The Smart Cover is "stapled" through an integrated magnet on the side of the iPad and can be easily removed when not in use also. Attention: only the iPad 2 and the iPad 3 include a built magnet, which forms the opposite pole to the Smart Cover, owners of the first iPad can not therefore attach to your iPad.
There is the possibility to fold the Smart Cover in the prism shape with triangular bases. These in turn allow two positions while you can identify the one with a pleasant especially for video or FaceTime "upright position with 100 degree" with the longer side at the bottom, you can see the other position, which is made possible by the folding of the cover, as "Lying with 20 degrees from the ground" denote. This position is particularly useful for writing and surfing.
Since the term "Smart Cover" but also the word "cover" includes, I would like now to address the protection function:
Furthermore, it is possible to free the Smart Cover from the prism shape and let it rest on the smooth iPad display.
The inside, which rests on the screen, like a soft blend of microfiber and suede / nubuck leather feels, so that the high-resolution Retina display is including sufficient protection in normal case. The exterior, which is thus seen when the cover is folded is, from a robust appearing plastic, called "polyurethane". This is in the form of foam in household sponges.
What I have to complain about this a bit, is that the Smart Cover no less than a little shift during transport, so that a part of the display is free from protection. Not only the protection is a problem, but also this: If you are in the iPad settings under "General" - have "lock / unlock iPad case"> enabled, the iPad will automatically switch with minimum displacement of the Smart Covers, and from what battery capacity consumed. It is recommended, therefore, turn off this feature if there is a risk that can move the cover (z. B. when transporting).
Another small negative point is the fraying of the "round corners" of the cover. There are often times small lint and fringes of the aforementioned substance on the inside of the iPad from, I do not hope that turns this process to slow resolution of the part. Again, I will report.
Another note on the side: the Smart Cover should not be used as primary protection for the iPad, it merely serves as a supplement, both in protecting and in the optics.
Overall, you get a very satisfying product for the price, which is to be "satisfactory" not here for our old school "satisfactory", but rather in the school system for "good", which is reflected in my Amazon rating of 4 stars expresses.