Monday, December 22, 2003
Rhinoskin iPAQ 2200 Series Aluminum HardCase
Posted by John Walkosak in "HARDWARE" @ 10:00 AM
One of the primary reasons I purchased my HP iPAQ 2215 is its size; The unit is sleek and small and can fit in my pocket. But the case that is provided with it is really just junk. What I need is a way to protect my precious 2215, without sacrificing the sleekness factor. Enter the Rhinoskin iPAQ 2200 Series Aluminum HardCase ...
In the days of my misspent youth, I carried a Palm Vx. I loved the small size and my favorite case for it was the Palm hardshell case, (plastic with an aluminum veneer) it followed the exact contours of the Palm Vx, maintaining the sleekness and adding almost no size. Moving to the Pocket PC world, I sort of missed the sleekness factor until I purchased my HP iPAQ 2215. Now, if I can just find a sturdy case which has the same sleekness factor as that ancient Palm Vx hard case....
You make a strong case...
My first impression upon opening the Rhinoskin iPAQ 2200 Series Aluminum HardCase was: “Wow! This thing is light!” My second impression, right behind the first, was: “Oooooh! Shiny!”
The case comes in a plastic blister pack which thankfully opens easily without risking the loss of a finger. Inside is the case, a small screw-in post, and a belt clip. The case is a thing of beauty with sleek lines, a sturdy hinge, strong clasp, and a suggestion of raised ridges along the top edges. The inside of the case is lined with black neoprene providing a small amount of padding within the case. There is also a small pocket in the lid for the storage of an extra SD/MMC card.
Figure 1: What you get in the package. Just as an aside, the blister packaging can be opened without using a military laser.
As light as this case feels, it can’t possible provide any real protection, right? Wrong. My first maneuver was to try to crush the case. I gave it a pretty good squeeze (without my iPAQ in it) and it really didn’t move. Next, I wanted to see how the metal would stand up to dents, so I employed the dreaded “Golf Ball Test” in which I drop a regulation weight Spalding golf ball onto the case from 6 feet (hey, I gave up golf and I have to find something to do with these things). Not even a mark on the case. Impressive!
In the days of my misspent youth, I carried a Palm Vx. I loved the small size and my favorite case for it was the Palm hardshell case, (plastic with an aluminum veneer) it followed the exact contours of the Palm Vx, maintaining the sleekness and adding almost no size. Moving to the Pocket PC world, I sort of missed the sleekness factor until I purchased my HP iPAQ 2215. Now, if I can just find a sturdy case which has the same sleekness factor as that ancient Palm Vx hard case....
You make a strong case...
My first impression upon opening the Rhinoskin iPAQ 2200 Series Aluminum HardCase was: “Wow! This thing is light!” My second impression, right behind the first, was: “Oooooh! Shiny!”
The case comes in a plastic blister pack which thankfully opens easily without risking the loss of a finger. Inside is the case, a small screw-in post, and a belt clip. The case is a thing of beauty with sleek lines, a sturdy hinge, strong clasp, and a suggestion of raised ridges along the top edges. The inside of the case is lined with black neoprene providing a small amount of padding within the case. There is also a small pocket in the lid for the storage of an extra SD/MMC card.
Figure 1: What you get in the package. Just as an aside, the blister packaging can be opened without using a military laser.
As light as this case feels, it can’t possible provide any real protection, right? Wrong. My first maneuver was to try to crush the case. I gave it a pretty good squeeze (without my iPAQ in it) and it really didn’t move. Next, I wanted to see how the metal would stand up to dents, so I employed the dreaded “Golf Ball Test” in which I drop a regulation weight Spalding golf ball onto the case from 6 feet (hey, I gave up golf and I have to find something to do with these things). Not even a mark on the case. Impressive!
