RhinoSkin Aluminum iPAQ case review

[Jason Dunn]

<a href="http://www.rhinoskin.com/perl-bin/safe-shop?std-00153-16">http://www.rhinoskin.com/perl-bin/safe-shop?std-00153-16</a><br /><br />RhinoSkin is well-known in the PDA industry for making some seriously tough metal cases for PDAs. So when they asked me if I'd like to review their new iPAQ case, I said "Sure!". It arrived at my place a few weeks ago, and I promptly took it out and marvelled at the great construction. It's easily one of the best looking cases I've seen.<br /><br /><img src="http://www.pocketpcthoughts.com/images/tinyrhinoskin1.jpg" /><br /><br />I then thought "This things are supposed to be tough, right?", so I proceeded to give it a hard squeeze to see how strong it was. I realized my error as the case crumpled in my burly Canadian hands. <img src="http://www.pocketpcthoughts.com/forums/images/smiles/icon_wink.gif" /> Ok, so it didn't exactly crumple, but I did manage to bend the frame all to hell. Oops... &lt;!><br /><br /><img src="http://www.pocketpcthoughts.com/images/rhinoskin1.jpg" /><br /><br />I then spent the next ten minutes trying to bend the frame back to normal. It had bent along the hinge, making it hard to close the case and have it click like it's supposed to. Other than this problem, the case is superb! Great construction, very light, neoprene lined to protect your device from scratching, and a black "sled" on a hinge that you insert the iPAQ into.<br /><br /><img src="http://www.pocketpcthoughts.com/images/rhinoskin2.jpg" /><br /><br /><img src="http://www.pocketpcthoughts.com/images/rhinoskin3.jpg" /><br /><br />Some further stats from their web site:<br /><br />- Fits 3800, 3700, and 3600 Series Compaq iPAQ <br />- Scratch-resistant, anodized aluminum <br />- Sleek, form-fitting design <br />- Interior bracket mounting system <br />- Access to secure digital memory slot <br />- Easy stylus and headphone jack access <br />- Internal closing mechanism <br />- Neoprene interior for drop protection <br />- Size: 6" x 3.6" x 1.1"<br />- Weight: approx. 3.2 oz<br /><br /><img src="http://www.pocketpcthoughts.com/images/rhinoskin4.jpg" /><br /><i>The gap I can't seem to get rid of...</i><br /><br />All in all, a great case - as long as you don't give it a hard squeeze. I know that aluminum isn't the strongest alloy, but this seems a little too fragile. I'd prefer something a little stronger, so I hope RhinoSkin releases a Titanium version of their iPAQ case for people like me. :lol: <br /><br />You can <a href="http://www.rhinoskin.com/perl-bin/safe-shop?std-00153-16">purchase the case for an MSRP of $34.95</a> from RhinoSkin directly.

[vetteguy]

It seems if you can damage it to the point of affecting its operation simply by squeezing it, I don't think I'd really trust it to protect my $700 Pocket PC. Maybe when they come out with a titanium version...

[Sanjay Srikonda]

I don't think I'm going to invest in a case that doesn't let me do the following:

keep my Expansion pack attached
Sync at least using a cable
have access to the earphone jack
let me store some kind of extra peripherals on a reverse side pocket from the PPC.

You know, I know people have been asking for cases that have these features, how come case manufacturers insist on making them without these features to all the cases they produce?

it's like we're being given what they feel like making and we have to make do.

Took me almost 2.5 weeks to find an Ipaq case that would accomodate my CF Slider Sleeve and Ipaq while still in the case, and finally had to "settle" on a Piel Frama case. It's not the greatest case, but it does let me do all the things that I listed above. I wish it was in metal. that would make it perfect.

[Brad Adrian]

...it's like we're being given what they feel like making and we have to make do...

I agree that the perfect case can become a bit of a holy grail; I am always on the lookout for the next best case idea. However, to the manufacturer's defense, let's do some math to see how many permutations they have to think about:

8 major current Pocket PC 2002 models
3 (conservatively, on average) different expansion packs per model
6 different materials choices (leather, nylon, metal, etc.)
3 different color choices

That's 432 different possible configurations. Throw in people's different tastes about holes for headphones and antennae, and the possibilities expand even more.

[carphead]

I love the Flak Jacket - I brought the PC Card version in Cowhide.

I've held off buying the the Kangaroo version as I wanted to see what form factor the Xscale IPAQ comes out in.

www.mypdastore.com

Does everything I wanted. Has room for a couple of PC Card and a spare stylus.

Regards,
Daniel

[Robotbeat]

This mini-article's beginning is funny... LOL.

[michael]

http://www.rhinoskin.com/perl-bin/safe-shop?std-00153-16

I know that aluminum isn't the strongest alloy

That's right! It's not even an alloy :wink:

[dma1965]

Aluminum isn't an alloy, but almost all aluminum products are made of aluminum products are made of aluminum alloy, as I am sure this product is.

[Jason Dunn]

That's right! It's not even an alloy :wink:

At first I was going to write "metal", but I thought that term woudl be inaccurate. What is it then? Correct me instead of mocking me. :wink:

[fgarcia10]

That's right! It's not even an alloy :wink:

At first I was going to write "metal", but I thought that term woudl be inaccurate. What is it then? Correct me instead of mocking me. :wink:

Aluminium 13
Al
26.981538(2)


The essentials
Name: aluminium
Symbol: Al
Atomic number: 13
Atomic weight: 26.981538 (2)
CAS Registry ID: 7429-90-5
Group number: 13
Group name: (none)
Period number: 3
Block: p-block


Description
Standard state: solid at 298 K
Colour: silvery
Classification: Metallic
Here is a brief description of aluminium.
Pure aluminium is a silvery-white metal with many desirable characteristics. It is light, nontoxic (as the metal), nonmagnetic and nonsparking. It is somewhat decorative. It is easily formed, machined, and cast. Pure aluminium is soft and lacks strength, but alloys with small amounts of copper, magnesium, silicon, manganese, and other elements have very useful properties. Aluminium is an abundant element in the earth's crust, but it is not found free in nature. The Bayer process is used to refine aluminium from bauxite, an aluminium ore.


Hope this would help. :wink:

[Jason Dunn]

Very helpful! Thanks.