Well, after reading through this thread I still could not decide on one cover ? so I purchased two similarly priced covers; the Poetic Slimline in Navy and the Bear Motion 100% leather case in black. Here are the initial results:
Poetic Slimline:
Pros:
- Very slim
- Very open face: Does not cover any part of the speakers
- Like the dark color
- Looks sleek
- Pogocharer port open when case is closed
- Magnets visible just outside the N10 on the cover rather than on the N10 itself
- Sleep/Wake feature works ? seems to have stronger magnets than BearMotion
Cons:
- Somewhat heavy: Seems to be made of vinyl and it adds significant weight to the N10
- Sloppy Quality Control: There are several small glue stains on the cover & sides and one corner is not completely glued, so it may begin to peel later
- Very wobbly when trying to use the cover to keep the N10 upright on a table ? definitely need very flat surface
- Does not seem to add any protection to the N10 if dropped in the slightest: the frame of the cover is hard plastic (not rubber) and it is so tight that any drop/bump would seem to immediately transfer to the N10 ? in short it is minimalist in padding and would seem to be minimalist in protection if at all
- Inside material is smooth and thin which makes it somewhat slippery when holding the case open with one hand
- EXTREMELY difficult to take out of cover
BearMotion 100% Leather:
Pros:
- Looks professional with Black Leather and stitching (rather than just glue) around perimeter of case
- Leather seems to offer a bit more protection from drops/bumps than Slimline ? though, while appearing to add some protection, it is not to be confused with an Otterbox for example.
- Pogocharer port open when case is closed and cutouts seem appropriate
- Cover does fold back all the way: I believe someone posted that the leather does not fold back so as to make it more convenient to hold one-handed. In fact it does fold back without resistance and the material with 3 sewn stripes inside the cover makes it easy to hold one handed
- It is very sturdy when using the cover to keep the N10 upright on a flat surface and has three viewing angles. Have placed it on top of books/papers without any problem.
- Sleep/Wake feature works, but magnets do not appear to be as strong as those on Slimline
- BearMotion responded very quickly on Facebook to questions
Cons:
- Somewhat more bulky than Slimline ? while not exactly a con, it should be noted that in comparison it is thicker, but not uncomfortably thicker ? for me this is a neutral issue
- Biggest complaint would be that the speakers are somewhat covered by the case
- There are a few noticeable dimples on the leather ? though not a deal breaker per se, especially at the price, it is annoying --- so, not astoundingly great quality control, but better than Poetic it would seem
- The circular magnets are noticeable in the holding straps of the case as their shape protrudes from atop the N10
Preliminary Conclusion:
At this early point, I am leaning toward the BearMotion mainly because it offers at least some protection from the occasional bump and it has better functionality when holding N10 upright; however, the fact that the speakers are covered is a annoying as are the visible shapes of the magnets on the straps. In contrast, it is worth noting that the vinyl-like material (not to mention the glue) of the Poetic seems like it will not last as long as the leather of the BearMotion when constantly opening/closing case. However, I will keep using them and will try and keep everyone updated if time allows.