Xigma PDA Cases

Gadgeteer Hands On Review by Judie Hughes and Julie

July 05, 2002

Hot on the heels of our CLIÉ NR series case reviews from Xigma come a new batch of reviews for various Palm, Pocket PC and Zaurus PDAs. These are high quality leather cases that are available in several styles and colors.

[Many of these cases are also available in the US thru Seidio]

Zaurus Book Style Case
[Julie]

If you need a nice looking book style case for your Zaurus 5000, this one might be the one you've been looking for. Made of Arizona Noble leather, this case is available in quite a few colors (see below).

As you know, the Zaurus PDA has a unique slide down keyboard. As a result, the holster for this case had to take that fact into consideration. The solution was to make the holster only for the top / screen half of the PDA. Although this might look less secure that the typical PDA holster, I can tell you that the PDA will definitely not slip out of the case by accident. The fit is very snug.

The large cutout for the display lines up well. A cutout on the right corner of the holster allows access to the stylus, while a rectangular cutout on the left side gives you access to the IR port. The top of the holster is open, so there is also access to the CF slot and ear phone jack.

One important cutout is missing however. The opening for the SD slot is covered and is not accessible while in the case... oops!

The PDA rests on the right side of the case, while the left side which is held closed with a strong magnetic snap. As far as storage, this case has quite a bit. On the interior of the left side, are 3 horizontal business / credit card slots. Behind them is a larger horizontal pocket and a large vertical pocket. Directly beneath those pockets is yet another vertical pocket.

Both the back and front sides of the case have padding and a stiffener to protect the Zaurus from everyday abuse.

This is a nice looking case that is made well.

Price: $59
Also available in red, orange, yellow, green, blue, beige, black, black two tone and grey

Pros:
Beautiful leather
Lots of storage

Cons:
SD slot is covered

Sony CLIÉ T Series Flip Case
[Julie]

Similar to the HP case reviewed above, this Sony CLIÉ T series flip case also uses the U-Clip to hold the PDA in the case. The grip is firm, but the PDA can be slid down to allow it to sync and charge in the cradle when needed.

Available in several colors, this case is made entirely of Napa cowhide with a soft lamb suede interior.

The interior cover portion  of the case has 2 vertical card slots and is held closed with a magnetic snap. The only slight thing that I can find to gripe about is that the cover is a bit loose when closed. The snap tab could stand to be just a bit shorter.

This is a pretty simple case, so there's really not much to say about it. The case looks good, and feels good in your hand. It doesn't add much at all to the overall size of the PDA and will protect it from everyday bumps and bruises.

Price: $49
Available in black/red, black,/blue and black/yellow

Pros:
Doesn't require Velcro
Can sync/charge while in case

Cons:
Cover needs to be tighter

 

Palm m500 Series Slim Tight Cover Type Case
[Julie]

Looking for a simple yet functional all leather cover for your Palm m500 series PDA? This one might be just what you've been looking for.

The Slim Type Cover is a really nice cover that protects the screen and back of the PDA while adding as little bulk as possible.

The PDA is held in the case by a plated copper rail which is inserted into the left stylus silo on the PDA. This method works well although the rail could stand to be a little thicker as you can slide the PDA off with minimum effort.

Beneath the PDA are hidden 6 SD/MMC card slots. I like the location of these slots much better than placing them in the screen cover which can touch the screen when closed. The card slots are wide enough to allow easy insertion and removal.

The screen cover has a slash slot for folded papers or currency. The only minor gripe about the cover is the fact that there isn't a way to hold it closed. I would like to see a snap tab used.

I really like the natural leather used in the sample that I was sent to review. The craftsmanship is excellent. 

Price: $42
Available in black, beige (natural) or brown

Pros:
Doesn't require Velcro
Can sync/charge while in case

Cons:
Stylus rail needs to be tighter
Cover is unsecured

 

Sony CLIÉ 700 Series Flip Case
[Judie]

This is one of the more stylish cases that I have seen offered anywhere. Instead of a plain single color case, Xigma has made a statement with a predominantly black case that has bold color highlights of black, blue or yellow. I was sent a black and yellow case.

    

The yellow accent stripe down the middle of my case is actually a raised leather insert. It looks quite rich, and striking - perhaps even more so since they added the extra "dot" at the bottom, effectively making a yellow explanation point on a black background.

This case closes with a magnetic snapping tab, but unlike many other cases I have reviewed, it snaps to the side. On the end of the tab is a perfect yellow leather square inset.

Under the snapping tab is a cutout for the accessory-lock, which I found a little bit curious, until I realized that you do not have to remove your CLIÉ from the case in order to hot-sync or charge. YAY!

Once the case is opened, you will find a large splash of color, as the formerly contrasting color now becomes the main feature with black as the trim. The holster and borders of the flip-lid are done in black leather, while the wallet portion and the lining are all yellow. The majority of the holster is lined in sumptuous suede, while the wallet portion is finished in smooth leather. All buttons, sliders and the jog-dial are accessible while the PDA is inserted in the case, and you will have unfettered access to the top of the CLIÉ when the flip-lid is open.

The plastic reinforced flip-lid features two ID or credit card pockets, and three Memory Stick slots. This should be perfect for most users.

The only problem I can see with this case is that the bottom of the CLIÉ is left quite exposed, most likely to facilitate in-cradle syncing and charging. Unlike most flip-lid cases, there is not a tab covering the sync/charge port when the case is closed, and a good portion of the surrounding area is also left exposed. If coverage of this area is important to you, then you should probably avoid this case.

Overall, I believe that this is one of the most interesting cases I have seen in some time. The materials used are superior to many I have reviewed, and the craftsmanship is excellent.

Price: $66.44
Available in black/red, black,/blue and black/yellow

Pros:
Very stylish and out-of-the-ordinary
Excellent craftsmanship with quality materials
Can sync/charge in cradle while PDA is in this case (!!)

Cons:
Bottom of Clie is very exposed