Contact Info:

E & B Company
www.ebcases.com

PalmInfoCenter.com Bottom Line:

The Price:
  • $34
The Pros:
  • Well constructed
  • Good Protection
  • Does not have to be removed to fit in cradle

The Cons:
  • Buttons not completely covered

PalmInfoCenter.com Ratings*:
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Cost/benefit:
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*Maximum Rating is FIVE (5) InfoPalms



 Slipper m505 Case Review
By Dennis G. Esler
6/11/2001

Introduction
Like many long-time Palm users, I waited anxiously for the m505 to hit the market. I watched the Web and (thanks in part to Palm Infocenter) was able to rush out and snag one of the first four units that reached the nearest Office Depot.

After a short time, it became obvious to me that the leather flip cover wouldn’t cut it. I needed something more substantial. (I had a hard molded case from Palm for my Palm V and a titanium slider for my IIIc, both of which protected the units well.) I looked but couldn’t find anything for the m505.

Then I saw the ad about the slipper from E&B cases. It looked good on the Web, so I ordered it. After about 3 weeks it came (Initially backordered).

Initial Impression
The case was a lot softer that I had expected. For some reason I thought it would be hard, polished leather. But, to my surprise (and delight) it’s glove-soft and very supple. The box says "form-fitting" and the name "Slipper" is a great analogy. (It also has the new leather smell).

Construction
The workmanship is great with all edges stitched and finished (except for the cutout around the universal connector and the credit card slot). The leather is evenly colored (I chose the burgundy color) and is slightly textured. Other available colors include black, brown, and dark blue.

The flip cover has some reinforcing material in it to help protect the screen. It has slots to securely hold two SD cards and the credit card slot can easily hold a handful of business cards or a few credit cards.

All buttons, the IR port, the reset hole, the SD slot, the stylus and the bottom connector are easily accessible and unobstructed.

There are two 1" long strips of Velcro sewn vertically along either side even with the Graffiti area to hook to their mates on the flip cover to hold the case securely closed. These are stated to "not fray". So far so good.

The case also has a small metal E&B logo on the lower right corner of the cover. A nice touch. (It would be nicer if my initials were EB.)

Usability
The best part of this case it that it does not have to be removed put the M505 in its cradle. It fits perfectly.

Though I haven’t been able to try it yet, I suspect it will even fit in the PPK keyboard. (I’ll let you know as soon as Amazon ships mine to me.)

The case it soft and comfortable to hold. It flips open easily yet holds securely enough so as not to open accidentally. The SD and credit card slots are secure and the cover provides good protection to the screen. The credit cards help protect it even more. The case is form fitting to the m505, but not so tight as to make insertion or removal a problem. I did find that if you hold the case by its sides, (which is natural) the case presses on the stylus making it a little harder to remove.

The case fits comfortably in a sports coat pocket, a shirt pocket and even it the pocket of your shorts. I can carry the Palm in the shift console of my truck without fear of getting it scratched up. It adds virtually nothing to the form factor of the m505, preserving that compact size we all love.

(There is also a model available with a belt clip for a few bucks more.)

My only complaint (and it’s minor) is that the buttons on the bottom and the connector is still partially exposed even when the case is closed. That leaves then vulnerable to keys or coins that are in you pants pocket.

Conclusion
At $34 (free shipping) it’s a good buy. It looks good; it’s functional, convenient, and well made.

I recommend it highly.

Update: Mike from E & B Company sent me some instructions for addressing the exposed button issue:

    I have attached a picture to illustrate what users can do to make sure the the bottom-scroll-button is not exposed. The lid has a stiff plastic material inside to help protect the screen. This plastic can be bend slightly (with your fingers) to make the lid follow the curve of the machine. With this curvature all buttons should be covered.

    I hope this helps address the closure point mentioned in your review.

    Mike

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Slipper M505 Case with Clip

I.M. Anonymous @ 6/12/2001 9:32:52 AM #
I've been using the clip version of this case (black colored) for several weeks and I've been very satisfied. I use the clip about 25% of the time and the rest of the time I keep the case in a front pocket and it is hardly noticable even when driving my car.

The leather has gotten a little softer (more comfortable) but still hold my M505 well and is smooth enough to slide into a pocket with little force. The new velcro tabs show no signs of wear. The cover stays quite secure but opens easily to quickly get to your information with far less effort (and noise) than standard velcro tabs.

I was using a zippered case before switching to the Slipper for maximum protection and I don't miss it. The Slipper has kept my M505 scratch free. I've had the 505 fall out of my hands onto a carpeted surface from 4 ft up on 2 occasions and no damage was done.
(B.T.W. The leather is not slippery, I'm just a klutz.)

The metal turrent on the back of the clip version is very small. You can turn around the case in your pocket so it is facing away from you without taking a lot of space. The case attaches to the clip easily and holds the 505 quite well. The case detaches from the clip by pressing a button, the case has never detached from the clip unintentionally.

The opening for the hotsync port shows no signs of wear. The M505 in the case fits easily into the hotsync cradle with little effort. When you go to remove the 505 by tilting it forward the small amount of extra space taken by the case makes the unit pop up slightly which I like as it indicates the unit is no longer engaged.

My only wish is that the top cover had an opening so you could see the led light for the blinking alarm. I suppose if you are in a meeting you could leave the top open but if you have the unit on the belt clip you can't see the light blink.

I'm a very satisfied customer. It's a great case and well worth the money.

RE: Slipper M505 Case with Clip
I.M. Anonymous @ 6/21/2001 4:50:43 PM #
I had used a palm belt clip case with my Vx which also fit my M505. The problem was taking it in and out of the case with a few fingers grasping the top edge and little room for error should your grasp slip when it's all the way out. I ordered the EB Slipper case w/ belt clip and I have had it for a week now. So far I am thrilled and then some! It is easy to remove from your waist when released but not so by accidental slippage. It protects it well, takes up almost no space and can be used with the clip or in your pocket without the clip. The attached ball is small and does not project very far from the back of the case at all. The SD card slots (2) are at a good place on the cover and are far enough from your palm screen that they do not touch, hence no scratches from that! They also have the open end up, so when the cover is closed, the cards are not dangling upside down ready to slip from their pockets. The clip ball allows the clip to turn freely and it positions the case lower on your waist band than the old palm clip case does. I especially like this, as the old palm belt case rides too high and causes it to push into you when bending. It also looked rather odd under an untucked shirt. The case fits well and presents a very clean and professional look. Far better than I would expect for what I felt was a rather low price. The leather lays flat even at the very narrow areas and does not buckle or twist. The openings all end up in the right place when the case is on your palm with no alignment problems. The 2 velcro strips are very narrow and hardly noticable to the ear or the eyes which is really a rare treat for both senses. All in all an incredible case and far better than the generic "box style" belt worn models out there!

RE: Slipper M505 Case with Clip
Anders1899 @ 6/25/2001 9:42:36 PM #
Just received my M505 Slipper today. Am mostly satisfied, but I think the clip is a little flimsy. I realize that I'm a little impatient at the case not coming off as easy as I expect it to, but then I have the uneasy feeling that I'm going to snap the clip or the spring in the clip. I think this should have been made more sturdy or offered the option of sliding on over your belt, as opposed to just clipping on.

Anyone else have this feeling?


Ditto on the review

I.M. Anonymous @ 6/12/2001 10:44:45 AM #
I've been using the Slipper (burgundy, belt clip version) for a couple of weeks now with zero problems. The button on the back of the case that attaches to the belt clip is metal and securely sewn in. Highly recommended...

Screen protected????

I.M. Anonymous @ 6/12/2001 11:30:47 AM #
Will the credit cards and/or SD CARDS scratch or damage the screen or the Graffiti area????

It seems to me that there is no protection between the CC or SDCARDS and the screen.

Thanks

laop

RE: Screen protected????
I.M. Anonymous @ 6/12/2001 12:44:27 PM #
I don't put credit cards in my Slipper case so I can't comment on that part. I do have both the SD card slots filled, and because of the slightly raised velcro contacts they don't touch the surface of the screen. I'm not sure I could scratch the screen with them if I tried (I'm not going to try, of course). If you're really worried about it, I guess you could use a screen overlay...

RE: Screen protected????
I.M. Anonymous @ 6/12/2001 1:49:55 PM #
I like you was worried the SD cards or credit cards would touch... (like with the Palm Slim case) BUT THEY DO NOT! The design is excellent and the rigid cover stands off the glass and won't buckle in the middle leaving lots of "safety space" for the screen. Simply put this case is stunning and the best I have ever seen.

Velcro Noise

I.M. Anonymous @ 6/12/2001 1:58:40 PM #
my only concerns with this case is the sd cards scratching the screen (already adressed) and the sound of the velcro when the flip top is opened. im sure this wouldn't be a problem in some places, but when indoors in a work environment, it seems as if it might be a little loud. could someone who owns one please compare it to the loudness of something else? thanks

RE: Velcro Noise
I.M. Anonymous @ 6/12/2001 2:35:37 PM #
I wrote the first post regarding the Slipper with Clip. I have been VERY pleased with the lack of noise from the velcro and that was one of my biggest concerns. Hopefully this is a fair comparison but I think the velcro on the Slipper case isn't too much louder than running your hands through a small stack of paper. I used to have a flip case with velcro. It would make a loud RIP sound when you opened it and the Slipper M505 case doesn't have that type of volume.

I am still waiting on a 64MB SD card so I haven't had a chance to try the case in regards to screen scratching over an extended period of time. When I slipped in the fake SD/MMC card that comes with the M505 it appeared to leave the screen alone.

RE: Velcro Noise
I.M. Anonymous @ 6/12/2001 2:42:05 PM #
The velcro strips on each side are only about a 1/4 inch thick. This is enough to hold the flap firmly in place, but doesn't cause a lot of racket when opening. I can open the case in the middle of a meeting without embarassment, even if the president of the company is in mid-sentence. I LOVE this case (and no, I don't work for the company). Hope this helps.

Off topic: Titanium slider for M50x

I.M. Anonymous @ 6/12/2001 4:07:23 PM #
I have a Rhinoskin Titanium slider case made for the Palm III, but I own an M505. Yesterday I went to a fabric store and bought a sheet of black neoprene foam for $1. I cut out a few strips and superglued them to the neoprene in the slider. Now it's a perfect fit! The case is slightly bigger than a case made for a M50x, but I have no doubt that this tank-like titanium structure will protect my Palm. Actually, the extra foam might make it even more crash-proof.

Functionality with the PP keyboard

JimBezdan @ 6/12/2001 8:32:44 PM #
I found that the PPK would not allow the 505 w/slipper case to mount. It was so close too. But thanks to the ever useful Dremel tool, I was able to shave away a few fractions of an inch of the keyboard so that the unit mounts fine. It didn't harm the keyboard at all. You really just have to hold the two together and see where it conflicts and shave away.

RE: Functionality with the PP keyboard
I.M. Anonymous @ 7/1/2001 7:17:23 AM #
Does it still work as well without the case after your modification?

m505 slipper counter point

I.M. Anonymous @ 6/12/2001 8:53:45 PM #
Overall, a good review of the m505 slipper case. However, since receiving mine, I have a few items that need to be pointed out. As a previous owner of a Slipper V (which I found to be superb in every respect) I guess my expectations were a bit high because I was disappointed with the m505 Slipper case. Here's why; 1) the velcroe strips are too high along the side of the case. This prevents the bottom of the cover from closing all the way (see the picture on the review); 2) the buttons are exposed--there's no plastic cover like that on the Slipper V; 3) the SD card slots were built too close to the end of the cover--once populated with SD cards, they hit the leather cross section above the buttons when closed and further prevents the cover from being closed tightly; and 4) there is no hole in the back for a reset pin. I'm currently using a Slipper V with my m505 and it seems to work better than the m505 case I bought (which is now in the closet gathering dust).

Slipper V with m505
I.M. Anonymous @ 6/12/2001 11:05:13 PM #
I, too, am using the Slipper V with my m505. (I sold the Vx but kept the case, and I'm glad that I did). I am surprised how well it fits on the 505. Snug, holes in all the right places. Hot synchs without a problem. I do like the clear plastic portion that covers the buttons, though it is a little less snug in this area. I carried my Vx in the slipper for nearly a year and suspect that it is a little stretched. The biggest problem with the Slipper V, by my experience, is that the Velcro would fatigue and wear out. It doesn't stick much anymore. The new design has about 3 times as much and uses a different loop portion that isn't supposed to pull out. This would be a nice upgrade. Bottom line, the Slipper V is a great substitute if you have access to one of find one going for peanuts on eBay or the like.

RE: m505 slipper counter point
I.M. Anonymous @ 6/19/2001 10:30:27 PM #
would like to sell your m505 slipper with reasonable price ?

RE: m505 slipper counter point
I.M. Anonymous @ 2/14/2002 4:11:21 PM #
yeah would you like SELL that puppy?

What about screen protectors?

Jordan @ 6/13/2001 12:55:06 AM #
Has anyone seen a screen protector, like the write right protector for the m505? I saw that they have them for the Vx, but the package said nothing about the m505. I'm concerned that the Vx ones might affect overall color display quality. Any thoughts?
RE: What about screen protectors?
I.M. Anonymous @ 6/13/2001 9:17:53 AM #
I have a 505 and have used the Write Right protectors designed for the Vx. They actually fit very well.

I have found that in low light they cloud the screen and make it even more difficult to see than it normally is.



RE: What about screen protectors?
I.M. Anonymous @ 6/13/2001 10:12:53 AM #
I do not think the Fellowes ever developed Write Rights for any Color Palm's. I had some for the III series and the package said for all III series except the IIIc. I tried one on the IIIc anyway and the screen and color was badly disorted, unusable really. If you are using a V/Vx series screen protector I would guess that it won't work very well.

RE: What about screen protectors?
PFloyd @ 6/13/2001 5:56:59 PM #
Fellowes/ConceptKitchen does make a WriteRight for the Color units. They work well with the IIIc and Prism. I'm using one now on my M505. Works great. I had a Palm V WriteRight that I used as a template to trim the IIIc/Prism WriteRight.

RE: What about screen protectors?
I.M. Anonymous @ 6/14/2001 11:41:18 AM #
I'm probably going to get shot for this, but for the palm Vx,- M505, go down to your local Franklin Covey store, and pick up the "Companionlink PDA Screen Protectors" manufactured under the "Warman" Patent.. Let me tell you, I couldn't stand any of the Writerights out there. The sceen quality was garbage, almost unusable, after I put on a writeright, and I could not figure out why someone would use them. I tried the "homemade" solutions from the various web sites out there, including clear vinyl, and tey did not help the situation. S, I decided to worry about myslef, and my PDA, not what Warman's reputation is like, and so on... and the Companionlinks are perfect! They are glossy, TRULY CLEAR! and not cheaper than writerights... So, try it out...
You can also get them ($19.95) from www.companionlink.com


RE: What about screen protectors?
I.M. Anonymous @ 6/25/2001 11:54:58 PM #
Thanks for posting that info. I returned my blurry ($30) Fellows protectors today and bought the clear ones ($20) from my local Franklin Covey store. I'm much happier.

RE: What about screen protectors?
I.M. Anonymous @ 6/28/2001 3:08:30 PM #
According to Fellowes (who promptly replied to my e-mail request) they are currently developing screen protectors specifically for the M505. They said they would be out by end June/early July.

vibrating alarm?

I.M. Anonymous @ 6/13/2001 10:45:11 AM #
Can you still feel the vibration with the Slipper case on?

RE: vibrating alarm?
I.M. Anonymous @ 6/14/2001 1:41:01 PM #
Yes.

Hard case for Palm m505

I.M. Anonymous @ 6/13/2001 3:53:48 PM #
Any word on a hardcase for the m505?

RE: Hard case for Palm m505
Ed @ 6/13/2001 4:58:38 PM #
Yes. Take a look at this article:
www.palminfocenter.com/view_Story.asp?ID=1965

---
News Editor
Palm Infocenter
RE: Hard case for Palm m505
I.M. Anonymous @ 6/19/2001 11:43:32 AM #
Ed,
What about a Palm brand hardcase like the one they make for the V series? The V series case fit perfectly on my old Vx and I am really missing having one like it for my m500.

Thanks-PalmPowered

RE: What about screen protectors?

Jordan @ 6/14/2001 12:19:01 AM #
I went to Fry's last night and saw that they have screen protectors specifically for the IIIc, and separate ones for the III/VII. I can only assume that the ones made for the IIIc are designed to display color with minimal degredation, vs the darker III/VII ones. I assume that they will eventually come out with something for the m505 units.

Screen Protector

I.M. Anonymous @ 6/14/2001 10:14:44 AM #
I actually like how the write right clouds the screen because it blurs out the pixel grid and makes everything look smoother. The pixel gaps look really really bad, much worse than cloudiness from the screen protector.

Mont Blanc Case

I.M. Anonymous @ 6/15/2001 3:59:05 PM #
When I bought my m505 2 weeks ago I had absolutely no choices on which case to get (I live in Taiwan). The cover that came with the PDA sucks. My LV case for the old Palm V wouldn't fit. Then I came across a post in here saying something about a Mont Blanc case. The next day I ran to a MB shop and asked for a case to see if it fits the 505. To my surprise, it fits perfectly. I bought it on the spot and I'm very happy with it.

RE: Mont Blanc Case
I.M. Anonymous @ 9/26/2001 2:17:44 AM #
What was the case name? What should I ask for?

Any word on a Palm brand hardcase?

PalmPowered @ 6/19/2001 11:46:01 AM #
Has there been any word from Palm when or if they are going to release a fitted aluminum hard case for their m500 series? I had a Vx aluminum case and have sure missed it on my new m500. The other cases made by third party vendors are nice but I would prefer a Palm m500 hardcase.



Power Up!

RE: Any word on a Palm brand hardcase?
Ed @ 6/19/2001 12:37:11 PM #
According to rumor, the people developing the m500 hardcase for Palm made some serious design error and it had to go back to the drawing board. It isn't expected to be available until the end of the Summer.

---
News Editor
Palm Infocenter
RE: Any word on a Palm brand hardcase?
Doco @ 8/29/2001 10:10:08 PM #
I recently spoke to Palm and asked this question. They said that they ARE making one just like the V and Vx had and that it would have slots in it for SD cards. They said that it would be due out by the end of the year.

RE: Any word on a Palm brand hardcase?
kyzen @ 9/15/2001 2:57:55 AM #
I was in the very same predicament. Franklin Covey actually has a case very similar to the hardcase available for the Palm Vx.

http://shopping.franklincovey.com/html/ibeCCtpItmDspRte.jsp?a=b&item=5341

RE: Any word on a Palm brand hardcase?
I.M. Anonymous @ 9/26/2001 2:19:55 AM #
Is the Franklin Covey hardcase any good? Is it good protection for the m505?

Slipper m505 case and Palm Portable Keyboard

I.M. Anonymous @ 6/22/2001 7:31:31 AM #
I recently purchased the Slipper m505 case with clip and like it very much but, it doesn't work with the Palm Portable Keyboard. The connector on the keyboard is shorter than the connector on the hotsynch cradle and there isn't enough clearance for it to connect so you have to remove the case to use the keyboard. I talked with EB Cases about this and they will address the issue (if they can) but I'd wait to buy a case if you want plan to use a keyboard regularly and don't want to remove case all the time. I noticed that someone makes an adapter to use older keyboards (like for the Palm III) with the m505. I'd guess that because it extends the connector a bit, it would work with this case.

RE: Slipper m505 case and Palm Portable Keyboard
I.M. Anonymous @ 7/2/2001 6:30:40 AM #
I have the Palm keyboard and the slipper case and I get the keyboard to work without taking the Palm out of the case. Great product.

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