Don Tolson
08-01-2007, 04:00 PM
<img src="http://www.pocketpcthoughts.com/images/web/2003/don-jul07-noreve-logo.gif" /><br /><br /><b>Product Category:</b> Accessories – PDA case<br /><b>Manufacturer:</b> <A HREF = "http://www.noreveusa.com" target = "blank"> Noreve USA</A><br /><b>Where to Buy:</b> <A HREF = "http://www.noreveusa.com" target = "blank"> Noreve USA</A> (European and Asian customers can shop <A HREF = "http://www.noreve.com" target = "blank"> here </A>).<br /><b>Price:</b> $44.99 USD for most PDAs / Pocket PC Phone Editions<br /><b>Specifications:</b> Eten X500 'Tradition' case reviewed. Black seems to be the predominate colour available. There are cases available for a wide (and growing) number of manufacturer's devices. Check the site for availability.<br /><br /><b>Pros:</b><br /><li>Well designed and crafted with good protection;<li>PDA/PPC is easy to slip into the case, but is securely held in place;<li>Appropriate sized storage provided for Mini and MicroSD cards;<li>Controls for all day-to-day operations are available – including the camera.<br /><br /><b>Cons:</b><br /><li>No access to card slot or USB port when case is closed;<li>Belt clip is awkward to install and use<li>Pockets are tight for standard credit cards.<br /><br /><b>Summary:</b><br />Noreve is not a name we've heard a lot from in the past when thinking of leather cases for Pocket PCs and phones. While possibly better known in Europe and Asia, they now have a presence in the US which services all of North America. The cases are at the mid-range of the price scale, but are they worth it? Let's take a look.<br /><br />Read on for the full review!<!><br /><PAGEBREAK><br /><span><b>Cases, Cases, Cases...</b></span><br />Of all the accessories we buy for our digital companions, a protective case of some sort is usually among the first. For me, it's right after installing the screen protector :0 Fortunately, we now have a wide variety of styles and materials available for most models – from the very plain cloth ones usually shipped by vendors, to the much more expensive models in soft Spanish or Italian leather. To be honest, I hadn't heard of Noreve as a case manufacturer before they contacted us at Pocket PC Thoughts regarding their new lines. Upon checking out their web site (see above), I was pleased to see they had a case for my recently acquired Eten X500 and a large number of other devices as well. We ordered one up and it arrived in about a week.<br /><br /><span><b>Packaging</b></span><br />Noreve seems to understand the importance of 'presentation' of a quality product and it shows in the way the case is packaged. The case comes with a presentation box in a plastic bubble wrap enclosure. Fortunately, the bubble wrap is secured via snaps, rather than heat sealed, so you don't have to bring out a scalpel or a hacksaw to open it. The presentation box is a soft black matte colour with a foam insert to frame the case. The belt clip and mounting hardware are stored inside, so all you see initially is the leather case itself.<br /><br /><img src = "http://www.pocketpcthoughts.com/images/web/2003/don-jul07-noreve-package.jpg"><br /><i>Figure 1: The case as it is shipped.</i><br /><br /><img src = "http://www.pocketpcthoughts.com/images/web/2003/don-jul07-noreve-presentationbox.jpg"><br /><i>Figure 2: The presentation box. Nice enough to be wrapped as a gift...</i><br /><br /><img src = "http://www.pocketpcthoughts.com/images/web/2003/don-jul07-noreve-caseonly.jpg"><br /><i>Figure 3: Here's what the case looks like by itself. Note the only brand marking is the small silver Noreve logo in the top right.</i><br /><br /><img src = "http://www.pocketpcthoughts.com/images/web/2003/don-jul07-noreve-clipaccessories.jpg"><br /><i>Figure 4: There are three parts to the belt clip accessory provided with the case. The silver button (shown here inside the slot of the belt clip) replaces a flat button already on the back of the case. The small screw provided is used to hold it in place. Providing a screwdriver is a nice touch.</i><br /><PAGEBREAK><br /><span><b>Construction</b></span><br />I'm not a connoisseur of leather products, but this one seems very well crafted. The leather has that rich, soft feel of an expensive pair of shoes, and the stitching is tight and consistent. I couldn't find a thread end anywhere and there were no loose threads hanging about. The edges are either rolled and stitched or glued and sealed. All access openings have been stitched as well, to ensure they don't fray. Clearly, there has been care in the building of this case. The main section of the case, where the PDA is stored has been stiffened with some sort of material to help it keep its shape. The PDA is slipped into this section through the top and the interior (front and back) has been lined with a ribbed, non-slip cloth to make sure the unit doesn't fall out – even when the case is held open and upside down. (I tried this a number of times and even with gentle shaking, there was no movement of the unit at all. It felt very secure).<br /><br /><img src = "http://www.pocketpcthoughts.com/images/web/2003/don-jul07-noreve-caseempty.jpg"><br /><i>Figure 5: The working portion of the case, where the PDA is stored. You can see the pattern of the non-slip cloth on the inside of the case which keeps the unit firmly in place.</i><br /><br /><img src = "http://www.pocketpcthoughts.com/images/web/2003/don-jul07-noreve-casewunit.jpg"><br /><i>Figure 6: My Eten X500 – all snug and cozy. As noted in the text, the unit slides in from the top. I quite like that the unit is entirely enclosed, rather than just the bottom half, like my PDAir case.</i><br /><br />The front cover of the case hinges on the bottom and flips over the front and top of the unit to clasp on to the back. Three small magnets are sewn into the flap and the back of the unit to hold the case securely closed. The front cover includes what feels like foam padding and is completely clear of markings except for the small Noreve logo in the top right.<br /><br /><span><b>In Use</b></span><br />On the Eten X500 version I tested, cutaways had been provided for all of the items you would access in normal use. The Power button, Reset slot, and Camera button are available from the right side.<br /><br /><img src = "http://www.pocketpcthoughts.com/images/web/2003/don-jul07-noreve-rightsideclosed.jpg"><br /><i>Figure 7: A view of the right side of the unit.</i><br /><br />The Volume, Recording and Headphone jack are available from the left.<br /><br /><img src = "http://www.pocketpcthoughts.com/images/web/2003/don-jul07-noreve-leftside.jpg"><br /><i>Figure 8: The left side of the case. There is a lot of room provided for access to the buttons, so it never feels like the case is getting in the way.</i><br /><br />A big plus over other cases I've tried is that the camera on the back panel is fully exposed and usable while the case is closed!<br /><br /><img src = "http://www.pocketpcthoughts.com/images/web/2003/don-jul07-noreve-back.jpg"><br /><i>Figure 9: Noreve has made sure the the camera is completely clear and available for use without having to open the case.</i><br /><br />Unfortunately, the design doesn't include access to the MicroSD slot or USB slots on the bottom of the unit when the case is closed. For me, access to the card slot is not such a big deal, since I'm not really comfortable with swapping those tiny MicroSD cards on a regular basis. I tend to just buy a bigger capacity card and put everything onto it and leave it there. Not having access to the USB port though, is a bit of a pain since I don't like having to open up the case just to sync up with my desktop and/or charge up the Eten. My thinking is that Noreve opted to make sure all the 'day-to-day operations' parts of the PDA are available at all times, rather than the parts you'd only access occasionally.<br /><br />There are two pockets provided for credit/business cards and two pockets for Mini/Micro SD cards (finally!) in the front cover. Most of the cases I've dealt with provided slots for standard SD cards, which are way too big for Mini or Micro SD, so it was great to see someone had designed this case with the actual Eten X500 user in mind. The slots also come with finger holes in the bottom, so you can push the cards out.<br /><br /><img src = "http://www.pocketpcthoughts.com/images/web/2003/don-jul07-noreve-topcover.jpg"><br /><i>Figure 10: A view inside the top cover of the case. Note the two pockets for Mini/MicroSD cards. Just above these (near the top of the picture) are two pockets for storing credit or business cards.</i><br /><br />The credit/business card pockets are very snug on the sides for a standard credit card, requiring a little bit of oomf to get the cards in and out. That may soften up as they get more use, but I'm a little worried about damaging the leather at the edges. The fit for business cards is better, although I don't think they'll accommodate more than about 5 or 6 in each pocket. The top closure still worked very well even with 2 credit cards installed in the front cover.<br /><PAGEBREAK><br /><span><b>Belting Up</b></span><br />Unfortunately, I didn't find the belt clip very useful. The clip itself is awkward to attach to the belt since it doesn't have the usual hinged tooth which you squeeze and fit over your belt while you're wearing it.<br /><br /><img src = "http://www.pocketpcthoughts.com/images/web/2003/don-jul07-noreve-beltclip.jpg"><br /><i>Figure 11: A view of the clip portion which attaches to your belt. While there is a spring-loaded release for the case (at the top), you must thread the belt through the slot on the right, as there is no way to fit the holder over the belt.</i><br /><br />Instead, I had to take off part of my belt, thread it through the clip, then back into my belt loops. There were no included instructions as to how to install the belt clip button on the back of the case, but it was pretty straightforward, and a screwdriver <i>is</i> supplied. Even with the mounting screw tightened down though, the button does not cinch up tight to the case, so there is a little bit of 'rattle' to it. Removing the PDA from belt clip is also difficult as the release button is very close to the PDA and blocked by the top cover. I consistently needed two hands to push down the button and remove it.<br /><br /><img src = "http://www.pocketpcthoughts.com/images/web/2003/don-jul07-noreve-clip&belt.jpg"><br /><i>Figure 12: Here's a view of the belt clip with a belt inserted. At the red arrow, you can see the very narrow space available between the release button and the top flap of the cover. It's difficult to get at the release to get the case off your belt.</i><br /><br />I think this needs some time back at the drawing board.<br /><br /><span><b>Conclusions</b></span><br />This is a beautifully crafted case and should do a good job of protecting your PPC/Phone from the normal bumps of everyday life. I love the fact that there is appropriate storage for Mini and MicroSD cards included, as well as a couple of credit cards or business cards. For the next version, I think a cutaway should be included for access to the USB port, and the belt clip needs some re-working of its ergonomics.<br /><br /><i>Don is an Associate Director with Fujitsu Consulting and the Lead for its Mobility Community of Excellence.</i>