The Tradition Leather Case by Noreve displays the description: “Haute Couture for Mobile Devices” on its packaging. It truly lives up to this description. It’s made of real leather and has a classic, simplistic but elegant design while maintaining practicality.

I’m not usually one to go for mobile phone cases. I’ve found that the range usually consists of skins, plates or sock pouches – all of which are either annoying (skins have air bubbles, plastic scratches up easily and sock pouches make answering calls and turning off alarms rather difficult). This is neither of those three and claims none of those impracticalities. What’s more, it really is stylish.

The phone clips in nicely and you are able to use it while it’s in the pouch. The cover flips back for when you are using the phone and can fold further if you need to use the camera. There are two slots for memory cards or sim cards and the case also features steel mesh protectors on the sections over the speakers. When the case is closed it leaves the charging port, volume buttons, headset jack, USB jack and memory card slot free. It also comes with belt clip (which has an advertised 360 degrees of rotation), but I don’t wear belts so I couldn’t actually review it personally.

Even with all of these practical features, the phone maintains its description of “Haute Couture”. The external lining is leather. The case I’m reviewing is chesnut, but it’s also available in other colours. The black interior lining features a recurring embossed print of the Noreve logo.

After using the case for a few days, the only troubles I’ve had are quite subjective and minimal really: it’s difficult to open and answer a call one-handed; I feel a tad silly talking on it; I can’t turn off my alarm easily. I think these issues are a bit petty though really seeing as most people use both hands to operate their phone anyway and it doesn’t really look so odd talking on a phone with a case on it. In regards to the alarm, at least I’ll have to wake up properly just to open the case so, in effect, it’s increasing the productivity of the alarm clock.

Not everyone has an E66 but Noreve also produces cases for 49 models of Nokia. It also covers Apple, Cingular, LG, Motorola, Panasonic, Samsung, Sony and Universal phones as well as various smartphones. They do PDA cases, mp3 player cases, camera cases, 7″-17″ laptop cases (drool) and even portable game console cases.

Their range is incredible. I’ve seen a few “designer” cases for laptops and phones etc but they tend to only cover one or two models (and it’s never the models I have). Noreve, on the other hand, cover almost everything. They also keep the same stylish, simplistic design across the range (which means that they’re all leather and, yes therefore, expensive).

The case is currently retailing at USD$53.04 which may seem pricey, but it is an extravagant product and the monetary gap between this product and its competitors is easily matched by the gap in practicality and style.

Check out their website and have a browse. I know cash is probably tight right now but we all need to splurge on something once in a while and, if it has been a while, why not get something that adds a little style to your life while providing some basic protection for your phone (or PDA, camera or laptop).

Filed in categories: Miscellaneous

Tagged: Case, Fashion, Nokia, Phone

Noreve Tradition Leather Nokia E66 Case Review originally appeared on The Gadgeteer on April 24, 2009 at 1:00 am.

Can a laptop create a fashion statement? It can when a famous New York designer like Vivienne Tam puts her artistic stamp on it. Case in point – The HP Mini 1000 Vivienne Tam Designer Edition Netbook. It has the same bits and pieces inside that the regular Black swirly Mini has in it, but this one is like a little Red sports car for geek girls. I’ve never considered myself fashion conscience, but I can’t help but like this netbook. I mean it’s Red, it’s shiny and it has flowers on it! What’s not to love?

Specifications

Operating system – Windows XP Home with Service Pack 3
Processor – Intel(R) Atom(TM) Processor N270 (1.60GHz)
Memory – 1GB DDR2 System Memory (1 Dimm)
Hard drive - 60GB 4200RPM PATA Hard Drive
Display – 10.1″ diagonal SD LED BrightView Infinity Widescreen Display (1024 x 576)
Graphics card – Intel(R) Graphics Media Accelerator 950
Personalization – HP Mini Webcam with HP Imprint Finish (Vivienne Tam)
Keyboard – HP Matching Keyboard
Networking – Wireless-G Card with Bluetooth
Primary battery – 3 Cell Lithium Polymer Battery
Dimensions – 10.3 in (L) x 6.56 in (W) x 0.99 in (H)
Weight – 2.45 lbs

Package Contents

HP mini 1000 Vivienne Tam Edition
Red silky sleeve
AC Adapter
CD with Windows XP and drivers
Polishing cloth

The deep Red shiny fingerprint attracting case has a vibrant design of peony blooms that signify good fortune and prosperity. The flowers are eight shades of Pink, Mauve, Lavender and Yellow.

The flower design is only printed on the top cover, but the rest of the mini is an energizing Red.

The Left side…

The Right side…

There’s even a place to attach a hand strap. Ummm, would you carry around a netbook like a camera or cellphone, dangling from your hand? Yeah, me neither. I guess you could use it to attach a sparkly little babble though

Open the cover and wow, there’s a matching Red keyboard and trackpad!

The keys are slick and shiny just like the rest of this netbook. I prefer the matte finish of the regular mini, but the Red is pretty nice looking. I do wish that the keys were backlit though.

Click the thumbnail to view full-size image

The keyboard on this netbook is fantastic. It has a great layout and is very comfortable to type on. I love it.

I’m already a fan of the HP mini 1000, so I don’t have any additional complaints against the Vivienne Tam edition. Of course I know that people will complain about the premium that you pay for a designer edition laptop like this one. It’s like designer clothes, you pay for the label. The same thing applies here. If you configure the regular Black mini 1000 the same way that you do the Vivienne Tam edition, the price difference is $245. For that price difference, you’re getting a Red case, Red keyboard and a Red silky slip cover. Is it worth it? That all depends… are you willing to spend an extra $245 to get it? Then yeah, it’s totally worth it to you So tell me, are you a gadgeteer girl that would pay extra for a laptop like this one?

Filed in categories: Handheld PCs / Ultra Portables

Tagged: Fashion, HPVT, Netbook

HP Mini 1000 Netbook – Vivienne Tam Designer Edition originally appeared on The Gadgeteer on February 13, 2009 at 5:00 am.