Thursday, December 08, 2005
Proporta Magnesium Case for Dell Axim X50 series mini review
For the ultimate in protection, there really is only one stop - the metal case made by Proporta, among others. I always thought the Aluminium cases were top dog in this arena but now it seems there is a new pooch in the neighbourhood. Made from precision moulded magnesium, this is one case that will offer the same perfect fit forever, provided you don’t subject it to very heavy dent inducing knocks. With the swing door closed, I’m confident this case will keep your device safe from all but the severest of treatment. You have easy access to all parts of the device thanks to cut-outs for IR port, record button, synchronisation port, microphone, stylus, headphone jack, power button, LEDs and both memory card slots not to forget the all important soft reset hole.
The biggest issue with the Aluminium cases are the complaints of the metal door opening to the right due to the door hinge on the side. Many people find this a hindrance when actually using the device in hand. The alternative option of a doubled-hinged door that opens at the top of the device is employed in this Magnesium case. This allows the case to open flat through a full 360 degrees for ease of use but also allows the user to have a good grasp on both sides of the case when open. The finish of the case is naturally excellent with its perfect fit and looks attractive with its dark navy finish. It doesn’t feel quite as slippery as the Aluminium cases which make it feel a little more secure in the hand although this does give the impression of a plastic fabrication. Plastic it certainly isn’t though due to the high tensile Magnesium alloy which makes it stronger and 37% lighter than Aluminium. Internal protection is good thanks to the soft, neoprene lining. The small SD card holder on the inside of the door adds to the value although I would certainly ensure you are using a screen protector to ensure any pressure does not allow this feature to mark the screen. Also included in the package is an optional belt clip system with screw in post which leaves the choice of with or without up to the user. The protection to price ratio this case offers is second to none for a Pocket PC user and I highly recommend checking this out.
This case is designed for the X50, X50v, X51 and X51v range from Dell. More details can be found at the Proporta website.
The biggest issue with the Aluminium cases are the complaints of the metal door opening to the right due to the door hinge on the side. Many people find this a hindrance when actually using the device in hand. The alternative option of a doubled-hinged door that opens at the top of the device is employed in this Magnesium case. This allows the case to open flat through a full 360 degrees for ease of use but also allows the user to have a good grasp on both sides of the case when open. The finish of the case is naturally excellent with its perfect fit and looks attractive with its dark navy finish. It doesn’t feel quite as slippery as the Aluminium cases which make it feel a little more secure in the hand although this does give the impression of a plastic fabrication. Plastic it certainly isn’t though due to the high tensile Magnesium alloy which makes it stronger and 37% lighter than Aluminium. Internal protection is good thanks to the soft, neoprene lining. The small SD card holder on the inside of the door adds to the value although I would certainly ensure you are using a screen protector to ensure any pressure does not allow this feature to mark the screen. Also included in the package is an optional belt clip system with screw in post which leaves the choice of with or without up to the user. The protection to price ratio this case offers is second to none for a Pocket PC user and I highly recommend checking this out.
This case is designed for the X50, X50v, X51 and X51v range from Dell. More details can be found at the Proporta website.
