Comments on: Review: Palm m500 Series Hardcase

I have the M50x series hard case pictured here, and the glue on the back came of like any of that rubber cement type of glue, perfectly cleanly. Perhaps you got a different batch or something, but mine was just what you'd expect.

Opening and closing is tricky if you press both sides of the edge of the case. Once you get it of course it is easier, but good point there. The inside lining is excellent. I actually got mine and admired and thought, these things probably take reasonable development time to work out.

Like the case.

I am still having problems closing this case. I ended up going back to my Vaja case for a while and see if I miss the hard case.

As for the reset pin, I drilled a 1/64 hole in the end piece and superglued a cut piece of paper clip in the hole. Works nicely.

When I first got the case, I thought it might have had a reset pin. I called Palm and they said they would send me a new one if I sent them mine.

No thanks...

IMHO... I know it’s a hard case, but shouldn't they have made it so it doesn't slip out of you hands so easily? I wonder just how many times you can toss this thing before you do some damage to the Palm.

Can someone please give me a step-by-step process to put a reset pin on the stylus? Thanks.

I have a cross stylus/pen & I think it is the greatest. The only thing preventing me from purchasing this case is the inability to use other styli. I have an Innopocket and it rocks. Although I like the color and style.

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Michelle,

Can you check in after a couple of weeks and update us on the lining?

I don't have a m500 but still thought this was a great article. Can't wait to see "second-time reviewer" in Ed's introduction. :)

Does anyone know if you can use the palm keyboard without taking the hard case off? Thanks in advance.

I have not read anything about things like, inserting or taking out cards from the slot, doing a hotsync using the cradle with out taking the palm out of the case and finally how is the window for the IRPort when palm is in the case but the door is fully opened.

Can current users of the case please post their opinions.

Also, are you able to fit the case inside the palm's leather folder with belt clip.

thanks -mb

I have found that the glue holding the metal to the plastic can come undone. I am on my second one.

The Palm m500 Series Hardcase is designed to be a simple protective case -- not a portable office.

The stylus that's included serves as an emergency stylus in my opinion, not your everyday stylus. The ttools Premier complements the case well, but will not dock while the Palm is in the case.

The business card slot can't hold a serious number of cards for a typical business use -- Kezza crammed four whole cards in there! Try getting through a Chamber of Commerce mixer with just four cards. I'd say the slot is for maybe one of your cards and the Graffiti reference card.

As for SD slots, I wish it had some slots molded in the rear section -- they would be hidden under the Palm. I thought of cutting two of my own into the plastic -- and I haven't ruled that out yet. I'm trying the Riley Dog SD card holders first.

I bought the Hardcase for the simple reason of keeping my Palm m505 from getting the buttons pressed my mistake while in my pocket and briefcase. It does that really well -- I give it a ten for that!

Mike Lohsl
Palm & ACT! Advisor

www.successwizard.com

Just my own comments... I was disappointed that the stylus included with the m50x does not come with a reset pin in the stylus. This is a MAJOR disadvantage that causes me not to use the stylus.

As for the actual case, I find it VERY difficult to place business cards in the holder on the m50x, on the V case this was quite easy.

On the V case I was able to place the graffitti stickers on the inside cover of the case, I am not able to do so on this case.

The V case seemed more snug to the Palm while the m50x case seems to add a little more bulk (disappointing since the goal of the m50x series is it's sleek small design)

I do like the ability to fold the case behind itself that the m50x offers (the V didn't).

Overall I like the design of the V case much better than the 50x. I'm upset Palm took a great product the Palm V and the Palm V hardcase and put out the Palm m50x along with it's hardcase. The Palm Vx is a NICE unit and unfortunately we have no place to turn but the m50x/m515 with a compromise on the hardcase.

there is also no cutout for the infared beam ability on the m50x case, the V case has this nice feature.
I agree with your post and I liked the V hard case as well. For the businesss cards and graffitti stickers , the sleakness, the only good item about the m50x case is the 360 opening.

Any chance of the case coming in a blue/red color to complement on the limited edition Palm m505's?

This is great but Zero Halliburton is also coming out with one in March. Check it our on their site www.zerohalliburton.com

Have been using this hardcase for over a week, and I'm extremely happy with it. I have my Palm for over three months, and I was getting really mad at pulling it from my pants'pockets to find it already turned on. This case solves this problem, and offers good impact protection.

The unit is well build, and is extremely stilish. It is fairly easy to swap SD cards (just pull the unit 90 degrees), to beam (having the case open does not interfere; had IR hotsync'ed), and put on the cradle (same as in the SD situation; just pull the unit 90 degrees, and place the cradle on top of some books). I avoid taking the unit off the case as I fear that it would weaken the ridge.

I own a IBM WorkPad c505, which is anodized black (so much cooler :-), so my only "complain" is that there's no color options, not even for the red&blue special editions m505. Well, maybe it's for the best; my case already got some scratchs from coins and car keys.

Two thumbs up!!

My biggest gripe with the m500 case I have is that it is extremely easy to turn on the device just by putting pressure on the outside of the closed case.. this means you cannot put it in a tight pocket that might put up and down pressure on the front lid.

In a review I submitted to PIC last month about this case, I commented on some of the same things that Kerry mentioned. Mine must have come off the same line that hers did since the instructions were glued to the back and left much residue to try to get off over time (for those of you wondering, spray a bit of WD-40 on a cloth and buff with that-it neutralizes the glue and takes it right off). Additionally, if you plan to use the little arrows on the underside of the case as a guide on where to push and how to open it, learn it fast as these arrows will come off in a couple of months. I agree the stylus should have a reset pin and mine flies out occasionally. I also have noted that the glue holding the aluminum to the rubberized interior has started to separate. Pushing the rubber and aluminum together will bond them back but over a period of minutes will see them separate again. Finally, a suggested method for keeping it from scratching....I put a small piece of rubber (a round glass skid that sticks on one side) on the back so that when I have it folded all the way around, the front rests on the rubber piece. This keeps the two halves from abraising themselves. I like this case and use it occasionally but have gone back primarily to my Fellowes Bumper V case. It just feels more secure in the hand and in the case with the rubber exterior.

Good Job K

-If you only knew the power of the Palm side-

This new palm case is 100% better than other hard cases but still not as good as the kensington.

Anyone shopping for a hard case should give a good hard look at the Kensington before making any purchase.

What is best about it is that it opens up, rather than to the side. You don't even have to have opposable thumbs to use this case. It isn't slippery and it is very protective. Especialy if you keep your checkbook registry on your palm you will love this case. To open and close this thing requires no dexterity and is very fast even when juggling groceries, checkbook pen etc....

I have obviously gushed too much but bottom line is, check it out before you buy.

I have had two units, the first I believe came from the original run and had some issues with the edges of the metal not being stuck flush with the plastic lining. I now have a second run unit which had flawless build. The only other differences were a slightly looser rail on the second unit but it to snapped securely onto my m505. I LOVE this case.

As for the sticky tape, I too had this (with both units) but people don't need to go the WD-40 route, I simply rubbed the residue with my thumb for a few minutes which removed 95% of it until it was smooth with the case leaving kind of a blurry smear then I blew on it and rubbed with an old t-shirt for another minute and it was clean as brand new. Annoying but hardly a big problem.

Kezza's review hit all the highlights of this case and dealt appropriately with its shortcomings. I had posted on a couple of the forums that you could use the Landware floating point stylus by simply exchanging the Shepard's hook for the original top. Just be careful that you don't push down too hard when returning it to the Palm. If the device is not seated in the case, you can over do it and push the floating point down too far and run the risk of breaking the tip. I know from personal experience on this one. However, as stated by others, you can use any stylus in the hard case, it is just more difficult to remove it without the Shepard's hook top.
Great review!!! I got my case for Christmas and love it. I carry my Palm in my back pocket and the need for a hard case is obvious. The workarounds for using the cradle and lack of carry space for SD cards and business cards are features I can live with since it protects my PDA and looks cool at the same time. A friend saw my case and immediately went home and ordered one, he liked it so much.

It made me shudder to read about putting your hot sync cradel on the edge of your desk! Way too precarious for me. A safer solution is to simply lay your cradle on its right side. Sure, its hard to read the screen while it syncs, but there's no fears of falls from a desktop. And btw, my m500 in case stays put just fine, even w/out gravity keeping it in its connector.

One more thing, I got a case with the instructions glued on with "bad" glue - it took 5 minutes of rubbing to get the crap off.

I was surprised to see one of these in CompUSA here in Reno, NV and snapped it up in a heartbeat. I too have had ever possible problem with the "Slim Cases" and although I wasn't looking for a hard case, just couldn't resist! As for the "no SD card spaces.... I disagree. I have both a Backup Card and the very cool Road Atlas card held securely in the face cover in a "North-South" configuration (one at the top and one at the bottom) using the flaps on both ends that were designed to hold the ends of you business cards. Give it a try, you'll be pleasantly surprised. The primary reason that I love this case is that it actually fits in my suit pocket without a huge bulge and doesn't tear my suit pocket to shreds when I take it out for use. :-)

I ordered a hard case for my m505 from Palm.com. Received it a month and half later. When I opened the package I noticed a small dent on the edge of it. Not wanting to send it back and waiting another month I decided to keep it. A week later a large dent appeared on the cover. For the money I paid it was not worth it!!! I have since gone back to my soft leather case. I am really suprised that Palm would market such a piece of garbage

I've had it for couple months now...
But outer case and inner lining(?) are falling apart. They must have used cheap glue. Or is it just mine?

Does anyone have some experience using the stowaway keyboard with palm m505's hard case? I have the case for over two months now and since I purchased Docs2Go I've been giving serious thought about buying a keyboard, and the stowaway seens to be the best choice.

TIA.