Brando Workshop Metal Case for the Palm TX & T5 Review
By: Ron aka twrock
January 25th, 2006

Brando Metal Case for Palm TX and Tungsten T5 ReviewThe Brando Workshop Metal Case is a very nice way to protect your Palm TX (or Tungsten T5). The build quality is very good. Made of aircraft aluminum, the Brando case is very solid and flexing is non-existent. It is available in metallic silver or metallic black and has a single slot inside the front cover to carry an extra SD memory card. There are cutouts for the SD slot, IR beam, headphone jack, power button, sync connector, and stylus removal. There is also a "bump" on the front cover to leave room for TX D-pad and cutout slots on the back for the speaker.

This solidness of the Brando case is also due in part to the design. Because the aluminum from the front and back covers smoothly wraps around to the sides and ends in almost all places, it is very hard to flex or bend this case. As well, the front cover is domed slightly, increasing rigidity, but this also increases the overall thickness.

The case comes with a removable swivel belt clip for those who are so inclined. I keep mine in my front pants pocket, so the clip is a feature I have never used. Because the case is painted, and not just brushed aluminum, it can be scratched. I have lost a little paint on one bottom corner through rough handling, but it is hardly noticeable as the color almost matches the aluminum underneath.

A single layer of black neoprene lines the inside for padding. The handheld is held in place by a plastic rail that slides into the slot on the left side of the TX. This means that the back of the case can be opened for access to the reset slot without removing the device. It also means that the TX fits somewhat loosely in the case, and will rattle as you move along. I solved this little problem by adding a narrow piece of soft foam just inside the front cover beside the latch, but it is something that Brando Workshop should look into.

Although I haven't had any problem with it yet, the front cover latch hooks over a piece of plastic attached to the side of the back cover. So far so good, but time will tell if this strong enough to last. One more picky suggestion I would make would be to go ahead and bend the back cover ever so slightly around toward the top cutout areas. This shouldn't interfere with the cutouts, and would make the case ever more solid. Additionally, I see no need for a cutout above the SD slot, particularly since the back cover can swing open allowing easy access to the card and protecting the SD card from accidental removal would actually be an advantage.

Brando Metal Case for Palm TX and Tungsten T5 ReviewThe Brando case's biggest strength is also it biggest weakness. Because the case has so many smooth curves (which add strength), it has a slightly oversized feel. Additionally, the slightly domed cover would probably protect the screen from a car tire, but it makes the case thicker than it needs to be. But I'm only complaining about millimeters here, not something that should keep you from seriously considering this very good case.

Pro's: solid build quality, protective
Con's: slightly oversized, case rattle
My rating: 8/10

Additional note: If you are shopping at Brando, consider the TX cradle they sell. It's very basic and lacks a hotsync button, but at least it is a good way to make your TX stand upright. One other short-coming is that it lacks rubber feet and tends to slide around too easily.

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torture test

jmccullough @ 1/25/2006 9:06:17 PM # Q
I wouldn't really expect you to put your Palm at risk, but it would be interesting to put the case under pressure to failure. Either drive over it or take it to your local engineering school where they have stress gauges (not sure if that's the real name) to do it.

Does the case seem as bulbous as the Palm (so-called)hardcase?

Good review.

RE: torture test
twrock @ 1/26/2006 10:34:05 AM # Q
Ok, I have to admit the car tire comment was a bit of an exaggeration, but the unit really is very solid.

I'm sorry, but I haven't seen the Palm case for comparison. Maybe you can compare it with the measurements I listed below. In comparison to the Boxwave case (which is billed as "form-fitting"), the Brando case is only longer by 2 mm (and the same size in other dimensions).

It might not be the "mythical color HandEra", but I'm liking my TX anyway.

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Nice review

The_Voice_of_Reason @ 1/26/2006 12:07:07 AM # Q
Thanks for contributing the review, Ron. I hope more power users here will make the effort to write detailed reviews of products (hardware + software) for Ryan to publish.

Can you update the review with some real world measurements (weight + dimensions) and close-up photos of your unit?

TVoR

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RE: Nice review
Admin @ 1/26/2006 1:26:48 AM # Q
Many thanks to Ron for this review, he also sent in another one which will be published soon. I always welcome any reviews sent in by readers, I would like to get some more software and accessory reviews going again.

-Ryan

RE: Nice review
twrock @ 1/26/2006 10:05:18 AM # Q
Thanks. Here are those measurements.
Weight: 72 gm (2.54 oz)
Dimensions:
12.7 cm length (5 in)
8.3 cm width excluding hinge and latch (3.27 in), 8.7 including those (3.43 in)
2.3 cm including "bump" for D-pad (0.91 in)

(None of those measurements include the beltclip attachment.)

It might not be the "mythical color HandEra", but I'm liking my TX anyway.

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Hard case...feature needed

OMEGON @ 1/26/2006 7:56:05 AM # Q
I use the Palm case that came with my T/E2, but don't see any aftermarket cases where there is a place to store a WiFi card. This is also missing in my Palm case. The WiFi card won't fit in the normal SD storage slot. Does anyone know of a hard case that has this feature?

OMEGON
RE: Hard case...feature needed
Sjrixon @ 1/27/2006 11:14:16 AM # Q
That's whay I am looking for.. Anyone? Where is a hard case with Wi-Fi space?

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More picture!

alex_de_L @ 1/26/2006 2:20:49 PM # Q
Hi!
I make a Review in Tecnopalm, too, in spanish, of course
more pics here

http://tecnopalm.com/modules.php?name=Reviews&rop=showcontent&id=280

and, you can compare Case Aluminium Proporta, for same PDA models

http://www.tecnopalm.com/modules.php?name=Reviews&rop=showcontent&id=335&page=1


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UK users

alanjrobertson @ 1/27/2006 7:01:02 PM # Q
You can get the Proporta case over here (either Amazon or Proporta.com) which looks to be almost identical to this one - only difference being it doesn't come in black and has 2 SD slots.

Assumming them to be similar - I'd certainly recommend them - very happy with the protection my TX is receiving in it.

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