Swiss Army Code V Case

Gadgeteer Hands On Review by Julie

April 26, 2001

Product Requirements:
Device:
Palm V series

The same company that is world renowned for their pocket knifes, is now manufacturing a line of PDA cases. Available from StylusCentral, the Code V made by Swiss Army is a Palm V series specific case made of black Italian fine grained leather.

This case has a classy understated look that I like. The case feels nice in your hand. It works equally well for left handed people as it does for right handed people. 

The case is flip style utilizing a metal stylus rail as a method of attaching the PDA to the case. I greatly favor this method over the use of Velcro. The rail fits snugly in either silo. There is no worry that the Palm V will come off the rail of its own accord.

Although you can chose which stylus silo to use for attachment, the left side seems to be more appropriate. Once the PDA is attached, the top screen cover portion of the case can just flip over to protect the screen. Unfortunately there isn't anything to keep the cover closed. This case is more wallet-like in that regard. And as a result, this case doesn't offer much protection to the PDA in the event of a fall. There is nothing to keep the cover closed so it could land screen down on a hard surface.

I found that the cover would easily press the scroll button when closed. This could be a problem if an alarm would go off. Pressing the scroll button would keep the PDA turned on and would potentially drain the batteries. However, there are some 3rd party apps that help solve this problem.

A great aspect of the Code V is that it has a multitude of slots for various cards and papers. The screen cover portion of the case has a clear plastic window slot for ID cards. It also comes with a patented ID pull out tray that you can put your driver's license or ID card in. This tray can then be easily removed via the pull tab when you need to remove it. The plastic tray also doubles as a stiffener for the cover which protects the screen. 

Behind the ID slot is a long credit card / business card slot.

Behind the PDA, there are an additional 5 slots. There are 3 credit card / business card slots on top with one long money slot behind them and then another large slot behind them. So, as you can see, the Code V has quite a bit of storage space. You could actually use it as your wallet.

When closed, the Code V is 4.8 x 3.4 x 1.0in (121.9 x 86.4 x 25.4mm) in size. Although it makes the Palm V a little thick, the overall size is still pretty small and pocketable. 

The Code V is made very well. The leather and stitching are both of high quality. This is a nice case at a nice price. If you don't mind the fact that it is more of a cover than an actual case, then the Code V might be the right purchase for you.

Price: $39.99

Pros:
7 different card slots
Doesn't use Velcro

Cons:
Cover can press down on scroll buttons
Nothing holds the screen cover closed
Doesn't offer protection against drops