[MDA, XDA, 1010 Accessories] derekcfoley:
I've got one (the innopocket case) and I'm very Impressed with it. Although like anything its not perfect.

Here goes an honest review.

If you think the xda is already too big, dont buy this. If you want to protect your machine while carrying it - its like having an armoured tank protecting it! Imagine your dads old tobacco tin in brushed aluminium with a neoprene 1.5mm lining and there it is.

Its very well built - it does have a serious "no messing about belt clip" that you'd have to have serious impacts hit by a car for it to fall off. I'm a cyclist (during the week ; ) - so you'll have to excuse my practical thinking!

I think the only serious damage you could do would be to the antenna, which is the only potruding part, and even then, if it was on your belt that would never happen.

I did however make one major "mod" when I got it, I got out an electric drill and file and made a headphone socket hole straight away!

Being made of aluminium its very easy to do this, in theory you could do the same for the charger connector.

Street Cred

Although its very practical, to be frank I'm embarrased to carry it in "open view" on my belt, because it is ridiculously large. Under your jumper or jacket it acceptable. Or in your baggy Jeans pocket is another fine alternative.

In use

I even answered a few calls while listening to Mp3s in slough town centre last week, obviously the nice thing is that with the standard handsfree headset you can answer the call with the button on the mic pod, and not have to get the damn thing out of the case. Obviously in normal phone use its a pain to "unholster"

I think the main oversight is a lack of a charging hole, I think a pda on a desk with a charger lead hanging out of it is asking for trouble, one slip and your "preciousss" will go swinging to a clattering smash onto the floor, so I'd love to encase it with the innopocket during charging. (I'm getting the drill & file out now!)

Opening it Up

It did seem too much hassle to change tracks on media player by "getting it out of my pocket, opening it up, changing tracks, and closing it etc. So I just listened to my mp3s on "shuffle mode" it would be great if one was designed with buttons integrated into it, perhaps so it slots into the bottom edge connector in the same way as the clip on keyboard.

At times like that I was glad of the volume control on the headphone kit!

The opening up catch is nice and firm, so its very difficult for it to open accidentally, and as it opens "upwards" in theory as long as you are standing or sitting, it wouldnt fall out.

One of my friends did force it open because he didnt understand the way it opens, but in actual fact its made the case easier to use, because the stress exerted on the aluminium hinges if you do this enable you to open it further, to about a 80 degree angle from the closed position. This means that if opened on your belt the xda delivers at 45degrees or so.

Build Quality

I think in terms of build quality it is excellent, and certainly does protect the machine All edges were finished off smoothly, all neoprene stuck down well, definately a quality product.

Capacity

Havent tried it with the extended battery, as it hasnt arrived yet, I'll let you know if it fits, or if it can be modified.

Advantages

1) serious protection

2) serious beltclip that wont fall off in usage

3) Aluminium, lightweight, tough, and easy to mod!

4) Website order to Delivery time (under a week) and thats delivering it by airmail from suppliers in Hong Kong.

Disadvantages

1) Overall Size (too big and roomy - I'd prefer a snugger fit!)

2) Beltclip: My only criticism is that the belt clip cannot be removed, its riveted on, and being aluminium, if you removed it I guess you'd never get it back on. Otherwise its the best engineered beltclip I've ever used, I wish my old Cooltrax mp3 player's case had such a good one.

3) the only downside of course is removing it from the holder. to use it, its not exactly "quick release"

4) usual packaging problem though, when it arrived it looked like it had been opened a dozen times en route, cardboard box was creased and torn "open", but the product was intact and undamaged - I guess customs at several points opened it up to see what it was. You'd hope they'd stick tape back over it. I'd hate to send anything of a greater value that distance!

Opinions

Buy two. One for "on your belt" (modding it for headphone hole)

The other for in a bag or pocket, with the belt clip removed! and mod it for charging/mp3 playback.

The one thing I like about it is that it doesent spoil the look of the thing itself when you're actually using it. The standard O2 case sucks in that regard, and looks disgusting in my opinion. And lets face it the most dangerous aspect of using a phone/pda is putting it down. e.g. falling asleep with it on your lap or chest, or even charging it up.

When its in your hand you hang on to it for grim death. Putting it into the case is the riskiest part, especially cycling along, but hey, even doing that on a pavement is a big risk! And as I mentioned this was a doddle!

Walking along and holstering it is more of an embarrassment risk than a risk of dropping it because as I mentioned, it opens very sensibly.

Possible Improvements...

1) add a hole for charger

2) add a headphone hole

3) make the belt clip removable

4) make it less "thick" (width wise)

5) slots for memory cards inside the case, although there's plenty of room to just have them "floating around" - that said, would you risk an £80 memory card dropping out while you're walking.

6) add a button for skip track for when in mp3 usage

Conclusions

Protection 98%

Practicality 40%

Style 30%

It does "what it says on the tin" :lol:

"protect your investment"