March 2008 News Posts
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Bellagio NX73/80
case review by Jeffrey Gerber |
Date:
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11/10/2003
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Just received my Bellagio NX73/80 case
(using it with an NX73). Overall, I'm not as happy with it as I thought I'd be.
I'll start with the cons and then go to the things that I like.
* Although I had heard that Bellagio cases were high quality, I'm not finding
that. The worst is the fact that there some of the parts are glue together. And
the glue is coming undone. If I flip open the case and let the top flap fall
back, I can see glue pieces becoming seperated just below the CF slot.
* I had a devil of a time getting my WL110 WiFi card into the proper slot on
the case. I now can't eaily get it out. I assume that this will get better as
the leather "relaxes." Of course, I feel better that I won't lose the
card!
* The WiFi card doesn't sit flush as the "indention" isn't deep
enough. This means that the WiFi card gets crunched when I close the case.
* My Clie no longer closes all the way. Only when I snap the case shut does it
force (and I do mean force) the Clie into a closed position. And there is an
1/2 inch gap between the case's cover and the Clie due to the fact that the
Wi-Fi card doesn't sit flush. In tablet mode, the fact that it doesn't close
all the way means that the tablet sits at an angle AWAY from me. When I put the
stylus the screen, there is a bounce. If you look at the hinge when I do this,
it looks like it might break after some time.
* The plastic strip which goes over the datebook/phone/todo/memo/arrow buttons
seems cheap and diminishes from the good looks (see my pros, below) of the
case. The plastic strip also doesn't sit straight -- it's higher on the left
than on the right. It also sits on top of the plastic nubs that the Clie has to
protect the screen when closed. This means that the top of the plastic strip
sits above the bottom on the strip. This means that there is a gap between the
strip and the buttons, which makes for a nasty feel when I use the buttons.
Makes them harder to press, as well.
* The above problem is compounded by the fact that the cut-outs on the sides
are not right. If I force the strip to be straight, then the left (capture and
back) are OK, but the leather covers half (really!) of the audio remote port
and doesn't let me slide the audio record button down. If I slide the leather
down so that I can access the remote's port and the audio record switch, the
plastic covers my O and P keys (and is REALLY lopsided).
* It really doesn't fit in the cradle very well. I have to use significant
force to get the Clie to physically connect with the connector on the cradle.
And when I let go, it just pops off. The only solution I've found is to rock
the Clie forward. It then meets the connector, but sits at the wrong angle.
* This is a nit-pik, but why is there so much space above the Clie logo below
the keyboard? Shouldn't the opening in the leather be smaller? Or am I missing
something?
* You can't close the case with something in the CF slot. I'm not sure if I
think this is a good or bad thing. I like the fact that it makes the case
tighter. But there are times when it might be nice to leave a CF in.
* No speaker hole.
* The upper MS holder is tight, as was the WiFi slot. Too tight to get a MS
into the slot. The lower one works fairly well.
* The IR "light" as all but hidden.
* It's really thick.
* I would have liked the camera covered, for a little more protection.
* $50 with shipping is a lot for something that has the above problems.
* When I'm using my Clie with one hand, the top flap just hangs there. This
puts pressume on the previously mentioned glued area. I can actually hearing
the glue "rip" when I let the top flag hang. In addition to this
quality problem, it weights things improperly and looks stupid (obscene,
almost, if you get my meaning). The weight imbalance is enough that I can't use
it one-handed anymore.
* When I sit the Clie on my desk, open the screen in clamshell (keyboard) mode,
the Clie rocks back such that the bottom is a good 1/2 of an inch or more off
the back of the case. This means that it rocks like crazy when I'm using it.
And it puts it at an odd angle.
OK, so what do I like?
* The leather itself seems nice. It has some scratches on it, which is not
good. However, I'm hoping that the leather "ages" and this will be
less on an issue.
* With the exceptions above, it looks nice. I can see people saying "gee,
that's a fancy case you have there."
* It's narrow and short (although thick). Form fitting (with the exceptions
above).
I'm going to try it for a week, to see if the leather softens to the point that
some of the issues go away. I know that Bellagio has a "you can return,
but only if you haven't tried it policy," but I must say that given some
of the quality issues and design problems, the least they can do it let me see
if the issues go away with a little wear. Especially when it cost $50.
All in all, I'd have to say that I don't feel it's worth the money and wasn't
worth all the delays.
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