Customer Reviews

Bookgem Book Holder - iPad Stand, Kindle, Tablet, & eBook Holder

5 star:		(79)
4 star:		(22)
3 star:		(10)
2 star:		(4)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

Length:: 3:11 Mins

Awesome book holder. Now I can hardly bear to read without it. Was surprised how small it is when it arrived, thought that it wouldn't be very effective. Wrong.

It works great on all the books I've tried it on. Well, okay, I tried to demonstrate it for my friend with one of her law school text books, which is pretty huge, and it was overwhelmed. But on all the novels and paperbacks I've read it's great. I like to read at lunch time and people are constantly stopping and doing double takes and asking about it. I should just get a bunch and sell them at lunch time.

The little 'page slots' are a really neat extra detail. You can put like 15 pages in the slots and it makes it super quick to turn pages without lifting the spring. Hard to describe, but trust me, it's very cool and simple when you see it work.

My wife didn't want to use it on some of her books because she thought it would be tough on the spine, bending it open too far. I guess if you have maybe a 50 year old paperback with a cracked spine thats falling apart, then, no, I wouldn't use this or any other book holder for that matter. The book will be held wide open flat. (Well, that's the whole point really!) When I've finished with a book, I put it back on the shelf and the spines all quickly return to normal and basically look un-read.

Another weird thing is how quickly I read books now. When the book is just sitting there open with no effort, it's like you can't take your eyes off it. Where was this thing when I was in college and had to read 50 pages a night for those Lit classes?

Also surprising is how stout this thing is. It's like it was carved from a solid block of dense plastic. Really well made.

You will pry it from my cold dead hands.

The Book Gem is a book holder. It is a clever design and is well constructed. I had high hopes for using it while reading in bed.

It works pretty well for some books, not at all well for others. It is hopeless for large hardbacks; it isn't strong or large enough to hold them in place. For paperbacks, it works but is more hassle than it is worth. You need to be very careful when sliding the pages in and out of the holding slots or they'll tear on the rubber grippers. Transferring groups of pages from the main clips to the holding slots and vice versa is an even greater hassle.

I find it quite useful for smaller crossword books where I need the stability but don't turn the pages very often. For this one specific use, it is great; otherwise, meh.

I hesitated at the price of this when I first bought one a few years ago, a new creation at the time. I actually bought several as I gave the extras as gifts. Now I need more, others have been noticing mine at work.

It more than paid for itself and will continue to do so, the quality is extraordinary. No detail of its design/use has been overlooked.

As it's completely flat when folded, it is extremely portable with sharp edges to catch and crack or crush.

update 2011
I e-mailed to order more grips that had worn out and they sent new ones, in a #10 envelope, free. And will remain free for the life of the product.

This bookholder is somewhat specialized for "trade" paperback-sized books and even a little larger (as small as 8" x 5", as large as 9" x 6", softcover or hardcover). This does leave out "mass-market" paperbacks and larger textbooks, but I have found that, at least for recreational reading, and even some technical reading, there are an astounding number of books which fit well in this device.

As you can see from the overhead view image of the item, there are 2 spring-loaded arms that hold back the books pages, separating finished pages from the unread pages. The important extra detail is that each of these 2 arms has, at the end of the arm, 2 plastic rubber-tipped "teeth" with a gap between the teeth. This gap between the teeth will easily hold 10-35 pages (depending on the thickness of the pages). When you first begin to read, you tuck 10-40 unread pages in between the teeth on the right arm, and, as you read each one, you simply lift/pull the page out from between the teeth on the right and tuck it in between the teeth on the left. After just a few pages, the motion was quick and easy, so much so that I don't even think about it anymore; it doesn't interrupt my reading and I am no longer even conscious of the movement when I turn pages.

The bookholder is very durable and very portable. I have given several as gifts to friends and family who love to read. I find it to be especially useful when I want to read while I am eating. I have read so many more books in the last several years since buying this bookholder because I can read hands-free while I eat.

I bought a "Paperbax" bookholder to compare, and it is well-made, and has spring-loaded arms as well, but the arms do NOT have the little "teeth" at the ends to allow for holding a bundle of pages, which would allow for much quicker page turning.

I have not yet found a bookholder for small paperback books. When I try to use them in this bookholder, the pages don't want to stay between the "teeth."

When it comes to larger and/or heavier books (such as college textbooks, dictionaries, and tall softcover "workbooks" often used in classes), I use the Easi-Reader bookstand (available at Amazon as well, I believe). It is small, portable, sturdy, simple and allows for easy page-turning as well.

I plan on getting a few more for gifts, and I think this item is worth every penny.

I can't say how well this holder works on dead tree books since I don't read books this way any more. But I can say that it is absolutely perfect for holding eBook Readers and in particular the new Apple iPad. The BookGem holds the iPad with rock solid stability. The page clamps are exactly the width of the bezel that runs around the screen, so no active portion of the screen is covered. The rubber covers on the page clamps should keep the BookGem from scratching the bezel if you are using it to hold the iPad directly. I myself use the Apple case so that my iPad is never naked (just like a soap covered baby, the naked iPad is very slippery). The case does not interfere at all with using the BookGem. I simply fold the cover behind the iPad and put the entire works in the BookGem.

The BookGem can hold the iPad in four ways, upright/portrait, upright/landscape, inclined/portrait and inclined/landscape. The upright positions are with the BookGem at the bottom entirely supporting the iPad. The inclined positions are with the BookGem "upside down" with the BookGem holding the top of the iPad and the bottom (side closest to you) resting on the table. In either position the iPad can be in portrait or landscape position. All four positions have their different uses. If you are interested, in both upright/portrait and upright/landscape the angle of the screen is 67 degrees to the horizontal. In the inclined position the iPad is at a 26 degree angle in portrait and 34 degrees in landscape orientations. (all angles measured using the inclinometer app on my iPhone. Who ever said there is no reason to have both the iPad and iPhone :).

The upright/portrait position is great for reading at the table. The upright/landscape position is perfect for watching video. The flatter inclined position is good for situations where it is more natural and comfortable to sit where you look down on the iPad. Since the iPad automatically adjust when turned, there is no need to remove the BookGem when flipping from the upright to the inclined position. In fact the BookGem doesn't need to be removed at all. A number of times I have just folded up the legs on the BookGem and left it clamped to my iPad when I put it in my backpack. I do this since often the next time I get my iPad out I will want to use the BookGem, and it makes sure that the two are together. And if I am going to be sitting on the sofa or in a recliner and don't need to BookGem, a simple squeeze of the clamps and the BookGem comes right off, folds back up in a very compact package and goes right back in my backpack.

The combination of the BookGem and the Apple Bluetooth keyboard turns the iPad into a pretty functional laptop. The BookGem and the bluetooth keyboard allows you to type when the iPad is in any of the four different orientations. With the iPad keyboard dock you have your choice of the iPad in exactly one orientation, portrait/upright.

And lastly the iPad/BookGem combination address the bane of all travelers, typing on an airline tray. Typical clam shell laptops have a terrible time opening far enough to allow you to see the screen. With the BookGem holding the iPad in the inclined/landscape it is simple to use the on-screen keyboard. While I haven't had yet occasion to try it, I think that there will probably be room on the airline tray for the iPad in the upright/landscape position as well as the Apple keyboard, which is a model of compactness.

So if you are one of the half a million people (as of this writing) who already have an iPad, the BookGem is a must-have accessory for you.

Just got this in today.

. Works well with the Kindle II.

. Clip it to the top of the book and it's at a great angle on the grass as you're sitting in a sand chair.

. Clipped to the top of the book, you can use those handy dandy support legs draped over different objects such as your own leg as you're sitting with one leg crossed over your other.

Okay...
Today is Day 2 that I've been using this holder. While yesterday I gave it a 4-star review, I dropped it down to 3 today. Why? Those page clips really are annoying. Sometimes even a slight movement of the holder causes the clips to unclip from the book.

I love this product for holding books, especially when lying down in bed, reading. But it's also a wonderful holder for the Kindle, whether standing it up on a table while reading and eating, or clipping it sideways so that it will hold the Kindle sideways while reading in bed. It's a great product.

Love this very elegant & clever product. Plus lightning fast [2 day] delivery. But they should consider stating [in 14 pt. bold type] in the promotional info that the item is actually [no kidding!] made in the U.S.A. I was delighted to find it in the fine print, but would have more quickly decided to purchase it had I not figured it was made in China by 12 year olds!

As a machine designer, I'm much impressed w/ the sophisticated, yet minimalist design, compactness, & obvious quality of the entire product. I would've been very happy @ $20.

It is only used w/ a Kindle II in an M-Edge leather cover. It finally provides needed peace-of-mind concerning accidental tipping & potential breakage of my very $$$$ Amazon beastie. *the rubber-tipped anti-skid features are truly inspired. While holding my Kindle on a hard surface, I merely push straight into any button I choose with a fingertip without fear of the whole assembly sliding around dangerously. This is the 3rd [and, thankfully last] book-holder I'll need buy!

I buy book holders compulsively. I must have 20 holders and stands around the house. The Bookgem is the best of the compact models in terms of (1) build quality, (2) grip strength and (3) portability. It's easy to use whether you prop it on a tabletop or use it to hold an open book one-handed. Highly recommended.

The BookGem Bookholder is well designed with a 'sturdy clip' to hold a book open. And then right in front of that sturdy clip there is about an 1/8 inch space to place 'loose' pages. Re-release the sturdy clip, bringing forward more pages and place those in that 1/8 inch space and put those 'read' pages back behind the sturdy clip.

Advertised as reversible you can either attach the BookGem to the top of a book for a more angled / lower position - of course, that depends on the size of your book, as that is the now 'bottom' of the 'book holder.' And when the BookGem is attached at the bottom of the 'book' - as in the first picture above - it is at a good angle / straight.

Overall thickness of BookGem is 3/4 inch
Overall length of BookGem is just over 5-1/2 inches
Overall height of BookGem is 2-3/4 inches

Visiting the BookGem website directly - bookgem.com - you receive discounts on multiple BookGem purchases that you don't when purchasing through Amazon. Through BookGem you can purchase using your Amazon account (or PayPal) with free shipping.
$12.45 each for 2 BookGems
$11.95 each for 3 BookGems
$11.20 each for 4 BookGems
$11.00 each for 5/6/7 BookGems
$10.50 each for 8/9/10 BookGems