Developer: The Price:
  • $35
The Pros:
  • Many carrying options
  • It's easy to access the Palm
  • Durable

The Cons:
  • Bulky
  • Hard to access credit cards and money

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PDA Pro Phone Review
By Pepper
4/18/2002


Overview
The PDA Pro Phone case from PDA Skins is compatible with almost all PDAs on the market and allows you to carry your handheld, phone, and various credit cards in a variety of ways.

Portability
This case is rather bulky to keep in a pocket, but it provides a wide variety of other ways take it with you. There is a belt clip, and a spot you can slide your belt through to keep your palm extra secure. The clip is very sturdy, and large enough to fit around the belt so you don't get crimps in your belt.

For those who prefer not to wear a case along their waist, there is also an included shoulder strap. The strap is long enough to wear down at the waist, but it adjusts so you can wear it around your neck at a height similar to a camera case.

The size and awkward shape of the phone compartment make it unrealistic to carry in a pocket, but with the number of alternative carrying methods this is a very portable solution.

Accessibility
Since this case isn't ideally carried in a pocket, it is normally pretty easy to reach for. When you unzip the main pocket, your palm pops into view, attached be a square of Velcro. The PDA is supported at an angle against one side of the case. On either side, strips of Velcro allow you to adjust the viewing angle your palm rests at.

Although I'm not too fond of attaching Velcro to my PDA, this solution works quite well. It keeps the palm from falling out and lets you work on your PDA with just one hand.

With the standard styli most palms come with, the stylus can be a bit tough to remove at times, although some alternative styli seem to be easier to remove. When you're done you can just zip it back up until your ready to use it again. Unfortunately the Velcro strips and the weight of the palm make it slightly difficult to close it up.

Style
This case doesn't exactly scream stylish, but it certainly isn't ugly. Although using leather isn't innovative, it provides a strong sense of business class. Not too creative or personal, but it does have a definitive professional look. Having the phone's pocket in front ruins the sense of smooth continuity, but it certainly isn't awful.

Durability
This case can certainly take a beating, although leather isn't necessarily the toughest material around. If you tend to drop your palm, this case has padding that will protect it a good deal. (although it probably won't protect your palm very well during games of pda-soccer) Under most user's care it will last longer than the PDA.

Miscellaneous
A few more points should still be noted. The phone pocket doesn't fit well with most phones, leaving either too much extra space at the bottom of the pocket or not fitting at all.

Also, the credit card slots are rather difficult to use since the zipper makes it difficult to remove cards from the top few slots. The money pocket has the same problem with the side zipper, and it is only made worse by the Velcro strip.

Conclusion
This case combines your phone, palm, and wallet into one easily manageable case. Although it isn't they most stylish solution, it is definitely effective. For $35 the price is fairly steep, but after you use it awhile it will certainly seem worth it.

Article Comments

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Huh, bulky?

I.M. Anonymous @ 4/18/2002 11:59:47 AM #
Seems bulky too me... but then again, it's for carrying both pda and cellphone in one place...
RE: Huh, bulky?
I.M. Anonymous @ 4/18/2002 12:08:14 PM #
Seems bulky to me too. I own an m505 and a Nokia 8260. The phone is shorter than the PDA and both could easily fit a bag half the size of the PDA Pro phone.

Cheers,

ugly

I.M. Anonymous @ 4/18/2002 12:28:04 PM #
plain ugly
Seriously
I.M. Anonymous @ 4/18/2002 12:48:29 PM #
It is quite ugly.
butt ugly
I.M. Anonymous @ 4/18/2002 12:51:01 PM #
u g l y, you aint got no alibi.
The real ending
sandbuck @ 4/18/2002 1:05:11 PM #
.. And Quasimodo escaped to America, where he started a thriving business in pda/phone cases, living Happily Ever After.

- The End

RE: ugly
I.M. Anonymous @ 4/18/2002 2:35:15 PM #
ive seen a similar product at staples. it looks like one of those leather wallets and belts sold in the sidewalks or broadway newyork. newyorkers knows what im talking about.
RE: ugly
I.M. Anonymous @ 4/18/2002 3:15:26 PM #
It reminds of my grandma's cigarrette case that had a little pocket out front for her lighter. Of course grandma's had a flip open top and was made of a colorfully flowered fabric...

I've used this type for years and love it!

I.M. Anonymous @ 4/18/2002 11:31:57 PM #
Yes, I am one of those 'Wierdos' that carry a 'purse' EVERYWHERE! I love it, EVERYTHING in one place no fuss and I can keep track of it all. Plus I can surf at 14.4 via my cable and my Palm! It always impresses and surprises everyone, even Geeks.

http://makeashorterlink.com/?H2C6548B

RE: I've used this type for years and love it!
big_raji @ 4/18/2002 11:39:37 PM #
The way you say it, and the way you put quotes around 'purse' gives me the willies.

You're not one of those GUYS that uses a purse, are you?

My god. Why not be normal, like the rest of us? Wear all your devices on your belt. :P

I feel like Batman... only much cooler.

---
What's Wrong With This Picture?
http://raj.phangureh.com/picture.html

RE: I've used this type for years and love it!
I.M. Anonymous @ 4/19/2002 12:00:13 AM #
Sorry dude but it's not a purse it's a man-bag and I've been carrying one for three years now and it works great for cell phone, pda, wallet, keys. The one I have is from Eagle Creek and I got it at REI. I don't carry anything in my pockets anymore and I'm glad. You may feel like batman with all that trash hanging off your belt but to me it looks like second rate rent-a-cop wanna-be.
RE: I've used this type for years and love it!
big_raji @ 4/19/2002 12:32:40 AM #
Maybe you didn't catch my sarcasm with my "Bat-Belt" comment. Oh well.

Anyways, if you're carrying your PDA around in a case that you can't put in your pocket or on your belt, you might as well make the case bigger so that it's useful for other stuff. That link you posted is a neat little case. Looks like it could get thrown in a briefcase or something, and be quite usable. However, I would NEVER carry either that case, nor the one in this review around by itself. It would either be put inside a briefcase/bag, or not used at all.

---
What's Wrong With This Picture?
http://raj.phangureh.com/picture.html

RE: I've used this type for years and love it!
I.M. Anonymous @ 4/19/2002 10:11:43 AM #
I have a cellphone with swivel case in my belt. sometimes i use the rhinoskins (not leather) beltclip. although handy i still feel nerdy thats why i only wear it in the office and not outside. but this guy is pushing it too far by carrying a purse. why dont you throw in some "guy" makeup and "guy" mirror?
I knew this would cause a stir!!!
I.M. Anonymous @ 4/19/2002 11:53:45 AM #
I am the original poster:
My wife and I are quite comfortable with my 'manhood' (insert snikering here) and my 'manliness' is not threatened just by caring a purse. By the way I am 6 foot 1 in and 198 pounds. I never get teased.
IF I do, it's by a friend who just wants to be silly...

YOUR not silly are you?

RE: I've used this type for years and love it!
I.M. Anonymous @ 4/19/2002 2:24:40 PM #
you may think im silly but i know a lot of people who saw you think you're pretty stupid.
RE: I've used this type for years and love it!
I.M. Anonymous @ 4/19/2002 2:25:31 PM #
but hey! youre already married right? you're fine i guess

PDA Phone Case

I.M. Anonymous @ 4/19/2002 10:37:41 AM #
The case looks seriously budget.. the swiss army case rules:

http://makeashorterlink.com/?K15A313C

I have it and i love it. Not too bulky, sleek design.. much more pricey than this case.. but worth it!

PDA Skins VisorPhone Case

I.M. Anonymous @ 4/19/2002 10:08:53 AM #
I am very happy with their case for the VisorPhone.

Pepper is right - this case gives MAXIMUM protection to your beloved pda.

When I got my visorphone, Handspring sent me a free black neoprene case. It's pretty nice looking - much sleaker than the PDA skins case. But I don't feel comfortable using "slipcases" - I would always worry that with all of the taking the PDA in & out of its case, I would be bound to drop it.

You can also get a sleeve with this case, so you dont have to attach the velcro to your PDA. I also don't like velcro directly on my PDA. The sleeve fits very snug on the PDA & is a great option.

Unfortunately, the geek factor of this case is pretty high, mainly because of its bulk. Also, the neck strap, which I think is a fantastic idea & use all the time, is honestly pretty dorky. My wife won't let me wear this case out to any event that's dressier than a pair of jeans. So that's when I pull out my neoprene case )

I'm also not sure about Pepper's assesment that this case looks professional. Most people think it's a camera case, and since I'm not a photographer, they want to know why the heck I'm wearing a camera.

Final con: I had to cut off the velcro strips that allows the case to stay open when its unzipped because I found that they were draining my battery. Apparently, when the case was closed, the velcro strips would press up against the screen. If an alarm went off when the case was closed, the pressure from the strips would prevent the PDA from turning off.

But even without the velcro strips, this case make your PDA very accessable without even having to take it off your belt. Just unzip the case and start tapping away.

I've dropped my PDA a few times in this case, and there wasn't even a question in my mind that my Visor was fine. If you're first priority in a case is to protect your investment, this is the case to buy.

--Charlie

bag

I.M. Anonymous @ 4/24/2002 2:50:53 PM #
this is thee pda/phone/pen and sketch bag - its paded - it,s small - and iīve got one - and itīs not called a pda case.
http://www.fjallraven.se/en/autumn2001_2002/25170.htm
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