Hey all!
I’m a first time poster but a long time reader. I’ve been following many threads on the TG-50 and the new NX models. Thanks to your postings I deciding to upgrade to a TG-50. I’ve had it for only 4 days and already I love it.
Just to give a little back to the Clie community, here is my review of the Inno Pocket TG-50 deluxe metal case.
I ordered the case through Global Source by clicking on the above “shop” button. The case cost $33. The only shipping method available was 2-day airborne express (an extra $6.72). The price of the case seemed very reasonable for me since I paid $50 for a form fitting hard Palm Vx case three years ago.
I placed my order Tuesday morning (around 3:00am pacific standard). I received the case today, Wednesday, at 11:30am. The case was shipped from West Virginia here to California.
The delivery service was excellent. I had access to tracking information at every step of the way. It was well worth the $6.72 to receive this case so soon.
The case came in a mid sized box. It was wrapped in thick packaging paper. No real danger of damage to the product.
The merchandise packaging had a green style very characteristic of Clie accessories.
The color of the case metal is similar to the color of the TG-50, though it’s a few shades lighter.
All of the main buttons are available. Jog dial, recorder, back, power/hold, headphone, memory stick, IR, reset, stylus, are all here. The Bluetooth port is blocked however. I don’t know if this will effect Bluetooth performance since I don’t have any Bluetooth devices.
One thing I really did like about the case is that there is a mesh barrier in the speaker port. This allows sound to go through the hole but protects it from little particles when placed on a desk.
The hotsync port is available but the Clie can’t be placed in the cradle while in the case.
The case does seem rather sturdy. I pressed hard against it (without the Clie inside) with my thumb and fingers and it did not bend.
The feel of the case is smooth. Not as smooth as the built in TG-50 screen protector, but it seems less prone to starches (which the build in case is very prone to).
When both are placed side by side the case seems about ½ to 1/3 of an inch taller than the TG-50. Length wise it’s about 1/3 to ¼ of an inch longer. Width is very close to Clie, maybe 1/8 wider.
Inside the case has room for two memory sticks which are held very securely. The area where the Clie rests is protected with a layer of neoprene lining. The lining is very thin and very very soft.
My N710C leather case had a zipper to give access to the hotsync port. After two years of zipping, the zipper began to scratch the sides of the N710C. This TG-50 case has all parts of the case which touch the Clie protected with the neoprene lining. There is no direct metal to metal contact, and no worries of scratches by the case.
There are two latches inside the case which connect to the two holes in the back of the Clie. On the back side there is a knob which locks these latches to the Clie. When locked, the Clie won’t fall out of the case.
One of my favorite features of the case is the double screen protection. You can either continue to use the built in screen protector that comes with the TG-50 or use the case without the built in screen protector. What’s cool is when the Clie is inside the case with the built in screen protector, the protector slides open along with the case. In other words, there are two slots where the protector slides into the case. When you open the case, the built in protector slides open along it. It’s difficult to explain. Check out the pictures for a better description.
Pros: The Inno Pocket case is a great design. All of the buttons I want access to are available with this case. I can even do voice recordings with the case closed and have no degradation in sound quality. The case locking feature, the mesh design of the speaker hole, and the double screen protection are great features.
Cons: Length and width are not that much larger, but the height is. It will feel a little bit thicker in your pocket (almost as if you have a NX). The locking slot on the back does also add a bit to the height (though it gives you the ability to still hear sounds when the Clie is on a desk). The case is easy to open, but it will require two hands (though you can, you should never open the TG-50 with just one hand…you might drop it!). You’ll have to remove the case each time you want to hotsync.
Conclusion: I feel very safe knowing my Clie is cushioned with neoprene and protected by anodized aluminum. For $33 ($40 with shipping), this is a great deal. I have access to all the features I want. The Clie is protected from a fall and I have no worries about the case scratching the device.
If you want the protection of a hard case, then buy the Inno Pocket. If you’re looking for a slim case and are less worried about accidental falls, then buy a leather case.
Click here for pictures.
Hope this was helpful!