Doug Raeburn
04-26-2004, 05:30 PM
<img src="http://www.pocketpcthoughts.com/images/web/2003/raeburn-apr04-energyleaf-0.jpg" /> <br /><b>Product Category:</b> Cases<br /><b>Manufacturer:</b> <a href="http:\\www.energyleaf.com">Energy Leaf </a><br /><b>Where To Buy:</b> <a href="http://www.ipaqcases.com/store/h22hot.htm">ipaqcases.com</a><br /><b>Price:</b> $25.00 USD<br /><br /><b>Pros:</b><ul><li>Good protection for your iPAQ;<li>Cover opens to the top (a pro if that’s your preference);<li>Cover remains out of the way when open;<li>Good access to all controls, ports, etc.;<li>iPAQ can be inserted and removed easily;<li>Lining keeps your iPAQ from getting scratched;<li>More stylish in some ways than the competition.</ul><b>Cons:</b><ul><li>Paintwork is a bit sloppy in spots;<li>Silver paint doesn’t have a high quality appearance;<li>Lining material “sheds”;<li>Some people don’t like the styling;<li>Logo piece should be less prominent, more subtle.</ul><b>Summary:</b><br />Are you interested in a metal case for your iPAQ 2200, but prefer a top-opening cover? Energy Leaf has introduced one that features such a cover, and at an affordable price for a metal case. With a choice of colors, the Energy Leaf has a bit more flash than the average case as well.<br /><br />Read on for the complete review!<!><br /> <PAGEBREAK><br /><img src="http://www.pocketpcthoughts.com/images/web/2003/raeburn-apr04-energyleaf-1.jpg" /><br /><i>Figure 1: The case from outer space?</i><br /> <br /><span><b>Introduction</b></span><br />So what does the somewhat dated cultural reference in the title have to do with a new case for the iPAQ 2200? Well, the Energy Leaf case in silver, with its clamshell design and stylish curves, for some reason makes me think of Gort, the famous robot from one of my favorite old movies, the sci-fi classic <b>The Day The Earth Stood Still</b>.<br /><br /><img src="http://www.pocketpcthoughts.com/images/web/2003/raeburn-apr04-energyleaf-2.jpg" /><br /><i>Figure 2: Hi, I’m Gort! I remind you of the silver Energy Leaf case, don’t I? Well, don’t I?</i><br /><br /><img src="http://www.pocketpcthoughts.com/images/web/2003/raeburn-apr04-energyleaf-3.jpg" /><br /><i>Figure 3: You don’t agree? Well, that’s OK… I’m not mad!</i><br /><br />But I digress. The Energy Leaf is a lightweight aluminum case designed to fit the iPAQ 2200 series. How does it differ from other metal cases like those from InnoPocket and Proporta? Well, for one, the Energy Leaf strives for more style, with a sleek design that looks a bit less “industrial” than the others. In addition, the Energy Leaf is available in black, gold and rosiness (yes, that’s what they call it) in addition to silver. Finally, while the other products open to the side, the Energy Leaf is top-hinged. Many people prefer such a design over the side-hinged alternatives.<br /><br />Let’s take a closer look. <br /><PAGEBREAK> <br /><span><b>What’s In the Box?</b></span><br />The Energy Leaf came wasn’t just put in a box… they slipped it in a soft pouch and put the pouch in the box. As a result, it came through with no scratches or dents. However, I did find some sloppy paint work on the edge of the cover, which left some small dark spots that look like chips.<br /><br />As I looked it over for the first time, one thing that struck me was how light it is. I discovered that this was partially due to the fact that the metal used in the Energy Leaf is somewhat thinner than the other two metal cases mentioned above. However, I feel that the case is sturdy enough to do a good job of protecting your iPAQ.<br /><br /> <img src="http://www.pocketpcthoughts.com/images/web/2003/raeburn-apr04-energyleaf-4.jpg" /><br /><i>Figure 4: The back with cutouts.</i><br /><br /> <img src="http://www.pocketpcthoughts.com/images/web/2003/raeburn-apr04-energyleaf-5.jpg" /> <br /><i>Figure 5: The back with case in place.</i><br /><br />There are cutouts in the case for everything that needs it, including the speaker, the reset button and one to provide easy stylus access. <br /><br /> <img src="http://www.pocketpcthoughts.com/images/web/2003/raeburn-apr04-energyleaf-6.jpg" /> <br /><i>Figure 6: The bottom end with cover closed.</i><br /><br /> <img src="http://www.pocketpcthoughts.com/images/web/2003/raeburn-apr04-energyleaf-7.jpg" /> <br /><i>Figure 7: The bottom end with cover open.</i><br /><br /> <img src="http://www.pocketpcthoughts.com/images/web/2003/raeburn-apr04-energyleaf-8.jpg" /> <br /><i>Figure 8: The top end with cover closed.</i><br /><br />As with other cases of this type, it won’t fit into your cradle, but a sync cable can be used to sync and/or charge without removing the iPAQ from the case.<br /><br /> <img src="http://www.pocketpcthoughts.com/images/web/2003/raeburn-apr04-energyleaf-9.jpg" /> <br /><i>Figure 9: The soft lining protects, but it sheds almost more than my dog…</i><br /><br /> <img src="http://www.pocketpcthoughts.com/images/web/2003/raeburn-apr04-energyleaf-10.jpg" /> <br /><i>Figure 10: My iPAQ being pampered by the soft lining.</i><br /><br />The Energy Leaf is lined with what is called a “soft lining”. I don’t know the exact material from which the lining is made, but it seems to provide good protection from scratches. I did encounter a bit of “shedding” from the lining… my screen had a light sprinkling of black fuzz on it, but I removed it just by blowing lightly on the screen. After several days of use, this shedding showed no signs of abating, so I was dusting off my iPAQ a number of times during the day.<br /><br />The iPAQ simply slides into the Energy Leaf through the top… no tabs or other fasteners are required. Inserting and removing the iPAQ is easy, although the case has a tendency from time to time to slide the iPAQ’s side pieces up a bit when inserting it into the case.<br /><br /> <img src="http://www.pocketpcthoughts.com/images/web/2003/raeburn-apr04-energyleaf-11.jpg" /> <br /><i>Figure 11: Open wide and say “Aaaahhh!”</i><br /><br />The cover opens easily, and opens a full 270 degrees. That leaves plenty of room for your hand to hold the unit. All controls, including the power button, hardware buttons and directional pad, are fully accessible.<br /><br />The hinge design has its pros and cons. It does allow the cover to open so fully, which is a good thing. However, since the hinge is so prominent on the upper edge, I had to be careful when putting the case in a bag with other electronic items, since it could scratch them. And I couldn’t turn the unit around, since the rather large plastic Energy Leaf logo sticks out so far, and could also cause scratches. I would reduce the thickness of the logo by about half... it would be a bit more attractive and less intrusive.<br /> <PAGEBREAK> <br /><span><b>Using the Energy Leaf</b></span><br />I used the case exclusively for about a week, in place of my leather EB case. Since the EB case is the one with which I’m the most familiar, I’ll use that case as a point of comparison. I'll also make a few comparisons to the InnoPocket case, since I'm also familiar with that one.<br /><br />The first thing that I realized is that since a metal case is much more slippery than a leather case, I’d have to be more careful when carrying it. I usually carry a notepad and whatever folders I need for a meeting, and then carry the iPAQ right under my hand on top of the folders. With the Energy Leaf case, my iPAQ almost got away from me a couple of times. I’m pretty sure that I’d get used to it.<br /><br />Since the Energy Leaf doesn’t encroach on the screen as much as most leather cases do, I found that I’d have a tendency to leave the case on when using the iPAQ at a meeting. With the leather cases, I usually take them off if I plan to use the iPAQ a lot, as in taking notes. So that’s one plus for the Energy Leaf.<br /><br />Of course, that assumes you’re using it while holding it in your hand. If I put the iPAQ flat on a desk or tabletop, the cover on the Energy Leaf stands straight up, and seems to be a bit in the way. With my EB case, the cover lays flat.<br /><br />Access to buttons and the directional pad is very good, the equal of the EB case. The Energy Leaf allows access to the headphone jack and the stylus while the cover is closed, unlike the EB. If you listen to music, the headphone jack cutout is a definite advantage. The other is of limited appeal, at least to me, since I don’t see the need to remove the stylus without opening the cover.<br /><br />The Energy Leaf requires that you open the cover to access the IR port and the SD card. Other top-opening cases have a similar requirement. However, by virtue of their side-opening covers, the Proporta and InnoPocket cases mentioned earlier do permit access to these items with the cover closed. It’s a tradeoff that you may or may not be willing to make to get a top-opening case. When the Energy Leaf is open, though, the IR port and SD slot are easily accessed.<br /><br />Although I didn’t drop it, the Energy Leaf seems to be designed to provide good protection for the iPAQ. And the use of the case created no scratches on the iPAQ itself when inserting and removing it.<br /> <PAGEBREAK> <br /><span><b>Energy Leaf as a Fashion Statement?</b></span><br />I’ve gone from one leather case to another over time, and I haven’t received many comments about them from others. However, the Energy Leaf evoked quite a few comments. The reactions from others were decidedly mixed. Some people were attracted to the fact that I was carrying a “new shiny thing”. They assumed that it was a new Pocket PC, rather than just a new case. On the other hand, several people mentioned that they thought it wasn't particularly attractive. When I asked them why, they said that they didn’t like the curves. Some said that they preferred the InnoPocket case that a co-worker uses. The owner of that case agreed that he preferred his case to the Energy Leaf.<br /><br />Others said that they disliked the paint, that it gave the case a somewhat cheap look, sort of like I spray painted it myself with Rustoleum. I would agree that the InnoPocket case has a higher quality luster to it. Others mentioned the overly prominent plastic Energy Leaf logo on the cover. I too would prefer it to be smaller and more elegant.<br /><br />Personally, I like both the Energy Leaf and InnoPocket cases… to me, they’re both attractive, just in a different way. With its more “out there” colors like Rosiness, I look at the Energy Leaf as being a bit more “bling, bling” than the somewhat sterile “high tech” look of the competition. And in my opinion, as long as it does the job, there’s not one thing wrong with a little flashiness.<br /><br /><span><b>Conclusions</b></span><br />If you want an affordable aluminum case and you prefer a top-opening cover, the Energy Leaf case may be just the ticket. It provides all of the protection and features that you’d expect in such a case. It’s a bit flashier than the competition, so that may be another deciding factor. If you want a more serious, business-like look to your case, one of the others may suit you better. But if you prefer your case to say “hey, look at me, I’m different”, the Energy Leaf may be the perfect case for you.