Proporta Aluminium Case Arrived Today

[pae]

It's arrived!

I'll see if I can post some images later as my digital camera batteries are flat!

I'll try and summarise initial impressions if anyone is interested, although I fully expect this to be the same as the Innopocket case.

1. Very nice gun metal grey finish with no rough edges
2. Slight play in the hinge - not when shut
3. Neoprene lining is very well made, no tears, no rough edges
4. It takes a serious (and I mean serious!) amount of careful effort to push the T3 down into the case (same as I read in a different post with the Innopocket) and getting the device out is even worse! My main concern is that the back of the T3 is not scratched when putting in or taking it out of the case.
5. The T3 is held by two "spring loaded" metal fingers with small plastic bits that actually fit into the rear of the slider holes of the T3. The plastic should stop any scratches but that is going to be my main concern (photos should clarify what I mean by "spring loaded")
6. Extra SD cards fit into the front of the case "backwards" as with the Innopocket
7. Nice firm "click" when you close the case. The metal clasp clips over a plastic insert that is molded or "rivoted" through to the inside and covered on the inside by the neoprene lining. Definitely will not accidentally open in normal use.
8. Cut-outs are positioned perfectly.
9. On the rear of the case the moulding is slightly raised in the middle about 3/4 of the way up with a screw thread and a supplied attachment for clipping to a belt clip. The raised moulding is not obtrusive.... just discovered the belt clip in the padded envelope, definite bonus.
10. Absolutely no movement of the T3 when the case is shut ... or open for that matter :D , the cut-out at the top rear of the case enables the T3 to be pulled up to open the slider. Works fine. And a similar cut out at the botton for removing ... which is very hard work!

Overall I'm very pleased with the product. My only concern will be inserting and removing the T3 because the fit is so extremely tight. You really do have to push hard to get the T3 into the case. Hopefully it'll loosen very slightly with use although you wouldn't want it to get too loose obviously.

As I mentioned above I'll try and post some images later in the day.

Paul

[dmxmd]

I'd like to see the belt clip assembly.

[pae]

Found a spare set of batteries. Here's some shots of the clip mechanism and the case (assuming I can attach them and they are approved).

[pae]

Rear of Case showing clip mechanism

[pae]

Clip stud attached:

[pae]

Side View of Clip Stud Attached

[pae]

Here's the "fingers" I was referring to for holding the T3 into the case.

[pae]

Originally posted by paeuk
Here's the "fingers" I was referring to for holding the T3 into the case. Forgot the picture!!! :D

[PontiacVenom]

Nice pictures. Mine should be here today. Can't wait :D

[Ddeath]

Huh? This is EXACTLY the same as the Innopocket case I have.

I'm in Singapore and I bought it for S$35 off the shelves, which translate roughly into US$20.40.

[dgantony]

Just got mine today. Have been playing with it for a while now. The first thing I noticed was how light the case was. I have a Clie NX70 Innopocket metal case and that weighs a ton. This case is perfect. I could not find any faults at all.

Originally posted by paeuk

4. It takes a serious (and I mean serious!) amount of careful effort to push the T3 down into the case (same as I read in a different post with the Innopocket) and getting the device out is even worse! My main concern is that the back of the T3 is not scratched when putting in or taking it out of the case.


Try expanding the lower part of the case by pulling the edges slightly. The way it is designed lets you adjust the tightness of fit. Mine was extremely difficult to fit in. With a little nudging, the T3 slides in and out perfectly (not too loose though)

[pae]

Originally posted by dgantony
Try expanding the lower part of the case by pulling the edges slightly. The way it is designed lets you adjust the tightness of fit. Mine was extremely difficult to fit in. With a little nudging, the T3 slides in and out perfectly (not too loose though)

I will definitely be trying this when I get the replacement!

Thanks
Paul

[spvwolfy]

It gets easier as you use the case.
At first, I didn' think that I would ever get my TT out of the case.... It does get easier. It is an excellent case.

[cst516]

Looks nice, do you have a picture with the T3 opened. Also I seem to be missing it is this "case syncable in the case", is the case usable with the UT keyboard.

I have never used a hard case because of the lack of belt clip, but this one seems to have it all. One more thing is it easy to get used to having the lid open on the side when the T3 is in use.

Thanks

[dmxmd]

Thanks for the pics! The belt clip seems to be just any ordinary belt clip.

I think I won't buy a leather fliptop anymore since this seems to have all that I need. Thanks for the info paeuk!

Hopefully I'll get my hands on it next week.

[n0m0n]

Did you get the plastic belt clip with your case???
I just got my case and there was only a screw to use for a clip but no clip in the packaging.
As fort he T3 and a snug fit...
WEll its just right.
I does fit nice and snug but I can slide it out without really struggling as I thought by reading these postings.
Well if anyone can advise as to if I should have received the clip I would greatly appreciate it.

[tanker_bob]

I received my Proporta hard case yesterday. Having read this and related threads, I took great care in putting my T3 in the case the first time. Didn't matter though, as the T3 gouged out a small area of the lining. It looks like the silver trim strip around the sides of the T3 can dig into the lining. The gouge hasn't become significantly worse since the first insertion. The corresponding place on the other side has an indent where the trim line runs, but no gouge. The navigator dial has made a slight impression inside the front panel of the case.

Overall a nice case. Light and small.

[PontiacVenom]

I just received the case from Brando. The actual package included the little knob that screws into the back. In a seperate little bubble wrap was the actual clip.

So yea, I guess you should have received a clip if you bought your case from Brando.

Just a comment about the case. This thing is awesome. Nice and small. I doesn't really add that much size to the T3. I feel alot better having my T3 in this case than when it was in the Palm Branded case.

A must have accessory for your Palm.

[knowledge]

I received my case today from Brando. Overall, I am very pleased with the case. It has a great fit, and no problem removing the T3 from the case.

I am a little disappointed with the belt clip. It feels and looks cheap and flimsy. I doubt I will be using it much anyway.

I am a little concern about the SD card holders. It seem like after some wear that they may become loose.

But overall, the case is a great buy.

[pae]

Originally posted by Tanker Bob
I It looks like the silver trim strip around the sides of the T3 can dig into the lining.

Definitely seems to be the cause of the problems. Unfortunately the 1st replacement case I was sent had been "tested" and the lining was in worse condition damage wise when I received it than the results of my first use of the initial case.

Quite disappointed as I expected the 2nd replacement to be here by now and it hasn't arrived ... still waiting. But I will definitely be flexing the "fins" slightly if the fit is too tight on the next case.

[Kaaeed]

Hi there Guys

Received my Proporta case today.

Good build and quality

Overall no problems slides in and out and is very snug. It has left a little mark on the velcro but at the moment does not seem to be doing serious damage.

Happy with the build and extending it as well is easy.

I have a travel charger and that fits in pretty neatly as well so no problems there.

I am finding opening the case a little difficult but think I will get used to it.

Planning on keeping it and now just going to run it in.

Regards

Kaaeed

[doulos12]

I have problems with the Palm popping off with standard belt clips, like when I sit in an armchair. Are these standard clips? Can someone post a pic of the clip itself (not the post)?

[pae]

Originally posted by doulos12
I have problems with the Palm popping off with standard belt clips, like when I sit in an armchair. Are these standard clips? Can someone post a pic of the clip itself (not the post)?

Apologies for the delay. Here's two photos which I hope will help.

Photo 1:

[pae]

Photo 2:

[a_nonamiss]

I posted this on Palm InfoCenter forums, but thought it would be appropriate here as well.

I recently had the opportunity (oops) to do a full-out nearly worst-case test using my Innopocket (identical to Proporta) case.

The incident:
I subjected the unit to a very bad fall. It fell about 4 feet onto a very solid tile floor. This was a hard fall. It fell straight down, upright and onto the Universal Connector. There was nothing whatsoever to break the fall, and it hit so hard that both the stylus and the memory card popped out from the recoil. Everyone in the room at the time gasped. I nearly died, thinking that my brand new T|T3 was toast.

The good:
The Palm survived without incident. No scratches, no screen damage, and no electronic damage from the rather forceful ejection of the SD card. Looks and works like brand new. The case took a bit of damage. The aluminum flattened quite a bit on the bottom, but I was able to bend the aluminum back and the case is still 100% useable. IMHO, this case did a VERY good job of protecting the Palm inside.

The bad:
The whole reason the thing fell to begin with is that the screw-in post on the back has a very bad tendancy to come loose. I tighened that thing seemingly once an hour, as tight as I could do it by hand, and it still came loose ALL the time. I didn't think much of it, because I just god used to tightening it as a nervous habbit. It just decided to come completely undone at the absolute worst time.

Conclusion:
The Innopocket case does a VERY good job of protecting the Palm im otherwise disasterous conditions. Decide early on if you want to attatch it to a belt clip or not. If you want to attatch it to a belt clip, go out and invest in a $3 bottle of locktite, and put it on the screw post. That's what I did, and it's still screwed in tight after 2 weeks. Time will tell if this is a permanent solution. If you need the ability to remove/reinstall the post often, this may not be the case for you, because if you don't use locktite, the post eventually WILL come off, and with Murphy's Law in effect, it will likely be as you are standing over a waterfall or public toilet.

[pae]

Man .... I can imagine you must have missed a heart beat when that happened.

Good to hear that the case does it's job!!

Paul

[PDA gadgetfreak]

Originally posted by a_nonamiss
I posted this on Palm InfoCenter forums, but thought it would be appropriate here as well.

I recently had the opportunity (oops) to do a full-out nearly worst-case test using my Innopocket (identical to Proporta) case.

The incident:
I subjected the unit to a very bad fall. It fell about 4 feet onto a very solid tile floor. This was a hard fall. It fell straight down, upright and onto the Universal Connector. There was nothing whatsoever to break the fall, and it hit so hard that both the stylus and the memory card popped out from the recoil. Everyone in the room at the time gasped. I nearly died, thinking that my brand new T|T3 was toast.

The good:
The Palm survived without incident. No scratches, no screen damage, and no electronic damage from the rather forceful ejection of the SD card. Looks and works like brand new. The case took a bit of damage. The aluminum flattened quite a bit on the bottom, but I was able to bend the aluminum back and the case is still 100% useable. IMHO, this case did a VERY good job of protecting the Palm inside.

The bad:
The whole reason the thing fell to begin with is that the screw-in post on the back has a very bad tendancy to come loose. I tighened that thing seemingly once an hour, as tight as I could do it by hand, and it still came loose ALL the time. I didn't think much of it, because I just god used to tightening it as a nervous habbit. It just decided to come completely undone at the absolute worst time.

Conclusion:
The Innopocket case does a VERY good job of protecting the Palm im otherwise disasterous conditions. Decide early on if you want to attatch it to a belt clip or not. If you want to attatch it to a belt clip, go out and invest in a $3 bottle of locktite, and put it on the screw post. That's what I did, and it's still screwed in tight after 2 weeks. Time will tell if this is a permanent solution. If you need the ability to remove/reinstall the post often, this may not be the case for you, because if you don't use locktite, the post eventually WILL come off, and with Murphy's Law in effect, it will likely be as you are standing over a waterfall or public toilet.

I had an identical thing happen to me in a parking lot. But like yours everything survived and only a slight bend in bottom and small scratch. I've made sure now the post is VERY sercure using some pliers. I thought of the locktite but haven't bought any yet.

I am very impressed with the case and the protection it gives. I blame myself and not the cae for the problem with the loose belt clip post.