Favorite Things: DODOcase for iPad 2

Posted on January 21, 2012 by Ammon

Sleek. Elegant. Sophisticated.

You could use those three words to describe the DODOcase for iPad 2, but then I’d be forced to call you a pretentious schmuck.

As soon as I got my iPad 2 I knew exactly which case I wanted for it—the DODOcase. I’d read the glowing reviews about it on blogs like Engadget and TUAW, but (more importantly) it fit my own personal criteria. I wanted an iPad case that would do the following:

Look great
Protect the front and back of my iPad
Not announce to the entire world that I have an iPad

I’m happy to report that the DODOcase succeeds on all counts.
For the uninitiated, the DODOcase looks like a large Moleskine notebook.

DODOcases are made using traditional bookbinding processes right here in the good old US of A. The do a fantastic job of telling their own story here.

For about six months I’ve been extremely satisfied with my DODOcase purchase. The other day, however, I noticed that the bamboo frame of the case had a large crack in one of the corners and was precariously close to falling off completely.

I wrote a quick note to customer service describing the issue and explaining my concern that the case hadn’t lasted longer. I also and attached the image below to my note.

One minute later, I had a response. That’s not a typo. That’s not an exaggeration. Let me say it again. One minute later, I had a response.

The email was from a real, live human being who apologized for the problem, thanked me for sending them the picture and provided full resolution in their first communication.

The customer service agent advised me that super glue might work, but also offered to send me a replacement. I chose the latter and three days later I had my new DODOcase.

DODOcase Bookplate

Ever since advent of overseas call centers fueled by large corporations’ rise in apathy over the care of the people who buy their products and services we have come to expect poor customer service. Sadly, a company that cares about those who pay its bills is the exception and not the norm.

DODOcase is that exception. They are the Nordstroms of iPad cases. They sell fine products at a premium, but not only are you getting an excellent product, more importantly, you know that they will stand by their products and treat you right.

I’ll warrant that my DODOcase gets at least as many stares as my iPad itself. Everyone compliments me on my handsome notebook and if when they get the chance to look inside they’re even more impressed.

Are you willing to pay more for a premium product or premium customer service? Have you found a company or product you like that offers both? Sound off in the comments below.

All images are from my flickr, unless otherwise noted.

DODOcase wins TUAW Best of 2011 award for iPad cases (tuaw.com)
President Obama likes his iPad 2 wrapped up in a DODOcase (thenextweb.com)
DODOcase Adds Monogramming, Auto Wake/Sleep Magnet To Their iPad 2 Cases (techcrunch.com)
Customer Love: DODOcase (mailchimp.com)

The Good Word: Mahalo

Posted on July 23, 2011 by Ammon

Plumeria Waimea via Tropic-7‘s flickr.

We just returned from a week in paradise on beautiful Waikiki Beach. In what will surely go down in history as one of our all-time favorite vacations we swam with fish and sea turtles, visited the Polynesian Cultural Center, and lounged around some of the most gorgeous beaches I’ve ever seen.

Before I’d ever been to Hawaii I always thought that their word was Aloha. And it is. But, now I know that they have another word (they have an entire language, I know), Mahalo, which I like even more.

Mahalo means “thank you” in Hawaiian, but it has much more feeling than that. I don’t know what it is, but to me it always sounds like a more sincere, but cheerful thank you.

Logo for Mahalo, courtesy of Business Insider.

And so, Mahalo joins a growing list of non-English words that I use in everyday conversation. I love the way it sounds and feels.

So, to my family I say Mahalo for joining me on this adventure.

Mahalo, to my grandparents for lending us their fantastic condo.

Mahalo, to the fine folks at ABC Stores for selling me milk at $10 a gallon and bananas for a buck each.

Mahalo, to anyone who has read this far into this post.

Mahalo, to those of you who will leave a comment.

Image via my flickr.

If you’re one of the over 300 million Americans who have never been to Hawaii, there’s time to change that—make plans to go! You’ll give me a big Mahalo when you get back for sure!

Are there any non-English words you use? If so, which ones? What do they mean? Sound off in the comments below.

Favorite Word

Posted on May 28, 2009 by Ammon

Doppelgänger might just be my favorite word ever. I’m always looking for excuses to work it into conversation. This is no small feat, mind you. In order to say it, you not only need to know what it means, but you usually need to have seen one.

Not sure what a doppelgänger is? Here’s what Dictionary.app has to say about it:
Dictionary.app Doppelganger
But, according to Wikipedia, it has also come to mean “any double or look-alike of a person.”

So, why am I so crazy about this word? I’ll sum it up in three reasons:

Quite simply, I like the way it sounds.
You know the two little dots (¨) above the ‘a’? They’re called an umlaut. Everything rocks a little bit harder with an umlaut—just ask Motörhead, Hüsker Dü, or Mötley Crüe,
Finally, because doppelgängers themselves are cool, they can be a fun story–telling device. Mario has Wario. Mr. Spock, Cartman, and Bender each have their very own “evil twin” complete with a warped sense of reality and the requisite goatee. Superman has Bizarro, and Jerry Seinfeld has wait for it) Bizarro Jerry

Now you know my favorite word. If we ever have a conversation and I use it, know that I am enjoying it and that I took great pains to work it into the discussion.

What’s your favorite word? Why? Sound off in the comments below.