Monday, July 28, 2003
Pocket Solution Cover-Up for Dell Axim
Posted by marlof in "HARDWARE" @ 11:00 AM
Ever since I had my first HP Jornada Pocket PC, I've been in love with built in screen protection through flip covers. You don't need an extra case to have your screen protected when you carry your Pocket PC in your.... Pocket. But since the Jornada line was killed by the HP - Compaq merger, the flip cover died with it. Or did it?
If you're looking for low weight screen protection, you may not need to look further than the Cover-Up by The Pocket Solution. It's a low weight screen cover that can flip open, allowing you to use the Pocket PC with the cover attached.
Now Quality Comes With a Flip Cover Again
I'm a big fan of my Dell Axim Pocket PC. Despite being a bit big, but I find it highly usable. The build quality and the battery life are stunning and continue to amaze me. I've been wishing for a Pocket PC with Jornada build quality like this, ever since the Jornada line was killed. The only thing that I truly dislike is the carrying case it comes with. Big. Plastic. It makes this Pocket PC a monster to carry in your pockets. How different from the flip cover my dear Jornadas came with. Cue Cover-Up.
Figure 1: The Cover-Up matches the Axim design.
The Cover-Up comes with different finishes, such as Leather and Wood laminate skins. Reviewed is the basic aluminum Cover-Up, with a nice engraving.
Access to Features
The Cover-Up leaves your headphone socket, your charge and sync ports, all buttons on the left side and the SD slot uncovered. Your buttons on the front are covered along with the CF slot. You wouldn't be able to close the cover if you had a WiFi card with an external antenna in there.
Figure 2: The headphone socket is cut out in the design.
Figure 3: Access to the charge and sync ports.
Up Goes the Cover
If you want to use your Pocket PC, just flip the cover to the back, and you have full access to the device. This might be problematic when you have your Pocket PC in a car cradle, since the cover goes a bit far to the back. Since the cover is attached to your Pocket PC with a bit of industrial strength velcro, you can easily detach and attach the cover though, so this is not a big nuisance.
Figure 4: Axim with lid open
The foam you see in the opened Cover-Up is aligned to the screen of your Pocket PC. This helps the cover stay closed.
Gotchas
• When the screen goes on - e.g. for a reminder - the cover can keep your Pocket PC running through the foam lining pressing on the screen. However, this only happened to me when pressure was applied to the cover.
• Cover can't close over a WiFi card with external antenna.
• Opening the cover can be impossible in a car cradle. Detaching the Cover-Up is very easy though.
Where To Buy
The Cover-Up can be bought at The Pocket Solution starting at only $9.95.
Conclusions
Now I have a reliable Pocket PC, with very good battery life and built in screen protection. The Cover-Up looks good enough to be part of the original design.
If you're looking for low weight screen protection, you may not need to look further than the Cover-Up by The Pocket Solution. It's a low weight screen cover that can flip open, allowing you to use the Pocket PC with the cover attached.
Now Quality Comes With a Flip Cover Again
I'm a big fan of my Dell Axim Pocket PC. Despite being a bit big, but I find it highly usable. The build quality and the battery life are stunning and continue to amaze me. I've been wishing for a Pocket PC with Jornada build quality like this, ever since the Jornada line was killed. The only thing that I truly dislike is the carrying case it comes with. Big. Plastic. It makes this Pocket PC a monster to carry in your pockets. How different from the flip cover my dear Jornadas came with. Cue Cover-Up.
Figure 1: The Cover-Up matches the Axim design.
The Cover-Up comes with different finishes, such as Leather and Wood laminate skins. Reviewed is the basic aluminum Cover-Up, with a nice engraving.
Access to Features
The Cover-Up leaves your headphone socket, your charge and sync ports, all buttons on the left side and the SD slot uncovered. Your buttons on the front are covered along with the CF slot. You wouldn't be able to close the cover if you had a WiFi card with an external antenna in there.
Figure 2: The headphone socket is cut out in the design.
Figure 3: Access to the charge and sync ports.
Up Goes the Cover
If you want to use your Pocket PC, just flip the cover to the back, and you have full access to the device. This might be problematic when you have your Pocket PC in a car cradle, since the cover goes a bit far to the back. Since the cover is attached to your Pocket PC with a bit of industrial strength velcro, you can easily detach and attach the cover though, so this is not a big nuisance.
Figure 4: Axim with lid open
The foam you see in the opened Cover-Up is aligned to the screen of your Pocket PC. This helps the cover stay closed.
Gotchas
• When the screen goes on - e.g. for a reminder - the cover can keep your Pocket PC running through the foam lining pressing on the screen. However, this only happened to me when pressure was applied to the cover.
• Cover can't close over a WiFi card with external antenna.
• Opening the cover can be impossible in a car cradle. Detaching the Cover-Up is very easy though.
Where To Buy
The Cover-Up can be bought at The Pocket Solution starting at only $9.95.
Conclusions
Now I have a reliable Pocket PC, with very good battery life and built in screen protection. The Cover-Up looks good enough to be part of the original design.
