11-04-2005, 06:30 PM
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Developer & Designer, News Editor Emeritus
Join Date: Aug 2006
Posts: 12,959
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Another Journey Down Under: nSignia PDA Cases Revisited
Product Category: Protective Case
Manufacturer: nSignia
Where to Buy: nSignia
Price: Variable. Products are backed with a lifetime guarantee.
System Requirements: PDA.
Pros:- Well-padded (on both sides and around the edges);
- Removable storage module for memory cards and business cards;
- Easy-to-use, secure belt-clip system;
- Nice, large button cutouts.
Cons:Summary:
In late June, nSignia announced a new generation of PDA cases. Having reviewed, and left impressed with their first lot of cases, I obviously had high expectations when I was asked to review their new lot of cases, now available for a wide range of HP, Dell and Palm devices. I was given ten different styles of cases for the Axim X50v. Read on for the full review!
Good Ol' Mountain of Cases
Figure 1: Um... They're just spares!
Exotically Different!
nSignia pride themselves on the exotic leathers used in their range of PDA cases. From cowhide and kangaroo, to ostrich and crocodile, the leathers used in these cases are of superb quality.
The following italicised quotes are taken from the nSignia website, since they know their leather more than I do. 
"Kangaroo (Macropus rufus) is very similar to Cowhide, but is one of the strongest light weight leathers available with superior abrasion and tear resistance to Cowhide. Kangaroo leather comes from a wild animal so there may be small marks on the skin, however we make sure that we select the best sections with minimal marking to give a unique case every time."
They don't lie! At first glance, you'd be fooled into thinking that the kangaroo and cowhide cases used the same sort of leather. On closer inspection, you'll find the kangaroo leather to be a tad grainier and tougher than the standard cowhide. This is definitely a great leather case for those after something a little more than the standard cowhide, whilst remaining within the below-$100 price range.
"Tilapia (Oreochromis niloticus) or Nile Perch is a farmed fish found throughout Asia and Africa. The fish is produced for commercial meat production and we are able to take advantage of this to produce truly unique leather from the skins. Once tanned these skins have absolutely no ocean related smell and are supple leathers with a unique texture and scale pattern."
This bumpy leather is everything from the fisherman's wharf, without that awful smell! It's as lightweight as the kangaroo leather, sporting a more interesting pattern than the standard black, and again, existing as a suitable cowhide alternative below the $100 mark.
"Stingray (Dasyatis akajei) and Eagle Ray (Aetobatus narinari) leather is also a by-product of commercial fishing. They are extremely tough leathers. When working on these skins we have to use grinding wheels and titanium sewing needles as regular leatherworking tools are not adequate. The end result is a case with a texture and "pearl" or "blaze" unique to each product."
You have to see this leather to believe it. It's as solid as a rock and the texture is addictive to touch. Available in navy blue or black, the stingray and eagle ray cases are available for just over $100.
"Ostrich (Struthio camelus) is one of the most elegant and refined leathers available. Our cases use soft Ostrich leather both inside and out. The outside of the case uses the quill texture unique to Ostrich. This gives the surface a slightly bumpy feel where each quill used to be."
The ostrich leather sports a grainy, bumpy appearance attributable to the quill texture of the ostrich. This makes it a very tough leather and a great choice for those after something a little more exotic than usual.
"Crocodile (Crocodylus porosus) is a truly exotic, high-end leather with a luxurious look and feel. This leather cannot be compared to the imitation Crocodile produced by embossing and treating Cowhide leather. Each case has a unique look as the scale pattern is unique to each Crocodile and the area of the skin that is used. We use a tanning process and matt finish to produce supple, smooth leather than radiates luxury and class."
"Cr�me de la cr�me" is about all I can say. Everything about the unique pattern, the soft texture, and the tough finish of this case makes it one of the nicest leather cases in the market. However, it's not cheap. But, if you're willing to pay top dollar for an eye-catching case, then by all means, go for it!
Figure 2: Click the image above for a larger preview.
You'll find cow suede lining the inside of the cowhide case, with goat suede lining the inside of most of the other cases. On the other end of the scale, the crocodile case features an even softer lamb suede as the inside lining.
The use of exotic leathers has ignited a few flares before. However, nSignia's FAQ is well worth a read if you're interested in finding out just where these exotic leathers come from. Bottom line - they're very serious about abiding by environmental agreements to help ensure the survival of wild animals and plants in Australia, and around the world.
Figure 3: Great case. Great box too!
A Look at the Book-Style Case...
I went from a book-style case for my iPAQ h1940, to a flip-style case for my Axim X50v. While I'm favoured towards the flip-style design, there are still plenty of standout features in the book-style design. After all, it all comes down to personal preferences, and I know many of you are book-style fans!
Figure 4: The book-style Eagle Ray case from the front...
In my last review, I discussed nSignia's push-button rivets and it seemed not too many people liked them. So nSignia went ahead and asked many PDA users what they wanted most in their cases. Enter the commonly-used button cutouts. Nothing new here, but it's definitely a vast improvement over the push-button rivet idea since it eliminates the accidental pressing of the PDA's buttons which I loathed in my last review. The size of the cutouts is large enough for a thumb, finger or stylus to fit through, so if you've got oversized digits, you need not worry about not being able to press the buttons.
There are also cutouts for the microphone and wireless light of the Axim X50v. These are covered by a transparent plastic, which is great for the light, but not for the microphone. I was a little worried when I first saw this since a blocked microphone port is a recipe for an audio recording disaster. But it wasn't... Microphone functionality didn't even appear to be impaired and it worked fine when I tested the X50v (in the case) with Microsoft Voice Command and VITO SoundExplorer 2005.
nSignia's cases are not cradle-friendly, which for some, is the crunch point for choosing to go with a particular vendor's case. But there's an advantage to this! Most cradle-friendly cases leave very little protection on the bottom edges of the device, purely because the protective leather must be kept thin for it to fit in the cradle. Here's where nSignia's cases go one-up above a lot of the others since the case is kept well protected on every single edge of the device. It's not the end of all case-friendly synchronisation solutions though. The case still allows you to insert a synchronisation cable - e.g. the Lil' Sync Pro from Pocket PC Techs.
Figure 5: ...and the same case from the back.
Now here's where I go into a little discussion about book-style vs. flip-style. Both cases offer ample room for accessing the card slots and stylus. With the book-style case, it's always open for access. With the flip-style case, that space can only be accessed when the case itself is open. But then the book-style case doesn't allow you to access the lock switch and the wireless/record buttons on the left of the X50v, whereas the flip-style case does. Being a frequent user of the lock switch and the record button I currently have mapped to Voice Command, I guess you can now see why I prefer the flip-style case over the book-style case, but as I said, it's all based on personal preferences. Finally, you'll have to open the buckle of the flip-style case to access the synchronisation port. That's not the case with the book-style case. Weigh the options, and I'm sure at the end of the day, you'll make the right choice over which style of case to go for.
Figure 6: The book-style case's removable storage module.
...And the Flip-Style Case!
Most aspects of the book-style case carry on to the flip-style range, so there's not much to talk about here. Perhaps something worth noting here is the headphone cutout. It allows you to plug headphones into the X50v whilst the device resides in the case - this is definitely an added convenience if you love listening to music while the device sits in your pocket or on the belt.
Figures 7 and 8: The flip-style Eagle Ray case from the front and back.
Figure 9: Up close and personal with the button cutouts of the flip-style Crocodile case.
The Removable Storage Module
As far as I can tell, the removable storage module offers two key advantages - (1) it puts the screen against a flat surface, so any cards you may have in the module won't rub against the screen, which would otherwise cause unwanted markings and scratches; and (2) being removable, it keeps the case as slim as possible if you don't need the added storage support. The module itself inserts into a multi-purpose slot, suitable for slipping in a few notes.
Figure 10: The flip-style Crocodile case and its accompanying storage module.
DIY Belt-Clip Kit
The belt-clip is very easy to assemble as it comes with step-by-step instructions and everything you need to attach the mount to the case. Included is a plastic quick-release clip, a metal mount, two mini-screws, a screwdriver, and a spare plastic hole cover featuring the nSignia logo. Installation takes approximately two minutes, and if it's not to your liking, it can be easily removed. So, how does it work? The plastic clip is designed to sit on your belt and the mount-equipped case slips into the clip and locks itself into place. To remove the case from the clip, you'll have to turn the case 90 degrees and push on the clip's self-release button. Once in the unlocked position, the case can be slipped out of the clip. It's secure and very easy-to-use. In addition, nSignia's cases allow you to mount the case in one of two positions - horizontally or vertically. If you try one orientation and prefer the other one, then no problem. Simply swap it over. It's that simple!
Figure 11: Itty-bitty pieces from the belt-clip kit.
Conclusions
nSignia's latest range of cases are worth every dollar. If being cradle-friendly isn't a top priority for you, then these cases offer a sync-friendly, tough, protective solution in a wide range of exotic leathers. From cowhide to the crocodile, you'll find a case to suit every budget. Additionally, nSignia's removable storage module and secure belt-clip system easily gives it an edge over competitors.
If you're a subscriber of Pocket PC Thoughts, you'll find an exclusive nSignia 15% discount code that's valid until December 2006. Details can be found in the subscriber discounts page.
Darius Wey loves technology! When he's not working at this website, he's busy working for his medical degree (MBBS) or involved in audio and video editing, web and graphic designing, photography and the odd bit of programming. He lives in Perth, Western Australia.
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11-04-2005, 07:01 PM
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Developer & Designer, News Editor Emeritus
Join Date: Aug 2006
Posts: 12,959
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Quote:
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Originally Posted by Darius Wey
There are also cutouts for the microphone and wireless light of the Axim X50v. These are covered by a transparent plastic, which is great for the light, but not for the microphone. I was a little worried when I first saw this since a blocked microphone port is a recipe for an audio recording disaster. But it wasn't... Microphone functionality didn't even appear to be impaired and it worked fine when I tested the X50v (in the case) with Microsoft Voice Command and VITO SoundExplorer 2005.
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Just making an update to this statement. nSignia identified the problem with the transparent plastic covering the microphone port and have since removed it, thus addressing the issue I raised in the review.
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11-04-2005, 07:46 PM
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Neophyte
Join Date: Sep 2005
Posts: 2
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A pile of spares????
You know, if you have ALL those spares cases for a Dell Axim X50v sitting around ... gathering dust ... I can think of at least one worthy recipient who not only owns a Dell Axim X50v, but would also put one of those "spare" flip cases to good use!!!  *hint hint* :wink:
Do I need to beg? I'll beg if I have to!!! :lol: Please, please, please????
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11-04-2005, 09:16 PM
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5000+ Posts? I Should OWN This Site!
Join Date: Aug 2006
Posts: 5,616
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I'm now thinking nSignia rather than Vaja for my next Pocket PC!
__________________
iPhone 4! ☠☠☠ Mid-2010 15" MacBook Pro! ☠☠☠ Gateway LT2102h! ☠☠☠ Dell XPS M1210!
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11-05-2005, 03:57 AM
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Developer & Designer, News Editor Emeritus
Join Date: Aug 2006
Posts: 12,959
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Re: A pile of spares????
Quote:
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Originally Posted by pischk
You know, if you have ALL those spares cases for a Dell Axim X50v sitting around ... gathering dust ... I can think of at least one worthy recipient who not only owns a Dell Axim X50v, but would also put one of those "spare" flip cases to good use!!! *hint hint* :wink: |
I'd love to, but I no longer have them anymore. But you're a subscriber of the site, so you have that 15% discount at your disposal.
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11-05-2005, 08:11 PM
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Intellectual
Join Date: Mar 2005
Posts: 125
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Hey, I just got my Vaja case fsor my X50 and am LOVING it.
i know this sounds crazy, but before I wasnt really using my pda on the go at all due to its "unwieldiness".
And then came... THE ULTRACLIP. this nsignia clip looks almost the same actually. Makes the friggin world of difference. I actually walk around with my PDA now as it clips to the side of my pocket, leaving my pockets free for random junk (aka phone) as well.
BTW --> I still think my Vaja case looks sexier, hehehe :devilboy:
But Crocodile sounds awesome - and its Australian, so the quality will be top-notch.
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11-05-2005, 09:53 PM
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5000+ Posts? I Should OWN This Site!
Join Date: Aug 2006
Posts: 5,616
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Question for you, Mr. Apod:
Does nSignia have any "hard" leather cases, like Vaja's iVolution line?
__________________
iPhone 4! ☠☠☠ Mid-2010 15" MacBook Pro! ☠☠☠ Gateway LT2102h! ☠☠☠ Dell XPS M1210!
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11-06-2005, 04:10 AM
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Developer & Designer, News Editor Emeritus
Join Date: Aug 2006
Posts: 12,959
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Quote:
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Originally Posted by ctmagnus
Question for you, Mr. Apod:
Does nSignia have any "hard" leather cases, like Vaja's iVolution line?
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Sort of. The eagle ray and stingray cases are "very hard". I'd say they would rival the iVolution range.
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11-06-2005, 06:38 AM
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5000+ Posts? I Should OWN This Site!
Join Date: Aug 2006
Posts: 5,616
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:rock on dude!:
__________________
iPhone 4! ☠☠☠ Mid-2010 15" MacBook Pro! ☠☠☠ Gateway LT2102h! ☠☠☠ Dell XPS M1210!
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