Handspring Bi-Fold Leather Case

Rating:
Summary: A perfect combination of protection, function, and size
Review: Handspring has succeeded so brilliantly in large part because of their engineering prowess. Their design of the Visor and its cases is truly superb.

The bifold case is padded enough to keep your visor safe from the occasional light drop, and let's face it, gravity will eventually exert its effects, no matter how careful you are. The case also contains a small pad, which is ideal for giving a small note to a non-Palm associate. PDAs are great, but they don't print--yet.

Perhaps the best selling point, though, is it's size. It's large enough for the pad, some business cards, ID cards, credit card-sized cards, etc, and large enough so you don't lose it by forgetting it (I've seen people forget smaller devices). It's not too large, though, to tote around all day or pack quickly. In fact, it even fits comfortably in my chinos.

I've seen a number of Visor cases, and while others certainly have merit, this is by far my favorite "everyday" case.

Rating:
Summary: Needs Major Improvements
Review: I recently switched over from a paper calendar system to a Handspring Visor. I decided to get this case expressly because it had several features that I liked, and one in particular that helped me to make the transition over to a paperless system. Clearly, that feature is the pad of paper that this case will hold in addition to the Visor unit. That in itself has been extremely helpful and sole well-designed aspect of the case; the smooth paper pad rather than a credit card holder lays flat on the Visor unit when the case is closed. This prevents the credit cards from scratching the Visor screen.

I also liked the fact that the Visor locks in with the sewn in Visor cover. There is no messy, sticky velcro to deal with, and I beleive that the unit is locked in to the case more securely than one or two strips of velcro.

I also liked the fact that there is no snap enclosure; it is velcro. Initially, I thought that this was really quite cheap, but I realized that a snap could hurt the unit with the pressure to close it.

HOWEVER, DESPITE these strengths, I can only give it two stars because the case has some serious flaws. If I had known about these earlier, I would NOT have bought the case. First, the money pocket is much too small. Perhaps 3-4 bills can be folded in, but no more than that, and even less change. Consequently, it does not work as a wallet like it is supposed to. I thought that at LEAST I could use the pocket to carry a floppy disc or two, but they don't fit in the pockets either.

Second, since I now have to carry a separate wallet for my bills and change, I have kept my credit cards in my wallet (why separate credit cards from the rest of my cash?). I thought that I would simply use the card slots in the Visor case for business cards, but the slots only fit credit cards. It's silly because business cards are literally only a fraction of an inch bigger than credit cards yet the designers did not make the slots that much bigger. In essence, the card pockets are rather useless. I have put my business cards in the money pocket which still stick out of the pocket!

Finally, it would have been nice if the case had some loops for extra batteries. They of course do not fit in the pockets either.

The pad and sewn in Visor clip are essentially the only things that warrants this case two stars.

Rating:
Summary: Offers great protection, but has some cons
Review: The Handspring leather case will keep your palm pilot secure in the case and will not wiggle loose. You just snap it in (holes on the bottom of your palm will fit easily into the two bumps and the top just snaps back for a tight fit) The leather look is sleek and the case closes with a push of the velco

It does has some flaws how ever. When your opened and trying to use it, the strap to keep it close gets in the way, this can be solved by poking the strap between the palm and case. Also the pockets inside aren't big enough to fit much of anything. But if you got a small paper like a list of things you need to get when your out, it fit in nicely.

Overall this item is very useful because it could cost you lots of money and time if you drop and break your palm but consider the flaws before buying.