Price:	£15.95 (depends on reseller)		Reviewed by:	Neil Brown
Supplied:	Krusell		Review date:	20/07/2005
Pros:	Looks great, and is well made Universal - may fit more than one of your PDAs Holds three memory cards Secure magnetic clasp MultiDapt connector - lots of options Good price (reseller dependent) Professional, attractive looks		Cons:	Does not totally protect PDA

Introduction The Horizontic case from Krusell is really unlike any other PDA case I have seen before – it is a horizontal slip case, available in a variety of sizes. The version I tested was a “Small”, perfect for most PDAs, although I’d imagine some of the larger Clies would require a large case.   Krusell specialise in making cases and accessories out of leather, and the quality of manufacturing is very high indeed- the outside is nappa leather, which, whilst not matte, is not really “glossy” either – it’s rather hard to describe, so hopefully the photograph should clear this up! The inside of the case if lined with a velvet-like material, which looks great, but seems to have a tendency for attracting dust. The contours of the case are neatly highlighted by tight black stitching, and, overall, I have to say that it really does look great.    As the case is not device-specific, it is not intended to be a snug fit – rather more of a receptacle for a wide range of PDAs. I tested the case with by my T3 (lefthand image) and my LOOX, and, whilst the T3 had considerable room for movement, as expected, I was pleased to find that it fitted the LOOX perfectly- the case could have been designed especially for it. Once you’ve dropped the PDA into the case, the fold-over flap is held securely shut by a magnetic fastener – I’ve carried this case around with me for over a week now, and it has never come open unintentionally.   The case is not totally sealed, so parts of the PDA are visible from the outside. Personally, I do not have a problem with this, but, if you tend to find you drop your PDA a lot, you may prefer to find a completely encompassing case. There is a large hole in the bottom of the case, to aid you pushing out the PDA – I found this to be particularly useful, and, as the leather is 2 or 3 mm thick, you are not going to scratch your PDA should you inadvertently drop the case so that it lands on its base, unless you happen to hit a protruding object. If, however, you have keys or coins in your pocket, then they will rub, and could cause damage, so, I wouldn’t recommend this case if you make a habit of keeping metal objects in the same pocket as your PDA. Similarly, the corners of the PDA are not protected, as the photograph shows- so a drop on the corner could cause damage. This would not stop me personally from using the case, but, if you throw your PDA around, you might be better with a metal option.   The most obvious feature of this case is that you need to remove the machine to be able to use it – the case simply holds your PDA when you are not using it. Having been used to using both the T3 and the LOOX whilst inside cases, it was actually quite pleasant to be able to use them as the factory intended – just the machine in my hand. I have to say that the T3 was nicer in this respect, as a metal PDA just exudes quality.    An exception to the requirement to remove the machine to use it is when it comes to listening to audio –at least, on the LOOX and the T3. For both of these devices, I was able to plug in the audio jack and shut the case, although, as the photographs show (LOOX on the left), it was more of a squeeze with the T3. As long as you aren’t planning on jumping around tracks a lot, then audio won’t be a problem – however, if you are someone who has to constantly change the volume, skips tracks etc, then this solution won’t suit you.    Krusell have worked a second “layer” into the case, which is where you can store extra cards – this is secured shut via two snap-fasteners, so there is no chance that it will fall open by accident. There are three pockets in this flap, geared (from left to right) for CF, MS and SD/MMC cards. I didn’t have an MS to hand to test the centre holder, but both the CF and SD holders were the perfect size – for the first few insertions, you will need to be quite forceful, as the material is very tight – I did wonder at first whether the CF card was in fact ever going to fit, but, I am pleased to say that it does. There are cutouts at the bottom of each section to aid in removing the cards, too.   Adding cards to the flap does not make much of a difference to the overall bulk of the case- there is no way that it could be called svelte at the best of times. It adds a considerable size to the LOOX, and even more so to the slim T3. I wouldn’t be putting this case into a jacket / trouser pocket (unless your pockets are far bigger than mine), but, as I have now developed a habit of having a small bag with me at all times (it’s not a handbag…. honest!), this isn’t a problem for me. Do have a think about how you tend to use your PDA, though – this case will not replace your wallet, so it will be something extra to carry about, and is unlikely to slide neatly into a pocket.   Krusell do provide a solution for this, in the form of their MultiDapt clip technology. Fixed to the back of the case is one of the most unobtrusive clip attachments I have seem to date- it is the connection to other parts of the MultuDapt range, which I have looked at here.   Conclusion   The Horizontic case presents a quandary, perhaps – it is not quite small enough to fit into a pocket, but yet is a pleasure to use. It’s great to be able to use my PDAs unimpeded by a “second skin”, and it the design and manufacturing is first class. If you have more than one PDA, you may decide that a “universal” case such as this makes sense, as custom versions can quickly add up in price. However, if you are a LOOX user, and this probably goes for other devices as well, then the case is such a good fit that it could have been device-specific. The presence of multiple card slots is welcome, especially if you have a machine which uses CF cards- I can’t actually think of another case which has space for one of these at the moment. If you don’t use CF, then it is perfectly possible to store other formats in the extra slots – although they will not fit as well, the dual fasteners at the top will ensure that nothing slides out or gets lost.   The case does not offer all-round protection against knocks and bumps, but, you would have to be unlucky to land the PDA on one of its corners, rather than the much larger surfaces of the sides, back or front. I’d feel happy using this case everyday, and that is a sufficient benchmark for me, but, it’s something you’d have to bear in mind. The MultiDapt system may go some way to aiding this decision-  if you like having a PDA attached to your belt, or on a lanyard, for example, then the chances of dropping it whilst in the case may well be low. Remember, you have to remove the PDA for everything other than audio (and hearing alarms etc), and so these comments on protection are relevant only for the “travelling” aspects of usage. Krusell have great faith in the quality of their cases, and thus offer a Lifetime warranty – you should no concerns that this case will fall apart due to a manufacturing fault when you are using it. All of this adds up to a case with which I am very impressed.   Finally, there’s the question of price. Krusell do not sell the case directly; rather, you have to purchase it through one of their distributors- having looked around the web, I’ve seen it (without discount) for around £16, which I think is excellent, considering the quality of the case. If you are looking for a case which will cover more than one PDA, or just looking for something a little different, then this could be the one for you. It comes in a variety of sizes, so make sure you are getting one which does fit your PDA – the model I reviewed was the “S” (small!) model. I am sure that I will be using this case in the future - it's different to any case I've used before, and this really appeals to me. Great job, Krusell!