Pictures of Piel Frama leather case for the Magician

[lars_juhl]

After impatiently waiting for almost a month, I have now received my Piel Frama leather case. I haven't seen any pictures anywhere (except for the ones on Piel Frama's web site), so I thought it might have someones interest. So far I am very pleased with my "investment".

http://www.embl.de/~jensen/piel_frama/closed_front.jpg

I really like the look of the Black/Tan combo :)

http://www.embl.de/~jensen/piel_frama/closed_bottom.jpg

Notice that the cutout for the headset is free also when the case is closed. Crucial if you want to use your Magician as an MP3 player :)

http://www.embl.de/~jensen/piel_frama/closed_left.jpg

There are access to all keys on the left side.

http://www.embl.de/~jensen/piel_frama/closed_right.jpg

My only small gripe with this case is the lack of a cutout for the infrared port. I really see no reason why Piel Frama didn't make a small square hole for that :?

http://www.embl.de/~jensen/piel_frama/open_front.jpg

My current equipment: MDA Compact, 1Gb Sandisk card, and Sandisk wifi card. I normally keep the wifi card in the business card compartment - that way there is no risk of it damaging the screen. When the case is closed, the wifi card fits into the "hole" for the screen and thus adds nothing to the thickness of the case :D

http://www.embl.de/~jensen/piel_frama/open_bottom.jpg

The cutout for sync cable is only available when the case is open.

All in all, I can strongly recommend this case. The fit is perfect, the quality is superb, and the case adds very little bulk to the Magician.

[hshortt]

I've got one that I'll be reviewing for Tekguru. Didn't you notice that there is also no cutout for the camera lens?

Or that the holes for the sync port/headset/reset are not actually stitched but punched. This can lead to tears in the leather.

Other than this it's a fine case, but I look forward to seeing Vajacases one.

Cheers

[lars_juhl]

Concerning the lack of camera cutout: the case allows you to bend the back of the case sufficiently to take pictures without removing the MDA Compact from the case. However, I admit that the case very easily can get in the way when you do this. I personally wouldn't want a cutout for the camera since the case then wouldn't realy protect the lens ... feel free to disagree :wink:

[hshortt]

Hey, I'm not disagreeing with you, just opening a discussion. :)

[Anonymous]

Hey, nice pictures.

Are the executive cases at Expansys the same ones as piel frama? They look like the same pics from the piel frama site, but I'm not too sure.

Any thoughts??

- Bruce

[R. Knops]

Wednesday the case arrived and I'm very pleased with it ! The case has -in my opinion- a good and userfriendly design. For the past days the i-mate JAM hasen't left the case. Synch & charge can easily be done !!

For me personal it isn't a problem that the lens is also covered. I'm not that person who is always taking pics with the i-mate JAM. When I want to take decent pics, I'll get my digi cam.

I can just advise everybody this case ... ;oP

Kind regards ...

[skjelnes]

Is there room for a credit card in the large pocket?

[hshortt]

Yep! Large slot takes cards or folded cash.

I have a review live at Tekguru for more pictures of the black model.

http://www.tekguru.co.uk/phpBB2/viewtopic.php?t=5461

Cheers

[lars_juhl]

Nice review, hshortt! :)

I'm wondering whether Piel Frama decided against a cutout for the camera after having seen the quality of the pictures it produces? I mean - if you plan on using the camera you should consider buying something else than the Magician. Just about anything else actually. :roll:

[iggy]

Yep! Large slot takes cards or folded cash.

I have a review live at Tekguru for more pictures of the black model.

http://www.tekguru.co.uk/phpBB2/viewtopic.php?t=5461

Cheers

Nice review hshortt, just one question/oberservation, either you have really big hands or is the Jam alot smaller than XDA 1? Any possibilities of a side by side picture.

[lars_juhl]

Here is a comparison picture from PDAgold of the MDA Compact (aka Jam) with the MDA II (which is about the same size as the XDA 1).

http://pdagold.com/img/articles/en/large/0000000214_1ug712310291018.jpg

Yes, the Jam is indeed much smaller :D

[rbrychckn]

I've got one that I'll be reviewing for Tekguru. Didn't you notice that there is also no cutout for the camera lens?

Or that the holes for the sync port/headset/reset are not actually stitched but punched. This can lead to tears in the leather.

Other than this it's a fine case, but I look forward to seeing Vajacases one.

Cheers

i emailed Vajacases maybe 2 weeks ago. It was stated rather clearly that they had no plans to make a case for the JAM. I remember seeing someone else post that they asked and received the same statement. Has this changed?

[hshortt]

hee hee, I don't have big hands honestly! haha. But you can check out a video review of the 'opening-the-box-experience' including comparisons against the XDA II for size etc.

Here you go.
http://www.tekguru.co.uk/phpBB2/index.php?article=5350

NOTE there's no audio for the video, it's a silent movie! ;-)

[MLJ471]

Been almost a month now, ya'll still enjoying the cases? Any threads coming apart, ripping, etc?

Being able to store the Wifi card in this case is a big plus, as you mentioned above.. it doesnt get in the way at all? no extra thickness or it bulging out of the case? and no contact w/ the screen eh?

thnx!

[lars_juhl]

I'm still very happy with my case - no loose threads or any other problems yet. I'm not posting any new pictures since the case still looks the same as when it was new. :D

Storing the wifi card in the business card compartment literally adds nothing to the thickness since the card fits within the big screen area. In fact, the wifi card is in the case on all the pictures that I posted (except for the one where I show the wifi card, obviously). Because I store the wifi card in the business card compartment (not the SD card cutouts), the is a piece of soft leather between the card and the screen. There is thus no risk of the card scratching the screen.

Abusing the business card compartment like this has caused the leather to stretch slightly to fit around the card. This is not an issue unless you at some point no longer want to carry you wifi card with you like this.

The only other caveat of carrying a wifi card in the business card compartment is that you cannot use the SD card cutouts at the same time. You are thus limited to carrying one SD memory card and the wifi card.

[ramses2]

Yep! Large slot takes cards or folded cash.

I have a review live at Tekguru for more pictures of the black model.

http://www.tekguru.co.uk/phpBB2/viewtopic.php?t=5461

Cheers

Credit Cards - Nope (unless you cut them at the sides :shock:

[rictec]

i have a leather case for my XDA2 with backpack and i love it its well made and have space for credit cards and 2 sd cards