• InnoPocket

• $30

• Excellent outer shell protection
• Excellent inner case cushioning
• Looks great

• Difficult to insert or eject Memory Stick

Design:
Cost/benefit:
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Overall:

I was extremely pleased with the appearance of the case. The silver colour matches the colour of my T625C so well that it would be difficult for most people to realize that it was created by a third-party vendor.

The case is made from anodized aircraft aluminium which provides excellent protective strength. Despite being made of metal, the case is very light due to InnoPocket’s use of 100% aluminium.

Little is added to the overall size of the handheld either, as the case fits snugly around the Clié. The ‘feel’ of the metal is much like the brushed metal casing of the Palm Vx series. This provides a body that is easy to grip and unlikely to slip out of even the sweatiest of hands.

There is a thin but firm neoprene lining on the inside between the Clié and the outer casing which provides a protective buffer between your handheld and the outside world. All the edges are rounded which is pleasing to the eye as well as the hand.

The case is held closed by a metal clasp. Metal catches on the case attach to the slots on the back of the Clié, holding it securely in place .

There are cutouts in the case which allow access to the stylus and use of the IR port, Memory Stick slot, Jog Dial, Back button, and HotSync port. One important thing to note is that you can only HotSync with the case on when using a HotSync cable: it will not fit into the Clié cradle.

Although it is straightforward to insert and remove the stylus, it is slightly more difficult when using the Memory Stick. The rigid body and small slot make it tricky to load or eject a card: the Clié is designed in such a way that to remove a card it must first be pushed in, but this is not unique to either the T-Series or even Sony handhelds. For those who don’t have tiny fingers, a simple solution is to press the Memory Stick down with the flat end of the stylus.

When inserting or removing the Clié from the case, care must be taken not to bump the memory card, which, on the T-Series, sticks out slightly above the form of the case. This is not a difficult thing to do though, and I quickly got used to it.

One thing that is at first odd when using the case is that the lid opens to the right, with the Clié attached to the inside of the left cover. Although this truly does seem a little strange, there is a good reason for it. If the hinge was on the right side, like on most Palm handheld cases, it would be impossible to access either the Jog Dial or Back button.

The hinge itself is made entirely of metal, giving it long-lasting strength no matter how many times the case is opened and closed. It is also quite small and only protrudes by a couple of millimetres, increasing the overall form factor only slightly.

There is little to fault in the Metal Deluxe Case for the Clie PEG-T Series. It looks the business and does the business. Anyone who has invested in a Clie T-model handheld would be wise to consider protecting it with a good case, and InnoPocket's website would be well worth a visit.