Quick Look at iHolster for iPAQ 2215

[marlof]

<div class='os_post_top_link'><a href='http://www.iproductsonline.net' target='_blank'>http://www.iproductsonline.net</a><br /><br /></div>Hi, my name is Marlof, and I like PDA cases. Make them leather, make them aluminum, make them titanium, make them anything, I'm game. But in the end I tend to fall back on my all-time favorite: <a href="http://www.iproductsonline.net">the iHolster</a>. No frills, just protection and ready to use. <br /><br />When I had my 2215 I went without iHolster for some time, and to be honest: that was frustrating. I just like to use my device "naked", but when I run around, I want it to be well protected. Hardly any case can do this as well as the iHolster, since your Pocket PC just slides in and out. But today I'm happy to announce that my suffering days are over: I have <a href="http://www.iproductsonline.net/catalog/2200_series_312607_products.htm">an iHolster for my 2215</a>. How does it look? Funny you ask, here's a picture:<br /><br /><img src="http://www.pocketpcthoughts.com/images/web/2003/bregonje_nov03_iholster22152.jpg" /><br /><br />Here you can see the iHolster covering the screen. You can carry your Pocket PC on your belt by attaching the tab you see at the top of the plastic (Kydex) case in the provided Ultra Clip. This way the back of your Pocket PC is on the outside, and the screen is protected by the plastic (Kydex) cover towards your body. This also means you can use <a href="http://www.pocketpcthoughts.com/forums/viewtopic.php?p=185861">extended batteries</a>, without the need for an extra case. But that's not all.... <br /><br /><!><br /><img src="http://www.pocketpcthoughts.com/images/web/2003/bregonje_nov03_iholster22153.jpg" /><br /><br />As you can see in the back, the iHolster is crafted in a way that the plastic (Kydex) does not press the buttons of your Pocket PC accidently discharging the iPAQ along the way. <br /><br /><img src="http://www.pocketpcthoughts.com/images/web/2003/bregonje_nov03_iholster2215.jpg" /><br /><br />If you turn around the iPAQ in the iHolster, you can use it to act as an in car mount. Here you can see the iHolster attached to a vent mount in my car. Such a vent mount is also available at <a href="http://www.iproductsonline.net/catalog/accessories_172064_products.htm">the iProducts Online store</a>. In the bottom the connection port is left open, so you can charge your iPAQ while it's inside the iHolster.<br /><br />You want my conclusion? Well, I guess it's not hard to predict: the iHolster is a simple yet effective design. I simply love it. <br /><br />So now you know what an iHolster looks like, and you can enter the contest Brad <a href="http://www.pocketpcthoughts.com/forums/viewtopic.php?p=185930">was telling you about</a>. If you don't win, you can get an iHolster for your iPAQ 2215 for $31,00 at <a href="http://www.iproductsonline.net/catalog/2200_series_312607_products.htm">iProductsonline.net</a>. And if you're a <a href="http://www.pocketpcthoughts.com/subscribe.php">subscriber</a>, you can check the <a href="http://www.pocketpcthoughts.com/discounts.php">discounts page</a> for special savings.

[Ekkie Tepsupornchai]

I used to use the iHolster for my old 38xx and it was the best way to carry around my iPaq with the expansion sleeve. I would use this without hesitation for my 2210 if it weren't for one concern:

What impact does the plastic have on the fragile 2210 side rails?

[griph]

I used to use the iHolster for my old 38xx and it was the best way to carry around my iPaq with the expansion sleeve. I would use this without hesitation for my 2210 if it weren't for one concern:
What impact does the plastic have on the fragile 2210 side rails?
I have in the past used an iHolster for an ipaq 3650 with expansion jacket - the iHolster and Jacket combined provided excellent protection to the PDA. However, since then I have upgraded to a 2210, and the iHolster alone offers little protection to a bare PDA (none at all when out of the holster. I have therefore invested (thanks to the $20 subscriber discount voucher from PPCT) in the new Vaja iVolution case which is b e a u t i f u l and offers excellent all round protection!

[scorrales]

Below are some images of the iHolster2200 with an iPaq2200 and Extended Battery. This means that the iHolster2200 can work with the regular or exteneded life battery.

http://www.iproductsonline.net/images/2200xbat/IM005180cropped_resize.JPG

http://www.iproductsonline.net/images/2200xbat/IM005181cropped_resize.JPG

http://www.iproductsonline.net/images/2200xbat/IM005182cropped_resize.JPG

http://www.iproductsonline.net/images/2200xbat/IM005183cropped_resize.JPG

http://www.iproductsonline.net/images/2200xbat/IM005184cropped_resize.JPG

If you have any questions, either post them here or feel free to contact me directly at [email protected]

Regards,

[thanos255]

HOLY CRAP..that is huge with the battery extender :)

Thanks
Thanos

[marlof]

the iHolster alone offers little protection to a bare PDA (none at all when out of the holster.

Say what? It's the best screen protection I've seen. The backside is not covered, but I'm not worried about that at all. I carry my Pocket PCs in my coat pocket where my keychain, pocket change etc. live too. Still I have not ever experienced damage to one of my Pocket PCs inside an iHolster when carried that way. And as Steve's pictures above show, the extended battery does fit, which I think is a benefit to this type of case.

As for the side grips: I've been using the iHolster for some weeks now, and I have no more problems than before (using a Vaja classic case, where I only take the iPAQ out to charge at night in the cradle). But as always: your mileage may vary. :)

[marlof]

HOLY CRAP..that is huge with the battery extender :)

That is one huge extended battery for such a small device as the 2210. But this thing should give you a huge battery life as well. It had better, with that size. :)

[JonnoB]

Now we know that the battery extender does not block the soft reset button :D

[Evee Ev]

HOLY CRAP..that is huge with the battery extender

dude...that was funny! i was thinking the same thing!

[dh]

The standard battery is only 900mAh, the extended one is 3,600mAh. It certainly is rather large, but it must be able to work for a really long time between charges.

[rmasinag]

That battery pack is the same thickness as the 2200 itself! 8O

I wouldn't mind getting a batt with half the rating at half the thickness. Then this Iholster might be a boon.

[griph]

Say what? It's the best screen protection I've seen. The backside is not covered, but I'm not worried about that at all. I carry my Pocket PCs in my coat pocket where my keychain, pocket change etc. live too. Still I have not ever experienced damage to one of my Pocket PCs inside an iHolster when carried that way. And as Steve's pictures above show, the extended battery does fit, which I think is a benefit to this type of case.

As for the side grips: I've been using the iHolster for some weeks now, and I have no more problems than before (using a Vaja classic case, where I only take the iPAQ out to charge at night in the cradle). But as always: your mileage may vary. :)

Marlof - why the surprise?? I accept you might not be worried about the back of your iPaq - but I am (hence my perfectly valid comments in my last post)! Dont get me wrong - I have owned and used an iHolster, (it was very good) - so I do know what I am talking about ;-) My iVolution case protects the whole ipaq when on my belt/in my pocket or otherwise (where it is more likely to be damaged due to accidental dropping). I accept that some people are happier to use a bare PDA, and I wish I could without risking damage - but from my own past experience - I just don't think I can.

On the side grip issue - I will be interested to see if your experience is held by the majority of iHolster users here. It is an area of known weakness in the iPaq and I try to avoid anything that might exacerbate that - even buying sync and charge leads instead of using the cradles therefore avoiding the need to keep removing the iPaq from the case.

[Shadowcat]

Now we know that the battery extender does not block the soft reset button :D

That is good news indeed. But the pictures also confirm that there's no way the H2210 would fit in the cradle with the extended battery on it. It sure looks like this will double the depth of the H2210! 8O

[iPaqDude]

How easy is it to remove the h2215 from this? Can you just remove the PDA from the holster while it is still on the belt? Easily that is... :wink:

[Talldog]

This is a beautiful case, but I think the Ultra Clip is a real weakness. They are very weak, and either break, or pop the device out very easily when it gets caught on something (like the door opening, when you're climbing into the car). I've had several PDAs hit the ground that way, and I will no longer buy cases that use the Ultra Clip. The swivel clip that E&B Cases uses is far superior, and I can't understand why nobody else has copied it.

[marlof]

Marlof - why the surprise?? I accept you might not be worried about the back of your iPaq - but I am (hence my perfectly valid comments in my last post)!

Your statement was that it offers little protection to a bare PDA. In my opinion it protects the only thing one should really be worried about when carrying a naked Pocket PC: the screen. In my experience (not opinion) the other parts don't need the same protection. Of course I'm biased from running around with excellent Jornada's that didn't need cases since they came with a screen cover (and just that: a screen cover). Anyhow: I'd say the iHolster offers more than little protection to a bare PDA, it's a lot. Not complete, and obviously that's what you're after. But stating this offers only little protection is too general a statement when you mean to say that it doesn't cover your needs. So you want something else, and found that. Good for you. It makes me happy that there's a range of choices for us consumers. Your case makes you happy. I'm sure this would make a lot of our readers happy.

On the side grip issue - I will be interested to see if your experience is held by the majority of iHolster users here. It is an area of known weakness in the iPaq and I try to avoid anything that might exacerbate that - even buying sync and charge leads instead of using the cradles therefore avoiding the need to keep removing the iPaq from the case.

Yes, this is a failure in an otherwise excellent design of this iPAQ. Being careful with this might be helpful. That said, I am not and so far so good. :)

[marlof]

How easy is it to remove the h2215 from this? Can you just remove the PDA from the holster while it is still on the belt? Easily that is... :wink:

Yes, it can be done easily. Unless you have a lot hanging over that belt, blocking the exit path. ;)

[griph]

Your statement was that it offers little protection to a bare PDA. In my opinion it protects the only thing one should really be worried about when carrying a naked Pocket PC: the screen. In my experience (not opinion) the other parts don't need the same protection. Of course I'm biased from running around with excellent Jornada's that didn't need cases since they came with a screen cover (and just that: a screen cover). Anyhow: I'd say the iHolster offers more than little protection to a bare PDA, it's a lot. Not complete, and obviously that's what you're after. But stating this offers only little protection is too general a statement when you mean to say that it doesn't cover your needs. So you want something else, and found that. Good for you. It makes me happy that there's a range of choices for us consumers. Your case makes you happy. I'm sure this would make a lot of our readers happy.
With a fully exposed back and top - there is NO protection to the surfaces of the iPaq in these locations - and no protection whatsoever against impact that could potentially damage not just the case but the delicate internals - (I have fallen over with a PDA in a case and the impact, had the PDA been partially exposed, would have done significant damage - the case had to be replaced but there was no damage to the PDA at all) hence my comment. Granted that with the iHolster the screen is protected very well - AGAIN in my opinion that is not the only thing that needs protecting.

I will say it again - the iHolster products are very good - I have had one! Yes - I believe I have found an alternative that I believe provides better all round protection - good for me - as you say! People will make up their own minds on holster v case - but in a discussion, it is not unreasonable for other view points to be put forward. Clearly you dont share that opinion - but heck - thats the nice thing about opinions - we dont all have to share them or agree - perhaps we just need to agree to disagree on this one!