Reviews

E&B eNovo Case for the palmOne LifeDrive

January 6, 2006

I’ve reviewed more PDA, iPod, and portable gaming cases than I can count, so it isn’t too often that I come across something very unique and different. That’s why I was so pleasantly surprised by the E&B eNovo case for the palmOne LifeDrive—it fulfills all of my usual requirements and then some, providing the little extras that make it truly exceptional.

The case is extremely form-fitting, and if you aren’t looking straight at it you may not even remember that your device is in a case while you’re using it. The exterior is made of leather stretched over a frame that gives it substance and stability. The stitching is all black so it isn’t very noticeable (yeah!), and there’s a small E&B metal logo on the bottom right corner of the flap. The flap is slightly padded on top, and the closure is magnetic. There are two small magnets underneath the flap that are perfectly positioned to “stick” to two small magnets on the bottom side of the interior of the case. The closure is quite strong, but still very easy to open—I really like not having to fumble with a tab, zipper, or other closure method that requires two hands. With the magnets, all I have to do is hold the case in one hand and use my fingers to push the flap a little to the side and break the magnetic seal, then flip it over the top.

Of course this convenience does come at a slight cost—E&B recommends that you do not store credit cards in this case, due to the chance of their becoming demagnetized. Under the flap you’ll find two SD card slots af the very top, so no worries about screen damage, as well as two business card slots. Due to the design of the slots there’s an extra space between the card slots and the layer where business cards go; it would be perfect for tucking in a folded bill or two if you’d like to keep some spare cash with your handheld.

Your LifeDrive slides into a protective yoke from the top; the interior is made of a soft and fuzzy black material that won’t scratch your device. The yoke perfectly fits around the outside edge of the screen, so your access isn’t hindered in any way. The part at the top is cut slightly short so that you can easily see the LED at the top of the LifeDrive, and the four main buttons on the bottom, as well as the 5 way navigator, are all left uncovered. A cutout on the bottom of the case provides access to the sync/charge port, headphone jack, and reset button, while two more cutouts on the left side allow you to access the voice recorder and landscape/portrait display toggle button. The cutouts are perfectly sized and not any larger than they truly need to be, providing ultimate protection and enhancing the smart style of the case. Turn the case over and you’ll find several slits on the back; these help you hear alarm sounds since the speaker is on the back of the LifeDrive.

This is a beautiful case that I’m truly proud to carry. The workmanship is superb, the materials are first-rate, and the closure system is ingenious. I also like the fact that I don’t have to worry about losing my SD card either, since the slot is covered by the tab that connects the front flap to the case. There are no drawbacks that I can find, aside from the fact that you shouldn’t carry credit cards inside the card slot. In all respects it compares quite favorably to Vaja’s formidable line of luxury PDA cases, and that says a great deal about what E&B has accomplished with their new eNovo line. Vaja cases are $75 and up for the LifeDrive, with a custom case easily costing $100 or more; the eNovo is just $66.95, or $69.95 if you choose the belt clip option. The eNovo is available in red, brown, black, and orange. If you don’t have a LifeDrive, E&B may still have an eNovo case for you since there are selections for the Treo 650, Apple iPod (4G, Video, and Nano), plus the iPaq 6500 and the i-mate JAM. Order one for yourself or a loved one at the E&B Cases web site.

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