SpiderArm’s (http://www.spiderarm.com) US$79.99 SpiderArm iPad mount system is a great idea and well implemented, but has one major problem: it doesn’t work with the new iPad.
The SpiderArm offers an interchangeable support system for the iPad 2 with a modular design. It allows users to create a hands-free viewing set-up and is a great complement to Air Display software (see our review at http://macte.ch/7X6NW ). The SpiderArm is also great for viewing videos or reading hands-free in bed, using the Apple tablet as a teleprompter, or setting up the iPad as display device in an office or business.
The SpiderArm includes two base units. One is a two-way SurfaceMount that’s padded to protect furniture and can be secured to a table or desk. The other is a three-way VersaMount for securing onto a wall, under a cabinet or near your work station.
Three modular extension arms with 270 degree joints freely adjust to any angle and height. The three separate arm pieces are easy to assemble and are interchangeable, so you have lots of options on how to set up your iPad for hands-free viewing. However, you should be careful: the more arms you utilize the more wobbly the iPad becomes when you are touching it.
The secureSnap outer casing allows for a quick attachment of the iPad; the device eases onto the base and is snapped onto the unit at all four corners for a secure fit. Well, at least the iPad 2 and, I would expect, the original iPad. Evidently, the new iPad, which is slightly thicker than its predecessor, is just a bit too hefty to fit into the SpiderArm. You can wedge it in, but it’s not secure, so I definitely recommend you not use the SpiderArm with the latest incarnation of the Apple tablet.
Also, you’ll have to remove any covers from your iPad, including the Apple Smart Cover. That’s not a criticism, just an observation.
Rating: 7 out of 10
— Dennis Sellers
