Expensive Cases? Why?

[pixelpainter]

I thought I would ask the experts. Why in the world do people by expensive(>$50) cases for their PDAs?

[dragonsgames]

Because they look nice, feel great, and they last along time.

[+Kardboard+]

Bling. :D

[Dick Tracy]

Agree with dragonsgames.

They (Vaja and Piel Frama) are better constructed, made with superior leather (i.e. no stretched belly leather), fit your device more accurately, and have superior belt clip hardware and anchoring to the case.

[Furball]

Maybe because you already spent hundreds of dollars for your PDA, so what's another hundred for quality protection?

PDA = $300
Case = $10

Eh? Something's amiss in that equation.

Ciao! ;)

[ojleblanc]

Because they look nice, feel great, and they last along time.

Perfectly stated!

I would only add that all of those things mentioned by dragongames enhance one's enjoyment of the PDA.

[pixelpainter]

Are they really made better and protect the PDA more? I just don't want to spend a lot of money and not get what I pay for. What is stretched belly leather?

[rhart00]

vaja cases are definitely worth the money. I have owned about 6 or 7 vaja cases for different gadgets. I am extremely hard on my gadgets but with a vaja case it is not a problem. I am willing to spend to protect an expensive gadget filled with priceless information. Plus I like the customizability and looks.

[Dick Tracy]

Are they really made better and protect the PDA more? I just don't want to spend a lot of money and not get what I pay for. What is stretched belly leather?
Leather comes in many quality grades and finishes. Cowhide from the stomach (or belly), is thinner than the back and hindquarters, uneven in thickness, has stretch marks and scarring; is given a lower grade and is unsuitable for many uses. The stretchmarks and areas adjacent to scars are the points where the leather is most prone to ripping. Another profiteering trick is split cowhide, where a piece of thicker leather is sliced like a layer cake to provide two or more pieces of the same width and height in order to produce more product of lesser quality and durability. A lot of work gloves are now made with split cowhide (often look like suede) and I have found they last for less than 10 minutes (or moving 2-3 tables off storage racks when setting up events) before ripping.

[astonred]

I have had a Sena Case for a TH55 with a belt clip, and it was excellent well worth the money. Also www.senacases.com are having a clearance sale of 50% off on a lot of their older cases e.g. Sony Clies, older Palm's etc

For my TX I went with Piel Frama (not know about the Vaja, which look very, very nice indeed) and it is a fantastic case very well made and is exceptional quality. I purchased it with the belt clip that is completely removable even the stud (which as far as I'm aware the Sena and Vaja case's stud's are not).

[mrp123]

I didn't go the leather route. I bought a fully metallic case to protect my device. I agree a good case is essential to protect my investment. I can attest that I needlessly damaged a previous device using a cheap-o plastic case. Serves me right. IMO, leather offers little more physical protection than double-bagging it in some gym socks for my needs.

[Cyker]

More expensive case usually stands up to damage better than cheap ones, and the case is replaceable; The PDA, not so much ;)

[pixelpainter]

Thanks for all your replies. Another quick question. What do you think the case (ie, material, style, etc) says about its owner? People see us with these PDAs and obviously have opinions as to what we do? who we are.

[cliemia]

For what it's worth, I have a nice leather case from EB (the slipper case), that is high quality and stylish, and cost me just over $20.

My understanding is that a thick leather case provides better protection from falls than a metal case. Good luck!

[Dick Tracy]

Thanks for all your replies. Another quick question. What do you think the case (ie, material, style, etc) says about its owner? People see us with these PDAs and obviously have opinions as to what we do? who we are.
Most of the general public think my TX is some kind of iPod; they are free to have as many misconceptions about what I am using, what I do, and who I am. I am secure in what I am using, what I do, and who I am.

I used to work in financial services. There were people who milled for hours each day in a branch lobby (not the department I was in) watching the stock ticker and using the dumb terminals to get quotes; we called them "lobby lizards." Some were investors, others lived in substandard weekly hotels, some dressed well, others looked like bums. One day a couple of decades ago, one of the lobby lizard "bums" asked for the key to the restroom (which was in use) and the guard could not give it to him, so he relieved himself in the drinking fountain and was thus escorted off the premises. To prevent this "bum" from returning, the Branch Manager decided to close his brokerage account. Turned out he was a millionaire.

Judge not by appearances, my friend.

[applejosh]

Why in the world do people by expensive(>$50) cases for their PDAs?

Peer pressure. You know you want to. :D

[PinCushionQueen]

I agree with pretty much everything you guys are saying :D I use a Piel Frama case on my TX because it was exactly what I was looking for in style, functionality and versitility. If I could have found the exact same qualities for less $$ I would totally have bought one. But I didn't - so Piel Frama got my $50 :)

[BoxWave]

I would spend $50+ for a case to protect my pda simply because not only do I want to protect my pda from nicks and scratches, but I don't want to it flat out break the first time I drop it. i don't wan to lose all my data and information that I store in it, so in essence I'm protecting what's on the inside more than what's on the outside.

My pda is my life :p

[pixelpainter]

Judge not by appearances, my friend.

Fear not. I'm merely conducting a little research. psychology :)

[BuRnN]

iam a case addict from the begining when i buy my Palm Vx i cost me 89.99 dolars putting the bill to 729$cnd taxe incl back in 97 (i buy the copper metal case from palm)then i see a bodyglove zipper case and buy it for 39.99 and rebuy a copper metal case (the other one was to scratchy) and now i look at my almost 10 years old palm and i dont see a scratch, bump or plastics wearing out the only broken thing on it is a hard button because i abuse it playing games then after that i buy my first color palm The M515 i find a great aluminum case from berking same for the m515 no wear still in function a few years later i buy a zire 71 that come with a pseudo leather case of is own and he slip from my pocket and bam finito zire 71 , o when back to the store and buy a Tungsten E (hard case in bundle) this one have no harm exept for the cheap screen that been scratch after using it without a screen protector

see that next i decide after reading so much good review to buy a Tungsten T3 unfortunetly that was backorder so i found one used (with the palm aluminum hard case) i had it for 2 month i found i great leather case on liquidation at staple so i buy it . 2 weeks later my kids drop it in the toilet (No expesive case) and i died so i when on a search for another one and found a really nice one like new and buy a hard aluminum case on the net plus a leather case that fit the aluminum case from Roots (to clip on my belt )

my point is look at the two that i use with leather only case and you see that this two are missing from my colections

long words to says go and spend what ever you need to spend to protect your palm:D

[IsLNdbOi]

Vaja cases are nice, but have you guys seen the new T7 Silver from Vaja for the Treo700P/W? The damn case costs almost as much as a Treo. I think Vaja is really pushing it on their prices.

[bh77a]

It is best to always invest in a good case from day one, rather than trying to go through cheaper alternatives. I have about 20 unused cases setting around for about 5 different Palms (somewhat of an addict, I suppose). Eventually, I settled upon and am now extremely happy with my TX living in a RhinoSkin aluminum hard case. The Palm Hard Case for the TX does also have its advantages.

Leather does look nice, but in my opinion it isn't as durable.

Not sure if Proporta, formerly PalmTec, makes anything for the Palm like they did for the Psion handhelds, but it may be worth checking out. Those cases were the most durable you could find, although rather bulky.

[wellsjs]

The first case I bought, a Targus generic case shown here:

http://www.1src.com/forums/showthread.php?t=109800&highlight=targus

@ $25, was the best one and the one I use when I use a case today. I don't want to admit how much I spent afterward seeking that "perfect case." I've tried many, flip, sleeve, metal, and the Targus is the only one I like. What I like best is my pants pocket. Save your money! :)