New Vaja Flip Top Leather iPod Case

[marlof]

<div class='os_post_top_link'><a href='http://www.vajacases.com/pda_eng.htm' target='_blank'>http://www.vajacases.com/pda_eng.htm</a><br /><br /></div>Vaja has released a new design of a flip top leather case for the third generation of iPods, the 668 and 669. The 668 fits the <a href="http://www.vajacases.com/vaja/catalogo.nsf/(ViewPPEN)?OpenView&Cat=ipod_3g_10_15">10 and 15 Gb</a>, and the 669 the slightly larger <a href="http://www.vajacases.com/vaja/catalogo.nsf/(ViewPPEN)?OpenView&Cat=ipod_3g_30">30 Gb</a> iPods. The 15 and 30 Gb come with a standard nylon case, but that case can't hold a candle to these. You have to take your iPod out to access the menus, and if you know that the iPod attracts scratches and fingerprint easily, a case like this comes in quite handy. Prices of this design start at $54.90.<br /><br /><img src="http://www.pocketpcthoughts.com/images/web/2003/669foto.jpg" />

[Evee Ev]

does anyone have an iPOD and an iPAQ? just curious. i always think the iPAQ could suffice as a good MP3/OGG player. and besides...do you really need 30Gb of music? i'm pretty happy with my 256Mb SD card.

[quidproquo]

Vaja really makes some nice looking cases.... but those colors?

They look nifty but I don't think I would want to be caught with one of them clipped to my belt.

I have a Vaja case for my T-Mobile PPCPE and it is a very conservative black... but very nicely made. I get comments on it from time to time about how nice it looks.

Also - I agree w/Evee Ev.... why have an MP3 player separate when you have such high volume SD and CF cards and PPC does such a good job as an MP3 player? :?:

[Janak Parekh]

does anyone have an iPOD and an iPAQ? just curious.
I just got one (the 30GB version), and absolutely love it. Unfortunately, as Marlof said, this thing is super-scratch-prone. It's too late for me in that regard, but if you get one, seriously consider getting a case at the same time.

i always think the iPAQ could suffice as a good MP3/OGG player. and besides...do you really need 30Gb of music? i'm pretty happy with my 256Mb SD card.
What if you want to carry all your albums with you instead of uploading to your SD card or CF card? Mind you, the iPAQ does have superb audio; I personally think its playback quality is slightly better than the iPod (and the iPod doesn't have a custom EQ :evil:). However, the convenience of carrying every single album with me, plus a large hard drive to move big files around, is tremendous.

--janak

[Don't Panic!]

Does the iPOD have IR or Bluetooth for file transfer? That would make me get one quick!

Don't Panic!
Bobby

[Steveb123]

i have both an iPod and an Axim x5 with a 256 meg SD card. i first thought that 256 meg card would be enough for my mp3's. the problem i found is that it takes FOREVER to uploard 256 megs worth of songs via usb 1.1. my iPod has firewire and is just much more suited for music.

YOU MUST GET A CASE FOR YOUR IPOD. i scratch mine up the very first day i got it. still, it is the great gadget i have. i don't know how apple does it.

also, for all those with a scratch iPod: i fine that wiping your ipod on you forehead will conceal most of your scratchs. you bodily oils fill in the indents. sounds strange, but try it!

[Janak Parekh]

Does the iPOD have IR or Bluetooth for file transfer? That would make me get one quick!
No. The new iPods support USB2 and Firewire.

also, for all those with a scratch iPod: i fine that wiping your ipod on you forehead will conceal most of your scratchs. you bodily oils fill in the indents. sounds strange, but try it!
8O I was thinking of looking for some plastic polish-like solution, but maybe I'll "investigate" this ;) I still need to get a case first... although I've found a way of putting the iPod deep into my pocket that really avoides too many scratches. The problem is that I like it slim and "naked". Fortunately, the guts of the unit isn't being affected, since the screen isn't a touch screen.

--janak

[Ekkie Tepsupornchai]

However, the convenience of carrying every single album with me, plus a large hard drive to move big files around, is tremendous.
Wow. So you can use the iPod to carry around any files you wish? That would be pretty killer. The only thing missing would be a direct comm link between the iPod and my iPaq!

[blusparkles]

Yeah, I also found out about how easily scratched the iPod is the hard way. :? As soon as I found the first scratch (on the back), I "sealed" my iPod in screen protectors. Kinda bodgy, but gets the job done. However I'll soon be receiving the MacClear Zip (http://www.thinkdifferentstore.com/cgi-app/store/agora.cgi?cart_id=&p_id=654&xm=on&ppinc=search2) so I can finally peel the screen protectors off. :D

[Janak Parekh]

Wow. So you can use the iPod to carry around any files you wish?
Yes. The iPod is basically a hard drive with firmware and audio playback. The (new units') firmware supports the hard drive formatted as HFS+ or FAT32; I have it set up as the latter. The latest firmware also supports USB1.1, USB2, and Firewire seamlessly. I'm reasonably impressed with the interoperability.

That would be pretty killer. The only thing missing would be a direct comm link between the iPod and my iPaq!
Well, there is that USB 1.1 host card, but I don't own it.

Jenneth: that case looks awesome :D I'll be watching for the review.

--janak

[JohnJohn]

I have a 15gb iPOD and a 2215 iPAQ. I previously used my iPAQ as an mp3 player, but it just didn't hold enough music. I am in my car for 5-6 hours per day. 256mb is not enough to give ME enough varity. Plus with the cost of a 1GB CF...I might as well get an iPOD. Circuit City has them all on sale right now too. :) It would be very cool if the iPOD had Bluetooth. Then I could use the speakers on my laptop...or even my 2215 to hear the music stored on the iPOD. hmmm

As for the Vaja Case. I just ordered a Vaja e-Volution for my iPOD along with a Vaja 2215 case. $20 Subscribers coupon didn't make it hurt as bad.

[klinux]

i have both an iPod and an Axim x5 with a 256 meg SD card. i first thought that 256 meg card would be enough for my mp3's. the problem i found is that it takes FOREVER to uploard 256 megs worth of songs via usb 1.1. my iPod has firewire and is just much more suited for music.

YOU MUST GET A CASE FOR YOUR IPOD. i scratch mine up the very first day i got it. still, it is the great gadget i have. i don't know how apple does it.

also, for all those with a scratch iPod: i fine that wiping your ipod on you forehead will conceal most of your scratchs. you bodily oils fill in the indents. sounds strange, but try it!

Steveb123 is my secret twin. I too have an iPod (20GB) with an Axim with a 256 MB SD card. :) They do have very similar roles. One is better at pure music playback and is OK as a PDA and the other is better at being a PDA and works ok as a music player. Until iPod does GPS I will be keeping my Axim.

For people who say why would anyone carry that much music around, I too thought that before getting the iPod. Now, I can switch my music as easy as my mood/environment. Plus, no SD/CF card will be big enough to say carry the complete operas of Mozart AND Verdi etc. Loooove my iPod.

[Pete Teoh]

does anyone have an iPOD and an iPAQ? just curious. i always think the iPAQ could suffice as a good MP3/OGG player. and besides...do you really need 30Gb of music? i'm pretty happy with my 256Mb SD card.
Yes I do. I used the CompUSA TAP to exchange my H5455 for my H2215 and a 15GB iPod. Of course I had to add some cash to the transaction. I'm planning to hook up my iPod to my car CD player via a Blitzsafe adapter so I'll have 15GB worth of music on the road. It'll be great for road trips. :mrgreen:

[marlof]

does anyone have an iPOD and an iPAQ? just curious. i always think the iPAQ could suffice as a good MP3/OGG player. and besides...do you really need 30Gb of music? i'm pretty happy with my 256Mb SD card.

W?BIC! (Why? Because I Can!)

To be honest, I love carrying a 30 GB iPod with me, next to a Pocket PC. I have a very broad taste in music, and now I know that I always have music to all my moods with me. Next to that, the iPod also is a backup harddisk, where I can keep some of my more important files.

[maximus]

I was thinking of looking for some plastic polish-like solution, but maybe I'll "investigate" this ;) I still need to get a case first... although I've found a way of putting the iPod deep into my pocket that really avoides too many scratches. The problem is that I like it slim and "naked". Fortunately, the guts of the unit isn't being affected, since the screen isn't a touch screen.

--janak

So, did the forehead-wiping thing works ?

[Janak Parekh]

So, did the forehead-wiping thing works ?
I haven't built up the confidence to try it. 8O I've found that putting my iPod deep into my pocket avoids scratches, so I've rejiggered my pocket setup so that my iPod sits below my wallet in my right pocket, and my Pocket PC and keys (in a nice key holder that prevents scratches, before you freak out ;)) sit in the left.

--janak

[ctmagnus]

my Pocket PC and keys (in a nice key holder that prevents scratches, before you freak out ;)) sit in the left.

--janak

8) Post details about the key holder! Sounds like something a lot of us (at least the ones that don't go around pants-less ;) ) could use.

[maximus]

So, did the forehead-wiping thing works ?
I haven't built up the confidence to try it. 8O I've found that putting my iPod deep into my pocket avoids scratches, so I've rejiggered my pocket setup so that my iPod sits below my wallet in my right pocket, and my Pocket PC and keys (in a nice key holder that prevents scratches, before you freak out ;)) sit in the left.

--janak

Ah, I use a similar keyholder too. Mine is simple, basically it is only a piece of leather folded into two, and the keys are stored inside. Simple, but very useful (especially when you have the habit of putting a mobilephone, axim, keys, spare axim battery, clip-on headphone, minolta dimage xi, and wallet inside a waistbag).

[ChristopherTD]

I had a 10GB iPod before I got my iPaq so I never tried to use the iPaq for music - I was hooked on the iPod.

The large capacity of the iPod frees you from the "what am I going to listen to today - find it on the PC, copy it to device" dance that I used to do. I have all that I am likely to want to listen to already on the iPod, along with 10 hours battery, and a remote to quickly pause the book/song I am listening to when the train noise gets too loud.

If the battery on the iPod runs out (because I forget to charge it) I can read books on my iPaq.

It would be grand if I could also use the iPod as storage for the iPaq, then I would definitely get the newer 30GB version.

[Janak Parekh]

8) Post details about the key holder! Sounds like something a lot of us (at least the ones that don't go around pants-less ;) ) could use.
I forgot the term; it's a "key case". Here's one. (http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg/detail/-/B000085HYN/sr=1-11/qid=1059669608/ref=sr_1_11/002-5966670-4766461?v=glance&n=1046458) I'll never go back to a regular keyring again.

--janak

[ctmagnus]

I forgot the term; it's a "key case". Here's one. (http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg/detail/-/B000085HYN/sr=1-11/qid=1059669608/ref=sr_1_11/002-5966670-4766461?v=glance&n=1046458) I'll never go back to a regular keyring again.

--janak

I forgot about those. I was picturing something molded, like a Vaja Morpheus series case. My dad actually used to carry his keys around in a key case in the early-to-mid 80s. Feel old yet? :wink:

But I may have to get something similar to this too; I have too much invested in electronics to muck them up with something like a puncture from a key, and I don't have enough pockets in the summer.

[blusparkles]

Check out the Maclear Zip case for the iPod. I wrote a review on it here (http://www.jenneth.info/archives/000295.html). Bit of quality control issues in terms of the cutouts, but otherwise I'm pretty happy with it.

[Janak Parekh]

ctmagnus, I remember my grandfather having one, so no, that doesn't make me feel old. ;)

Thanks for the review, Jenneth. Please let us know about the updated version. I have to admit that I'd like one just a bit thinner. ;)

--janak