Proporta is always
quick to market when it comes to delivering cases to the market. When it
comes to the T-Mobile MDA, both Proporta and users lucked out because
the case has already been introduced for the similar style devices like
the Qtek 9100 and the XDA Mini Pro. The Aluminum-Lined Leather Case is
one of the cases Proporta has brought to the market for the device. It comes in
two forms, one version that opens like a book and the other that opens
from the top. This review looks at the flip case (top open). An interesting
problem in making a case for the MDA is how to solve the problem of
holding the device while still allowing the keyboard to open. Proporta
has an interesting solution that fits the unique style of the device.
Unlike many
leather cases, the Proporta Aluminum-Lined Leather Case features aluminum between the leather
outer shell along with a layer of foam plastic. This
adds protection for the device while giving still giving a soft leather
exterior. The black leather is accented by white stitching. The front
and back faces of the device are protected by the dual aluminum/leather
faces. Some of the sides of the device are also protected leather sections. When the case is closed, the front face features the Proporta
logo and the claps to lock the case closed. The simple magnetic snap is
attached to the back of the base by a leather strap that reaches over
the top of the device. The back side of the device is completely covered
like the front except for an opening where the camera peeks through.
There also is a place to optionally connect the belt clip mechanism. The
bottom of the device is partly covered by leather, but the headset port
is exposed even when the case is closed as is the stylus (through you
really cannot get the stylus out when the case is closed). Part of the
left side of the device is covered by leather, but the up/down switch is
exposed as is the connection manager button. On the right side of the
device both buttons and the infrared port are exposed, but the soft
reset button is not. The case opens from top to bottom. When the case is
opened, the top, bottom, and front face all become exposed. The front
face can easily reach around against the back of the device to be out of
the way.
A huge
selling point of the MDA is its slide open style and keyboard. Most of
the time, leather cases hold the devices in the case by having you slide
the device into a sort of pocket that has the front face exposed. If
that was done with the MDA it would not be possible to use the device
while it was in the case. So how do you hold the device in the case
while still letting the top face slide open? By using a piece of plastic
over the keyboard to hold the bottom half of the device to the case, the
device is secured in the case. How it works is there is piece of clear
plastic that attaches directly to leather tabs small on the top and bottom of
the case. The clear plastic also attaches to the left slide of the
device via a large piece of leather. Having the plast attached to three
of the sides of the case would hold the plastic, but would not hold the
device in the case. To get it to the other side with out impeding the
slider style of the device, the plastic is woven between the two layers
of the MDA. The plastic thins from being the complete height of the device
(when it is vertical)
to less that an inch. Using the instructions provided, you slip the
thing end of the plastic between the screen and keyboard halves of the
device. The plastic as a piece of Velcro that connects to a tab on the
right side of the device. The screen can be slide open and closed while
the device is still firmly attached to the case. While another approach Proporta could have taken would have been to Velcro the back of the
device to the case, this not only would have added thickness to the
device but likely would not have been as secure as it is using the
method Proporta chose. While the plastic does not
restrict usage of the screen, use of the keyboard becomes slightly
different feeling. Because there is now a layer of plastic over the
keyboard, I found it a little more difficultly to use. Especially bad
was the places where the key was split between being exposed and being
covered in plastic. I think I might be able to get used to the plastic
and if it covered the whole keyboard then at least I could say it was
protecting my keyboard. The keyboards buttons are still useable,
the feel is just different.
One of
problem with the case that I had (which likely is indicative of most
flip open cases) is that the leather piece with one end of the snap (for
closing the case) kind of dangles over the earpiece. It just kind of
gets in the way when you are trying to use the MDA. Another thing I
did not like was that you can not plug the device in to charge with the case open.
As I stated earlier, I do have some questions about the usability of the
keyboard with the plastic over it, but I do think there is enough
clearance and will not likely cause any problems having the plastic
between the two halves of the device. But if you are someone that
removes the case from the device frequently, it can be tricky to get
Velcro between the device halves easily.
The Aluminum-Lined Leather Case
from Proporta is a stylish and practical way to protect your device.
Especially for those that like leather over aluminum but still want the
added strength, this case is a strong choice. Reasonably priced at $35,
the Aluminum-Lined Leather Case is a good investment for protecting you MDA while still allowing the functionality of the device to be used.
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