Beseb
01-20-2003, 01:23 PM
I received my new Bellagio leather case 3 days ago and thought I'd offer a few words on my impression of it thus far:
The case is attractive, I choose the black/brown model and am pleased with it's look.
The main flap is padded adding significant depth to the whole package but of course you get extra protection for the screen thusly. This extra depth makes the unit much less shirt pocket friendly, but still carries easily in a cargo pocket. There is also an optional belt clip, which I am using. The overall profile is still small enough that carrying the unit on my belt doesn't look to obstrusive. It, plus my cell phone, starts to look a bit geeky, but I am a geek, so it's ok with me.. :)
Overall dimensions (approximately) are 2 7/8" wide by 4 1/4" high by 1 1/8" deep. I have not weighed it.
The unit can be charged while encased, but I had to "work" the leather flap on the back to allow the unit to sit properly in the cradle. This flap, along with the main flap that covers the face are very stiff, which bugs me a bit, particularly the main flap.
Because it is so stiff, when I open the flap to use the device, it sticks nearly straight out from the device and looks pretty silly. I would much prefer that this hinge be much softer, allowing the flap to easily fall underneath the device while I use it. I will probably work this hinge with some oil and see if I can soften it up.
The jog wheel hasn't become anymore difficult to use, but the back button and the down scroll button have become slightly more cumbersome, but not annoyingly so.
The case has a small flap with a snap on it that secures the case on the bottom. You can also move the main flap all the way around and snap it with the flap open. This creates a sort of secure "wrap around" your hand while you hold the unit. I have medium sized hands and the fit is snug while using the device this way. My guess is people with very large hands wouldn't find this comfortable at all.
The advantage to this feature is that you can stand the PDA up on a desk if you chose to, which I tried out and liked. I wrote a program that is a calculator of sorts for a project I am working on and it was convient to use the program while working on my PC without have to look down at the PDA.
On the inside of the main flap are pockets for two memory sticks and a credit card. I'm a little nervous to actually put things in these pockets because when I tested these pockets, it appeared that the MS and or credit card would be pressed firmly against the screen when the case was in a closed position.
Additionally, it wasn't easy getting the MS into a pocket as the pocket openings are merely slits. Frequent insertions/extractions could possibly loosen this up a bit and make it easier.
I also noticed that the main flap bends a bit when flipped all the way back and snapped (the hand cradle position, which is also the position you would have it in when putting the device on a cradle). This probably isn't significant, but could put a bending pressure on any memory sticks that were in the pockets which could be significant.
Overall, I am mostly satisfied with the case and would rate it as average to slightly above average.
After using my SJ30 without a case, just keeping it in a pants or shirt pocket, I had grown quite accustom to the instant access, low profile look and feel of the device. I really only wanted a case to provide the protection I felt I needed and am beginning to wonder if the trade off is worth it.
I am seriously considering purchasing just a standard belt/pocket style case that doesn't interfere with the dimensions and usability of the device in any way. My fear is that I will use the PDA less if it is not perfectly convienent to do so, and I have to say, that encasing the PDA with a fitted case does detract from that convienence factor...
The case is attractive, I choose the black/brown model and am pleased with it's look.
The main flap is padded adding significant depth to the whole package but of course you get extra protection for the screen thusly. This extra depth makes the unit much less shirt pocket friendly, but still carries easily in a cargo pocket. There is also an optional belt clip, which I am using. The overall profile is still small enough that carrying the unit on my belt doesn't look to obstrusive. It, plus my cell phone, starts to look a bit geeky, but I am a geek, so it's ok with me.. :)
Overall dimensions (approximately) are 2 7/8" wide by 4 1/4" high by 1 1/8" deep. I have not weighed it.
The unit can be charged while encased, but I had to "work" the leather flap on the back to allow the unit to sit properly in the cradle. This flap, along with the main flap that covers the face are very stiff, which bugs me a bit, particularly the main flap.
Because it is so stiff, when I open the flap to use the device, it sticks nearly straight out from the device and looks pretty silly. I would much prefer that this hinge be much softer, allowing the flap to easily fall underneath the device while I use it. I will probably work this hinge with some oil and see if I can soften it up.
The jog wheel hasn't become anymore difficult to use, but the back button and the down scroll button have become slightly more cumbersome, but not annoyingly so.
The case has a small flap with a snap on it that secures the case on the bottom. You can also move the main flap all the way around and snap it with the flap open. This creates a sort of secure "wrap around" your hand while you hold the unit. I have medium sized hands and the fit is snug while using the device this way. My guess is people with very large hands wouldn't find this comfortable at all.
The advantage to this feature is that you can stand the PDA up on a desk if you chose to, which I tried out and liked. I wrote a program that is a calculator of sorts for a project I am working on and it was convient to use the program while working on my PC without have to look down at the PDA.
On the inside of the main flap are pockets for two memory sticks and a credit card. I'm a little nervous to actually put things in these pockets because when I tested these pockets, it appeared that the MS and or credit card would be pressed firmly against the screen when the case was in a closed position.
Additionally, it wasn't easy getting the MS into a pocket as the pocket openings are merely slits. Frequent insertions/extractions could possibly loosen this up a bit and make it easier.
I also noticed that the main flap bends a bit when flipped all the way back and snapped (the hand cradle position, which is also the position you would have it in when putting the device on a cradle). This probably isn't significant, but could put a bending pressure on any memory sticks that were in the pockets which could be significant.
Overall, I am mostly satisfied with the case and would rate it as average to slightly above average.
After using my SJ30 without a case, just keeping it in a pants or shirt pocket, I had grown quite accustom to the instant access, low profile look and feel of the device. I really only wanted a case to provide the protection I felt I needed and am beginning to wonder if the trade off is worth it.
I am seriously considering purchasing just a standard belt/pocket style case that doesn't interfere with the dimensions and usability of the device in any way. My fear is that I will use the PDA less if it is not perfectly convienent to do so, and I have to say, that encasing the PDA with a fitted case does detract from that convienence factor...