Now they've seen them, I don't mind posting these.
Essentially, of the cases I've seen for the Athena - the standard one, the PDair (also marketed by Brando), and Piel Frama, the Piel Frama is the best case available, although all of them have compromises.
Where the Piel Frama scores points is in the lightweight construction, high quality materials, and choice of finish and colour range. It is the least bulky of the cases, and looks and feels like a high quality product. By comparison, the standard case is sloppy and doesn't seem to allow the keyboard to sit correctly flush with the screen, and the PDair feels like it was made with materials General Motors would have deemed suitable for Cadillac... in the 1970s.
The push stud to secure the clasp means there is a small bump under the keyboard, which will make it irritating to use if you spend a lot of time typing with the system on a desk. It does clip the case shut securely, however.
Fit and finish varies, as each case is hand made. Consistent issues are a partially blocked headphone port, "tight" clearances for the stylus and camera button, and sometime misaligned status window - it WILL work, but how much angle you will need on the case seems to vary from machine to machine. Assume 80% of users will probably get it to work in an acceptable fashion, and it probably won't be far off the mark.
The lightweight construction of the Athena case means there is a degree of flex and variation in the screen surround. This is the tradeoff for a slim, tight-fitting case instead of the solid, flat area presented by the PDair cases. In use it can sometimes be an issue, but no more so than the tendency of the main unit to slide out of the PDair, pushing the joystick - cosmetically it doesn't look as "perfectly aligned", which is a disappointment in a case of this cost, but doesn't actually interfere with the function of the machine.
The new case will be slightly tight; this will cause it to tilt a little forward when the keyboard is attached. Be patient and let it fold right back on itself, and this will cease to be an issue! Whilst looking at the keyboard, the magnetic attachment is as good as the standard case, and lines up with the status display perhaps a little TOO well - the stiff edge is perfectly aligned, and raises slightly presenting an increased wear possibility, unless you jiggle the fit a little before putting it in a pocket.
Ultimately Piel Frama have made a very good effort with the case. Whilst it's frustrating, in some ways, to consider this a 75 Euro "Good Effort", instead of "perfect" case, it's clear that the Athena presents some unique design challenges.
I think that the real proof of my opinion of it comes from the fact that I intend to buy another one, this time in blue - and I have the option of using my PDair case which I have since modified to lose the awful plastic keyboard sleeve.
Mod?
Hi, thanks for posting pictures. I do have one question: how did you modify the PDair case? From the posts (on other topics) one could deduce that PDair's case would be better if it had magnetic instead of plastic holder for the KB. So, is this the mod you applied? Got the magnet from original case?
Thanks Uros
cerk2006 said:
Hi, thanks for posting pictures. I do have one question: how did you modify the PDair case? From the posts (on other topics) one could deduce that PDair's case would be better if it had magnetic instead of plastic holder for the KB. So, is this the mod you applied? Got the magnet from original case?
Thanks Uros
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Nothing so sophisticated. I cut the plastic keyboard sleeve out above the lower four rows of keys and left a small edge (like the edge of the keyboard). Then it is al least possible to type on it again.
RichardKAthena said:
Now they've seen them, I don't mind posting these.
Essentially, of the cases I've seen for the Athena - the standard one, the PDair (also marketed by Brando), and Piel Frama, the Piel Frama is the best case available, although all of them have compromises.
Where the Piel Frama scores points is in the lightweight construction, high quality materials, and choice of finish and colour range. It is the least bulky of the cases, and looks and feels like a high quality product. By comparison, the standard case is sloppy and doesn't seem to allow the keyboard to sit correctly flush with the screen, and the PDair feels like it was made with materials General Motors would have deemed suitable for Cadillac... in the 1970s.
The push stud to secure the clasp means there is a small bump under the keyboard, which will make it irritating to use if you spend a lot of time typing with the system on a desk. It does clip the case shut securely, however.
Fit and finish varies, as each case is hand made. Consistent issues are a partially blocked headphone port, "tight" clearances for the stylus and camera button, and sometime misaligned status window - it WILL work, but how much angle you will need on the case seems to vary from machine to machine. Assume 80% of users will probably get it to work in an acceptable fashion, and it probably won't be far off the mark.
The lightweight construction of the Athena case means there is a degree of flex and variation in the screen surround. This is the tradeoff for a slim, tight-fitting case instead of the solid, flat area presented by the PDair cases. In use it can sometimes be an issue, but no more so than the tendency of the main unit to slide out of the PDair, pushing the joystick - cosmetically it doesn't look as "perfectly aligned", which is a disappointment in a case of this cost, but doesn't actually interfere with the function of the machine.
The new case will be slightly tight; this will cause it to tilt a little forward when the keyboard is attached. Be patient and let it fold right back on itself, and this will cease to be an issue! Whilst looking at the keyboard, the magnetic attachment is as good as the standard case, and lines up with the status display perhaps a little TOO well - the stiff edge is perfectly aligned, and raises slightly presenting an increased wear possibility, unless you jiggle the fit a little before putting it in a pocket.
Ultimately Piel Frama have made a very good effort with the case. Whilst it's frustrating, in some ways, to consider this a 75 Euro "Good Effort", instead of "perfect" case, it's clear that the Athena presents some unique design challenges.
I think that the real proof of my opinion of it comes from the fact that I intend to buy another one, this time in blue - and I have the option of using my PDair case which I have since modified to lose the awful plastic keyboard sleeve.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Thank you for your post. It's much appreciated.
I will second that post, there are a few minor niggles with the Piel Frama case but I don't find them an issue, the headphone socket being the worst offending part in my opinion but I use the mini USB to 3,5MM addapter with my unit so its no longer an issue.
The case quality is very good, considerably better than the OEM supplied one from T-Mobile - its secure whilst remaining soft, quality product that I am more than happy with - Mike
Got my Blue case today; again, nothing like as punchy/OTT as the site depicts. I think I got a better fit with this one, too; the screen alignment is better, and even more interesting, the status display works with less of an angle than my first case. Headphone socket is still partially obscured, but the USB socket is cleaner-cut.
I really think we have to expect some variation in the fit of these cases, so I'm not going to say for certain that they are "improving" - but they might be. This one is definitely a better overall fit.
Quality OK
Just received my Piel Frama case and must say I was expecting the worst. However I was quite please with the quality when I received it. Slight problem with the headphone socket and aligning the keyboard when case is close but nothing too worrying. I agree that the build quality may vary or they may have sorted their manufacturing but they have excellent customer service if you are not satified and I will definatly recommend them now and in the future
Does the Piel Frama case come with a belt clip?
Thanks for all the information and pictures!
Belt clip = no way you need a big pocket for this to reside in. TBH the weight of the device would probably pull down most belts leading to a certain red faced situation - Mike
mikealder said:
Belt clip = no way you need a big pocket for this to reside in. TBH the weight of the device would probably pull down most belts leading to a certain red faced situation - Mike
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Belt clip is the only way to go. I use the case that came with my Ipaq 6315. It may not look as good as the case the x7500 came in or the other after market cases. But without the belt clip, it kind of makes the unit not to usable. I don't have pockets big enough to put it in and if i just carried it all the time, i would probably lose it...
eagle 1 said:
Belt clip is the only way to go. I use the case that came with my Ipaq 6315. It may not look as good as the case the x7500 came in or the other after market cases. But without the belt clip, it kind of makes the unit not to usable. I don't have pockets big enough to put it in and if i just carried it all the time, i would probably lose it...
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
That's exactly what I've heard others say and what I'm worried about.
Improving product
I received my black PF case today and it seems that they are getting the cut outs done more accurately than previous post have mentioned.
I used some leather cpr on the case and it bends like rubber, the screen seats right on the keyboard.
eagle 1 said:
Belt clip is the only way to go. I use the case that came with my Ipaq 6315. It may not look as good as the case the x7500 came in or the other after market cases. But without the belt clip, it kind of makes the unit not to usable. I don't have pockets big enough to put it in and if i just carried it all the time, i would probably lose it...
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I also agree here. I am now using the x7500 as data only as I got the itch for a new phone when I saw the HTC Touch. But I hate keeping my x7500 in my pocket. I mean honestly it isn't that heavy and the weight is still pulling your pants down the same as if it was on your belt. I can carry alot more weight than the x7500 on my belt and have no problems at all. Actually I do carry alot more on my belt on a regular basis, just a quick question for you. How much do you think a police officers duty belt weighs? I'll weigh mine tonite if I have time and post it when I can.
Related
I got this at SF Planet for $13+shipping. It is well-made. The Athena is a snug fit width-wise but the sides are elastic. The case looks very professional and like it is made for the Athena. My only complaints are it could be a little wider and I would prefer a magnetic closure instead of Velcro.
Here are some pics:
http://picasaweb.google.com/cbhausen/AthenaInKrusell75134/photo#5137659532977009954
Here is SF Planet's order page:
http://www.sfplanet.com/product/75...r_Leather_Case_L_with_Slide_Swivel_Clip.html
So you have to remove from the case to use?
toyfreak said:
I got this at SF Planet for $13+shipping. It is well-made. The Athena is a snug fit width-wise but the sides are elastic. The case looks very professional and like it is made for the Athena. My only complaints are it could be a little wider and I would prefer a magnetic closure instead of Velcro.
Here are some pics:
http://picasaweb.google.com/cbhausen/AthenaInKrusell75134/photo#5137659532977009954
Here is SF Planet's order page:
http://www.sfplanet.com/product/75...r_Leather_Case_L_with_Slide_Swivel_Clip.html
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
wgary said:
So you have to remove from the case to use?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Yes, unless you have x-ray vision
I wish someone would make a belt clip case with holes for the screen and buttons so we could use the Athena without taking it out. The screen could face outward (away from the body) and be protected with a flip cover.
I filled out the form on Vaja's web site with this suggestion. They should make an Athena case which has a flip cover like their iPhone cases.
I carry my device bare without keyboard, and this looks like an excellent design. The price looks good too.
It looks just a little little too tight. Is it easy to put the unit in and out? I also prefer to leave the pouch hanging on my waist while the unit is removed for use. The current design seems to be such that the whole pouch with the device comes off the waist.
Is there any option to leave the secured on the waist when the device is removed? I think it is a hassle, not knowing what to do and where to place the empty pouch when the device is being used.
Search ebay for "HTC X7500 leather" and/or "HTC X7501 Leather".
There's plenty of great cases.
looks nice, but no belt clip:
http://cgi.ebay.com/FITFOR-HTC-ADVA...ryZ15036QQssPageNameZWDVWQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem
This one has belt clip:
http://cgi.ebay.com/New-Genuine-Lea...ryZ15036QQssPageNameZWDVWQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem
Many people here have had experience with the 2nd case you list. The clip breaks in 1-2 days, and on mine the post (that the clip attaches to) came unglued on the 3rd day. If I hadn't noticed it before I wore it again, the whole thing would have dropped to the ground as the clip & post stayed on my belt. Mine went right in the trash because trying to get a refund would have eaten up the refund since they require that you send the case back. If I got a replacement case I would have immediately sold it (not trusting to use it anymore), costing money to list it and I probably would have had to undercut the other cases listed to ensure a sale, costing money again...
Do not buy it! Many others here will agree. You'll save money by buying a decent (but more expensive) case first, that will last you for years. Forget about the cheap ebay cases.
How do you guys keep the buttons from getting pressed in the tight cases?
I have the screen/lock on but after a call somes in the buttons still get pressed.
any ideas?
G
eaglesteve said:
I carry my device bare without keyboard, and this looks like an excellent design. The price looks good too.
It looks just a little little too tight. Is it easy to put the unit in and out? I also prefer to leave the pouch hanging on my waist while the unit is removed for use. The current design seems to be such that the whole pouch with the device comes off the waist.
Is there any option to leave the secured on the waist when the device is removed? I think it is a hassle, not knowing what to do and where to place the empty pouch when the device is being used.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
The case could be a little wider but it is elastic on the sides and expands to fit. I put my X7501 in one corner first (slightly diagonally) and push it to one side to get the other corner started. Once both corners are in it is not difficult to push all the way in. There is plenty of room to grasp the top corners of the unit to pull it out.
The pouch stays on my waist (attached to belt) when I am using the unit. I have to squeeze the belt clip to take the pouch off clip and all or push down on the release button on the clip to take the pouch off but leave the clip on my belt.
This is not a "quick draw" case. One does have to be deliberate putting the Athena in. Taking it out is easier, especially when the case stays on the belt.
Also, the corners of the Athena are not protected if the case is dropped with the Athena inside. I look at this case as a good balance between cost and functionality. My quest for the "perfect" case continues...
Yes, indeed there is no pouch that meets my requirements yet.
Another of my requirement is that when I sir down with the pouch on my front hip, it should not cause discomfort to my body. This means it can't be made of hard leather, and the belt loop should be made of elastic material.
Got it.
Pro:
- excellent quality;
- fits the Athena almost to the millimeter;
- holds miniSD cards quite nicely;
- belt-clip much better, IMHO, than previous "rotary" ones. Besides, it can be removed without having the pod-thing it attaches to sticking out and taking up room for nothing.
Cons:
- big and bulky;
- has to be "worked" a bit to close once the Athena's inside. Now ok but after about two-weeks of "massaging";
All in all a great "long-trip" type case IMHO, but no good for day to day use, especially if you don't care about the keyboard all that much.
Krusell 75134 not available any longer?
Toyfreak,
Thanks for posting. I like the case, but the problem is that Krusell does not make it any longer. Even their web site does not list the 75134 model. Do you remember for what device it was originally listed. Like IPAQ model XX or so? Then I could try to find a similar Krusell model. I like the tight fit. Searched a lot and even went to a couple stores, I find them all too bulky.
Thanks a lot.
bengl said:
Toyfreak,
Thanks for posting. I like the case, but the problem is that Krusell does not make it any longer. Even their web site does not list the 75134 model. Do you remember for what device it was originally listed. Like IPAQ model XX or so? Then I could try to find a similar Krusell model. I like the tight fit. Searched a lot and even went to a couple stores, I find them all too bulky.
Thanks a lot.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Krusell discontinued the 75134 a long time ago but SF Planet had some left when I bought mine. Try the link in post #1 of this thread and see if they still have them.
EDIT: I just tried the link and the page is gone... I'm still looking for the perfect case and I will share any finds I make. It might be worth a call anyway.
toyfreak,
Thanks for checking. SFplanet did not have it any longer on their web but I will give them a call to find out what other case might have a similar size. Would it be too much to ask if you can take the inside measurements of the case and post it?
Thanks
Ben
bengl said:
toyfreak,
Thanks for checking. SFplanet did not have it any longer on their web but I will give them a call to find out what other case might have a similar size. Would it be too much to ask if you can take the inside measurements of the case and post it?
Thanks
Ben
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Apx. 130x88x28mm inside but the elastic on the sides allows it to expand to fit the width of the Athena (see pictures in first post)
toyfreak,
Thank you very much. With the measurements I can continue my hunt. I will post any findings under Athena accessories.
You need search no farther than http://forum.xda-developers.com/forumdisplay.php?f=351
This is the only case I know of designed for the Advantage that has a secure belt clip. There is another case available there, Series 270, that is slightly smaller to hold the device without the HTC case on it.
As far as I am concerned, there is nothing else available to match it.
Brad M
i just ordered it from sf, its changed numbers , but still works its 75 something else just not 7534 i ordered it works great
found it here it is http://www.sfplanet.com/product/75170/Krusell_75170_Universal_Holster_M_with_Slide_Swivel_Clip.html i ordered it got it right here works great
Krussel case
Hi folks,
Just got one here, quick delivery. fits well, but case is very stiff new, will soften up im sure.
Jay
http://www.fonejuice.co.uk/products...rusell+Pictor+PDA+Pouch+Large+94117+&x=26&y=8
This doesn't look near as nice as the Nutshell case(if you're not familair, read in this forum, there's a thread somewhere with links). The clip on the nutshell case is pretty much immune to wearing out. Downside is it can cost from $60 to over $100 and can take up to 2 weeks to ship. Worth every penny and minute in my book.
Hello! This is a quick review highlighting these two products. Of all of the cases I've tried (believe me, I have about 7 or 8 at home...) these two reign king. I'm unsure of which one I'll ultimately go with, but I do have some opinions about each that I'd like to highlight. For what it's worth, you can't go wrong with either case - but they do have slightly different features which may or may not sway you in those corresponding directions.
This entire post isn't really a defined "this is my Speck FitFolio case review" and then following "this is my eBay case review," but instead it's kind of a mish/mash of the two products all at once. I'll compare them, highlight differences/similarities between the two, etc.
To start, here is the direct link of the one I purchased from pandamimi2011 on eBay. I went with this user because it ships out of California so I knew I wouldn't have to wait two months for it to come from China, plus his/her feedback looked solid. I paid for the middle tier of shipping and it came on Wednesday when I ordered it on Sunday. I'm in Pennsylvania (on the other side of the country), and we just had hurricane Sandy rip us a new one. To say I'm satisfied at the shipping speed is an understatement.
The feel of this case is pretty nice. It has tiny grooves over it, so it almost seems like a very faint "metal file" feeling of some sort. It's got a slight rubbery texture, which when coupled with the grooves feels a bit more grippy than the Speck case, which is something I like. It does however present it with a slight -1 in the pocketability department. The Speck can be slid into my back pocket of my dress pants somewhat easily. The thickness of the Speck vs the width of my pocket makes pocketability decently possible, however if the thickness of the N7/Speck were any thicker, it'd be a different story. With the eBay case, I can make it happen, but I have to wrestle with it for a few extra seconds first. Not a big deal, but it's enough of a deterrent that when I'm walking up and down the hall at work, for short walking bursts from one tech issue to the next I may just hold it.
When both cases are opened and folded back the magnet does not interfere. Each one wakes up/sleeps the device easily and predictably. I will say this, though... when I was trying different variations of the eBay case to ensure the magnets worked properly, I noticed something. It appears as if the wake up/sleep magnet on the Nexus 7 is located on the left side - not on the right. I say this because due to the eBay's case design, it has a "tri fold" thing going on with the front flap that covers the screen. If I fold it so only the left side is flat on the screen, yet the middle and right is up in the air away from the tablet, it indeed sleeps/wakes up the N7. Whenever I saw other video reviews, people would point to the right side to indicate it had a smart feature. Either way, doesn't matter, but just an observation worth pointing out.
The back shell (the skeleton) cradling the Nexus 7 in both scenarios is solid. With each case, the N7 pops in easily and securely. With the Speck case I found it's easier to "eject" the N7 when starting from the left side, where there are some spaces in the mold. It's much more difficult to start on the right side where it's full length. See picture to see what I mean. Meanwhile with the eBay case, both the left and right side spans the entire length. Because of this, it makes the "eject from left side" idea (which works great on the Speck) fail with this case. Instead, it's easiest to eject the N7 around the charging port cutout at the bottom. See picture.
Another difference between the two worth noting is the latching mechanism. The Speck case has a clip, and a very well designed clip. The clip itself is attached to some sort of heavy elastic, which has a very slight amount of "give" when securing the flap. It's very solid and gives me 100% confidence that if I drop my case, it will not open unless, somehow, it's an epic fall that manages to break the clip itself. The eBay case however latches based on magnets. There's a magnet strip in the flap that folds behind the tablet when closed. It's not a strong magnet, however because it's an entire magnet strip, it holds on decently. I held my tablet with both hands and shook it until the flap opened up. You sure have to give it a good solid swift movement in order to have enough momentum for the flap to fly open. If my tablet were to take a tumble down a flight of stairs, the Speck case would almost definitely have the +1 because I believe the magnet would give way and open up. For just general protection, excluding extreme falls etc, the magnetic flap provides adequate security. This didn't really sway my opinion in either scenario, since I was just happy to have a case like this where there is a magnetic flap to keep it closed... whereas some cases like this don't have this magnetic flap whatsoever.
Speaking of the latching mechanism, one concern I have about the Speck case is while it latches securely, I do wonder how it'll hold up in the long haul. I use my Nexus 7 for a lot at work as I work in IT. I'm frequently opening, closing, opening, closing, over and over and over possibly hundreds of times a day. In the 10 days I've had the Speck case, I've noticed that the latch has become much easier to clip and unclip. Some may attribute this to being broken in, but considering it's hard plastic vs hard plastic, some degree of wear may be a side effect. So while the Speck latch holds closed more securely, the eBay case would almost definitely have more longevity. I also like with the eBay case that I can kind of throw the front flap shut in my hand, and thanks to the momentum, the magnetic flap flips around the back of the case and stays put thanks to the magnets grabbing it, which is kind of nice because it doesn't require a physical need to latch the clip. This may be splitting some rather extreme hairs, but I wanted to document exactly what my thoughts were on all accounts, as major or minor that they might be.
The other difference I want to notate is the button cutouts. The Speck has volume up/down in one cutout, a separation, and then the power button cutout. This is nice because when I'm feeling for the buttons it's more obvious that I'm hitting volume up instead of power, which often happens. The eBay case has one open cutout for all three buttons. However, while all three buttons are lumped together, the actual thickness of the plastic mold is indeed thinner, making the feeling of the buttons easier to detect even though there's not a separation. It's one of those half empty/half full things that likely doesn't matter in the grand scheme of things, but there's pros and cons to notate on both sides.
The stand up positions with both cases are decent. The Speck offers a little more versatility for some of my uses, as I'm often laying down in bed on the N7. Due to the wider platform the case gives when it's propped up in horizontal mode, it's a bit easier to prop it on my stomach/chest without issue. This probably goes without saying since most people would detect this immediately when they see a picture, but with the eBay case, due to its tri-fold design, it makes the "propped up on stomach/chest when laying down position" near impossible. It does however provide a decent range of prop positions when on a table/desk of some sort, much like the Speck. Certainly not a deal breaker, but worth mentioning.
Overall, you won't lose no matter which case you get. Both of these cases are easily contenders for the #1 spot of all of the cases I've used. The number 1 thing I love about both cases is the plastic mold they fit into. There's nothing covering the bezel anywhere and there's none of this 6 prong thing going on around the edges like the BluRex Ultra Slim case among other various cases. (not to say it's a bad design, but I personally prefer the mold design). I do believe I'll be sticking with the eBay case for a while, as I find the magnetic flap to be a little more well suited for my uses. I also think the eBay case has a slightly better price-vs-product ratio, as even with mid-tier shipping I paid 18 or 19 bucks for it, while the Speck ran me 30 bucks. Considering both of these cases are directly on par with one another, it stands to reason that the eBay case in this scenario could easily be the winner for being the "better bang for the buck." Either way, both cases are very worth their money and both are highly recommended.
Great in depth review! Need a pic gallery comparing findings would be nice. Not saying to post every single pic, but maybe host it somewhere where you already uploaded them?
Nevertheless, the review is well done! :good:
kpjimmy said:
Great in depth review! Need a pic gallery comparing findings would be nice. Not saying to post every single pic, but maybe host it somewhere where you already uploaded them?
Nevertheless, the review is well done! :good:
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
That was my intention when I wrote the review a few days ago. The above info I had written up before and just saved in an office doc, so to post I just pasted over. I'll be able to add pictures later this evening.
Which one is thinner?
Ehh we may have a show stopper finding here. I was using my tablet earlier with the eBay case and when folded back it shut off at one point. I spent what felt like five full minutes trying to replicate it but couldn't. Later on when I got home I was able to... it's only at a very exact point that it happens, but once I got the hang of it I could replicate it a bit easier... I just find it crazy that for hours after unboxing it I wasn't able to notice it. The eBay case indeed has a design flaw in that regard. I'm going to email the seller and see what he has to say about it.
Something else worth noting is when the Speck case is folded back you can clip it in place which is a nice touch. Without clipping it when folded back cases like this tend to have a sloppy feeling when holding it with one hand. That being said, I'd say the Speck takes the cake here.
Sent from my Nexus 7 using xda app-developers app
JaSauders said:
Ehh we may have a show stopper finding here. I was using my tablet earlier with the eBay case and when folded back it shut off at one point. I spent what felt like five full minutes trying to replicate it but couldn't. Later on when I got home I was able to... it's only at a very exact point that it happens, but once I got the hang of it I could replicate it a bit easier... I just find it crazy that for hours after unboxing it I wasn't able to notice it. The eBay case indeed has a design flaw in that regard. I'm going to email the seller and see what he has to say about it.
Something else worth noting is when the Speck case is folded back you can clip it in place which is a nice touch. Without clipping it when folded back cases like this tend to have a sloppy feeling when holding it with one hand. That being said, I'd say the Speck takes the cake here.
Sent from my Nexus 7 using xda app-developers app
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Any word from the seller?
I prefer the Blurex/Moko style than your ebay case. It is classy and suitable for business style. ebay case looks cheap with the plastic cover, and it may hurt the Nexus 7's plastic sides.
Finding a leather case that's really made for the Note 2 that goes on your hip is a heck of a challenge at best. There's lots of pleather cases out there, and ones that aren't made for the Note...they're big enough to hold two of them I've heard! The case made right is big enough already, it doesn't need to be bigger than needed.
So after lots of looking I settled on the Smartphone Experts Side Pouch.
From what I could tell in the pictures, it looked like a good case and with the black friday discount, I got it for ~$21, not bad for a leather case.
It came in today, and I must say I'm pleasantly surprised. It truly is real leather, smells great and is stamped so on the back (you can see it in the pictures.) Stitching is done nicely, and with black thread instead of the white I see so often. Thank god for that, I don't need my case looking like a leisure suit!
There is extra padding on the exposed side of the case, I haven't seen this before in other cases. This can be seen in the pictures too. The belt clip is sturdy and strong, even though it looks small. The closure is magnetic and holds the flap down securely. Honestly, I don't know if magnets really mess up the phone, but it would be a simple matter to slide a sheet of mu-metal foil inside of the padded area to help with that.
The fit is quite snug, but one can expect that with all leather cases. They usually take about a week or so to form fit to your device. After that, it'll be quite easy to get the case in and out of my pocket. It does have a finger hole in the bottom center of the case to enable you to pop your device out easily. One miss, as pointed out by BrooklynAvi is that there is no headphone hole. I don't use headphones, but I can certainly see how that'd be a problem.
So, all in all, a very nice quality case. Definitely would recommend to anyone looking for a leather hip case.
Thanks for the review. Do you think this pouch can fit the Note Ii with a case? Maybe I'll be a tight fit.
Kinda hard to tell; my phone is naked. The extra padding is soft, so it does have some give in it. If the case is thin, it'll probably go. Good thing is that leather stretches with time, so it should stretch to fit eventually?
I love the Seidio holster but they aren't making it for the GNote 2 without an additional case. In addition to the cost of the extra case, I don't want to have a case on my phone. The strange thing is they make two of those type of cases which annoys me. One should have been the regular one. Well, they said they don't plan to make one so I was in the market for a traditional hip case. I found this one and you confirmed a few things I wanted to know so I'm ordering it now. I used this type for my Dash and several other devices so it shouldn't be too bad. Better than my pocket.
I thought this thread was going to be about a hip ie. fashionable case
I've been deceived ha ha
Sent from my SGH-T889 using xda premium
Kawaisa said:
I've been deceived ha ha
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Yeah, well.....
One thing I can't stand is a phone in the pocket. Only way to make that worse is to have a LARGE phone in my pocket. It may not look cool, but you can't beat a case on your hip for ease of access.
One (or two) big issues
OP: Can you add this comment (in brief, of course) to the OP so others know the headphones hole is missing?
So I received the case and it was exactly what I expected in terms of quality. It really is designed for a belt but works well on my pants alone when I don't wear a belt but falls off my sweatpants at home (I don't wear my case at home much anyway and this is to be expected). Here are the issues. There are no cutouts for the headphone and charger. The charger isn't truly and issue for me as I doubt I will charge it while wearing it like I've done with other phones (while out and using an external charger) because the battery life is tremendous on the GN2. But I really use the headphones while wearing the case. I actually think that this is a vital feature that was overlooked. My solution will be to pay $5 or $10 to have a professional seamstress cut a hole in it and stitch up the hole. Yeah, it's that important to me.
So if you need a case like this then it's really your only choice. I just didn't think to ask. It's solid though and once it stops being stiff I'm going to enjoy not having to carry the device in my pocket. I'm a huge fan of side cases and this is a really good one. (Anyone remember the awesome one that came with the T-Mobile Dash?)
After a week or so of use I've decided I'm returning the case. It simply doesn't stay on my side and it's fallen off in my car a few times. It even fell off while I was walking. I'm so disappointed in a case that could have been so good.
Sent from my GT-N7105 using xda premium
I never buy those belt clips like that, i had a bad experience with those. The belt part becomes every flimsy very fast. Im still looking for a nice belt holster that isn't ottercase or siedo.
I haven't had a problem with it falling off, but then I always had a belt on when I was using the case. It's a good case, but I've switched to the Best Buy Pt/seidio surface case. Gives the extra grip I need and love the holster.
I know there are probably already plenty of these, but I thought I would share my views, and hopefully help someone! I have had this case several months, so this is not a first impression For the lazy ones, skip to the bottom for a summary. :silly:
Many of you have probably seen this case on amazon or this forum. It is a PU leather with a landscape stand, sold under many different brand names on amazon.
Instead of the case coming around the bezel of the device, or using a breakage-prone plastic clip on case as some others do, this case has 6 or 7 clips (depending on the version) to hold the Nexus in. There is one on each corner, and another on the top and bottom. 2 of the corners unclip and the device flips out in landscape mode to make a stand (no portrait stand, but this is common to most cases unfortunately). Some variations also have a hand strap.
Now, the big question on everyone's minds. Quality. I have found this case to be very good, as have others who have tried them. Unlike some other cases such as the Nillkin smart cover, there are no plastic parts to crack, or joins/edges covered in that waxy plastic coating, that seems to be prone to cracking and peeling. All the edges are sewn, so no issues there.
Another worry I have seen come up on the forum is the metal or plastic clasp that clips over the edge of the device for closure. Some worry this could scratch or damage their Nexus. Don't. I have been using this case for around 3 months now, and my 7 still looks as good as the day I got it (well, apart from the filthy screen ) In fact, I prefer this to a magnetic strap, as it is far more secure!
Although this is a great case, it still has its issues. At first, the clasp is quite tight, and hard to close, but over time this loosens as the case stretches slightly. This happening is great, apart from the fact that on mine, it no longer held the smart cover magnet close enough to the screen, so the smart cover only works intermittently. I understand mine may be from an old batch, and this has been fixed with a stronger magnet.
For all of you in the USA, this case is easily available on Amazon, but for me in Australia, it is not so easy to find. There is a variant by Caseen called the Soft snap, but this is 3x the price of the Chinese amazon version. For anyone outside of the US, I could not find it on eBay, but eventually found one on a Hong Kong wholesale site, Aliexpress. I will post a link once I am allowed to.
So, for all the lazy ones who skipped to the bottom, to sum up:
Pros:
Slim, adds very little bulk
Clever stand design, does not add thickness
Cheap
Secure clasp
Cons:
Hard to get outside of Amazon USA
Clasp too tight at first
Some have issues with smart cover
Yeah, there are quite a few threads for this that you could have posted into, but this case IMO deserves attention. A few people at work have asked me about mine and have gotten one (although one apparently wasn't paying attention and got a similar case and he doesn't like it.. he's getting the moko now )
Besides fit, form, and function which are all great on this case, I expected the strap to stretch out and the pleather to scuff up, fray on the edges, rip, etc and look shabby like almost all PU does. Nope. This is good stuff, whatever crazy chemicals it's made out of. The case looks the same today as it did when I bought it a few weeks after the N7 was available, straps are still tight even though I use the hand strap quite a bit, snap is still good (and as you said; no damage anywhere) etc.
Thanks for the feedback! I will try to find others next time to keep clutter down.
I got my case in the mail about two weeks ago. Full disclosure: I recieved it as a free promo, on the condition that I review it. I am not the type to give a positive review to a product I don't care for, as this post shows: http://forum.xda-developers.com/showpost.php?p=62637305&postcount=73
OK, here we go. Case looks good. Not a big fan of gold, but it's not really that important to me. I get why others are saying that the plastic is kind of cheap looking and has a visible seam. But that's only when inspected really closely. From a normal, reasonable distance (like that of everyday use), it looks just fine. I even got a couple of compliments on the case today, and I wasn't even showing it to anyone, juat taking it out of or putting it back into my pocket. It has a very modern, almost high-tech look that is admittedly somewhat cheapened by the gold plastic, but that is quickly gotten over. The rubber back has a nice ridged texture, which feels pleasant and grippy in the hand.
It's kind of hard to talk about function or form independent from each other with this case. It seems like a lot of thought went into both aspects during design, as well as how they could compliment each other. For example, the case is slim and adds no appreciable bulk. It also has curved sides that hug the contours of the phone better than my Otterbox Commuter did. I like the Commuter a lot, but between the non-slippery ridged rubber back, the curved edges and the overall thinness of the Artech, it just feels better in the hand. Its more comfortable to hold and I feel like I have a better grip on it. The slim profile of the case makes it very comfortable in a pocket as well.
The phone pops into the case in a single piece. It went in easily, but there are instructions in case you need them. I was a little worried that it might pop out as easily as it popped in. But after slamming the phone hard against my palm several times, it didn't budge. Even when I cupped my palm in an effort to put more stress on the side of the case to purposely get it to pop out. It has a nice, snug fit. There is a nice raised lip around the screen, even with a tempered glass screen protector.
As another poster noted, there is a nice bezel next to the heart rate monitor on the back of the phone that makes it easy to reach. But overall, the camera hole is smaller than my other case. So I feel that the Artech offers better camera protection without interfering with function. This same type of design is noticeable below the home button, where the lip of the case flattens out for more comfortable access. It is obvious that some thought went into this design.
Despite the back being ridged rubber that hugs the palm, the fact that there are a couple of ever so slightly raised plastic parts on the back means that this effect is, regrettably not useful on a table or other flat surface. It can slide on its plastic parts rather than being anchored by the rubber. It feels a little like a missed opportunity, but not a deal breaker.
The buttons and all of the holes for the various ports line up perfectly. The battery and headphone jacks are exposed, which I don't necessarily like, but can live with. There is a rather large opening for the s pen, but flat surfaces will touch both sides of the case without coming into contact with that part of the device. Further proof that there is a deliberate and thoughtful design here.
The rubber on the back and on the inside of the case seems kind of thin, but is a bit nore rigid than my other case. The power and volume buttons are responsive and soft. They are not very "clicky", of that kind of thing is important to you. It is not important to me, and I like the feel of these buttons.
A good 3/4 of the back is the aforementioned ridged rubber. I'm not sure how much protection it would really offer in the event of a decent drop. Again, I am conparing it to the Otterbox Commuter, which has a plastic over rubber back. One way to find out, which I don't plan on trying anytime soon. But it seems solid enough. There is some ridged pattern on the inside of the case, but I don't know if that is decorative or not. It's not symmetrical, so I think it probably is. In any event, the slightly raised plastic bits on the back look like they would prevent the back of the phone from actually coming into contact with the ground (covered in rubber or no) as the result of a flat drop. But that is just speculation on my part.
In conclusion, i would say that this is a very nice case, a few minor quibbles aside. It's got a nice blend of form and function not often seen in phone cases. It looks and feels good, and the functionality is excellent in my opinion.
For the asking price (I got it free, but you know what I mean), it is definitely nice. I only buy Otterboxes because I get them at a significant discount which puts them in the same price range as the Artech. So if I had to buy one or the other of these, it would be hard to choose (unless the Commuter was full price, in which case it would be Artech hands down because it is a good case and also I'm a tightwad). The Artech looks and especially feels way better, is easier to hold securely, and very comfortable. As far as protection, both seem comparable, but I would give a slight to moderate edge to the Otterbox commuter because of the covered ports and plastic over rubber back. But, make no mistake: the Artech Slim Stylish case seems to offer good, solid phone protection. And I'm in no hurry to go back to my other case. I'm gonna go ahead and use this one for a while.
I would definitely recommend this case to anyone looking for a sleek, yet protective case that feels good to hold.
This is an updated version of a post I made in someone else's thread about this same case. I wanted to make it its own thread and add pictures. After two weeks, my feelings about the case are the same as when I first got it. All in all, I am very satisfied with this case.
good review , and no angry pitch
choetech-official said:
good review , and no angry pitch
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