Kensington PDA Protector (by Dave Ruske)
Review By Dave Ruske | March 31, 2002
Category: not categorized
The people at Kensington created a nice piece of armor for several handhelds under the name PDA Protector. One model fits the Handspring Visor, while the other accommodates a Palm V or m500 Series handheld. Both wrap two formed sheets of aluminum around the PDA to secure it like a pearl within a clam.
Product: PDA Protector
Manufacturer: Kensington Technology Group
Price: $29.99 U.S.
PDAs Supported: Handspring Visor, Palm V and m500 Series
Colors for Palm: Blue-Ice/Silver, Platinum/Silver
Colors for Handspring: Graphite/Silver
Available from:StylusCentral.com
The bottom sheet of metal holds the PDA in place with a fold of metal on each side. I tested the product with a Palm m505 and found that the case gripped the handheld firmly. The Palm V and m500 series PDAs widen at the base, which helps such a design. After using the case for a few weeks I did notice a slight loosening, allowing the m505 to slip about 3 mm when the case was held open and shaken, but I don't regard that as being typical use.
The upper sheet of metal attaches to the lower with a hinge located at the top of the PDA, allowing it to open a bit more than 180 degrees. This keeps the cover out of the way for either right-handed or left-handed use. The position of the hinge does not block the IR port, and allows easy removal of the stylus when fully open. If you're using your handheld on a work surface, the upper part of the case keeps it at a nice working angle, or you can lay the PDA flat by opening the lid 90 degrees.
The whole case appears to have a satin-like finish, but when picked up it feels slightly rubberized. Rather than stopping at just applying an attractive paint job to the case, Kensington opted to add a non-slip coating. This makes the case easy to hold and helps keep it from sliding when placed on a desk.
A velvet fabric lines the inside of the PDA Protector. This offers little in the way of shock protection, but can at least keep your handheld from getting scratched up by the case. I guess it's one of those compromises: add padding or keep the case slender and form fitting.
A magnetic closure keeps the case from falling open on its own. The tiny magnets are surprisingly strong. Holding the top of the case with the m505 inserted, it still takes a bit of shaking to pop open the case. Just to be silly, I also found that I could stick the empty case to the refrigerator. It might not be a great idea to keep credit cards in close proximity to the PDA Protector, though I admit that I don't know how much it takes to wipe out a magnetic strip. (If you know, post a follow-up message to this review.)
After a few weeks of bouncing through my day-to-day routine, the PDA Protector doesn't have a scratch. It doesn't even show fingerprints. More importantly, it's kept my PDA nice and safe.
The final feature of the PDA Protector can actually save your PDA even if you lose it. Kensington has included a StuffBak label with the case. The idea here is simple. Place the sticker on your PDA and register its number with StuffBak. The sticker includes a toll-free number and a web address that the person finding your PDA can use to arrange its return. The service costs you nothing unless you lose your PDA, in which case there's a $14.95 charge to cover the return. This is a great idea, and worth looking into even if you don't purchase Kensington's PDA Protector.
One last thing I'll mention is that this case looks terrific, at least to my eye. I'd like to shake the hand of the person at Kensington who had the guts to keep their logo off the outside. There's always some clown who believes their logo is more important than the product, and I think that more companies should learn to shut these people up. You'll find the Kensington logo embossed on the inside lining of the case, quietly accepting credit for a job well done.
The Flipside
The biggest problem I can see with this case is that the SD card slot for the m500 series PDAs isn't accessible. HotSyncing while in the case is also out of the question. I don't consider either of these problems to be a showstopper, because the handheld slides easily from the case.
Final Thought
I don't see any reason to be disappointed with the Kensington PDA Protector. The aluminum construction should prove sturdy enough for most environments, unless you need something water proof or something with shock-absorbent padding. You certainly won't be able to kill this thing in a briefcase or purse; it'll emerge unscathed and looking great for your next meeting.
Pros
- Metal construction provides a high degree of protection.
- Open case does not obscure IR port.
- Easy to remove stylus while in case.
- Non-slip finish outside and velvet lining within.
- StuffBack sticker helps recover a lost PDA.
Cons
- Palm m500 series SD card not accessible when inside case.
- PDA must be removed from the case for HotSync.
- Is the magnetic closure too strong to be trusted near credit cards?
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