Windows Phone Thoughts: Klaatu Barada Nikto! – Energy Leaf Case for the iPAQ 2200 Series Reviewed

Using the Energy Leaf
I used the case exclusively for about a week, in place of my leather EB case. Since the EB case is the one with which I’m the most familiar, I’ll use that case as a point of comparison. I'll also make a few comparisons to the InnoPocket case, since I'm also familiar with that one.

The first thing that I realized is that since a metal case is much more slippery than a leather case, I’d have to be more careful when carrying it. I usually carry a notepad and whatever folders I need for a meeting, and then carry the iPAQ right under my hand on top of the folders. With the Energy Leaf case, my iPAQ almost got away from me a couple of times. I’m pretty sure that I’d get used to it.

Since the Energy Leaf doesn’t encroach on the screen as much as most leather cases do, I found that I’d have a tendency to leave the case on when using the iPAQ at a meeting. With the leather cases, I usually take them off if I plan to use the iPAQ a lot, as in taking notes. So that’s one plus for the Energy Leaf.

Of course, that assumes you’re using it while holding it in your hand. If I put the iPAQ flat on a desk or tabletop, the cover on the Energy Leaf stands straight up, and seems to be a bit in the way. With my EB case, the cover lays flat.

Access to buttons and the directional pad is very good, the equal of the EB case. The Energy Leaf allows access to the headphone jack and the stylus while the cover is closed, unlike the EB. If you listen to music, the headphone jack cutout is a definite advantage. The other is of limited appeal, at least to me, since I don’t see the need to remove the stylus without opening the cover.

The Energy Leaf requires that you open the cover to access the IR port and the SD card. Other top-opening cases have a similar requirement. However, by virtue of their side-opening covers, the Proporta and InnoPocket cases mentioned earlier do permit access to these items with the cover closed. It’s a tradeoff that you may or may not be willing to make to get a top-opening case. When the Energy Leaf is open, though, the IR port and SD slot are easily accessed.

Although I didn’t drop it, the Energy Leaf seems to be designed to provide good protection for the iPAQ. And the use of the case created no scratches on the iPAQ itself when inserting and removing it.