Ever since I got my (first generation) iPad I was fascinated with the prospect of having it mounted in my car and used as a navigation device. Back then a 10” tablet screen somewhere on your dashboard seemed like a mildly crazy idea. Since then we’ve all gotten used to the carrying relatively large-screened devices everywhere with us – I’ve been using 4.8” screened Samsung Galaxy S III for a few weeks now, and many manufacturers are now coming up with smartphones that are pushing 6” in diagonal. (Some call these devices “phablets.”) At the same time my 5” screened Garmin navigational device is starting to look small and puny in comparison. So the time has finally come to get my iPad in my car and get all the info on a gloriously large screen.

The Satechi car tablet mount is in may ways an ideal introductory mount for large-screened devices. It is relatively lightweight and configurable enough to accommodate almost any 5” to 10” device. The extendable arms are easy to adjust. The base of the mount is pretty sturdy, and the combination of a strong suction cup and the sticky surface can hold the mount firmly in place for the most part. My only misgiving about the mount is that the holding arms seem a bit flimsy. This is very noticeable when you put in a heavier tablet like iPad. I’ve used this mount in my Honda CR-V, and have made use of the dashboard indentation for added security and stability for the mounted iPad. The indentation also helps prevent iPad’s lateral motion during driving. I am really not sure if I wold use this mount with an iPad-sized tablet in a smaller car though.

One advantage of the relatively loose cradle arms is that it’s pretty easy to slip in my iPad sideways while driving. I’ve used this mount for a month now, and have not had any major issues with it. I’ve discovered, though, that I prefer to use the mounted arms in the “upside down” configuration. This is because when my iPad is slanted away from the windshield the glare under most driving conditions makes it practically impossible to see the screen. The forward tilted configuration is much better, but then more of your windshield area is blocked.

I use this stand and my iPad primarily with the Waze app – it gives me very clear and up-to-the-moment indication of the traffic conditions, sometimes a few miles ahead. It has certainly helped me save lots of time from being unnecessarily stuck in traffic. That alone makes this a very valuable mount to have and use with your iPad.