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 SmarterCase for PDAs by Judie Clark Last date revised: 02/05/2002 Product Requirements: Device: Any PDA smaller than 5.3" (13.5cm) tall x 3.4" (8.7cm) x .7" (1.7cm) Updated 02/05/02 to reflect the addition of the new m500 series case. All new comments appear in RED. Are you looking for a case that really protects your PDA, but doesn't look like an industrial by-product? Have you been looking for a case that is as individual as you are, but that doesn't cost an arm or a leg? If so, then you might want to check out the line of PDA cases from SmarterCase . These cases are very simple, yet extremely functional. Underneath a fabric or leather covering, lies a steel clamshell case that should be strong enough to protect your PDA from just about anything short of intentional crushing. A sturdy piano hinge holds the two halves of the clamshell together, and allows the case to open flat when you need to access your PDA. The case is held shut with a faux leather tab that snaps securely from the rear of the case to the front. I was presented with three different universal SmarterCase styles for this review: the fuzzy Bobcat, the Dark Green Leather, and the Woods Camouflage. When ordering, these are referred to as the 146 series cases. I have also just received a smaller version of the SmarterCase made specifically for the Palm V and m500 series PDAs. These cases are referred to as the 126 series when ordering. This case is shorter, thinner, and weighs a bit less than the universal case, which is in keeping with the smaller size of that particular PDA series. This case is also available with various covers, for this review I was presented with the black leather. Each case is lined in black velour, and includes a small white pad of paper on the side opposite where you would mount your PDA. It should be easy to find a replacement pad when this one runs out, as it appears that the slot will hold a variety of sizes. In the 146 series cases, your PDA is held in place by two very small patches of Velcro. As you all know by now, Velcro is high on my hit list, but I have to give the SmarterCase folks kudos for keeping the Velcro pieces that actually attach to the PDA to a minimum. There is a small elastic loop to hold an extra stylus located on the far left side of the notepad, The 126 series features four SD/MMC slots on the left side. These cards are no where near your PDA's screen when the case is closed, so there is no fear that they will wither scratch your screen or accidentally turn your Palm on. In the center of the slots is an elastic look to hold your stylus, which is good because your PDA silo is inaccessible while in this case. This is my Palm m505 in the 126 series. There is no Velcro holding it in place, simply friction between the Palm and the cases lining. While I certainly don't suggest that you walk around shaking your Palm upside down to see if the case will hold it, I will tell you that I feel confident that it probably would. The fit is snug, and it is not easy to pull the Palm from its resting place, at least for the first week or two that you use the SmarterCase. There are so many different choices in available cover fabrics, that you might be tempted to get a couple different styles to match your ever changing moods. Some of the other available styles included even more animal prints, denim, various patriotic prints, and several other pleasing fabrics. I have to say that the SmarterCases are some of the most reasonably priced I have seen for this level of protection. I certainly don't recommend trying this with your own PDA inside, but I actually stood on top of one of my 146 samples, and bounced for a second or two. I weigh 143 pounds, and the SmarterCase didn't crush a bit. While I doubt that you could drive a car over this case without seriously damaging it and your PDA; you can still be confident that when using this case, should someone accidentally sit on it you wouldn't need to replace an expensive PDA screen - if you were lucky and that was all that was damaged. While this case appears to be virtually crushproof, I don't feel that it is insulated quite enough to save your PDA should it fall from a great distance. I would imagine that a couple feet might be okay - such as if you were to knock it from your desk, for example. This case will add a bit of bulk to your PDA. I will feature the dimensions of the fuzzier case, as it weighs just a couple more tenths of an ounce than the smooth fabric and leather cases. With this information, you can decide if your PDA will still be "pocketable" enough for you: Weight Height Width Thickness Empty Fuzzy 146 series SmarterCase 7.2oz (206g) 6.1" (15.4cm) 4.2" (10.6cm) 1.2" (2.9cm) Empty Leather 126 series SmarterCase 4.9oz (141g) 5" (12.7cm) 3.5" (8.9cm) 1.2" (2.9cm) I tried the 146 series case with the HP 565, Palm IIIc, Sony Clie N710c, a naked iPAQ 3850, a Handspring Visor Deluxe, and the Casio EM-500. Every single PDA fit perfectly. Here is the new iPAQ 3850 in the SmarterCase. These cases are simple, protective, and fun. They don't feature any logos or other designer marks, so if you prefer to not be a company's billboard the SmarterCase should be right up your ally. Price: $19.99 for the 146 series, and $18.99 for the 126 series Pros: Inexpensive Offer excellent protection from everyday shocks Various covers allow you to pick a more personalized style The 126 series for the Palm does not use Velcro Cons: The 146 series use Velcro - although they manage to keep it to a minimum Must remove PDA from case to sync Adds a bit of bulk - will seem worse for smaller PDAs Let me know your comments on the SmarterCase for PDAs, and read what others have to say. Back to Main Page.


Rhinoskin Molded EVA Foam Sportcase by Janice Karin Last date revised: 02/22/2002 Product Requirements: Device: PDAs of dimensions 5 1/4 x 3 1/4" When I was at Fall Comdex 2001 I saw a new RhinoSkin case that practically had me salivating. A nice front flip up case that used elastic plastic rings to hold III-style devices in place, the Molded EVA Foam Sportcase was calling my name. Unfortunately it didn't come home with me. Luckily I was able to get one later to review. Unfortunately it was a disappointment. At 5.6 x 3.5 x 1.35 inches and weighing 3.2 ounces with the belt clip, this case is not small or particularly light. It adds a good inch to the length of a III-style device and almost exactly doubles its thickness. If you like thin and trim this case isn't for you. Made of lightweight EVA foam covered in a light woven black stretched lycra, the case has a clamshell style. A small strap with a snap slides around the bottom of the case to the back to hold the case closed. The front has some sculpting to give the case a more interesting look, and there is a large plastic button with the RhinoSkin logo on it. It's fairly nice looking, in a sporty way. The inside of the case resembles a dugout canoe, in that it has two deep caverns. The bottom one holds the device and has a thin plastic protective sheet that gives the case most of its stiffness. It's the type of sheet most cases would have under the fabric on the screen side of the case to give added protection, not on the opposite side. I'm not sure why RhinoSkin decided on this placement - I find it odd. While we're on the subject of protection, the case has quite a lot of give. As far as I can tell this plastic sheet is the only stiffening used in the case, so it's pretty easy to twist or otherwise bend out of shape. I don't think this is a real problem, but if you like stiff cases that don't have any give this isn't the case for you. Palms can be fastened to the case in two ways - using Velcro or using slightly elastic plastic rings. I won't use Velcro on a Palm, so I can't comment on how well the Velcro holds, but the case has one of the largest pieces of Velcro I've seen. The hook piece is sewn into the case, inside a square cutout area of the plastic protective sheet. The case also comes with two large rectangular pieces of adhesive loop Velcro that cover the entire hook piece and then some. There is just enough room to attach one of these pieces to a HandEra 330 above the battery door without covering the reset hole, but you will have to cover the label with serial number. I like the plastic ring system also provided. Consisting of two somewhat elastic plastic rings that fit around the device - one on the bottom and one on the top, they stretch enough to make it fairly easy to get the device into the case but are snug enough to hold it securely once it's been positioned. I am comfortable holding the open case upside down using this system. The rings do require a little adjustment to ensure that they don't block any of the buttons, and with the HandEra 330 the top ring seems to naturally hook into the small crevice for the LED. If you want to see the LED while the device is in the case, you'll have to be very careful to always re-adjust this ring. Regardless of the attachment style, given the dugout style of the case, you won't have access to any of the sides, the top, or the bottom of your device. You won't be able to adjust the contrast on devices with contrast wheels, use the jogdial on a HandEra 330, hotsync, access SD or CF cards, remove the stylus, or use IR while the device is secured. If you use the ring system, you can use IR by sliding off the top ring and lifting the top of the unit. You can also access the jog wheel and expansion slots this way. It is possible but difficult to access contrast wheels by lifting the top. The top section that becomes the lid of the case has two stylus holders - one on each side. Grooved channels that run most of the length of the case, these holders should fit any stylus that fits in a III silo (I tried the default Palm III stylus, a pro-techniq stylus, and a Landware floating*point stylus). However, you need to perfectly position the stylus or it won't hold. Two ribbons are provided, one for each side, to help you remove the stylus. Simply place the ribbon over the channel, hold the end up, then put the stylus in. When you want to remove the stylus, lift the ribbon and it pops out. If you don't use the ribbons, the stylus is slightly but not significantly easier to get in the case and much more difficult to remove. I suggest using the ribbons. The case also has a removable belt clip. The back of the case has a protruding hard plastic hook that slides onto the clip only when the clip is turned sideways. Once on, the clip can only be removed by pressing in the end of the clip when it's in the sideways position. It's very secure - the case will tear before the clip will give. I am, in general, not fond of belt clips because it's too easy to have an accident. I am comfortable that with this belt clip my case isn't going to fall off. One thing of interest with the clip is that unlike most belt clips, it doesn't hang downward when in use. By this I mean in order to have the hinge facing upward so you can use the clip, the bulk of the clip must be positioned about the connection point. In this configuration the clip actually protrudes above the case. Most clips connect at their hinge point and hang downward. This caused me no end of confusion, as I kept trying to use the clip when it was upside down and got very frustrated when it wouldn't open. RhinoSkin is known for quality products. Their cases generally use the best materials, incorporate excellent designs, and are created with the best workmanship. I expect a lot from RhinoSkin and they usually deliver. However, in this case, they did not. The edges of the case are already beginning to fray after less than a month of use and there are spots where the nylon has thinned considerably to the point where you can almost see the white foam. The stitching on the back of the case - used to hold in the plastic protective plate that goes behind the device and to hold in the Velcro - has loose threads sticking up and generally doesn't blend in well with the case and there are one or two stray dots of glue on the inside cover. The metal snap that holds the case closed is starting to tarnish. The entire case is a dust magnet - there are specks of this and that everywhere. In short, the case had some issues to begin with and does not hold up well over time. Price: $29.95 Pros: Very secure belt clip Plastic ring system securing the Palm Ribbons make removing stylus much easier Cons: Must fully or partially remove Palm to access IR, hotsync expansion slots Adds a lot of bulk to the device Shoddy workmanship and materials Let me know your comments on the Rhinoskin Sportcase and read what others have to say. Back to Main Page.


Scribble Neoprene PDA Case by Judie Clark Last date revised: 12/10/2001 Product Requirements: Device: Almost any Pocketable PDA Scribble , longtime makers of hard cases and accessories for the Psion line of PDAs, has created a slightly different than usual case that uses neoprene and comes in bright cheerful colors. If you are still looking for an inexpensive Christmas gift for a PDA lover, you might want to consider this soft case. I was presented with the festive red (with black trim) version, which makes the Scribble perfect for inclusion in this holiday recommendation. You can also purchase this same style case in purple, blue and charcoal gray, each trimmed in black. The Scribble has a clean and simple design, uncluttered by anything other than a metal logo plate on the front, and not one, but two rather large matte silver zipper pulls. I thought the zipper's size as a whole was a little excessive, but otherwise I am pleased with the form and function of this case As you can see, this is a book-style case. Your PDA will attach with a huge strip of Velcro (my only major objection) to the inside right of the cover, while the left side is available for keeping your ID and up to four business or credit cards handy. A long slash pocket behind the ID area is perfect for stowing away receipts or bills. There are also two elastic loops in the case's spine, perfect for storing two batteries if your PDA requires them. The left side, which also forms your PDA's screen protection when the case is zipped shut, is reinforced with a plastic insert. While this does not make the Scribble crush-proof by any stretch of the imagination, it does offer suitable protection from ordinary knocks and dings that might occur. I would have to advise against dropping your PDA while in the Scribble, although it should be adequate for short drops (like from a foot or two) at the most. The Scribble does not add much weight to your PDA at all - only 4 ounces (113g). It will add a little bit of bulk if you are carrying a smaller PDA, such as the Palm m500 series, but on the more standard sized PDAs, you shouldn't be too bothered by the size. I tried putting several PDAs in the Scribble, including the iPAQ 3600 and 3800 series, the Sharp Zaurus, the Hewlett-Packard Jornada 565, the Palm IIIc, the Sony Clie 710c, and the Palm m505. I found that they all fit quite well, although it was not possible to include a sleeve with the iPAQ while in this case. Here are some pictures of the new Zaurus SL-5000 in the Scribble case. Of course, when you have the keyboard extended, the case is no longer quite long enough! ;0) The Scribble Neoprene PDA Case is a good gift idea for someone that likes a splash of color and doesn't mind adding a chunk of Velcro to the back of their PDA. Price: $23.95 (depending on price fluctuations of US Dollar to British Pound) Available in red, purple, blue and charcoal gray, each trimmed in black Pros: Fun, bright colors that help take the monotony out of carrying a protective case Adequate screen protection from dings and dents Fair price Cons: Uses Velcro to attach case to PDA Double Zippers seem excessively large Let me know your comments on the Scribble Neoprene PDA Case, and read what others have to say. Back to Main Page.


MarWare SportSuit IV Neoprene Case by Julie Strietelmeier Last date revised: 07/25/2001 Product Requirements: Device: Small PDAs including but not limited to: Palm III series (not IIIc), Palm m100 series, Palm V/Vx, Palm m500 series, Handspring Visors, Compaq iPAQ without an expansion sleeve PDA cases come in a variety of shapes and sizes. You've got your slim fitting slipper style cases made for a specific PDA model. You've got your hard shell cases made of metal or plastic. You've also got the zippered book style cases. The Marware SportSuit IV is just such a zippered case. This case which is made of neoprene, comes in 6 different colors (Red, Yellow, Blue, Black, Graphite and Olive). The SportSuit IV is a PDA generic case because it is not made for any specific PDA. I have found that there are quite a few smaller PDAs that work well with it including the Palm V, m100, m500, and Compaq iPAQ (without a sleeve). There are actually quite a few other PDAs that will work fine in this case, but these were the ones that I personally tested with it. To give you an idea if your PDA can fit in this case, here are the size dimensions of the inside and outside of the SportSuit IV. Inside 5.0" x 3.5" x .8"in (12.7 cm x 8.9 cm x 2 cm) Outside 5.25" x 3.75" x 1.0"in (13.3 cm x 9.5 cm x 2.5 cm) As far as the materials and workmanship that have gone into this case, I'd have to give it a thumbs up. I really like the styling and can't find anything major to gripe about. The majority of the case is covered with a soft rubbery neoprene grip that wraps around the front and back. I really love the texture of the neoprene. It allows you to keep a good hold on the PDA so that you can avoid dropping it. And, this is going to sound crazy (typical for me huh?) but I also like the smell of it.... :o) It reminds me of new sneakers! Besides the neoprene grip, the SportSuit IV also comes with a detachable hand strap. I personally never use these straps, but I know some people that love them. The entire case is nicely padded and reinforced with plastic inserts. The case of course isn't crush resistant, but I think the padding would protect a PDA from short drops with no problems. The PDA is held in the case with Velcro which as most people know, is not my favorite method of attachment. If you don't want to use the Velcro, you could just use the case to hold the PDA without actually affixing it to the case. This is what I usually do. The inside of the case is lined with a really soft black knit material. The left side of the case has an elastic stylus holder. There are also two card slots on the left side. There is a see thru ID card slot and behind it a larger slot. You probably wouldn't want to use the larger slot for credit cards as it is kind of sloppy and the cards might easily slide out of it. While testing the case, I used this slot for folded dollar bills. The SportSuit is held closed with a zipper that goes around 3 sides of the case. It has really smooth action and I never had problems with it jamming. I also like the little plastic covered metal pull. I like this case quite a bit. Which for me says a lot because I don't normally like zippered cases. The SportSuit IV will make a nice home for your PDA while looking good and feeling great in your hand. Price: $23.95 Pros: Padded protection Rubbery hand grip Cons: Not big enough to hold my iPAQ and Whitney CF Mod :o( Let me know your comments on the SportSuit IV and read what others have to say. Back to Main Page.


Cyberpocket Flipout QR Series PDA Case by Judie Clark Last date revised: 07/01/2001 Product Requirements: Casio: All; Compaq: All Aeros, Naked IPAQ, IPAQ with CF Card Expansion Pack; Palm: Palm IIIc, Palm VII/x, Palm III/xe; Palmax: Amigo 07/01/01 I have received a slightly different version of this case, so Updates will appear in RED There are those that want a good-looking case that can hold their PDA without adding much bulk. Sure, a trade-off is made, in that the owner knows that if their PDA is dropped or taken in a hazardous area, that smart looking case may or may not actually protect their investment. Some people make their case decisions based on their sense of style, while others base it on an actual need and desire for ultimate protection. Deciding on what features are essential to you, when you are picking out a case can be one of the most important and sometimes stressful decisions facing a new PDA owner. Knowing where the PDA will be used a majority of the time, and under what conditions, can help you make a more informed decision. For those of you that need a more rugged, yet completely customizable solution, there is a case worthy of your attention: Cyberpocket's Flipout QR Case . Sized at 6" (15.2cm) tall x 4" (10cm) wide x 1.50" (3.75cm) thick, the Flipout is big - there is no getting around it. On first glance, It would be easy to dismiss this beast as an overlarge accessory made to hang off of your belt. I almost made that mistake, myself. Upon further examination, however, the beauty of the Flipout concept began to shine through. I'll discuss the construction of the case first, and then we'll move on to some of its special features and add-ons. Ready? Construction : The Flipout is made of waterproof ballistic nylon. Does this mean that you can submerge your case, with PDA enclosed, under water and expect your PDA to survive? Come on, you know better... absolutely not . But it does mean that if you get splashed either by a bit water, coffee, or whatever, your PDA should be just fine. It also means that the Flipout should resist stains. There is a 2.5" (6.4cm) belt-loop attachment, made of nylon webbing at the top of the case. This brings the Flipout's total length to 8.5" (21.6cm). This belt-loop is clever in that it can attach to your belt without you having to actually undo your belt. You just un-Velcro it, and it unfolds to reveal an area that can easily accept a 2" (5cm) belt. The front of the case has no branding or obvious decoration. It is a plain front with a subtle weave. A strip of Velcro attaches the tab that will keep your Flipout closed. A clever reverse spot of Velcro on the belt-loop will hold that same tab out of the way when you have the Flipout open. The rear of the Flipout is similarly plain, and except for the attached belt-loop, the clean lines of the case are unbroken. It is when you first open the Flipout that you get the idea that you may have something special in your hands. The U-shaped cover of the case is reinforced with strong 1/8" thick wire on all corners. A 1/8" inch thick interior plexi-glass insert is hidden behind the soft, cloth-lined screen-cover to protect your PDA against direct frontal assaults when in the case. Attached to the base of the case, is an ingenious holster. This holster can be custom sized, with the use of six interlocking Velcro tabs, to accept almost every PDA on the market! I personally tried it with the Palm III, Handspring Visor Deluxe, Hewlett-Packard Jornada 548, Casio EM-500, and the Compaq iPAQ. I was able the following iPAQ & sleeve combinations by adjusting the Velcro sides of the holster: the naked iPAQ, iPAQ in basic style sleeve iPAQ, and in GM's Silver Slider . Although you can adjust the Velcro sides of the holster to fit the iPAQ with the PCMCIA sleeve, the case does not close properly over that combination. 07/01/01 - There is now a version of the Flipout available that although essentially the same, features a different holster that uses vinyl and 1/8" wire to secure your PDA. The vinyl is not intended to cover the screen of your PDA, but rather just the top and bottom edges and around the PDA's sides. What I like about this new holster is that more of your PDA's case area is protected, but there is (what I consider to be) a massive trade-off. The vinyl covers everything except for the actual screen of your PDA. While at first this may seem like a great idea, you quickly realize that this means almost every button, microphone hole, joy-pad, whatever, is now covered... This seems like even more of a problem on the Casio, as it has many buttons and a jog-dial located on the side. Hewlett-Packard 540 series owners would also be inconvenienced, as their jog-dial and record buttons would be covered. However, their four main hot-buttons are not. I believe that the screen shot of my 548, shown above, also shows quite well another objection I have to the new vinyl holster: It covers the top potion of the screen on several PDAs; most notably, the Casio, the HP Jornada 548, and the Palm IIIc. Of particular interest to Jornada owners is the stylus sleeve that can Velcro into the side of the case's lid. The iPAQ suffers mainly from having its entire front panel of buttons and the side record button being encased in vinyl. I am certainly not saying that the buttons are impossible to use, I just personally don't like the feel of trying to access them through a sheet of vinyl. Worth noting, however, is that there is no blockage of access to the stylus silos, nor to the headphone jacks for most PDAs. The picture you just saw of the iPAQ is taken with the Whitney's PC BaqPaq modification in the new Flipout holster. As you can see, while it is a "chunky-monkey", it does fit. It is possible to get the vinyl holster to accept so many PDAs because of the use of an adjustable Velcro system on its back-side. I would like to interject here that for all the Velcro used in this case, there is actually none that will either touch or attach to your PDA. If you have an aversion to the sticky-stuff, like I normally do, this is good news. :0) Features : The single coolest feature of this case - beyond the fact that it is almost crushproof when you have it attached to your belt, is the fact that you can actually use the Flipout case from your belt. By flipping the holster up from the back of the case, it will actually rest on its open lid, which then creates a base to support your PDA at your side - ready for whatever data entry you need to perform. There is a natural barrier created by the lifted up PDA holster pushing into your side, that keeps your PDA from slipping out of the bottom of the open holster. Velcro, on the bottom of the holster attaches to the Velcro strip previously mentioned on the front of the case, creating a secure base to support your PDA. While I don't advocate walking all about with your PDA swinging around semi-exposed in such a manner, you can certainly stand somewhere and enter data one-handed. People that I can see benefiting from this method of entry include, but are of course not limited to: doctors making hospital rounds, people in the field that have to read meters and notate information, and anyone else that needs access to their information with one hand or while standing. For those that cannot wear a garment with a belt, such as doctors wearing scrubs, there is another way to wear the Flipout: you can use the optional nylon waist-strap. This waist-strap is completely adjustable, and once fitted, opens with a plastic belt clip. Be warned right now: the strap is extremely long, and unless you have a very large waist, you will want to trim it down quite a bit. The Flipout case also offers easy, immediate access to your PDA ether buy flipping it open, or by easily removing your PDA from the Flipout holster completely. You also have almost total access to the top and sides of your PDA. I say almost, because there is some blockage caused by the Velcro tabs. For instance, on the iPAQ, you can access the head-phone jack, and stylus, but the Infrared port is covered by the tab. On the Casio EM-500 and the HP 548, the Record button is covered by a side tab. It is a simple matter to side the PDA to a position that you can use the covered features when necessary. Add-ons : At this time, there are two different pockets you can add to the Flipout: The Stowaway Keyboard Pocket & the Wallet Pocket. These pockets are interchangeable, and are easily added or removed. This is achieved by the use of Velcro "wings" that wrap around the sides of the Flipout's front, and that securely lock into place. Both pockets are made of the same ballistic nylon as the Flipout, so they actually complement the case when attached. Both cases have sewn in stylus holders on each side, so their is no right hand/left hand discrimination. The Stowaway Keyboard Pocket , as the name implies, will perfectly hold the various Stowaways to the front of your Flipout. Just to show you what an incredible amount of forethought went into the Flipout products, this keyboard pouch has a nylon retrieval system built in to make removing the Stowaway incredibly fast & easy. You simply pull on the exposed nylon tab, and your Stowaway will glide out. This is much better than fishing around for a good position to grab the keyboard from - as there really is none. The Stowaway is completely covered and protected; however, it is not in a crushproof case. The Stowaway Keyboard Pocket is 6" (15.2cm) tall, and 3.5" (9cm) wide. It will add 1" (2.5cm) to the existing thickness of the Flipout Case, for a total thickness of 3" (7.5 cm), or thereabouts. It is interesting to note that if you need an inexpensive keyboard case that can fit on your belt, this add-on pocket will do the job. The 3.5" (9cm) sewn in loop on the back can easily accommodate almost any width belt by passing the belt through the loop. This is just something to keep in mind... The Wallet Pocket , does exactly the function it is named for, also. Double zippers meet at the top of this pocket, allowing easy access from either side or the top. This case will not "flop open" spilling its contents, but rather will gape open enough for you to dig around and retrieve whatever necessary. Inside are four different pockets of varying sizes, and a zippered compartment for change or other small valuables you want to keep secure. There is actually enough room inside that if you need to stow a pager, or other similarly sized item with all your ID, etc, it will fit. My m100 fit in there perfectly, just to give you an idea of the amount of available room. One of the interior pockets is large enough to hold up to a TypeIII PCMCIA card securely. When the wallet is stuffed full, it measures 5.5" (14cm) tall, and 3.5" (9cm) wide. It will add up to 1.5" (3.75cm) thickness to the Flipout, making a total thickness of 3" (7.5cm) , or thereabouts. This pocket can also be worn on a belt by itself, should you want to. I had to ask myself, where would I most likely use a case like this? The answer for me was obvious: At the ranch, either when working animals, or when witnessing gas well tests. I could also see using it when I was riding the pasture on my Polaris 4-wheeler, checking fences and getting livestock counts. This is not a case for everyone, and I don't believe that it is trying to be. But, if you are reading this review, and thinking that it might be handy to have the Flipout's protection and expandability, as well as the one-handed convenience for your PDA - then I think that you will appreciate this case. It is extremely well made, very well thought out, and priced reasonably. Price: $32.99/ small , $34.99/ medium , $36.99/ large , $39.99/ x-large $9.99 for the Wallet Pocket $8.99 for the Keyboard Pocket 30-Day Money Back Guarantee Pros: Incredible protection & versatility Extremely well-made Medium size will fit almost all PDAs Updated 07/01/01 - New Vinyl holster protects more of every PDA's surfaces Cons: Bulky & huge Lots and lots of Velcro - however, none will actually touch your PDA Updated 07/01/01 - New vinyl holster covers almost all of the buttons and jog-dials on every PDA Let me know your comments on the Cyberpocket Flipout QR Series PDA Case and read what others have to say. Back to Main Page.


BucketBoss PDA Holster by Judie Clark Last date revised: 05/25/2001 Device: Fits most popular PDAs and Construction Calculators So let's say that you are a tradesman, and that part of your job description involves being at a construction site all day. Since the tradesman of today has to do so much more than just show up and "get to work", BucketBoss , a division of Fiskars (the scissors company), has created a line of organizational tools to help. I will focus on the PDA Holster today, since that is where most of our interests might be... The BucketBoss PDA Holster is best described as a pouch with a flap that Velcros shut. The flip-cover is reinforced to protect the screen of your PDA. The dimensions of this rugged case are 6.25" (16cm) tall x 5" (12.75cm) wide. This case almost squashes flat when empty, so you have to take that into account when deciding if it will fit your PDA. I tried it with the Casio EM-500, the Palm m100, the Handspring Visor Deluxe, the Palm IIIc, the HP Jornada 548, the Palm m505, and the Compaq iPAQ. By the way...if you use a PCMCIA expansion sleeve on your iPAQ, and you've been looking for a case that will hold the entire package: this should do the trick. This pouch is also wide enough to carry the Targus Stowaway Keyboard by itself. Done in what I can best describe as a subdued golden yellow ochre with olive green trim; this case has a soft-to-the-touch, yet obviously tough exterior. These pictures turned out where the olive looks brown, but trust me - it's not. The front of the case has a BucketBoss label in the middle of the flap. If you are someone that doesn't like large labels - it is easily removed without compromising the integrity of the case. The back of the case features an olive webbing-band that helps hold the stainless steel belt clip on. The clip also is held in place with a rivet at its bottom. The clip will accommodate up to a 2" (5cm) thick leather belt. Two tough elastic pen or pencil loops appear on the rear of the case. Shown in the loop is the Foursome 4 Point multi-pen, that I reviewed some time ago. The inside of the PDA Holster is lined in a soft, slightly padded, black nylon fabric. This pouch closes to completely cover your PDA. In the event of a modest drop (3 or 4 feet, at least), your PDA should survive unscathed. Bear in mind that this case is not crush-proof, but then - you already figured that, right? ;0P You don't have to be at a construction site to enjoy this pouch's good looks, great protection, and excellent price. If you have been wanting to try a pouch style case with rugged outdoor appeal, this one should fit your needs. Price: $10.98 MSRP at the BucketBoss store. Pros: Extremely well priced Almost indestructible Reinforced flap to protect PDAs screen Stainless Steel Clip Cons: None Let me know your comments on the BucketBoss PDA Holster, and read what others have to say.


Tech Media EVA PDA BodyGuard™ Case by Judie Clark Last date revised: 04/27/2001 Product Requirements: Device: Fits most current PDA's with dimensions under 5.45" (138.68mm) tall x 3" (76.22mm) wide x .72" (18.29mm) thick The PDA BodyGuard line of products by Tech Media was shown not so long ago at CES. One of the accessories that caught my eye while reading various reports from that show was a padded, water resistant, book style EVA Case . The seven colors this case is available in include: Ruby, Sapphire, Tangerine, Lime, Lemon, Silver, and a more subdued Graphite. There is something for everybody - the colors are mostly fun and bright - but if you need something "quieter" you can go with the Graphite or even the Silver. While I would love to give you a shot of the silver case, at this point I might as well tell you that while I did have a sample of that color sent to me for review, Julie decided that it needed to be in Indiana with her! :o) The EVA case zips on three sides, and as stated before, opens in book-style fashion. A black zipper goes around every case, regardless of color. The zipper seems to be of good quality, and has a 1" (25.40mm) metal fob attached to its end. On the front of this case, the "Tech Media" logo has been screen printed in black, on every case but the Graphite. That case has the logo screen printed in gray. The rear of the case has a sewn-in belt loop, made of nylon webbing. This is the type of loop that you must pass your belt through, not that will clip on your belt. It appears that up to a 2" (50.81mm) belt should be accommodated easily, and the webbing will stretch a bit with use. If you never use this belt loop, it will just lie flat against the back of the case, unstretched. Unzipping the EVA, reveals a very simple interior. It is entirely padded and lined in some sort of nylon fabric that appears to be non-abrasive, but not quite soft. The thickness of this case's padding is .055" (1.40mm) When opened, the left side stands up in the air a bit. There is no slot for an ID or business card on this left side, which may be inconvenient for some of you. There is a "Made in China" tag, which can be cut out. The right interior side of the EVA has a strip of Velcro sewn in. The is also a small piece included to affix to your PDA. To the right of where your unit will rest are two elastic loops. While these are provided for carrying replacement batteries, I also found that these loops were perfectly suited for carrying a shorter full sized stylus. This is perfect for those with the Jornada Pocket PCs, as they have no built in stylus slot. Depending on the size of the PDA you put in the case - the EVA can offer up to 1/2" ( 12.70mm) insulation on all sides of your PDA - which may help protect your investment in the case of a drop. While this case is slightly insulated, it is definitely not crush-proof. The EVA is a slim alternative to bulkier book-style cases. It does not offer a lot of extras, but at such a fair price, there is no reason to quibble. Price: $14.95 Available in Ruby, Sapphire, Tangerine, Lime, Lemon, Silver, and Graphite Pros: Inexpensive Simple slim case in bright colors Can carry extra batteries or a full size stylus Cons: PDA Attaches with Velcro No ID or business card pocket Let me know your comments on the Tech Media EVA PDA BodyGuard™ Case, and read what others have to say.


Brenthaven Padded PDA Case by Judie Clark Last date revised: 11/06/2000 Product Requirements: Device: Almost any PDA, such as: All Palm Models, All Handspring Visor Models, Sony Clie, HP Jornada P/PCs, Casio E-series P/PCs, Everex Freestyle, iPAQ, Phillips Nino, etc. The Brenthaven Padded PDA Case is made of military grade black ballistic nylon, with a zipper going around three of its sides, and it opens similar to a book. This case is made with excellent craftsmanship, here in the USA. The ballistic nylon used is tough and virtually indestructible on the exterior. On the interior, you will be impressed by the layer of thick, heavy, foam-coated plastic on both the front and backside of the case. I pulled the foam liner out of the case to give you a better idea of what I am talking about. The best way for me to describe this inserted layer is to ask you to picture a fabric bible-cover. You know, the type where you slip the front and back covers of the bible into the slots of the cover, that make up two pockets when your bible is in place. Well, that is how the foam layer fits into this case, and it is in fact, removable – not that I am suggesting that you do so. There is a very handy ID window for your driver’s license or business card, as well as three pockets that can hold receipts or other flat items. There are also two slots in the spine for a full sized pen, and a couple of batteries – should you need to carry any. The soft fuzzy right side of this case attracts the four included pieces of spiny Velcro, which you are to affix to the corners on the back of your PDA. They are small circles that are rather unobtrusive, all things considered. This case offers excellent protection, especially if you are in the habit of tossing your PDA into your Briefcase. I can definitely see using this case when traveling on a plane; it would certainly protect your PDA in any carry-on bag. That in itself may be the greatest thing about the Brenthaven PDA Case. The interior pockets are long enough to put bills in, and I can see how it would be a convenient hand-held wallet for someone that doesn’t like a bulge in their pocket. In fact, the case is long enough that you can fit a checkbook in it, on the side opposite of your PDA. You would still have the pocket behind your PDA for inserting bills into, if you did decide to carry your checkbook. Because it is so understated and simple, it would be easy to dismiss this bag as being plain, or generic when you first lay eyes on it. That might be a mistake, if you are a person who needs padded protection for your PDA, without looking like you are out-fitting yourself with the latest “outdoorsy” fashions. This case would be presentable in a business situation; however, it is a bit on the casual side. The Brenthaven PDA Case measures 4” x 6 ¾” x 1” and it weighs .3 lbs, empty. Once your PDA is inserted, the case is easily 1 ½” thick, and weighs the .3lbs. plus the weight of your PDA. I am pointing this out because this is where I begin to have trouble with the Brenthaven case. You’ll notice that it is simply called a PDA case – they are not specifying which PDA, so that essentially means that it can fit a wide range of sizes and styles. I feel that this case is almost too nonspecific in fit. A Palm V is shown in this case on their website. I am reproducing their picture here for you: Notice that the case looks a little big – but not enormous, correct? Well, we all know how much bigger the Palm IIIc is than the V, so look at my picture of the IIIc in the case, as well as the similarly sized Hewlett-Packard Jornada 548. In my opinion, it fits way too big for my Palm IIIc, or my HP 548. It almost looks like it would be large enough for the Palm IIIc with either a modem or the Kodak PalmPix digital camera, if you scooted the Palm to the top of the case. In fact, I went to Office Depot today, and Mark, the “world’s friendliest salesperson”, allowed me to try both of those items in this case with my IIIc. Say hello to Mark, everyone! Unfortunately, with the Palm IIIc and either accessory, the case would not zip closed – but it almost did. With a Palm III – it might just work, since you are saving ½” by using a shorter Palm. For sure, you could easily fit your Palm with a Tale-light , Tale-vibe or one of those fabulous flash-plug memory modules . If there are any smaller accessories that attach to your smaller Pocket PC (I am not including the Casio E-115 here), they might fit also. With just your smaller PDA in the case, you have a good inch on both the top and bottom that is wasted space. Now I realize that it may not actually be “wasted space”. By that, I mean that since your PDA is basically not touching any edges due to all the extra length, perhaps in a fall, it would make a big difference. I really can’t say. However – I just want you to be very advised that this case will add quite a bit of bulk and size to your PDA. I don’t believe it is a case you would ever want to stick in your pocket – that’s assuming you could get it in there in the first place! J You know, this case may be exactly what you are looking for, if you need serious protection, and don’t mind the extra bulk or length. Price: $39.50 (Brenthaven offers a Lifetime Guarantee) Pros: Very padded Lots of interior pockets for flat items Cons: Seems too long for the average PDA, yet too short for some added accessories Let me know your comments on the Brenthaven Padded PDA case and read what others have to say.


Base Camp PDA Bag by Judie Clark Last date revised: 10/07/2000 Device: Almost any PDA, such as: All Palm Models, All Handspring Visor Models, Sony Clie, HP Jornada P/PCs, Casio E-series P/PCs, Everex Freestyle, iPAQ, Phillips Nino, etc. My first impression when I unwrapped the Base Camp PDA Bag by Grinder Gear was that this happens to be one rugged little beast! The Base Camp looks like a slightly over-large Cordura pouch with honeycomb webbing & elastic lacing on the front. A closer look reveals that the honeycomb webbing is actually a pocket that closes with a small Velcro strip – making it an ideal place to carry little loose items, or your cell phone if you have a really small one, which I do. Right on top of the webbing and elastic lacing are two zippers that open to reveal a handy drop-down compartment that can carry your ID, spare change, compact flash card, spare cellular battery, or even a couple Visor springboards. Opening up the main compartment (which is also secured with a patch of Velcro), you will find a thick, padded fleece lining just waiting to cradle your PDA. I can’t think of a more protective or non-abrasive material to use for surrounding my Palm. As you can see, I was able to put my Palm IIIc, my Motorola Vader, and extra cellular battery, my ID, and an extra truck key into this bag. Now before you start thinking that this is some huge "hip-monster", be aware that the approximate dimensions are only 4.3" W x 6.3"H x 2"D. Grinder Gear calls these measurements approximate, because they claim that the Base Camp will "stretch to accommodate your device". If you have a smaller PDA, it will be a little looser in the pouch; a larger PDA - the pouch fits a little tighter. It all hangs quite well from your belt. There are actually a couple of ways that you can attach the Base Camp to your belt: there is the plastic belt clip for up to a 2" belt size; then there are two sets of webbing loops on the back, that you can run up to a 2" belt through. If you know that you will most likely never use the plastic belt clip, you can even remove it – underneath it are tough plastic slots that up to a ½" belt could pass through. There is also a loop on the top rear of the bag that is similar to a mini-handle. While most of the cases that I use offer enough protection for normal everyday use; most are not practical for when I am taking care of business at my day job, which is managing a working cattle ranch. As the mental image you may have just conjured up portrays, that means lots of 4-wheeler riding, occasional horseback riding, and more day to day dings and shocks than most PDAs will ever come into contact with. Which is why I usually won’t carry my Palm with me when I am doing these activities. The best way to find out if a product will in fact do as it claims is to actually use it in the way it was intended. So, instead of leaving everything but my cell phone in the truck, like I usually do, I decided to load the Base Camp with my goodies and put it to the test… The first thing that I realized was that the belt clip just got in my way. The literature that came with my bag did say that the belt clip is only intended for light-duty use, such as wearing around your home or office. It was easy to see that if I used it to secure the Base Camp to my belt, I would most likely be spending a good part of the day looking for my missing Base Camp, once I realized that it was gone. So I removed the plastic belt clip, and passed my belt through the Cordura webbing. I wore the Base Camp threaded through my belt in the rear right position. Of course, this is a matter of personal preference. I needed to ride fences and check livestock the day that I was experimenting with the Base Camp. On the 4-wheeler, I could feel the case lightly bouncing on my hip as I went over rocks and rough patches of prickly pear. For once, I was able to stop and make notations on my Palm about where deer and feral hogs had been making new holes in the fence, as I repaired them. I was able to consult my Palm when I counted the cattle in a particular pasture, to be sure that every animal was present and accounted for. Not only was I riding on the 4-wheeler, but I would also get off occasionally – trekking over to where I saw a deer antler "shed" laying on the ground, or a turkey feather I thought my daughter would admire. It is safe to say that the Base Camp got a very good testing that day at the ranch. I am pleased to report, that not only was I able to write down events going on in the "office" as I discovered them; I also didn’t fear for the well-being of my Palm – while it was in the case! Once it was out of the Base Camp however, that was another issue altogether. Since the Base Camp was firmly attached to my belt, I had to completely remove my "nekkid" Palm in order to write on it. That was a bit scary! This point brings me to the one thing that I wish that Grinder Gear could improve: I use a belt clip with my cellular phone, and I’ve never lost it while at the ranch. Just the same, I feel like there has to be a durable clip that would work like that on this bag. I think that if Grinder Gear would have used a detachable hard plastic clip, something like what E&B or Extreme Limits Cases use, they could offer a belt clip that could take a little more abuse; yet at the same time, could come off the unit completely when you wanted to thread your belt through the loops for maximum peace of mind. The clip that comes on this case, for lack of a better word, just seems cheesy. It grips the bottom of your belt somewhat, yet I fear that over time it may loose its integrity, and break. Well, here’s something that happened when I got back home: I thought it would be funny to emphasize how durable this case was to my 11 year old daughter, so I tossed it onto my office floor and said, "look at what a tough case this is!" What I failed to mention was that my IIIc wasn’t in it at the time. I walked in a little later, and she decided to surprise me by doing the same thing – only her Palm was in the case this time! I about died! But believe it or not, when we opened the case up, her Palm was just fine. While I certainly don’t recommend playing "toss" with your PDA in a Grinder Gear Bag, or any case for that matter, I will say that in most drops, your PDA should be adequately protected in the Base Camp Bag. Be aware though, that while the bag is insulated for falls and dings, it is not crush proof. As I mentioned, the one thing I would improve on this bag would be the type of belt clip used. Otherwise, I think it is a great bag that delivers what it promises: "Toughest protection in the least obtrusive form." Price: $39.95 - Grinder Gear is offering 5% off at this time. Comes in Black, Royal Blue, and Forest Green (my favorite color!) Pros: Fleece offers excellent insulation & protection for PDA Can carry lots of extra "stuff" with your PDA Very tough case. Cons: Belt clip can only be used in low impact situations Let me know your comments on the Base Camp Case and read what others have to say.


MarWare SportSuit Cases by Julie Strietelmeier Last date revised: 12/05/99 MarWare has a new line of Neoprene cases called the SportSuit. These cases are compatible with various PDAs and come in a variety of sizes and colors. SportSuit The SportSuit is a book style zippered case that can be used either as a play through case, slip case, or belt case. It comes in several colors: Jet, Ocean, Fire, and Sun (which translates to Black, Blue, Red and Yellow). Inside dimensions: 5 "H x 3.8" W x .8" D Outside dimensions: 5.25 "H x 4" W x 1" D The SportSuit will hold the following PDAs: Palm Pilot, Palm III series, Palm V, Visor, Casio E-10, 11 and 15. The case has a slanted pocket on the front that can hold small papers or business cards. On the inside, there are 3 other pockets for business or credit cards. The pockets on the inside are made of a thin nylon material which feels a little cheap to me. The front is also has a thick plastic insert (it is removable) that helps protect the screen. There is an elastic band in the middle of the case that can hold your stylus. You can Velcro your PDA to the right side of the case, so you can use it as a play through case. The back of the case has a belt loop. I don't think that this loop is very convenient because you have to unfasten your belt in order to get the case on and off. I would much rather see them use the detachable belt clips like E&B Cases use. The zipper on the SportSuit is heavy duty but still has smooth action. While using the case I never had a problem with the zipper getting jammed. Overall the case is made well, and at $22.95, it's easy on the wallet. Price: $22.95 Pros: Can be used as a play through case. Hard insert protects the screen. Cons: Thin pocket material inside the case. Belt loop isn't as convenient as a detachable clip. SportSuit II The SportSuit II is a book style zippered case that can be used either as a play through case, slip case, or belt case. The case is basically exactly the same as the SportSuit but is .5 in longer to fit larger PDAs. It comes in several colors: Jet, Ocean, Fire, and Sun (which translates to Black, Blue, Red and Yellow). Inside dimensions: 5.6" H x 3.8" W x .8" D Outside dimensions: 5.75 "H x 4" W x 1" D The SportSuit II will hold the following PDAs: Palm VII, Casio E-100/105, Nino, Compaq Aero, and HP Jornada 420. Price: $24.95 Pros: Can be used as a play through case. Hard insert protects the screen. Cons: Thin pocket material inside the case. Belt loop isn't as convenient as a detachable clip. SportSuit III The SportSuit III is a slip style case that can be worn on your belt. This case comes in black with blue trim. Inside dimensions: 5.3 "H x 3.5" W x 1" D Outside dimensions: 5.5 "H x 4" W x 1" D The SportSuit III will hold the following PDAs: Palm Pilot, Palm III series, Palm V, and Visor. The tag that came on the case said that it could fit the Casio E-100, Nino and Compaq Aero, but I'm not sure I would want to use this case for those models. I tried using the case with my Casio E-100 and although it will fit (very snuggly) it is quite difficult to remove the PDA from the case because of the tight fit. I found that the Visor and Palm V were a very comfortable fit in this case though. The SportSuit III has a pocket on the front of the case that can hold several business cards or small folded papers. The back of the case is reinforced with a hard plastic insert. Unlike the picture above, you'd probably want to insert the PDA with the screen facing this screen insert. (A Visor with its hard screen cover can fit in the Sportsuit III just fine) Inserting and removing a PDA from this case is easy. The case flap is held closed with two Velcro tabs. The belt clip on the back of the case is a hard molded plastic clip that can slide over your belt. The clip is pretty strong, but I'm still a bit concerned that it could slip up and off your belt if you squat down. This did happen to me one time while reviewing the case. It actually happened in my truck. I think I knocked the case off when I was putting on my seat belt. Despite the potential belt clip problem, I still really like this case... and the price is great. Price: $19.95 Pros: Hard insert protects the screen. Slim case. Belt clip. Cons: Nothing to keep the belt clip from sliding off your belt. WinCE Suit The WinCE Suit is a book style zippered case that can be used either as a play through case or slip case. The case comes in black with blue trim. Inside dimensions: 7.5" W x 4" D x 1" H Outside dimensions: 7.75" W x 4.25" D x 1" H Some of the PDAs that the WinCE Suit will hold: Casio A-10, A-11 A-20,Compaq Companion, HP 320 LX , HP 360 LX , HP Jornada 680, Philips Velo, PSION Series 5, PSION 3c, and PSION 3a. The WinCE suit has a long slant pocket on the front of the case. The inside of the case is all Velcro compatible. There are 8 Velcro tabs that you can use to attach your PDA to the case if desired. There is also an elastic band in the middle of the case that can hold a pen or a stylus. One nice feature of this case is the removable card slot panel. This panel has Velcro on one side so that you can attach or remove it. There are 8 business card slots and one large long slot. The pocket panel is made of thin nylon material that I don't really care for. It feels a bit cheap. But, the rest of the case is high quality and is made very well. Price: $29.95 Pros: Can be used as a play through case. 9 pocket panel is removable. Cons: Thin pocket material inside the case. Let me know your comments on MarWare Sportsuit cases and read what others have to say.