PDAir Sony CLIE TG50 Face Covers

Gadgeteer Hands On Review by Mike Riegel

July 18, 2003

Product Requirements:
Device:
Sony CLIÉ TG50
 

PDAir Leather Face Cover for TG50

I like leather. Sure, it might not be the most PC (politically correct) preference ever, but there is just something about the feel of leather in my hands that makes old Mikey smile. So, when I saw that Brando was offering leather replacement covers for the TG50, I made the aforementioned facial expression as I popped out the credit card…

Is there anything wrong with the metallic plastic cover that ships with the TG? No. The PDair cover is just something new…an accessory to distinguish me from the other fifteen TG50 owners out there.

The cover is available in three different styles/colors; smooth black, litchi black, or litchi brown. I had to go with the brown… Man, was I disappointed.

The envelope from Hong Kong arrived, and I quickly ran to my office and ripped it open. The stock cover was ripped from my CLIÉ and its new leather shield was installed. My first thought was that it looked a little crooked. Indeed, the cover is a little too large to fit the device, and waggles from side to side – fitting properly on one side of the PDA, and overhanging the other.

Also, the locking mechanism featured on the TG50 stock cover was not present on this item, allowing the cover to open and close at the whim of gravity. Two little nubs that insert into the PDA accomplish attachment of the cover. This fact is odd in that the other cover offering from PDAir (featured below) utilizes the hardware from the stock cover to retain the fit and operation of the original.

On the plus side, I did like the quality of the leather, but it really is the only high point of this accessory.

 

Price: $15.00 From Brando

Pros: 
Protects Screen

Cons: 
Cover Does Not Fit Properly
Does Not “Lock” In Positions – Flops

 

PDAir Clear Face Cover for TG50

Ah…the TG50 – the Saab of the Sony Palm Universe. I love that little guy, but for a quick check of ToDo’s or the time, the seconds wasted in the opening of the cover could be much better used scanning over PDA news sites…if only there were a better way…

Sure, I could just remove the Sony hard cover, but knowing me they way that I do – it would just be a bad idea (the last screen I broke was on my eMate, and I intend for it to be my last…). A clear cover would be great, but a full cover would be limited in its usefulness – a person can not live by jog/back alone, right?

Brando answered all of my hopes with the PDAir Clear Screen Cover.

“Twelve bucks for a little piece of transparent plastic?!?” Yeah, you heard me.

The first hurdle of this item is a piece of minor, outpatient surgery to the Sony cover. You know those satisfying little “clicks” as the cover opens and closes? Well, we need to remove the “clickers” for this new cover to work. The procedure is not terribly difficult, just be sure to exactly mimic the orientation of the clickers from the old cover to new (I spent 15 minutes cussing, thinking that I had loused everything up before I realized that they were in 90 degrees off).

Once attached properly, this clear cover is a dream come true. Quick checking of items is a breeze, and I no longer felt the urge to say “beam me up,” whenever turning the device on.

Viewing of the screen is about 90% with the cover closed (I occasionally have trouble reading journal entries when in my Stowaway) and can be wiped clean with any old piece of cloth - try that on your PDA screen (Kidding! I don’t need any more law suits on my hands!).

Some forum posts here and there refer to fears of scratching of the plastic, but I have had no problems in this sense after a month of Mikey combat conditions.

Okay, there is a problem with this cover, and it is a doozie…

The icons to denote the buttons are somewhat distorted by the curve of the case. Yeah, big deal. I remapped the buttons ages ago, and it is barely even worth mentioning.

To put it bluntly, I like the clear cover as much as I dislike the leather one (for those of you who skipped down, look above for previously mentioned rant). If you have a TG50, you need this cover (had I not already ranted in this review I would get into one of those “this PDA should have shipped with this” kind of things, but I know my limit…).

Get one, you will not be disappointed.

Price: $12.00 From Brando

Pros:
See-thru screen protection
Full use of buttons when closed

Cons:
App Button Icons Distorted
Installation Tricky