Which clie case to get with T665 ?

[johnnyr]

I seem to have narrowed it down to two products ....The sena case and the vaja classic case. Both look the same

Does anyone have a hands on opinion on either or both of these cases ? or can they lead me to buy one more than the other .

Thanks again,

Johnny

[PCMaven]

I recently purchased the Sena with the magnetic clasp and love it. I don't have any experience with the Vaja.

[riversen]

I went a store that I think is called Bags-n-Baggages that sell the Tummi cases for PDA's. I am really particular about what I want. This one is very high quality leather with velcro on the back and can hold all of my credit cards. I use this as my wallet and PDA holder. It was around $60 to $70, but the lifetime warranty can't be beat. I also have a Tummi briefcase that I have had forever and is still in great shape. I saw the Sony cases, but they did not fit my T665 exactly, so returned the one that I bought. This is my experience and recommendation to you. I hope it helps.

[RNclie]

I have the Vaja case for my 665. It has the magnetic closure which is very strong, is made very well, and fits in my pocket. I would recommend it to anyone. I have not used the Sena case but from what I hear you could not go wrong with either one.

[Bionic Antboy]

I'd go with the Vaja as well.  Out of the 5 brands of leather cases I've either owned, or seen in person (through friends), Vaja has got to be the best in quality.  I'd put Sena and Piel Frama pretty much tied for second.

In fact, here's a copy of an e-mail from the Clie mailing list on yahoo...


Overall I'd rank them like this

1  Vaja: www.vajacases.com (http://www.vajacases.com)

2  PielFrama: www.pielframa.com (http://www.pielframa.com)

3  Sena: www.senacases.com (http://www.senacases.com)

(2 and 3 are close calls to me)

4  Krussel: www.krusell.se (http://www.krusell.se)

5  Bellagio: www.bellagiodesigns.com (http://www.bellagiodesigns.comVaja)

[/size]Vaja is the perfect, classy leather T665 case.  I've got a black one with the Vitelino Azabache leather and it is truly classic, and a T665 deserves the best, IMHO.  :)

Piel Frama seems to offer a bit better protection, but at the price of a LITTLE more bulk.  The grain on the leather wasn't quite as natural either... I am selling this case (which I won from www.clieplanet.com (http://www.clieplanet.com) and used for one day) to a friend with a T665.

Sena I like about the same as Piel Frama (and neat colour designs), but the unprotected corners are a negative for me. Of course, I don't care about syncing in the cradle with the case on, so those who want this feature would see this as a positive. One caveat: I've heard that the colours on the Sena case can start to "flake" or wear after a while.  I have a friend who uses this case, but I haven't seen him in a couple of months, and it was new when he showed it to me. 

Krussel just didn't do it for me. Workmanship seems fine, but it was about the same size as the Piel Frama, but just didn't have that "quality" feel or look.

Bellagio has unprotected corners, I don't like that, or the rear flap that pops out to hotsync, and it just seems kind of puffy. Not a big fan of the stitching on it either. Definitely not a "quality" feel, IMHO.

I haven't seen any other cases in person, but I KNOW I would hate the Belkin. It's got lots of storage, in comparison to the others, but the quality of the design is VERY weak, though with those huge edges, it's probably better for protection than the others I've mentioned.  It just makes something sleek like the T665 look big and clunky, like a PPC :)

I can't really say about any other leather cases, as I have no experience with them.

In the end, I'd say you get what you pay for. The Vaja and Piel Frama are the most expensive out of the lot, but they are also the highest quality, IMHO. Sena, if you don't mind the exposed corners, is a cheaper alternative.

[johnnyr]

Thanks alot everyone...glad to find good help on these boards.

Johnny

[DrMrlf]

I had an EB Cases case for my Palm Vx and I just ordered one for my T665. I really liked the EB case and you can hotsync while in the case. I hope the T665 case is just as nice. It has magnetic closure, also.

[Punky]

I have a Vaja case over a year old that has gone through much banging around in my purse, and it looks barely used- beautifully fitting, too. They also make excellent cell phone cases- I have one for a year and a half old Motorola V60.

[BBERIC]

I just bought a Sony Pega CA80 pouch for my new T665.
It's great !! Fits like a glove !!

[sonyfan]

I have had the Sena case for nearly 8 months. To this day, it is in great shape. It has magnetic closure and two slots for ms cards. It fits the 665 perfectly. There is even a small mirror inside the flip cover (ok not a necessity, but sometimes useful). I have the blue/black case with clip. As far as the vaja case, I don't have one for the 665. However, I have one for my ipaq. It is still in great shape after nearly two years. You really can't go wrong with a vaja case; For the 665, sena equals vaja. IMHO
Sorry if my comments make it harder to decide between them.

sonyfan

[jiejiesmom]

I ordered both the Sena magnetic closure case and the Vaja snap closure for my 665, and ended up with the Vaja. Both cases are nice, but the Vaja fit my needs much better. For the record, when my Clie is not on my desk, it is in my cluttered purse/tote bag along with my toddler's things.

The leather on the Sena case was very smooth, but thin. There was a transition on the back of the case to even thinner leather. I was not happy with the exposed area on the bottom of the case...but that was necessary for syncing in the cradle. And, the magnetic closure accidently opened during a trial run in my purse. There is feedback that the leather on the Sena discolors/fades, but I didn't keep my case long enough to experience that.

So, that's when I ordered the Vaja. I actually had both cases for a side by side comparison.

The Vaja case has much thicker leather--similar to Coach or Dooney purses. The bottom is completely covered...no exposed areas. But then, I am not able to sync in the cradle. I felt the quality and leather of the Vaja was better than Sena.

Oh, I do have pics of both cases if you are interested in shots of either one. I was comparing cases with my sis as she is also shopping for a case.

I ordered my Vaja from www.directcases.com. The price of the case was the same as ordering from Vaja directly, but the shipping was cheaper. However, you are not able to customize the case and must go with their stock item which is the classic case. The first Vaja case had a cut/imperfection on the leather; the return/credit to my credit card process was very efficient and smooth. I am very pleased with my replacement Vaja case.

Good luck in your search for a case. Search the threads here for some really good discussion on 665 cases. Cases are such a personal thing. What works for others may not necessarily work for you. Enjoy your pda!!

[Dr.Clie]

I just opened my Sena case box and fitted my 665 with the case, and I am very, very, very happy at this moment.

I had Sony PEG-CA60 case before, but decided to return it because I wanted the PDA on my belt, not in my front pocket. So I tried to decide between the EB and the Sena. I didn't get the EB for 2 reasons:

1) They have been on backorder for the 665 case for 4 weeks now! I'm not having my credit card charged and not knowing when I'm going to receive an item I need NOW!

2) From the websites, I liked how the Sena looked AND the positive feedback it gets from chatrooms everywhere.

So, I ordered the SNAP model (most people get the magnetic closure). All I can say is that it is EXCELLENT, and it looks 10x better than the Sony PEG-CA60 case. It honestly fits like a glove. The first case I ever bought for the 665c was the Belkin, and comparing the two are like comparing wearing clown shoes and a pair of Rockports. The Sena fits like a glove.

All the talk about the exposed corners in the Sena case is also a mute point if you order the SNAP closure. It comes with a solid back portion that is larger than the PDA unit. In essence, the corners of the PDA are receded from the corners of the cover by about 1/4 inch, making it seemingly impossible for the SLIGHTLY exposed corner to hit any flat surface in case of an accidental drop.

Again, I am on a high horse because it's only been 1/2 hour since I opened it, but I am honestly impressed. I was skeptical at first because I had bought the Belkin and thought about how bulky and annoying that case was, but to try to compare the two is simple injustice.

From the websites pictures, I'm only left wondering why spend the extra $10~$15 dollars on a Vaja if you can get a SNAP closure Sena???

[DrMrlf]

I ran down to Frye's and bought the Belkin case and returned it right away. It was really completely lame!!

I ordered the EB Case on Sunday and it shipped on Wednesday. It is no longer back ordered. I was also tempted to buy the Sena case, but I've had an EB case before and was happy with it.

I actually think that the Sena case is a little nicer over all than the EB, but it's also a little more expensive.

I considered the Vaja case, but I read a review in PalmInfoCenter that was not real good. They said that the case bulged at the bottom connector and I read the same thing on this message board. I agree with the reviewer that for the price, the case should be perfect.

[Wizardb]

I just received my Krusell case for the T665. It seems to be a nice case for the money (22.99 on ebay).All the fucntions are accessible. There is an opening for the charger/sync connection but it doesn't fit in the cradle with the case on. It would do well with just a cable connection. Other than that, the T665 fits very snugly and the protection seems about average. Workmanship on the case is very good.

[Dr.Clie]

Originally posted by DrMrlf
I ran down to Frye's and bought the Belkin case and returned it right away. It was really completely lame!!

I ordered the EB Case on Sunday and it shipped on Wednesday. It is no longer back ordered. I was also tempted to buy the Sena case, but I've had an EB case before and was happy with it.

I actually think that the Sena case is a little nicer over all than the EB, but it's also a little more expensive.

I considered the Vaja case, but I read a review in PalmInfoCenter that was not real good. They said that the case bulged at the bottom connector and I read the same thing on this message board. I agree with the reviewer that for the price, the case should be perfect.

Actually, they are the same price for the belt-clip version (w/o is only $3 dollars more)... but the EB looks very well designed as well since the memory sticks are hidden... i'm just very smitten with the Sena case at this moment...

[Anita]

Originally posted by DrMrlf
I considered the Vaja case, but I read a review in PalmInfoCenter that was not real good. They said that the case bulged at the bottom connector and I read the same thing on this message board. I agree with the reviewer that for the price, the case should be perfect.

I have the Sena and the Vaja and they have the same bulge. I didn't keep the EBCase long enough to check that; I simply didn't like the case (tho I used an EB for two years on my IIIc) and shipped it right back.

I personally think the bulge is due to the physical port location on the T665 -- it is toward the back of the bottom, not in the middle -- and what that design does to leather that has to bend over it.

Anita

[Bionic Antboy]

The reason for a slight bulge on the bottom part of the case is that (at least on the T665) the bottom of the PDA has a bulge too. Look at it from the side :)

This additional thickness on the bottom edge, coupled with the size of the connecter port, contributes to a VERY SLIGHT outward pull on the leather. Cases that don't have leather protecting the corners, and instead use separate leather pieces, won't suffer from this problem.

BTW, it's not really a "bulge" per se, it's where the wraparound leather doesn't quite contact the case itself, just in front of the connecter port. I just measured the distance, and it's about 2 mm (or 1/16th of an inch). It's not even noticable when the case is closed, nor when you are using it (since you would be busy using the Clie). The only time it can be noticed is when the case is open and lying on a table or desk while charging.

As I've stated before, I've seen many cases up close and personal, and Vaja by far makes the best quality case, IMHO. Put a Vaja side by side with any other leather type case and you'll see why they cost more.

[monkeygr@ss]

If anyone is looking, I do have an immaculate black Vaja snap closure case (with belt clip) for sale. It was leather protected, and used for less than 3 months... Then I sold my T665!

Selling for $40 including shipping. Retail is $55 + $12 shipping... That's a solid deal for anyone who wants a Vaja at the price of a Sena or one of the cheaper cases!

PM or email me if interested!

[Golgo 13]

I have a metal Rhinoskin case for my 665. It's silver and looks very cool, kind of james bond-like. The only problem with it is that it's kind of slippery and you have to be sure to have a good grip on it whenever you take it out of your pocket.

[flipcap22]

I was annoyed with the 'bulge' of the Vaja case when I first got the case a few weeks ago ($55 shipped from DirectCase). I'm getting used to the bulge now even though I notice it every so often. My Piel Frama case for my T615 had no bulge, but that was because the leather did not wrap around the bottom near the port connector. I looked at my Piel Frama case the other day, and I couldn't help but notice that I really liked the form factor much better on the Vaja case. It would have been fine for me if the Vaja case had been cut like the Piel Frama, but I guess we can't have everything!

[Dr.Clie]

I have the snap-type Sena, and HONESTLY, the bulge is goes un-noticed.... is it bigger in the Vaja, cause it sure sounds like a big deal to a lot of you guys... try a Sena snap closure if the bulge bugs!!!!

[Unregistered]

My 2 cents...
I really recommend the Bellagio Case.
It protects completely, and the leather is a much better quality than other cases I have seen.
Hot syncable feature is a real plus too.
They also offer different types of leathers and configurations.

Again, Just IMHO

[KEVIN88GT]

can someone please post some pics of their t665 in a sena case (magnetic closer or snap) i'm interested in seeing what they look like ....i've already seen the site... also any1 have experience with clie dropping while in the case...what was the result and which case was it in.

[PCMaven]

Here are some pics...

Hopefully they're what you're looking for.

[pete]

Hi,

Did anyone try the Aluminium case with the cut-out for 665c? I was thinking of getting that one. One reason holding me back was that the cover doesn't flip backward so that it can get a good grip. What do you think?

[Jayman]

I like my Brando OEM Case with Magnetic Snap... It works well for me, and holds my credit cards.

[Unregistered]

Sena T665 case:
Cool stuff:
+ Has the mirror (This has come in so handy!)
+ Can hold 2 MS'!!
+ Looks nifty
+ Belt clip thingy is also nifty
+ You can HotSync in the cradle WITHOUT TAKING THE CASE OFF!!! (This is the killer feature of this case for me - I had the aluminium case before and while it was nifty, having to remove it to hotsync was a total PITA)

Stupid stuff:
+ The leather, while tough, is starting to show a bit of wear. (This is about 4 months on now).
+ The front flap has *no* support unlike the 'Flap' that comes with the Clie. It's mechanical strength comes entierly from the mirror and any MS' you put in. Because of this, the ridge where the mirror ends and where the clasp magnets are mounted has started to bend a bit, which allows the MS' to press against the screen of the Clie while the thing is in your pocket (BAD!). If sufficient force is applied the edge of the mirror can press down some of the buttons and turn on the Clie because of this (This is the only major bad thing about this case)
+ What is it with leather cases and magnets??!?! There has *got* to be a better way!!!!


I can highly recommend this case - it isn't as good at protecting the T-series as the aluminium case I had, but it's a hell of a lot more comfortable, and a lot more convenient! Unless you're taking your Clie to Iraq or something it should provide adequet protection ontop of the other nifty features. That said the aluminium case could probably take a few bullets so I can also recommend that if you are heading to any battle zones in the forseeable future :P

[Wizardb]

Well I've done it now. I have the Krussel case and like it qiuite a bit. I especially like a flip to case. Then a couple of days ago I saw the DSI Auminum case on ebay and ended up getting it for 9.99 plus 4 shipping. It came today. And I really like it. The book style opening will take some getting used to but I like the metal case. Can't decide which one I will use regularly. guess I'll try the DSI for a couple of days. Maybe I'll just keep them both and switch every couple of weeks. That will drive my wife right up the wall.

[KEVIN88GT]

got pics of the dsi case?

[PCMaven]

Have you looked on the DSI website? They have very complete multiple views there.

[KEVIN88GT]

whoops i'm sorry the krussel case is what i meant.. i dont really like the booklike opening of the alum. cases.

[aaronrkelly]

Originally posted by pete
Hi,

Did anyone try the Aluminium case with the cut-out for 665c? I was thinking of getting that one. One reason holding me back was that the cover doesn't flip backward so that it can get a good grip. What do you think?

I tried one - what bothered me is that you have to take it out of the case to sync it......and it isnt easy to remove it from that metal death grip they call a case. Otherwise it looked good. I have a cheapy Belkins slipper case (leather) and love it. Fits my T615 perfectly, cut outs are in the right spot and I got it at Best Buy on clearence for $9.

[pdafreeker]

I have a DSI case for my 665 and it works great i also bought a hotsync cable on ebay so that I do not have to take it out of the case.

I spent 27.99 for the case 5.00 for shipping and 10.00 for the cable on ebay.

This is a great combonation

[Wizardb]

I don't have a picture of the Krussell case but if you go to ebay there are several listed with pictures.

[sportsguy]

I'm still a big fan of Bellagio Designs www.bellagiodesigns.com

The cases are truly premium Quality and price / value better than anyone I've seen.......

[Elyse]

I love my Bellagio.....hands down the best value.

Dropped it quite a few times....great protection!

[Wizardb]

After trying both the DSI hard case and the Krussell leather case for my T665, I've decided to stay with the leather case. I'm going to sell the DSI case on Ebay but I thought I'd mention it here first in case somebody is interested. Its like new and has been used only for a week. I don't have a picture available but you can go to Ebay and see them listed. If anyone is interested, you can post reply here or email me at Bcech511@wmconnect.com.

[jmccullough]

Is this right? Is the top metal and the bottom plastic? That seems like a problem to me.

Secondarily, is anyone aware of a hard Clie case with built-in memory stick storage?

[Wizardb]

Yea, if you are talking about the DSI case the top is Aircraft aluminum and the bottom is ABS plastic. The T665 seems very secure in it; fits well, cutouts fit well. I had a smilar case for my visor prism (top metal/bottom plastic) and it worked quite well.

I haven't seen a metal case with mem stick storage.

[francois]

I've been using the vaja case, with magnetic closure and space for MS and credit cards, and I have to say, that its the best job I've ever seen.
It covers the whole T665 including the corners, it excledes dust through the speaker opening with a micro-grille, very good quality craftmanship and quality leathers (inside-Out) .

The magnetic closure is very well resolved and is of a very good quality...

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