[bkbroil]

I recently purchased a Toshiba e805 and I needed a case to house my investment. I searched through numerous reviews and websites gathering data and I am sharing this data and my opinions with you, in the hopes that it may cut down some of your time in a search for a case. (or convince you that you NEED a case...go to the bottom of article to read why you NEED one. )
Since I'm a numbers guy, I put together a spreadsheet (above) of the different features of the major cases to help me with my decision and I've included pictures (below) and my thoughts on each case.

I've looked at the following manufactures for Toshiba e800 case:
1. Brando
2. Piel Frama
3. Covertec
4. Stylus Central
5. Vaja
(Their links at the bottom of the article.)
I based my decision on the following factors: Price, features, customer service (a big factor) and my subjective opinion of the looks and how I will use the case.
I used the Gadgeteer Review of the Brando case.
Brando Case



Price: $35
Features: The main points to be noted about this case is the ID Card holder that can act as a screen protector.
Customer Service: I Do not have any experience with their customer service.
Subjective Opinion: I really like the looks of this case and I like the the extra ID holder that can double as a screen protector. However, I do not like the idea of a magnetic closure. The magnetic closure prevents the storage of Credit Cards. Therefore this case cannot double as a wallet. And is therefore out of the running. I use a case for the sole pupose of only having to carry one object with me and this would require that I carry a wallet also.
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I used the Gadgeteer Review of the Piel Frama cases
[b]Piel Frama Case


Price: $75 (**The Highest Price of the group)
Features: The main highlight of this case is the removable belt clip.
Customer Service: Do not have any experience with their customer service.
Subjective Opinion: I like the looks of the Piel Frama case and I like all the features of the case except for two aspects. One, the case is not syncable and two, it is the highest priced case of the group . If the case had extra pockets to carry bills or if the case was "syncable", it would definetly be a consideration. Thumbs down on the Piel Frama because of the price.
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Covertec case


Price: $40
Features: See Chart
Customer Service: I do not have any experience with their customer service.
Subjective Opinion: Again, this case also has a magnetic closure which prevents it from carrying credit cards. It is also not evident from the website whether there is a cutout on the case for headphone access. Thumbs down on the Covertec because of magnetic closure and not enough information regarding headphone access.
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Stylus Central Case

Price: $28 (**The lowest price of the group)
Features: See Chart
Customer Service: I do not have any experience with their customer service.
Subjective Opinion: I personally do not like the aluminum case for the simple fact that every time I would need to access the PPC, I would be forced to remove it from the case. This is very inconvenient for me. Thumbs down on the Stylus Central because of accessibility.
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Vaja Case


Price: $55
Features: See Chart
Customer Service: Great experience in the past with their customer service. Vaja replaced a case of mine for free even though it was past the one year warranty.
Subjective Opinion: This is my pick for a number of reasons.
One: The case is syncable,
Two: Access to headphones via a cutout
Three: Their customer service has been excellent to me over the past years.

BKBroil's Pick
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A case for making a gadget into a tool
Believe it or not, there was a time when I was totally opposed to using a case with my PPC. In fact the first two years that I had my Cassiopeia e100 were "sans" case...

I refused to get a case. "They're for geeks and I am certainly not a geek." (Hey, why are you laughing ...okay so I am a geek. :P ). So I would carry my Personal PC in my pants pocket or the inside of my jacket during the winter months, when I remembered it...or had the room to carry it. (Not very often) That Personal PC served its purpose, or so I thought.
Then came my next BIG purchase. I literally saved up Best Buy gift certificates from various holidays for an entire year (I asked my wife to let everyone know to only give me Best Buy gift certificate....BTW, they still only give me Best Buy gift certificates... but Best has since stopped selling PPC accessories, so I'm purchasing music. ) Along came my birthday in the month of February and "Lo and behold" Best Buy was having a big sale on the weekend of my birthday. Woohoo! The sale was 15% off merchandise and I had a coupon for an additional 15% off PLUS all of my accumulated gift certificates (plus the coming birthday)! I had spent the year saving wisely and studying all of the Pocket PCs specifiation and reviews that were available. Now was the time to strike! I purchased a Compaq Ipaq 3835 and boy was I excited. It was truly a year of hard work and research that went into purchasing that Ipaq.
What does this have to do with a case? I'm getting to it...hold your horses! I got home and spent the next couple of days playing with my new toy and just like the Cassiopeia, I would leave it behind when going out. But this time, I would pick it up and try to fit it into my pants pocket or try putting it on my car seat...but it would just never fit right... Not only was I not taking it with me, but I really wasn't using it either. I wouldn't tap in tasks when I thought of them, I wouldn't add someone's birthday to my calendar when I remembered it, I wouldn't write down something my wife said "she liked" as a possible holiday present, I never knew when the local sports teams were playing or who they were playing. etc. etc..etc.. I was starting to become dispassionate about my Ipaq. That's when I had to make the decision, Do I really want to use this gadget? or am I worried about what others think?
(ding, ding, ding, ding) Epiphany You guessed it! I purchased a Vaja Case for my Ipaq! And because I carried a case that also is my wallet I never leave home without my PPC. My PPC has become "just as" important, in fact, I think "more" important than my laptop. I now type in those tasks (which the list is a little too long), I remember birthdays, I get really good presents for my wife's birthday and I always know when the Eagles, Flyers, Phillies and Sixers are playing.. (Although right now, I wish I didn't know when the Sixers were playing. )
So the moral to my story is -- A simple $50 purchase for a case can change your $400 PPC from a "gadget" into a "tool".
I know you want to ask me, "BK don't you look like a geek with your PPC clipped on your belt?" Not really, all winter I usually carry it inside my coat and during the summer I typically keep my shirt untucked (and it doesn't really show....the PPC..not my gut. ) unless I'm at work. If I'm at work, I generally will keep it in my pants pockets while walking the hallways but I'll clip it on my belt if I'm getting into my car. And let's face it, I'm not a stunade (this is where Brad chimes in. )... There are times when you just can't take a PPC with you. I also have a wallet which sits on my Kitchen counter in a basket so that I can easily throw my cards and things into it and go.
So tell me what you're thinking. Would you buy a case for PPC?
I hope my ramblings help in your decision if you decide to purchase a case to keep your investment safe.
Links to manufacturers:
Brando Cases
Piel Frama Cases
Covertec Cases
Stylus Central Cases
Vaja Cases