The iPad is, by its very definition, is a ‘premium’ product. Those who own it usually don’t want for much. So, what do you buy for the geek who has everything? How about a dedicated iPad chair?
The brainchild of Elite Home Theater Seating, the iPad Chair is a multimedia chair designed specifically for the needs of iPad owners – and if you’re not put off by the idea of a piece of furniture designed around a supposedly portable device, read on.
Showcased over on premium product blog Born Rich, the iPad Chair – based around the company’s existing Elite HTS Chair – is a combination reclining chair and iPad holder, featuring specifically designed lumbar support and elbow positioning to make using the iPad while sitting as comfortable as possible.
The holder itself – a Luxua2 H4 – grips the iPad gently but firmly in six points with rubber-tipped pincers so it doesn’t go slippy-slidy, and can be rotated between portrait and landscape modes, or even laid flat to produce the world’s smallest Surface-like interactive coffee table.
Keeping the premium theme going is a cushion system that wouldn’t look out of place in a sports car, while an integrated cup holder means that you never need go thirsty while watching films or browsing the net on your Apple’s slate device.
Elite itself describes the experience of using the chair in combination with an iPad as being “a bit like a Star Fleet Officer on the bridge of the Enterprise as you stare into the [iPad's] big beautiful touch panel,” although the velour jumpsuit and receding hairline is to be provided at the buyer’s expense. As, for that matter, is the starship.
Designed, in company founder Bobby Bala’s words, to “enhance the iPad experience by increasing the comfort level of the user,” Elite Home Theater Seating claims that “our testing indicates [enhanced comfort] increases the level of interaction and escapism with the device.“ Sadly, at some point you will have to leave the confines of your comfy, interactive womb and venture out into the world – unless, of course, you’ve got people who do that for you.
And therein lies the rub: while an iPad is certainly not an impulse purchase, the cost of the gadget is absolutely dwarfed by the cost of the accessory. With the basic model – and, lets face it, if you’re spending the kind of money Elite HTS is talking about, why would you ever go for the ‘basic’ model – starting at $2,495, you may decided that just holding the damn thing in your existing chair is the better option.
For those with money to burn, the company’s premium offering, available in black or brown leather to co-ordinate with your decor, is a whopping $5,996 – but does come with an adjustable head rest.
