05-26-2004, 05:00 PM
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Thoughts Media Review Team
Join Date: Aug 2006
Posts: 749
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Active Armor for iPAQ 2200 Review
Product Category: Cases
Manufacturer: Active Armor
Where to Buy: Active Armor
Price: $29.95 USD
System Requirements: iPAQ 2200 series
Specifications: Dimensions: 4 7/8" x 3 �" x �" (124 x 83 x 19mm); Weight: 1.2 oz (34g).
Pros:- Good looking, well thought out design;
- Adds good �drop protection� without a lot of extra bulk or weight;
- Allows access to all slots and buttons;
- Includes a clear, removable flip-lid!
Cons:- Only for the iPAQ 2200;
- Cannot use the HP-supplied cradle for sync/charging.
Summary:
Looking for a something to protect your iPAQ 2200 with definite �cool� appeal? Then look no further than the Active Armor iPAQ 2200 Case! Made of the same rubber used in ruggedized products, it will definitely keep things safe for most drops and bumps of everyday use. And it even includes a clear plastic flip lid!
Read on for the full review!
The Need for Protection
I guess I�ve acquired my desire for protective cases for my Pocket PCs since I lost my HP Jornada 568 in a fall. It wasn�t a big drop � only about three feet to the cement garage floor, but it cracked open the case. While everything seemed to work all right, it would drain the battery in about ten minutes flat. :cry: When I replaced it with an iPAQ 2215, my wife bought me an aluminum case from Proporta right away. The aluminum is good looking and provides excellent protection, but it adds considerable weight to the overall unit, and having to open the door when I wanted to use it was a pain.
Then I saw a review of the Active Armor case on The Gadgeteer. I contacted them immediately and asked for a sample for this review. They were very accommodating and sent me out one right away, but somewhere in snailmail, it got lost. Dan (at Active Armor) did some tracing, and a couple of weeks ago, sent out another one, via courier this time! (Two gold stars for customer service, guys!) I couldn�t wait to give it a try.
The Active Armor case for the iPAQ is currently available in two colours � HP Deep Blue (the one shown in this review) and Slate Gray. (A Burnt Orange version is rumored to be coming soon.) It�s packaged in a clear plastic bubble, with a cardboard insert describing the features of the case.
Figure 1: The Active Armor case, with its packaging.
Fortunately, the bubble-wrap isn't one of those heat-welded ones, so it's relatively easy to get the case out. The case itself is molded from a single piece of santoprene rubber -- the same stuff used in 'ruggedized' units for outdoor and rough-use conditions.
Figure 2: A close-up of just the case itself (front view).
Installation
No, you won't need a manual. Installing the case couldn�t be simpler. Just insert the bottom of your iPAQ 2200 into the case and flip the top corners over the handgrips.
Figure 3: Fitting the iPAQ into the case.
Once inside, the iPAQ is held very snuggly. The rubber ribs on the side and the extra thickness at the corners are designed to absorb the impact at the points most likely to hit the ground first. There�s no feel of slack or movement of the unit within the case. All in all, the case adds just over an ounce (34g) of weight, and about a third of an inch (8.5mm) to the overall dimensions.
Figure 4: All snug in its new home (front view).
Access to Controls, etc.
The case includes cut-outs for all the indicators and controls on the iPAQ 2200. The battery charge and Bluetooth indicators are clearly visible through slots in the case and there is a cut-out provided for the 5-way navigation button in the centre. For the power and application-selection buttons, Active Armor provides covered detents in the case, positioned over the buttons. These actually provide a very positive response when pushed. They are a little taller above the surface of the case than the regular iPAQ case, and there is good tactile feedback � you know when you�ve activated the button.
On the back, the sides of the case have been designed to leave room for access to the stylus port and headphone jack. I found it only slightly more difficult to remove the stylus with the case installed � mostly due to the slight increase in depth of the case edge.
Figure 5: Back view of the iPAQ in the case.
Active Armor has also thoughtfully provided a cut-out for access to the soft-reset button on the back panel and kept the entire speaker grill clear. About the only thing you can�t get to with this case installed is the battery compartment. I haven�t opened this since I installed the battery when I got the unit, so this hasn�t been a problem.
The top is designed so that the combined SD/CF card slot is fully accessible and the IR port is clear. There is enough clearance around the headphone jack that most inline plugs will have no difficulty being inserted. They�ve also left the microphone area mostly clear (there's a very slight overlap), so your iPAQ will still be able to take those voice commands and/or notes.
Figure 6: Top view of the Active Armor case.
The cutout at the bottom of the case extends beyond the sync/serial port to allow cables to fit into the case so I found no problem plugging in the charger and other interface cables I use with my unit.
Figure 7: Bottom view, showing the access to the sync/serial port.
Unfortunately though, because of the design of HP�s cradle, you can�t sit the iPAQ2200 into it with the Active Armor case on. For me, this isn't a big concern, since I use a Bluetooth connection for synchronization with my laptop. The only way I could use the cradle do some software installs was to remove the case, and it wasn't all that easy! But this is a good thing, since a snug fit means better protection. Maybe there�s an opportunity here for some enterprising soul � come up with a new iPAQ 2200 cradle with no sides, so that you can use the unit when it has a case installed.
The FlipLid is Back!
The clear flip-lid is a real bonus. I�d been missing having a flip-lid from my Jornada days, and getting not only that, but one that you can see through makes those quick checks for my next meeting so easy. The lid is kept closed via two rubber grips just under the screen, on the right and left sides.
Figure 8: Clips to hold the flip lid closed.
There�s a real solid �click� as the lid fits into these clips and I�ve had no instances of the lid coming loose on its own. I suspect you�d really have to bang this case hard to make that happen.
Even with those fairly solid clips, the lid only needs slight fingernail pressure to open, and it swings back about 180 degrees. This gets it well out of the way when you want to use the screen.
Figure 9: The flip-lid in action.
The lid hinges on a couple of 2mm pins on either side of the top, which fit into good-sized receptors. I don�t believe there's any chance of the pins or the receptors getting broken very easily under normal use.
Figure 10: A view of the hinge pins and receptors.
Everyday Use
As mentioned above, the Active Armor case adds very little to the overall weight and size of the iPAQ, so it is still very pocketable. (Actually, more so than the aluminum case). I�ve been testing the case for a couple of weeks now, and find that it's very easy to slip my Pocket PC into a shirt, jacket or pants pocket and feel completely secure about the safety of the unit.
The flexible grips on the sides of the unit give the case a good, solid feel and it easily fits into my small hands comfortably. The flip-lid is supposedly made of unbreakable plastic, but I haven�t really put that to the test. I have been literally throwing the iPAQ into my bike pack with all my other gear, so the lid has gotten a few scratches, but nothing really major � and no cracks!. Since the lid fits down into a recess in the case, it does a pretty good job of keeping dust, lint and other pocket gunk away from the screen.
I haven�t actually dropped the unit or struck the flip lid, :snipersmile: but the feel of this case gives me every confidence it will protect from most bumps and bruises.
Conclusions
All I can say about the Active Armor case is "Wow!" This has definitely become the case of choice for my iPAQ 2215. The case has so many great features and that added �coolness� factor (my friends at work with Palms ooohed and aaahed with envy) that I can�t imagine being without it now. For the price, it's the cheapest insurance I can think of against physical damage. I sure wish this had been around for my Jornada. So� I guess the next question is when will they come out with Active Armor for other models?  pclove:
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05-26-2004, 06:40 PM
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Pontificator
Join Date: Jul 2003
Posts: 1,264
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Very nice, it is strange on their site they only make them for two PDA's, the ipaq one that was reviewed here and for a Visor 8O The visor seemed like a strange choice to be making these for. Anyway, I hope they branch out and make this for the Dell. The case is sweet and the flip lid just seals the deal.
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05-26-2004, 06:53 PM
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Thinker
Join Date: Mar 2004
Posts: 332
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Would be nice...if they could cover mine...bah!
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05-26-2004, 08:03 PM
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Intellectual
Join Date: May 2006
Posts: 165
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Quote:
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Originally Posted by FoldedSpace
Would be nice...if they could cover mine...bah!
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Still waiting for a similar case for my 4155...
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05-26-2004, 10:03 PM
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Intellectual
Join Date: Dec 2003
Posts: 242
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Love everything except the extra width on the sides. The main reason I bought the HP 1945 is that it really can fit in a pocket and I don't think I'd really want it appreciably bigger. I understand the reason for it being there but I'd give up the added protection for a smaller size.
Oh yeah, and the fact that they don't make one for the HP 1945...I guess I don't love that either...
db
__________________
'It has been my experience that the more extreme the opinion, the less likely it is to be based on or altered by fact.'*- db
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05-26-2004, 10:09 PM
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Thinker
Join Date: Feb 2002
Posts: 384
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Great case ...
This is what everybody should understand. People need basic protection so the device can be bandied about without risk of fatalities. In other words, it should be like a Jornada.
I'm hoping that HP FINALLY puts the lids back on PocketPC with the new crop. If not, I hope that they follow up with cases for ALL the new HP models.
My Jornada 568 is showing it's age. Time for an upgrade.
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05-26-2004, 11:25 PM
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Theorist
Join Date: Mar 2003
Posts: 267
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wow! really nice case. It might become my 5th case for my 2210. I am such a case freak. it looks really functional too. Good thing the 2210 became the guinea pig for all these new cases/accessories. I feel lucky on having decided on the 2200 series, so many choices! 
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05-27-2004, 12:54 AM
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Philosopher
Join Date: Jan 2005
Posts: 566
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Re: Great case ...
Quote:
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Originally Posted by Will T Smith
People need basic protection so the device can be bandied about without risk of fatalities. In other words, it should be like a Jornada.
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I agree with the first, but the 2nd part is definitely a YMMV thing.
Quote:
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I'm hoping that HP FINALLY puts the lids back on PocketPC with the new crop.
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If they make that the way ALL iPAQs are supplied, my current 55xx will be the last iPAQ I ever buy. Couldn't give me a flip lid.
But I'm all for HP supplying something as an add-on option that would offer the flip lid functionality to make all the old Jornada users and flip lid lovers happy as well.
__________________
-= Sass =-
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05-27-2004, 03:16 AM
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Pupil
Join Date: Jul 2003
Posts: 30
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Been using one on my 2215 for 6 months now. Awesome product. No complaints at all. (except it's not waterproof, but I guess you can only ask for so much)
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05-27-2004, 03:31 AM
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Pontificator
Join Date: Feb 2004
Posts: 1,097
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Great review, you've told me the answers to all my questions I'd have about a case, and even convinced me that this one is worth buying, and at that price, I don't see why not.
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