Jason Dunn
06-13-2005, 05:00 PM
<div class='os_post_top_link'><a href='http://www.vajacases.com/affiliate&ID=100' target='_blank'>http://www.vajacases.com/affiliate&ID=100</a><br /><br /></div><img src="http://www.digitalmediathoughts.com/images/vaja-creativezen.jpg" /><br /><br />When I received a Creative Zen Micro late last year, it was the first hard drive-based audio player I'd ever owned. It came with a small pseudo-satin pouch that looked fairly nice, but after using to hold the Zen Micro on a few trips, the pouch stitching became unravelled and it essentially fell apart. I was looking for a case to protect the Zen Micro, and when I think of cases I think of Vaja first because their cases, while expensive, are of unmated quality.<br /><br />Vaja's case for the Zen Micro is dubbed the "Zeon". Pricing starts at $60 USD, and all cases are custom made. This is not your average brown leather case - with colours such as ginger, violet, and forest, Vaja allows for a case that can be uniquely your own. In addition to the solid colour cases, Vaja has combination cases where the front half is one colour, and the back half is another. There are well over 100 different colour options, and Vaja leathers have extremely vibrant dyes so what you see on the Web page is what you get in person.<br /><br />I opted for a "Blue Caterina" case to compliment my white/silver Zen Micro. The package after after a few weeks, and <a href="http://www.digitalmediathoughts.com/images/vaja-creativezen-000.jpg">even the Vaja box</a> looks impressive. After unpacking the box, I inserted my Zen Micro into the hard-sided Vaja case. The fit was perfect - <a href="http://www.digitalmediathoughts.com/images/vaja-creativezen-002.jpg">there's a "lip" that</a> the Zen Micro slides under, after which it sort of locks into place. Tipping the case upside down and shaking it doesn't move the Zen Micro, so while it's not truly locked in by a latch, the Zeon case does a good job of securing it in place. The case <a href="http://www.digitalmediathoughts.com/images/vaja-creativezen-001.jpg">fit my Zen Micro like a glove</a>, and had Vaja's usual exquisite workmanship. The window on the front is <a href="http://www.digitalmediathoughts.com/images/vaja-creativezen-004.jpg">cut away to exactly the right size</a>, and has a plastic protective shield to guard the Zen Micro screen from damage. The front panel is cut away to allow access to the Zen Micro controls, and Vaja didn't make it <i>too</i> close so that it interferes with the buttons. I opted for <a href="http://www.digitalmediathoughts.com/images/vaja-creativezen-003.jpg">a little customization</a>, which Vaja charges $10 for. Now this case was really mine!<br /><br />It this reads like a perfect review, that's because it is - the Zeon case for the Zen Micro is perfectly executed: stylish design, glorious colours, and functionality make this the ultimate case for your Zen Micro. Check out <a href="http://www.vajacases.com/affiliate&ID=100">Vaja's site</a> for more details. [Affiliate]