Wednesday, September 17, 2003
Piel Frama Axim X5 Case Review
Posted by David Prahl in "HARDWARE" @ 09:30 AM
Let's face it - the case Dell© includes with the Axim X5 is not luxurious. It protects the screen and the device from short falls, and has a small pocket for one card or extra battery. It's not something you'd show off to your friends. :)
On the other side of the case spectrum is the Piel Frama Axim X5 case. Made by hand in Spain of high quality leather, this case has almost everything you'll need to keep your Axim X5 safe, accessorized, and in style. Could this be the perfect Axim X5 case?
The Piel Frama case for the X5 is definitely high quality. The stitching is clean and strong, the leather is smooth and soft, and the included card slots and cutouts are great. Although it feels wonderful to hold in your hand, could there be something missing? Is it worth the price? Read on!
This Is No Ordinary Box!
Everything about the case says luxury. Even the box!
Figure 1: Made of sturdy and stylish cardboard, and smelling of good leather!
There's more than the case inside the box. Several cardboard pieces help the case keep its shape during shipping, and a piece of tissue paper protects the supple surface. A card describes the product (in Spanish), and gives some information about the leather.
Features and Feel
I should note that the case is not just a leather shell. A thin padding is between the layers of leather, both on the front and back. This makes the case MUCH more comfortable. I'll never get sore fingers from playing Snails© again! Instead of Velcro or a snap, the Piel Frama case uses a magnetic clip to hold the case shut. No amount of shaking will unfasten the tab, and (with practice), one can whip the case shut one handed (a la Star Trek :D ). This same tab can be wrapped around behind the hand to fasten the case onto one's hand. It might not have been designed for this, but it's still pretty cool!
Every button and function on the X5, except the batteries, can be reached with the case on. The leather on the sides is thick enough to feel strong and protect the device, but not bulky so that you can't reach a button. The only cutout that is stitched is the CompactFlash slot (the others have a glue on their edges). I was disappointed that the cutouts for the rocker switch, voice recorder, and reset button were a little rough. The lines and edges on the rest of the case are flawless, but this one area, which my thumb visits quite frequently, didn't look great up close. There is no danger of a tear or rip, but it's still something that can be improved upon.
Figure 2: The button cutouts on the left side were rough, but not horrible.
The charging and syncing ports are not covered, although the X5 cannot be synced in the cradle while in this case. Personally I prefer the added padding, and I don't sync very often. Charging is a breeze, and the X5 can hook up to the Dell Foldable Keyboard while in the case. :way to go:
On the top of case are cutouts for the CF slot and headphone jack. Both are very clean cut. I don't know why Piel Frama had a cutout for the CF slot. Maybe it's just me, but if I need to remove a CF card I'm going to be opening the case anyway. I found that I couldn't open or close the case with my Dell 802.11b card inserted, and that dust collects quickly on the top of the device with this extra opening.
Figure 3: I found the CF cutout to be unnecessary, but that's just my opinion.
On the Inside
The case opens easily and silently, unlike the Velcro on the Dell case, which can be loud and even disruptive. The Directional Pad, Function Buttons, and stylus silo are not affected by the case, and gameplay is not hindered. The power button is a little harder to reach, but I can't think of any modifications to the case design that would remedy this. The entire screen is visible, and the device fits firmly inside its leather home.
Figure 4: It's more comfortable to play a game with the case on than off!
As an added bonus, Piel Frama has two SD/MMC card slots and three credit card sized slots cut into the top of the flip cover. All five have a cloth backing, so you don't have to worry about pushing the cards in too far. The cards don't quite touch the screen. Also included is a cash pouch behind all of this.
The only gripe I have about this is the lack of CompactFlash storage. The only way I can fit my 802.11b CF card into the case is in the top credit card slot. It barely misses touching the screen. I'd like to see another version with just one SD and one CF card holder. Few people are going to be using three SD cards and one CF card.
The Belt Clip
Although Piel Frama can provide you with a non-belt clip version, I found it to be a useful and unobtrusive option. A small plastic disk is mounted on the back of the case. It's fairly discreet, and won't catch when you insert or remove it from a shirt or pants pocket. The actual clip is made of plasic with a metal spring, and can clip onto a belt or just a pair of pants. Belt optional!
Figure 5: The belt clip is easily removed, and can rotate freely without coming off.
Gotchas
There are very few things wrong with the Piel Frama case for the X5, and I had to look for them. The cutouts on the left side of the case are rough and not perfectly symmetrical. The CompactFlash card cutout is not needed in my opinion, and I'd like to see just one CF and one SD card pocket on the inside of the flip cover. Just a few little things, but they can make the difference between a great case and a perfect case.
Where To Buy
Piel Frama is located in Cadiz, Spain. Express shipping to any country is included with the initial cost. Visit Piel Frama's Web site for ordering information, FAQs, Contact Info, and testimonials. The X5 case is available in several different colors, but the version reviewed lists for about $65 USD. Resellers are located all over the globe, but ordering direct works just as well.
Conclusions
Is it worth the price? Definitely! The quality of the product is outstanding, and the sales and support at Piel Frama was prompt, polite, and helpful. It's not without its flaws, but they're minor and don't really affect the functionality of the device. If you're looking for a high-quality, hand crafted leather case for your Axim, look no further.[/size][size=3]
On the other side of the case spectrum is the Piel Frama Axim X5 case. Made by hand in Spain of high quality leather, this case has almost everything you'll need to keep your Axim X5 safe, accessorized, and in style. Could this be the perfect Axim X5 case?
The Piel Frama case for the X5 is definitely high quality. The stitching is clean and strong, the leather is smooth and soft, and the included card slots and cutouts are great. Although it feels wonderful to hold in your hand, could there be something missing? Is it worth the price? Read on!
This Is No Ordinary Box!
Everything about the case says luxury. Even the box!
Figure 1: Made of sturdy and stylish cardboard, and smelling of good leather!
There's more than the case inside the box. Several cardboard pieces help the case keep its shape during shipping, and a piece of tissue paper protects the supple surface. A card describes the product (in Spanish), and gives some information about the leather.
Features and Feel
I should note that the case is not just a leather shell. A thin padding is between the layers of leather, both on the front and back. This makes the case MUCH more comfortable. I'll never get sore fingers from playing Snails© again! Instead of Velcro or a snap, the Piel Frama case uses a magnetic clip to hold the case shut. No amount of shaking will unfasten the tab, and (with practice), one can whip the case shut one handed (a la Star Trek :D ). This same tab can be wrapped around behind the hand to fasten the case onto one's hand. It might not have been designed for this, but it's still pretty cool!
Every button and function on the X5, except the batteries, can be reached with the case on. The leather on the sides is thick enough to feel strong and protect the device, but not bulky so that you can't reach a button. The only cutout that is stitched is the CompactFlash slot (the others have a glue on their edges). I was disappointed that the cutouts for the rocker switch, voice recorder, and reset button were a little rough. The lines and edges on the rest of the case are flawless, but this one area, which my thumb visits quite frequently, didn't look great up close. There is no danger of a tear or rip, but it's still something that can be improved upon.
Figure 2: The button cutouts on the left side were rough, but not horrible.
The charging and syncing ports are not covered, although the X5 cannot be synced in the cradle while in this case. Personally I prefer the added padding, and I don't sync very often. Charging is a breeze, and the X5 can hook up to the Dell Foldable Keyboard while in the case. :way to go:
On the top of case are cutouts for the CF slot and headphone jack. Both are very clean cut. I don't know why Piel Frama had a cutout for the CF slot. Maybe it's just me, but if I need to remove a CF card I'm going to be opening the case anyway. I found that I couldn't open or close the case with my Dell 802.11b card inserted, and that dust collects quickly on the top of the device with this extra opening.
Figure 3: I found the CF cutout to be unnecessary, but that's just my opinion.
On the Inside
The case opens easily and silently, unlike the Velcro on the Dell case, which can be loud and even disruptive. The Directional Pad, Function Buttons, and stylus silo are not affected by the case, and gameplay is not hindered. The power button is a little harder to reach, but I can't think of any modifications to the case design that would remedy this. The entire screen is visible, and the device fits firmly inside its leather home.
Figure 4: It's more comfortable to play a game with the case on than off!
As an added bonus, Piel Frama has two SD/MMC card slots and three credit card sized slots cut into the top of the flip cover. All five have a cloth backing, so you don't have to worry about pushing the cards in too far. The cards don't quite touch the screen. Also included is a cash pouch behind all of this.
The only gripe I have about this is the lack of CompactFlash storage. The only way I can fit my 802.11b CF card into the case is in the top credit card slot. It barely misses touching the screen. I'd like to see another version with just one SD and one CF card holder. Few people are going to be using three SD cards and one CF card.
The Belt Clip
Although Piel Frama can provide you with a non-belt clip version, I found it to be a useful and unobtrusive option. A small plastic disk is mounted on the back of the case. It's fairly discreet, and won't catch when you insert or remove it from a shirt or pants pocket. The actual clip is made of plasic with a metal spring, and can clip onto a belt or just a pair of pants. Belt optional!
Figure 5: The belt clip is easily removed, and can rotate freely without coming off.
Gotchas
There are very few things wrong with the Piel Frama case for the X5, and I had to look for them. The cutouts on the left side of the case are rough and not perfectly symmetrical. The CompactFlash card cutout is not needed in my opinion, and I'd like to see just one CF and one SD card pocket on the inside of the flip cover. Just a few little things, but they can make the difference between a great case and a perfect case.
Where To Buy
Piel Frama is located in Cadiz, Spain. Express shipping to any country is included with the initial cost. Visit Piel Frama's Web site for ordering information, FAQs, Contact Info, and testimonials. The X5 case is available in several different colors, but the version reviewed lists for about $65 USD. Resellers are located all over the globe, but ordering direct works just as well.
Conclusions
Is it worth the price? Definitely! The quality of the product is outstanding, and the sales and support at Piel Frama was prompt, polite, and helpful. It's not without its flaws, but they're minor and don't really affect the functionality of the device. If you're looking for a high-quality, hand crafted leather case for your Axim, look no further.[/size][size=3]
