StyriteUSA LLC Products for iPAQ 2200 review [Archive]

Don Tolson

11-14-2003, 06:00 PM

<img src="http://www.pocketpcthoughts.com/images/web/2003/don-nov03-styrite-hdrlogo.gif" /> Imagine, if you will, the following scenario (sounds of Twilight Zone in the background). You're away for the weekend, checking your email on the Web, and your beloved iPAQ 2215 tells you that there is less than 10% battery power left. The cradle is sitting peacefully on your desk at work, about 50 miles away and you don't have after-hours access. What do you do? First, take a backup! :wink: Then, you pull out your trusty Combopack from StyriteUSA LLC and hook up to an available USB port, or create one! <!> StyriteUSA LLC is the licensed North American dealer for Styrite products which are produced in Taiwan. Styrite has been in business for a couple of years, producing quality PDA styli, cases, and travel packs for other PDAs, most recently, the Dell Axim. Now, they have just released a version of their well-known Combopack, specifically for the iPAQ2200. The Styrite Combopack includes a number of interesting goodies such as a retractable USB/Hot Sync cable, which makes it a must have travel companion for your PDA. StyriteUSA also sent along samples of other products which are available from their website. The Combopack The Combopack for the iPAQ2200 consists of:<ul><li> One StyFilm self-adhesive protective cover for the iPAQ2200 screen; <li> A Squeeze Card which is used to help remove bubbles while applying the StyFilm; <li> A High Performance Cleaning Cloth; <li> One retractable USB/HotSync Charging Cable and; <li> One P-Arno 661 multi-function stylus pen.</ul> <img src="http://www.pocketpcthoughts.com/images/web/2003/don-nov03-styrite-combopack3.jpg" /> Figure 1: StyriteUSA Combo Pack Contents I suspect this package is essentially the same as the iPAQ 3600/3800 pack (since they have the same connectors as the iPAQ 2200) with the addition of an iPAQ 2200-sized version of the StyFilm. All the pieces come in a reusable plastic container, approximately 17 x 7.5 x 3 cm (6.5 x 3 x 1.25 inches) It's a good, sturdy plastic box, with a clip-over clasp on one side that you could easily through into your travel case or emergency kit. While there's lots of extra room in the Combopack container, it's not quite enough to fit the accessory Wall Adapter or Car Adapter. It's a shame StyriteUSA doesn't have the more stylish packages available from Taiwan (see picture below). Maybe later? <img src="http://www.pocketpcthoughts.com/images/web/2003/don-nov03-styrite-usbmultitravelkit.jpg" /> Figure 2: TravelPack (only from Styrite.com parent and not specifically for the iPAQ2200) StyFilm Protective Film I should say that I am not a regular user of protective films on my screen. I don't write on the screen all that often, since I prefer to use a keyboard for input when I can. Trying to apply the StyFilm was actually my first attempt ever at attaching a protective film to my screen. So, take my comments as one who is a neophyte in these things. The instructions provided by Styrite were clear and straightforward. I used the High Performance Cleaning Cloth to get all the crud off the edges of the screen, and followed the suggestion to strip the backing off only a small portion of the film first. Try as I might, I couldn't get the film lined up straight with the edges of my screen for the first couple of times. By the time I did get a version that was not too lop-sided, I had trapped dirt under the film! I had now removed and replaced the StyFilm about five or six times, and I was starting to lose adhesion at the top and bottom. So, I left the film on for a couple of days, just so I could review how it actually works! Generally, once applied (properly), the film becomes practically invisible to the user. Although I noticed a very slight milkiness to the screen looking through the film, I attributed this mostly to repeated attempts to properly mount the film. The sensitivity of the screen to the stylus is unaffected by the film -- I didn't have to press any harder or differently to make the screen respond. Generally, the feel of the film is a little less slick than the glass of the screen, but it didn't cause any drag as I wrote on the screen. Sorry, I'm not able to give any long term wear and tear data on the use of the StyFilm since I took it off after a couple of days. I was worried about the trapped dirt under the film causing scratches. The StyFilm protective film has a lot of competitors in North America and I think most people who use screen protectors have their favorites. Generally, I found this one fairly simple to use and I'm sure it would be cinch for those used to the tricks of the trade around installing them. Styrite High Performance Cleaning Cloth This is a 15 x 12 cm (6 x 4.75 inch) piece of blue microfibre cloth which has been hemmed around the edge to prevent fraying. There aren't a lot of instructions included on how to use the cloth, but judging from the nap of the cloth, I would assume the top side (with the Styrite label attached) is the one to be used in cleaning. I also assumed the cloth should be used without cleaning solutions, since none were provided in the Combopack. It seems to do a pretty good job of removing fingerprints, dust, etc., from the screen all by itself. Retractable USB/HotSync Charging Cable This is really the heart of the package, and one of the most useful gadgets I've seen for my Pocket PC in a while. It consists of two plugs -- an iPAQ sync plug that attaches to the bottom connector of the iPAQ 2200, and a standard USB plug. They are attached via a thin dual cable to a ratchet cable winder in the centre. <img src="http://www.pocketpcthoughts.com/images/web/2003/don-nov03-styrite-cableretracted.jpg" /> Figure 3: Styrite USB/HotSync Cable This makes it an ideal cable for attaching your iPAQ to a USB port on the laptop or PC to support synchronization, file transfer, and recharging! Retracted, the unit measures about 11 x 2.5 x 1 cm (4.25 x 1 x 0.5 inch), making it a pretty small package and easily stowable in a crevice of the travel bag. The cables extend by pulling on the ends. At full extension, the length is about 72 cm (28 inches). This won't let you comfortably use the iPAQ while connected to the USB port, but it's enough for making sure the unit is safely on a surface while it's charging, etc. I was pleasantly surprised to find that the sync plug end would comfortably plug into the iPAQ even through my Proporta metal case! <img src="http://www.pocketpcthoughts.com/images/web/2003/don-nov03-styrite-cableextended.jpg" /> Figure 4: USB/HotSync Cable Fully Extended You retract the cables by gently pulling them at both ends and letting the roller take up the slack. A strain relief is provided at the iPAQ sync plug but not at the USB plug and the cable is pretty thin. I know there needs to be a balance in order to keep the size of the retractor unit small, but I suspect the cables in this unit will not stand up to heavy use. I'd suggest you keep it around for emergencies -- like the time I was at my in-laws and my sons used up most of the battery power playing Crazy Bubbles. By the time I got home, the iPAQ had completely drained both the main and backup batteries and I was forced to rebuild the unit from the resultant hard reset (fortunately, I had taken a backup before we left). It would have been great to have something small I could just throw in the corner of a suitcase and be able to plug in overnight. P-Arno 661 Multi-Function Stylus Pen Quite rightly, Styrite bills this as a stylus replacement, rather than a pen/stylus. At just over 11cm (4.5 inches) long, this is a bit short to be comfortably held as a normal pen. One end is an orange-coloured nylon tip which is fairly standard for stylus replacements. By rotating the bottom half of the barrel, a black-ink ballpoint pen is revealed, which can be used to just jot down that number you need. (But why aren't you putting it into your Contacts list, or into a Note????) :D If you pull the stylus half of the barrel off, a blue plastic reset pin is revealed. <img src="http://www.pocketpcthoughts.com/images/web/2003/don-nov03-styrite-combopenopen3.jpg" /> Figure 5: P-Arno 661 pen pulled apart to reveal the reset pin I'm not sure this is really necessary for the iPAQ 2200, since I find the stylus tip works just as well. However, if you have your iPAQ in a case of any kind, the stylus tip might not be long enough to reach through and activate the reset button, so then you can use this reset pin. <PAGEBREAK> Accessories -- The Wall and Car Adapters These are two items which I really consider to be essentials rather than extras, but they don't come with the Combopack. To make a really useful package, you need to have both of these, in combination with the retractable USB/hot sync cord. If fact, I think Styrite agrees with me, since they sell all three as a TravelPack at their home site, but not yet for the iPAQ 2200 series. The Wall Adapter is made of sturdy black plastic and measures 8 x 3x 3.5 cm (3 x 1.25 x 1.5 inch). <img src="http://www.pocketpcthoughts.com/images/web/2003/don-nov03-styrite-walladapter2.jpg" /> Figure 6: Styrite Wall Adapter (North American version) One end of the unit contains a standard, North American, two-prong power plug. I imagine units sold in other countries would have the power plug appropriate for their area, or you could purchase an adapter. At the same end, on the front of the unit there is a red LED to identify when power is available and is visible while the unit is in use. The other end contains a standard USB port. When you plug it in, (at least in a North American 117V socket), it points off to the side which is good for not blocking access to the other socket in the pair, but could make it difficult to use in tight spaces. <img src="http://www.pocketpcthoughts.com/images/web/2003/don-nov03-styrite-walladapterinstalled.jpg" /> Figure 7: Wall Adapter in use The unit is rated for 100 to 240VAC input and produces 5V at up to 1A (5W) output. It took the Wall Adapter about two hours to recharge my iPAQ 2215 from Low Battery Warning to Fully Charged. The Car Adapter is also constructed of black plastic and feels lighter than the Wall Adapter, but still sturdy. It measures 10 x 4 x 3 cm (4 x 1.5 x 1.25 inch) with a standard auto cigarette lighter plug at one end and a USB port at the other. There's a red LED next to the USB port to identify when power is available -- again thoughtfully positioned so that you can see it while the unit is in use. The unit has a built-in 2A fuse, which you access by screwing off the end of the cigarette lighter plug. I'm not sure why there are ventilation holes drilled in the USB port end, since I didn't detect the unit generating any heat. It could be a source of dust collection in tougher driving conditions. The unit is rated for 12 to 24VDC input and produces 5VDC at up to 850mA (4.25W) It took the Car Adapter about three hours to recharge my iPAQ 2215 from Low Battery warning to Full Charge. <img src="http://www.pocketpcthoughts.com/images/web/2003/don-nov03-styrite-caradapter3.jpg" /> Figure 8: Styrite Car Adapter StyriteUSA also sells the P-Arno 641 Stylus Pen. It's a standard four-function, gravity-selected pen similar to one available from a number of sources. The P-Arno 641 is about 14 cm (5.75 inches) long which makes it a standard pen length. It has a very dark blue upper barrel with an orange rubberized grip (not a colour combination I would necessarily take with me into the boardroom). <img src="http://www.pocketpcthoughts.com/images/web/2003/don-nov03-styrite-4waypen2.jpg" /> Figure 8: P-Arno 641 Stylus Pen and case Four styli are included:<ul><li>0.5mm retractable pencil; <li>Red ballpoint pen; <li>Black ballpoint pen; <li>Orange nylon tip.</ul>I didn't see any options on the StyriteUSA Web site for other styli selections or barrel/grip colours. To select a stylus, you rotate the pen so that the label of the desired stylus is uppermost, then press the retractor button at the top of the pen. After a week of testing, there were only a couple of times when a different stylus from the one I thought I was selecting came out, but this is fairly standard for this type of pen. The feel of the pen was OK and the ink in the red and black ballpoints ran well with no skips. (I've had problems with other pens, where the ink refill was pretty cheap and the pens were a constant pain!) You access the refills by unscrewing the barrel where the colour changes, then pull out the pen (it's a little tough), then replacing with the new refill. As with all of these pens, adding new pencil leads is a challenge, since you have to pull off the pencil stylus, insert new leads into the appropriate tube within the pen barrel, then replace the pencil stylus over the pencil leads, without breaking them. Interestingly enough, this is the first pen where the names of the various styli are printed in English on the barrel, instead of using coloured icons. Gotchas There are no real gotchas here, since everything performs exactly as it's supposed to. As I mentioned before, the USB/HotSync Cable is a bit short and I'm not sure it would stand up under regular, daily use. But it's ideal as part of an 'emergency pack' you can easily throw into a corner of the suitcase or backpack. Where to Buy All of the items identified are available from <A HREF = "http://www.styriteusa.com" target = "blank">StyriteUSA's Web site.</A> The Combopack costs $24.99 USD, the Car Adapter is $9.99 USD, the Wall Adapter is $12.99 USD and the P-Arno 641 Stylus Pen is $14.99 USD. At this time, StyriteUSA doesn't have a price posted for StyFilm sheets, but Brian Beeler of StyriteUSA says they are looking at providing them separately for about $3 USD each. One nice perk is that StyriteUSA is currently offering free shipping on all orders! And... as an added bonus for Pocket PC Thoughts regulars, StyriteUSA is offering 10% off all orders from now until 11:59pm on Dec. 15, 2003! Just use the coupon code PPCT10OFF. Conclusions Is this a package which will replace your sync/charging cable on the desktop? I don't think so, since I'm not sure it would stand up to the rigors of day-to-day use. Is it something I consider an essential piece of my kit? You bet! I just hope StyriteUSA brings in the TravelPack which Styrite sells for other units from its parent site. It has a better looking case, and includes the cable, wall adapter and car adapter in one package.