.: Rhino Skin Aluminium case for Dell Axim X50

Author - Nicola Raule :: User rating -   (345 votes) :: Views - 28765 November 29, 2004 :: Since the new Dell Axim X50/X50v was launched we have seen very little cases choice out there. The problem is that Dell made such a big secret out of this pda that all the manufacturers had to wait until the PDA was available to start designing their cases. One of the first to be available on the market is the Rhino Skin Aluminium. Let’s take a look at it.

I am a big fan of metal hard cases. A pda nowadays cost as much as laptop and you don’t want to mess with it. So my policy is always “The stronger the better”, even if I have to sacrifice something in terms of weight. This is why I had a Rhino Skin Aluminium on my Dell Axim X5 and then I purchased the Titanium one, despite the high price (man, that was a brick!).

I have to say that I didn’t like too much the Aluminium then: it felt cheap, not at all solid and I didn’t feel that Rhino Skin had paid attention to the details. Plus it didn’t have a belt clip and there was no SD storage space. I was not very satisfied with the Titanium case too. For that price I was expecting a total perfection, while I had problems with the clip and other details. Being a so-so satisfied customer I accepted this review with a little reserve. Any concern vanished as soon as I open the package of the new X50 Rhino Skin. The first look at this case is enough to realize that this time Rhino Skin has done a good job.

Shape

The case was built to perfectly match your X50 both in colours and shape. The bottom is round and there is a black plastic part in the back. It fits like a glove to my X50v and there are no little spaces or small movements of the PDA once it is inserted (unlike the X5 models). There is a removable belt clip and 2 SD cards storage spaces, as well as all the usual side and top holes to access buttons, connections and memory cards.

Dimension and Weight

The question everybody will be asking is: “How much bigger and heavier is the PDA with this case?”. As far as dimensions it doesn’t feel much bigger, I consider it still reasonable to be carried in the back pocket of my pants. As far as weight the case alone is 69g. Considering that the X50v with standard battery is 168g it’s a good 40% increase. That’s a lot, but I consider it reasonable given the strong protection that you get. Not everybody would agree on this.

Details

There is a lot of attention to style and details, like the two symmetric holes in the front for the microphone and the wireless led, or the soft padded interior that THIS TIME includes the bottom of the case. This is an important issue I am glad they addressed. The previous cases didn’t have an inside protection on the bottom so my X5 was damaged just by being inside the case. It looks like this time it’s not going to happen.

News

It feels like Rhino Skin has corrected all the issues and added some interesting modifications to their metal case. There are new plastic parts on the side of the case to facilitate the grip. There is also a new plastic spacer in the inside of the case that helps to keep the PDA stable while inside the case.

The case has a new glossy finish that according to Rhino Skin is more resistant to scratches and elegant. It feels more resistant, but I will need more time to test this feature. Last but not least the belt clip has been modified: there are two plastic rings that hold the metal pin and also the pin has been modified to add a screw head. I find this smart since it would be possible to use a screwdriver to tight it stronger to the case (see picture below).

Pros

• Strong
• Stylish
• Perfect fit
• 2 SD card storage
• Removable belt clip
• New aluminium finish seems more durable

Cons

• Heavy
• No extended battery
• No cradle syncFirst paragraph...

The Rhino Skin Aluminium case for Dell Axim X50/X50v is available at www.aximcases.com for $34.

Conclusion The Rhino Skin Aluminium case for Dell Axim X50 is a solid stylish protective case. So far I can see no defects other than the ones related to it’s nature, such as the fact that you have to remove the PDA from the case to use the cradle. If you are looking for an X50 hard case, this is the one; this is probably as good as an hard case can get. :: The final rating is 90%

Related links

• First Review of Dell Presentation Bundle for Dell Axim X50v
• First 60 minutes with Dell Axim X50

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