Pocket Solution Cover-Up for Dell Axim

[marlof]

<div class='os_post_top_link'><a href='http://www.thepocketsolution.com/store.mv?p=PSI-058' target='_blank'>http://www.thepocketsolution.com/st...re.mv?p=PSI-058</a><br /><br /></div>Ever since I had my first HP Jornada Pocket PC, I've been in love with built in screen protection through flip covers. You don't need an extra case to have your screen protected when you carry your Pocket PC in your.... Pocket. But since the Jornada line was killed by the HP - Compaq merger, the flip cover died with it. Or did it?<br /><br /><img src="http://www.pocketpcthoughts.com/images/web/2003/coverop_main.jpg" /> <br /><!><br /><i>If you're looking for low weight screen protection, you may not need to look further than the Cover-Up by The Pocket Solution. It's a low weight screen cover that can flip open, allowing you to use the Pocket PC with the cover attached.</i><br /><br /><span><b>Now Quality Comes With a Flip Cover Again</b></span><br />I'm a big fan of my Dell Axim Pocket PC. Despite being a bit big, but I find it highly usable. The build quality and the battery life are stunning and continue to amaze me. I've been wishing for a Pocket PC with Jornada build quality like this, ever since the Jornada line was killed. The only thing that I truly dislike is the carrying case it comes with. Big. Plastic. It makes this Pocket PC a monster to carry in your pockets. How different from the flip cover my dear Jornadas came with. Cue Cover-Up.<br /><br /> <img src="http://www.pocketpcthoughts.com/images/web/2003/coverop_main.jpg" /> <br /><i>Figure 1: The Cover-Up matches the Axim design.</i><br /><br />The Cover-Up comes with different finishes, such as Leather and Wood laminate skins. Reviewed is the basic aluminum Cover-Up, with a nice engraving.<br /><br /><span><b>Access to Features</b></span><br />The Cover-Up leaves your headphone socket, your charge and sync ports, all buttons on the left side and the SD slot uncovered. Your buttons on the front are covered along with the CF slot. You wouldn't be able to close the cover if you had a WiFi card with an external antenna in there.<br /><br /><img src="http://www.pocketpcthoughts.com/images/web/2003/coverop_top.jpg" /><br /><i>Figure 2: The headphone socket is cut out in the design.</i> <br /><br /><img src="http://www.pocketpcthoughts.com/images/web/2003/coverop_bottom.jpg" /><br /><i>Figure 3: Access to the charge and sync ports.</i> <br /><br /><span><b>Up Goes the Cover</b></span><br />If you want to use your Pocket PC, just flip the cover to the back, and you have full access to the device. This might be problematic when you have your Pocket PC in a car cradle, since the cover goes a bit far to the back. Since the cover is attached to your Pocket PC with a bit of industrial strength velcro, you can easily detach and attach the cover though, so this is not a big nuisance.<br /><br /> <img src="http://www.pocketpcthoughts.com/images/web/2003/coverop_open.jpg" /><br /><i>Figure 4: Axim with lid open</i><br /><br />The foam you see in the opened Cover-Up is aligned to the screen of your Pocket PC. This helps the cover stay closed.<br /><br /><b><span>Gotchas</span></b><br />• When the screen goes on - e.g. for a reminder - the cover can keep your Pocket PC running through the foam lining pressing on the screen. However, this only happened to me when pressure was applied to the cover.<br />• Cover can't close over a WiFi card with external antenna.<br />• Opening the cover can be impossible in a car cradle. Detaching the Cover-Up is very easy though.<br /><br /><span><b>Where To Buy</b></span><br />The Cover-Up can be <a href="http://www.thepocketsolution.com/store.mv?p=PSI-058">bought at The Pocket Solution</a> starting at only $9.95.<br /><br /><b><span>Conclusions</span></b><br />Now I have a reliable Pocket PC, with very good battery life and built in screen protection. The Cover-Up looks good enough to be part of the original design.

[Foo Fighter]

Kind of off-topic, but the lack of integrated flip covers is my biggest gripe with Pocket PC devices. I hate weaing a "naked" PDA. :roll:

[QYV]

My first PDA was a Palm m100. It had the ideal flip cover (for me, anyway) - it folded all the way back around so it wasn't sticking up in the air when it was open. Such a simple concept, and yet I've seen nothing like it in the Pocket PC world.

I really want to like the Pocket Solutions cover. But I want my CF slot open for WiFi, and I refuse to have the cover sticking up like some kind of giant bizarre antenna whenever I'm using my Axim. Until someone can design a cover that works around those issues, I'll continue carrying it "naked" in my pocket except for a screen protector.

[GoldKey]

I rember looking for a cover like this a while ago and the problem I found was that the velcro on the back covered the backup battery so you would have to partially remove the velcro to change the battery.

[marlof]

I rember looking for a cover like this a while ago and the problem I found was that the velcro on the back covered the backup battery so you would have to partially remove the velcro to change the battery.

I just cut a little hole in the velcro, since it's only in a very small part over the backup battery. The Cover-Up stays attached to the remaining velcro very well, so that's no problem.

[BTS]

I truly miss the flip cover that I had with my Handera 330. I know someone with a Jornada and that is truly a beautiful cover for the device.

These covers do look great as well. They have one for almost every model of PPC out there. I guess my e750 will be getting its first accessory shortly. I'd hate to scratch that beautiful 3.8" screen!

At the cost of $9.95 it makes you wonder why the OEMs are not adding these to their devices. As for the covers on recent Palm units - Yuk! I had a removable cover on my Handspring Visor and it just ain't the same as the flip cover.

[bjctsm3]

IMHO, the ultimate cover is still the HP 4xx series.... double hinged clear hard plastic... could see the screen without opening the cover.

[flux2k]

That foam piece in the inside of the lid looks like a ZIP CPU socket. It would be nice to be able the upgrade PPC processors that easily. :D

So where are the lids for the 2210?!?!

[bbarker]

No, this add-on cover just doesn't cut it. I won't put Velcro on my PPC. I don't like the way the lid sits when it's open. I want the cover to work when I have a WiFi card in the CF slot, as I can with my Jornada. An add-on cover can never be as graceful as one designed for the PPC by its manufacturer.

I can't see any reason all the PPC manufacturers don't include a removable cover with every unit, or at least as an option. Their cost per unit probably would be a dollar or two. If they were too cheap to include it they could sell it for $10 and make a good profit.

Why not give customers what they're asking for? Those who don't want a cover could easily remove it. I take off my Jornada's cover when I'm using it as a GPS unit in my car and put it back on when I'm done. I can't see any disadvantage to providing or offering a cover.

Of course, for the iPaq team, offering a cover would be to admit their arch-rival Jornada team had a good idea. But they need to get over that. They won and the Jornada lost. We won't think less of them if they give in and give us the covers we want. In fact, that's the only way I can see for them to redeem themselves.

[T-Will]

I had a PS cover for my 1900 and it was great! Now I'm waiting for a flip cover for my 2200, but it would be nice to have one that attaches to the notches in the back and that flips all the way around to lay flat against the back.

[leximaea]

I like my VAJA case... (flippy). My only gripe is that you have to remove the device from the case in order to dock it. Cradels just don't do it for me. I like a selection of cases... why not have docking selections as well?
:?: :idea:

[ux4484]

naked is good, which is why I don't care for flippies....or flippy cases. I prefer naked, so I use a columbia belt case.

[Numsquat]

naked is good, which is why I don't care for flippies....or flippy cases. I prefer naked, so I use a columbia belt case.

ux is a nudest 8O :wink:

I've been using the Innopocket case this summer just because I wanted a bit more protection carrying the Axim around in cargo shorts, those little bumps and stuff that happens with the side pockets. Better protection than just a flip cover. Plus the Innpocket is sleek enough that it fits easily in my Grinder Gear case (with the IR keyboard, WiFi Card, headphones, etc) no problem. Add-on flip covers just don't fit my definition of protection.

Now if I had a iPaq 19xx/22xx and carried it around in a shirt pocket, things may be different.

[gibb-a]

I had a PS cover for my 1900 and it was great!

Has anyone heard why Pocket Solution no longer makes the cover for the 19xx series?

[Jonathon Watkins]

Well I've got one and I use it occasionally when I want something harder than my belkin leather case. It works well for what it is, though it would have not killed Dell to have included one in the first place. :roll:

[normaldude]

Kind of off-topic, but the lack of integrated flip covers is my biggest gripe with Pocket PC devices.

I agree. A flip cover is absolutely necessary for me. So currently, my PPC buying decisions hinge on whether or not ThePocketSolution.com has a cover-up flip cover for a particular model.

That said, I hope ThePocketSolution.com will come out with a cover-up flip cover for the HP 1900 series soon.

[bbarker]

Kind of off-topic, but the lack of integrated flip covers is my biggest gripe with Pocket PC devices.

I agree. A flip cover is absolutely necessary for me. So currently, my PPC buying decisions hinge on whether or not ThePocketSolution.com has a cover-up flip cover for a particular model.
But it's just not good enough. The flip cover needs to be designed with the PPC, not stuck on with Velcro, which gums up the device.

[marlof]

But it's just not good enough. The flip cover needs to be designed with the PPC, not stuck on with Velcro, which gums up the device.

I agree with you on that one. This is a cool solution, and better than nothing, but a nice factory built flip cover (where you can open the cover without it reaching out in the back, and no velcro is needed) would be much preferable.

[Stephen Beesley]

But it's just not good enough. The flip cover needs to be designed with the PPC, not stuck on with Velcro, which gums up the device.

I agree totally. Hell even the 10 year old Newton MP110 had an integrated cover that flipped all the way around and attached to the back with a cleaver little latch. I looked at th Pocket solutions flip cover when I was thinking of getting an axim a while ago but the velcro attachment and the odd way that it sticks up when open really put me off the idea.

Come on surely it cannot be that hard to design an integrated flip cover that folds all the way to the back allowing easy access to all of the card slots etc.

Goldtee

[Gallivant]

I use a Cover-up with my Axim, and I'm not entirely happy with it. It shifts the weight of the unit far up when the cover's open, forcing me to hold it unnaturally high, and making the scroll button awkward. More importantly, I still get scratches on my screen somehow - and i'm not talking stylus scratches - and whenever I leave the Axim in its cradle overnight with the Cover-up closed, when I turn it on in the morning all kinds of programs are running, boxes are randomly checked, and so-on. I think its weight is applying pressure to the screen and being interpreted as a tap.

[mattchapin]

I'm sure the PocketSolutions folks considered this and discarded it for a good reason -- but I don't see why a larger, thinner pad that covers the whole inside of the flip cover would be such a bad thing.

That way, the weight of the cover would rest on the edges of the device, not the screen, and unwanted taps would be prevented.

I'm tempted to try to scrape off that rubber pad and re-line my e755 flip cover on my own...

Anyone dare me? :twisted:

Matt

[bbarker]

But it's just not good enough. The flip cover needs to be designed with the PPC, not stuck on with Velcro, which gums up the device.

I agree totally. Hell even the 10 year old Newton MP110 had an integrated cover that flipped all the way around and attached to the back with a cleaver little latch. I looked at th Pocket solutions flip cover when I was thinking of getting an axim a while ago but the velcro attachment and the odd way that it sticks up when open really put me off the idea.

Come on surely it cannot be that hard to design an integrated flip cover that folds all the way to the back allowing easy access to all of the card slots etc.

Goldtee
Even some of those cheap, $20 and $40 "PDA" organizers you see in office supply stores have flip-up covers. And while it would be ideal for it to fold back behind the device, even if it just flipped up and stayed it would be better than having to use a bulky case to protect the screen.

[mattchapin]

OK, so I decided to go ahead and perform surgery on my e755 PocketSolutions CoverUp flip cover, to get rid of that annoying piece of foam that presses on the screen. I just can't tolerate the possibility that I'm tapping away with my thigh, editing my schedule as I walk to a meeting! 8O

It was really easy. The big piece of neoprene foam peeled right off the aluminum cover, and I was even able to cut some little pieces from the old neoprene and stick them in the corners using the old adhesive- that should at least work until I get to a hardware store for some superglue!

-Matt

[TheWolfen]

When I was using one of these on my Axim, I removed the foam pad as well. I then put little rubber feet like the kind at the bottom of the cover along the sides to give it a little extra support. It worked very well that way, and eliminates any possibility of contact with the screen.

I gave up using the cover eventually, though, as I really didn't like the way it totally didn't work with a wi-fi card installed. I now have a Piel Frama case, an Innopocket case, and a DSI holster as well. So far, the DSI has stayed on the longest.

[dhpss]

I use 1 occasionally on my Toshiba e750, below are my problems:

1-When open, the cover is so obviously big (business meeting) and stops me from using the PDA with any car mount

2-The alert light are hidden when closed

3-The speaker is hidden

4-The inside foam cover hits the power button

5-When I am not using the cover, the Velcro in the back sticks with everything (e.g. my pocket, other covers,..) it is annoying

My suggestions: A similar cover-up but only covers the screen, so when opened, the cover will not be so cumbersome; make 4 small foam buttons for 4 corners not the full pad; Make hole for the light.