Price:	£24.95		Reviewed by:	Mike Featherstone
Supplied:	Proporta		Review date:	07/03/2005
Pros:	Well made Secure when closed		Cons:	Loose lid when open Small risk of 'lid damage'

I've always thought that the earlier, and now largely unavailable, T series handhelds (T, T2 and T3) offered a particularly difficult challenge to case manufacturers. While the slider may be beneficial to the user by reducing the form factor of the device, making a case that can cater for it, and still provide enough protection for the PDA must be an interesting proposition.

On release of the T3 specifically, I remember that the independent hard case solutions were keenly awaited as the original Palm case was deemed too big and heavy for the task. What resulted, rather than the all over, wrap-around solution that Palm had proposed and produced, was a compromise between protection and usability. In the case of the Proporta case, this means that cut-outs are provided to permit access to the connector at the bottom and the headphone socket, voice recorder button and microphone at one side while the top of the case is almost entirely open. Partly this is to allow access to the power switch and SD slot, but it also provides the mechanism for coping with the presence of the slider by permitting the PDA to effectively extend itself through the top of the case.

A small (finger sized) cut-out is set into the rear of the case at the top and I finally worked out that this is indeed for a finger, providing a means of gripping the top of the unit to extend the slider once the front cover is open. It's not ideal for me as I normally open the slider by gripping on either side, but to be honest, I can't think of a better alternative and the mechanism is growing on me with use.

Unlike the hard cases I've looked at from other sources, this one is hinged on the right as you open it. It feels unnatural to begin with and I was sceptical as to the usefulness of it, but in the hand (as it is as I write this) it actually makes quite a difference allowing me to use a sensible left handed grip while writing with my right. (I am right handed). The downside to this is that I do find it quite a hard case to open (no pun intended), making it a definite two handed operation (though as the review sample is still relatively new, this may improve with age). If you happen to be left handed, of course, this won't be a particularly useful feature for you!

As in all the pictures, the lid has 2 embedded SD card slots and some holes over the speaker, presumably for sound transmission for alarms etc when closed. 0ther than that, it's a smooth aluminium surface with no bumps or mouldings to break the line except for a hinge on one side and a catch on the other. On the rear, there is also a moulding for the ubiquitous detachable belt clip.

The manufacturers name is discretely silk-screened on the back of the case but the grey colour and sensible placement means that this doesn't detract from the look of it in any way as some of the more overt case advertising can.

The belt clip attachment is supplied as part of the package requiring a matching 'lug' to be screwed into the back of the case before it can be used. It's not as small and elegant an attachment as some but is certainly functional. My use for belt clips is non-existent so I'll say no more.

The fit of case to unit is very tight (which I like) allowing no room for movement or rattling. The T3 is gripped in the padded embrace of the sides of the case at the bottom while a pair of sprung nodules on the rear engage in the cut-outs provided for the purpose on the back of the T3. The result is very secure - so much so that when I do have to remove the PDA from the case for charging, I'm struggling to come up with a way of doing so that doesn't threaten its existence. Again, I suspect that this will ease with use. (I find pushing upward on the connector to be the simplest method of getting the T3 out of the case as the cut-out I believe is intended for this purpose is a little to small for me)

One point worth noting is that there is no access to the reset hole due to the way the T3 is retained. While I agree that supplying a cut-out for it would be a mistake, I have been spoiled by the access provided by the T5 cases and miss the facility with the T3. I should add, though, that this is as much a T3 design issue as a Proporta case issue.

Using a cradle with the T3 in the case is a no-no as it's just too thick to permit a connection. Looking at the design of the cradle, I imagine that this is true with just about any form of T3 case but it is still a shame as any repeated insertion and removal of the PDA will inevitably weaken the grip of the case.

The lid has a bit of a wobble to it when open which, I guess, is down to the single tab of metal used in the hinge compared to the multiple tabbed hinges I have seen elsewhere. When closed, however, the story is completely different with the whole assembly being exceedingly firm in the hand. Having already said that this is not the easiest case to open, the flip-side to that is that it is very hard to imagine this simply falling open in a pocket or bag. Within the confines of the design (i.e. all the open bits that are required) the protection it affords seems to be first rate.

As a final note, you'll need to be careful when shutting one of these cases as although the top is open, the lid has a small lip that serves to hold the PDA in place when it's closed. This is no problem when the slider is closed, obviously, but with the slider open this lip presents a potential risk to the T3 casing. I think you'd have to put a fair amount of pressure on it to actually damage anything but over time I imagine that this could eventually mark the unit.

It's very hard to actually get excited about a bit of brushed aluminium and I'm certainly not going to go overboard about this one. As a case, however, it offers solid, padded protection for the T3 and feels smooth and well moulded in the hand. I'm happy to leave my T3 in this for the foreseeable future so if you're looking for a recommendation, that should be good enough!