Jason Dunn
11-11-2003, 06:00 PM
<div class='os_post_top_link'><a href='http://www.saunders-usa.com/rhinoskin/prod.cfm?cat_id=5067&prod_id=5153' target='_blank'>http://www.saunders-usa.com/rhinosk...67&prod_id=5153</a><br /><br /></div>The folks at Saunders (Rhinoskin) sent me one of their Titanium cases about a month ago, and I thought I'd share a few comments on the case. The case comes in a simple but attractive plastic package, and for once, opening it was quite simple (many plastic packages are a pain to get open). The case itself, made of Titanium, is simply gorgeous. I've always liked metal cases, and this is by far the nicest metal case I've yet seen for a Pocket PC. The colour is a dark grey, sometimes described as "gunmetal". Here's a photo from the Rhinoskin Web site:<br /><br /><img src="http://www.saunders-usa.com/images/00392_open_popup.gif" /><br /><br />Here's the feature list from the Rhinoskin site:<br /><br />• 100% Titanium for superior strength with scratch-resistant finish<br />• Custom molded to the contours of the Dell Axim X5<br />• Neoprene interior for snug fit and impact protection<br />• Easy access to stylus, IR port and function buttons<br />• Internal SD card storage for 2 cards <br />• CF card slot cutout for WiFi/GPS/Bar code reader <br />• EVA padding protects screen and function buttons <br />• Rhinoclip™ removable post and belt clip system<br />• StuffBak™ Loss Protection label included<br /><br />Being built of Titanium, this case is <u><b>tough</b></u>. I took the empty case and tried to crush it from both hands, and it barely moved. Don't try this at home kids! :wink: Other notable features of this case are the dual SD card slots on the inside - I think it's great that the designers realized there was enough space for two and give the user the option. Every other case I've seen on the market only has one slot. I'll never understand why they force you to load the SD card backwards though, with the metal contacts facing outwards. The Socket SD WiFi card also fits in the slot nicely, even though it's much taller than a regular SD slot. Not that you could use an SDIO card with your Axim X5, but I digress...<br /><br />The other feature that I really have to applaud Saunders for is the inclusion of a belt clip that is completely removable, including the nub that the clip would attaach to. This means that if you don't like belt clips (like me), you can remove the nub, and the hump on the back that remains is perhaps only 2 mm tall. This sort of flexibility is useful, just in case one day you decide you DO want to attach it to you belt clip.<br /><br />At $99 USD MSRP, this case isn't for everyone, but if you want to give your Axim X5 the ultimate in protection, there's nothing better on the market than this case. My only regret is that I'm not actively using the X5 as my primary Pocket PC, so I don't get to carry this impressive case with me on a daily basis. I look forward to seeing Saunders create the same quality of case for the Dell X3 and iPAQ lines. According to this Pricegrabber search, <a href="http://pocketpcthoughts.pricegrabber.com/search_getprod.php?masterid=1119226&ut=44938f0ff8a6a864&found=2&search=Rhinoskin%20Titanium%20case">you can get the case for $64.14</a>, although they don't list it as available right now.