Windows Phone Thoughts: A Journey Down Under: nSignia PDA Cases Reviewed

There's Nothing Like That Fresh Leather Smell!
My HP iPAQ h1940 was looking a little lonely the other day, so I introduced it to one of nSignia's exotic leather cases. They get along well with each other and are now the best of friends. In this review, I look at nSignia's kangaroo book-style leather case, but that is not the only style offered by the company. Their product range is offered in two designs - a book-style and a flip-top design. The cases are also sold in different sorts of exotic leathers. Exotic, you ask? nSignia use leathers from various animals - namely, the Kangaroo, Ostrich, Barramundi, Shark and Crocodile. Some of you are now probably pondering on the issues associated with the use of these so-called exotic leathers. Graham Walker, of nSignia, had a few words to say on this, so if you'd like a bit of clarification on these issues, please feel free to read up on it here.


Figure 1: A view from the top - the case in all its glory.

It's a Good Fit!
The first thing I'll talk about is the tight-fitting of the case. I've come across many cases before, but none have fit as "tightly" as the ones offered by nSignia. When I first tried it, it seemed like my Pocket PC wouldn't fit in the case... but it did eventually! So is this a good thing or a bad thing? Well, I'd say it's a good thing. The leather and stitching used by nSignia is always made to provide a tight fit at first to take into account the natural flexibility and stretch of leather. With time, it relaxes a little and gets "worn in" to fit the specific shape of the device. The up-side? This tight-fit helps prevent the Pocket PC from accidentally slipping out. I even gave it a "shake test", and the device refused to fall out! I'm sure many of you have otherwise encountered that unfortunate problem, and thankfully, nSignia's cases help prevent it. After a month of solid use, the device still fits tightly within the case. This helps provide a sense of reassurance that my Pocket PC is being kept well-protected, and while we're on the topic of good protection, it's also worth noting that the cases are well-padded on the front and the back. A secure button-lock strap helps keep the case closed when it is not being used.


Figure 2: A side-on view of the case.