. So I believe this is the desired installation method. Yet, in this orientation, the Marware case cannot auto-sleep or stand on its own and have the camera on top.

All in all, I recommend this case for Fire HD 7″ users. The price is much more reasonable than the stock Amazon-branded case, which I think is absolutely horrifically priced. I fail to understand how Amazon can, in good conscience, sell a technological marvel that is the Fire HD for an obscenely-low $199, and then charge 25% of the cost for a case! All of their cases are like this, which is ridiculous. Maybe they count on it, and make some of the money up on the case?

—UPDATED 17-Sep-2012—
Updated the above due to comments on how the case does, indeed, sleep the unit if you have it in the “wrong” orientation. Thanks to Leticia for making me double check this! Lowered stars to 4 due to the no-win situation this case presents, though it’s still an excellent-feeling case and a good value.

Personally, I preferred a low-cost and no frills cover for my new Kindle Fire HD. The problem was that at first only Amazon’s far more expensive leather products were available, and there were few details about the alternatives. So I took a risk and bought the Marware Vibe Standing Case for Kindle Fire HD 7″.

I am delighted with the purchase. The case is well-built, and can be set either horizontally or vertically. There is a black elastic strap that easily stretches over the outside cover (from back to front) to protect the Kindle Fire HD even in a suitcase, backpack, or briefcase. And the case is anti-skid, so that it rests solidly on your table or desk.

And honestly? Although the Kindle Fire HD is a bit heavier with the case, it is far easier to grip safely and comfortably for long periods. That is especially important for me because arthritis in my hands makes gripping uncomfortable after just a few minutes.

The case is well made, it looks beautiful, and I am confident that it will protect my Kindle Fire HD even if I drop it.

All in all, I highly recommend this product, especially at almost half the price of the Amazon cases.

I ordered this with my kindle fire so I had a case to put it in right away. Its practical, looks good and easy to use, oh and should be protective! I choose the orange one, looks sharp. The kindle snaps into the case so its not going to slip out, folds to turn into a stand for viewing and reading. Must have!

this is a good case, its slim,high quality, well priced. but you cant charge the kindle i the position that the kindle was meant to put it the case, if you flip the kindle you can charge it with the case closed, but the sleep, wake feture wont work.