[Touch Pro, Fuze Accessories] pdcpa:
11 13 2008 Update: Well, as I said, I am a case freak. The Great Escape came on last weekend late one night where the dude at the end escapes those nasty nazi's and finds himself in "Espana" so I thought well, feeling kindly towards Espana, I will go ahead and get the Piel Frama case for the Pro.....

Well no habla espanol...yeah yeah, that's Mexico not Spain, but my new fave case is the Piel Frama case. I got the tan leather one.

First of all the packaging is a pleausre to start with. PF packages their cases in this nice little tan and brown cardboard box with a nice little instruction paper and extra belt clip button and belt clip.

The device is held in place by virtue of a plastic sleeve the keyboard slides in to. This does potentially offer the same problem that some of the other cases offer in that in a shiny light environment, three is some reflection off the plastic, but it may be a worthwhile trade off. The lower edge includes a cut out for the mini USB port and the reset "button" hole. Because the TP power button is on the top "screen" portion of the device it is easily exposed.

The leather is wonderful quality, soft and supple and smells wonderful.

The cover comes around the right hand side of the device and while I really liked the way the Noreve case did this, the PF case outshines the Noreve case in that there is approximaely 2 mm more leather on the side panel. That 2 or 3 mm makes all the difference in that the covering flap then MUCH more easily covers the front of the TP.

The snap is on the back of the device, is a secure and tight closing snap. The screen on the TP is quite sensitive and I do not think there is any way to cover it while the device is on without potentially hitting the device and having something "come on" like the program tab on TF3D, but that is, I guess one of the trade offs for having a TP. (As an aside, I'm not quite as happy with my TP anymore in part because the GPS just does not work very well, but I do like the memory it contains and apart from the GPS it is a great pocket pc)

The "button" that slides into the belt clip is of a standard size and if you lose or break the PF belt clip, I am absolutely certain the generic belt clips you can pick up at some mom and pop cell phone kiosk at the mall will be an adequate replacement.

On the back of the case there is a "pill" shaped opening that reveals the camera lens and that stupid and woefully inadequate flash light. See elsewhere on this forum for the "torchbutton" application that allows you to use your device as your most expensvie flashlight...great for not waking up your wife at night when you go to bed...hahaha. Beside the camera opening is a mesh covered opening for the speaker.

On the front flap of the cover is a nicly stiched extra peice of leather that makes it look a bit like the pocket on a nice man's shirt. That is a nice touch. The PF case is the most expensive of the lot, but the quality of craftsmanship does stand out. In addition I suspect it is the only one of the lot that is truly made by hand by the manufacturer.

Overall I am inclined to think the Piel Frama case is an excellent case for the Touch Pro.

So in summary I would rate these cases in the following fashion:

1. Piel Frama: Only "minor" drawback is the shiny plastic covering the keyboard...perhaps a small tradeoff as it may also help protect against moisture. I don't think of my case freakiness as a fashion thing, but the PF cases are, well, quite fashionable. For fit and finish PF gets an A +++. For quality of construction PF gets and A+++ and for I suspect long term satisfaction I'd also give PF high marks. There is also just a tiny bit more leather all the way around which I think would offer a bit more protection if the thing were to take a tumble. The PF is the most expensive of the lot and for this reviewer I'd say truly worth it. They also ship world wide UPS. I ordered it late Monday evening and did not ask for any special shipping and I had it Thursday so they include good quality shipping in the price. Not a bad deal really.

2. Noreve: Almost identical to the Piel Frama except that it does not have the plastic at all, and the PF case seems to stay snapped better with taking it on and off one's belt clip. The PF beats it in that there is a bit more leather on the side peice so when you go to close it you don't have to tug it over. I see that the snap on the back of the Noreve is now pulled up taught against the leather which could lead to failure. That is not as likely to happen on the PF case.

3. Proporta: Might be preferred if you like your case to hang vertical v. horizontal on your belt, and includes my complaint that the snap while quite secure, does tend to bump into things and come unsnapped. The Proporta TP screen protector they sell is well worth a look. I've had the stylus up against the thing quite a bit playing solitaire and that silly break out game...can't think of the name and it is not pitted or overly sratched.

4. Krussell: A beautifully finshed case that also hangs vertical, but the snap closure is just almost nonexistant. If it were not for that lousy snap I'd really like the Krussell case. I'm going to try and find a fabric store and see if maybe they carry a snap that could be attached to this devcie. Probably do have such a snap, but I bet the leather would be totally torn up in the process of doing this. Krussell...shame on you for screwing up this way...I love your products, but this one stinks.

5. PDair cases.....The least expensive of the lot and for good reason. Don't waste your bucks, or diners, or pesos, or rubbles or marks or euros.

One final thought. It is the problem of the keyboard that makes any case for the Rafael be a problem. Sliding it into a plastic sleeve is probably the best way to hold the device, but the little tabs on the Noreve case do a fine job of holding it as well.

Dear reader: Your milage may vary. I take no responsibility for your pocket book, your device or your life.