Horizontic PDA Case

I'll start this one off by saying that I'm currently using this case as my main case for my Tungsten C. It's the large Horizontic PDA Case, which seems as if it were designed for the TC with stock flip cover. It fits perfectly. Normally I carry my TC in a hard metal case. The problem was that I never had a really good place to carry that combination. While the Horizontic PDA Case isn't large enough for my TC in it's hard case, I'm becoming comfortable with the protection offered by this case alone. I'm comfortable with this case because it's very sturdy so as to help distribute any pressure applied to it, and it sits very close to my side, making it less likely that I'll rub it up against something too hard.

The design of the case is well done as well. With two belt loops permanently attached to the backside, their ingenious Multidapt system isn't even needed for a case that's designed to remain on the belt. But for those who have a Multidapt clip they like, the female is still there, so any Multidapt clip can be used with this case. The simple design of a five sided pouch with a flap cover is nothing new, but the Krusell case excels at it. It looks great on the belt, and is held shut securely by a magnetic snap. It's easy to open and close, but unlikely to open unintentionally. There is an opening at the bottom of the case to facilitate device removal by pushing up on the device from below with your fingers. Then, when there's enough to grab onto, just pull the device out of the case and use. Putting it back in is even easier. There are no slots for anything on this case.

If you want a classy, simple, pouch type case for your device, take a close look at the Horizontic PDA Case.

Likes

1. Superb Quality
2. Classy Design
3. Magnetic snap clasp

Dislikes

1. None

Rating: 5 needles (out of five).

Universal PDA Holster

The Universal PDA Holster is about as basic as it gets. It's a simple pouch with elastic on the two long sides, and a strap on top to hold the PDA in, with a hook and loop tape clasp. The Multidapt female is in the top center of the back of the case, allowing one to connect any of the Multidapt clips to the case, from the swivel clip knob, to a sturdy steel spring clip, and everything in between. The hook and loop is VERY strong, and should last quite a while of heavy use. At the same time, that strength results in a very loud opening noise for this slip case. I've also noticed that it's VERY snug. Only slim devices should be used in this case if only because it will be easier to get the device in and out of the case. I don't expect the elastic to lose its strength enough for larger devices to slip in and out easily. For reference, I crammed a Palm IIIxe shell into it, which, while it did manage to fit, was too snug to be practical. A Zire or Zire 21, maybe a Tungsten E, would be great in this case, though. There are no slots for anything on this case.

Likes

1. Snug fit
2. Strong clasp
3. Great quality

Dislikes

1. Too snug
2. Loud clasp

Rating: 4 needles (out of five).

Handit PDA for palmOne Tungsten C

Initially, I was excited about this case. A nice leather case, with card slots and a belt clip, sounded great, and I couldn't wait to give it a go. Well, I was disappointed by the way it is held in the case. With a VERY large clear vinyl holster covering the entire keyboard area of the Tungsten C (or W), and the flat keys of that device, it was almost impossible to tell which key I was about to press on. As a result, I spent most of my time being very careful and watching my thumbs very closely, to avoid making a lot of input mistakes. Not only that, but when the device was firmly inserted, the Home key would be be pressed, which was not good. The directional Navigator pad was pretty hard to use through that plastic as well. So I stopped using it.

Well, recently, I was lamenting how the hard case I usually use can be annoying to use with the way the cover opens like a backward book and is hard to hold onto, when I remembered this case. Instead of leaving it in a drawer, I decided to modify the case by cutting a hole in that vinyl keyboard cover, uncovering all the keys, not the least of which being the Home key. With the keyboard uncovered, it felt much better to hold and use my TC in this case. I got used to using the Navigator through the plastic, as I couldn't very well cut the entire plastic piece out, or the case would no longer hold together.

With my modification to the vinyl holster holding the device in the case, it was a much better case for me, and I used it for quite a while before switching to the Horizontic PDA Case. Other features this case offers are two SD/MMC card pockets, three business/credit card pockets, and openings for HotSync cable, headset jack, reset pin, and speaker. For Tungsten W users, there's an opening on the side for the SD/MMC slot, and one in the back for the external antenna connector. The card slots are all on the flap cover for the case, which is held shut over the face of the device by a strap that snaps to the back bottom of the case which is very secure, while easy to attach and remove.

If you prefer a case that always stays with your device to protect it from life's little dents and dings, while having quick access to extra cards, then this case might just be for you. And if you don't like the vinyl covering on the keys, just take an exacto knife to it... but be careful, and try to leave a little strap across the top of the keyboard to help hold the sides of the case together in that area. :)

Likes

1. Card slots
2. Good protection
3. Access holes

Dislikes

1. Vinyl covering keys

Rating: 4 needles (out of five).

Handit PDA for palmOne Zire 71

This one seemed good until I actually put the Zire 71 into it. First off, it has the same card pockets, access holes, and snap around strap clasp as the Tungsten C version (and all Handit cases). Those are the good points.

Unfortunately, where it falls short is where it really matters. The fit is not so good. Maybe it would be better over time as the leather parts gave a little, but I never used it long enough to see. It holds the Zire 71 in well enough, but not quite enough to make it easy to slide up the camera. One must grip the sides very tightly while sliding the camera up, else end up simply sliding the entire Zire 71 out of the case. Without being able to easily slide up the camera, it's usefulness decreases tremendously. And, once you get the camera slip up, you have to pull down the cover flap and hold it out of the way of the camera lens, all while staring at a clear vinyl strap going across the middle of the screen. That vinyl strap is usually running along the top of the front of the device when the Zire 71 is closed, and is meant to hold the sides of the case together at the top. It's a good thing it's clear, but it still is awkward to see there. The bottom of the case near the application buttons and Navigational stick is also somewhat annoying to work around.

I think overall, it's a good case, but not if you use the camera in the Zire 71 a lot, and what's the fun of the Zire 71 without using the camera?

Likes

1. Card slots

Dislikes

1. Hard to slide camera up
2. Plastic strap across screen when using camera
3. Bottom face of cover gets in the way of application buttons and Nav stick

Rating: 3 needles (out of five).

Multidapt Clips

With the cases Krusell has sent, they've also included a variety of their many available clips for the Multidapt system. If one of the ones I describe here doesn't suit your tastes, check out their site for even more options.

• The Slide Swivel Kit is what most people are familiar with. A clip that remains on the belt has a slot and a hook to keep the knob on the case from sliding out, as well as a tooth at the base of the clip to keep it on the belt. With the press of a button on top of the clip, the hook is retracted to allow the knob to slide out. This kit comes with the knob part which slides into the Multidapt female on the case itself. This combination allows the case to swing freely on the belt and be quickly attached and removed. The quality of Krusell's clips are very good, and I've not had any problems with them.
• The Spring Clip is a long clip with a spring to help keep it shut, but that can expand to accommodate thicker belts or straps. There is also a tooth at the bottom of the clip to help prevent it from slipping off of the belt. Its length, spring, and tooth make it a great clip for most purposes, while keeping the case in a static position on the belt (no swiveling).
• The Leather Swivel puts a new spin on the swivel design. Instead of a hard plastic clip to put in the belt, it uses a leather loop which a new kind of clip is permanently attached to. Unfortunately, instead of a single button that can be pushed with the thumb while holding the case you're trying to remove, there are two buttons, one on either side, which must be pressed simultaneously to open the mechanism and remove the case. It has the advantage of not digging into your side for generous people like me, but it's very awkward to do one handed and can easily require a two handed approach, making wearing it on the belt impractical. If they could do this with a single button mechanism that can be operated with the thumb like the standard Swivel Clip, it would be perfect.
• The Big Clip TwistOn Kit is another new and interesting one. This one also has a piece that remains on the belt, but instead of a slot with a hook and a knob, it uses a specially shaped peg and hole. The case can only be attached and removed in one orientation (completely upside-down in most cases). This allows the case to swivel freely, but also does not require any buttons to be pressed. Now, it's possible for the case to work its way into the correct position to be removed accidentally, but I haven't had that happen, nor has my father who is currently using the clip, as far as I know (and I'm sure I'd hear about it ;-). This clip also has the advantage of being the Big Clip as well, so if you grab your device and forget to put the TwistOn kit on your belt, you can still use the clip part of it that is on the case itself. This would be perfect for me if the part on the belt were a leather loop like the Leather Swivel kit. As it is, sometimes I feel the edges of the belt attachment digging into my dunlap sides. ;-)
• The Mini Clip is a quick, small, and simple clip that remains attached to the case. It is meant to keep the case where you put it when it's not necessarily the only thing doing the work, such as putting the case into a pocket, but using the clip to keep it at the top of the pocket for quick access by slipping the clip over the edge of the pocket itself.