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Proporta Week: Dell Axim X51v Magnesium Case and Advanced Screen Protector
February 9, 2006
Magnesium Case for the Dell Axim X51v
I’ve reviewed more handheld cases than I can count, in every material—cloth, leather, plastic, silicone, and aluminum. Each has their pros and cons, but I think I’ve finally found the ultimate hard case option: the Magnesium Case for the Dell Axim X51v. In many ways it is very similar to traditional aluminum hard cases, in that it is molded to carefully follow every curve and depression of the device that it protects. There are the typical cutouts for the charge/sync port, the lock switch, and the voice recorder button. There are also cutouts on the top for the microphone and for the LED indicator at the top right corner of the screen. But that doesn’t even begin to describe how superb this case is.
The fact that it is made of a magnesium alloy means that it is much lighter than an aluminum hard case, and much more durable. The finish is extremely attractive; instead of the typical shiny silver of an aluminum case, this case is a very dark, deep blue with a few black accents. While I haven’t done anything insane like drive a car over this case, I have found in the past couple of weeks that it is indeed quite strong. There’s no way to bend it, at least by hand, and I haven’t seen a single cosmetic scratch or blemish yet. The case opens flip-style, and a single large latch is very easy to manipulate. The edges of the flip lid slightly overlap the body of the case, so there won’t be any issue with the lid getting pushed inside the case by high pressure, which could potentially damage the screen.
Thanks to a double hinge on the top, you can fold the lid completely up over the top and around to the bottom of the device. Since the hinge is in the middle, it prevents your CF and SD cards from accidentally popping out of their respective slots, while still allowing you to get to the stylus silo and headphone jack as necessary. Other details include an interior lined with Neoprene to cushion your device, a cutout on the back for the reset hole and a completely removable belt clip attachment that works with the included belt clip.
I’ve been using this case for a couple of weeks now and can’t imagine using anything else, especially when I’m on the road. The ultimate protection may be overkill when my Dell is lying on the desk in my office, but for travel this case is simply ideal. It stands up to everything I’ve dished out so far, without a single scratch. And I love the fact that when I don’t need the belt clip, I don’t have anything permanently attached that gets in the way. At $44.95 the price is quite a bit higher than what you would expect to pay for a regular aluminum hard case, but the extra cost is definitely worth it.
Advanced Screen Protector for the Dell Axim X51v
I’ve often said that screen protectors are an absolute must when it comes to protecting your delicate and expensive handheld investment—even if you don’t want a carrying case, you still need a screen protector. The Advanced Screen Protector from Proporta is a nice option, because it is very easy to install and rather durable as well. The protector comes with a small screen cleaning cloth and a plastic card used to help smooth the installation and get rid of those pesky air bubbles.
Clean your device screen thoroughly, then remove the plastic backing partway on the protector and line it up on the screen, slowly pressing it down until completely installed. Proporta’s design is very easy to install because it is made of relatively thick plastic that doesn’t crease or bend when trying to put it on the screen. There is some adhesive, but it is minimal; you can easily remove the protector when you need to replace it by pressing a bit of tape down on one of the corners of the protector and slowly prying up an edge. The finish is not perfectly clear, which is a good thing if you want to reduce the glare of overhead office lights.
The cost for one protection kit is $9.95, a small price to pay for peace of mind. After all, if you’re anything like me, your handheld runs your entire life!
You can get both of the products reviewed today at the Proporta online store. Remember, get 10% off plus free standard worldwide shipping if you type in the code “PKTGODDESS” without the quotes when you check out. That code is good for a limited time on just about everything that Proporta sells (excluding GPS), so hurry and cash in on the great savings!
