The case features a great deal of protection for the palmOne Tungsten C while still allowing the user to access important functions such as the stylus, IR slot, and HotSync port. The outside of the case is made of aluminum, in a slightly paler and shinier finish than that found on the Tungsten C itself. The hinge is on the right hand side, and there are cutouts for the stylus, power button, HotSync port, and SD slot. On the back you’ll find very small cutouts for the reset button and the speaker. They aren’t strictly necessary, but they do make a nice touch. A “dimpled” area on each side enhances the “grip-ability” of the case, otherwise it it quite smooth. Open the latch on the left hand side, and you’ll find that the interior of the case has been lined with black neoprene to cushion the handheld against damage. There are two clever little SD card holders inside the lid, which is great for carrying those extra cards and not having to worry about losing them.
The Tungsten C is very easy to insert and remove from the case, which is a good thing– unless you already happen to have a travel charger or USB sync cable, you’ll need to take the handheld out of the case in order to HotSync and recharge. Fortunately the case has been molded very well, so that you can just drop the handheld in quite easily; removal requires just a little more effort. I’ve found it best to hold the case in one hand and pry up gently with my thumb between the bottom of the case and the 5 way Navigator on the bottom of the device. That’s because there are two tension clips inside the back of the case that help to hold the Tungsten C in snugly.
I know that there are some limitations regarding hard cases, but I believe that for the most part, the tradeoffs are all positive. You might can’t use a belt clip or choose a pretty color or unusual material, but you can rest assured that your handheld is protected from almost anything. And since the case is made out of aluminum, it provides durable protection with a minimum of weight and bulk. The only slight quibble I have with this particular case is the fact that the power button is always exposed. I understand why that was necessary (in order to get the best possible fit for the Tungsten C), but I’m still not all that thrilled about that, since it means that the handheld can accidentally be turned on from the outside. It’s fairly unlikely, though possible, which is reflected by a slightly lower score than I might otherwise have given this case. If you have a Tungsten C and you need the best protection available, you’ll probably be rather happy with this case.
PocketGoddess Rating for Proporta Aluminum Hard Case for the Tungsten C: 
{ 2 comments… read them below or add one }
Are you familiar with the hard cases for the Tungsten E or E2? Does a Boxwave E2 case also fit the E? How do you like the aluminum cases such as the proporta/innopocket/rhinoskin type compared to the Palm Hard case? The belt clip is not important to me. Ability to fit in my pocket (size) is high on the list.
Thanks,
I’d write the Boxwave folk to make sure–they’re very helpful, and I don’t have enough experience with those particular devices to know for sure.
I’m not a big fan of the Palm hard cases in general, though again I haven’t used the one for the E. I got the one for the LifeDrive and thought it was rather overpriced and didn’t provide much protection at all.
I’ve had very good results with Proporta, Innopocket, and Boxwave hard cases. Any of them are durable and protective, and generally high quality. The one thing to look for is a “deluxe” model as not all aluminum cases have the ability to fold the lid back behind the device. Makes a big difference when you’re trying to use the device in the case, believe me.
I have the Proporta deluxe case for LifeDrive (revuew coming soon!) and the lid folds back. Even though the LifeDrive is fairly big, the case doesn’t add much bulk and I pocket it all the time.