Skin Case Opinions ??

[cappiels]

Could someone offer some opinions about the

Vaja case vs. the TreoCentral skin case vs. the Speck case

The Vaja case looks really cool (except for the fact that it makes the Treo a bit thicker)

The other two cases look cool.. but I'm concerned that the directional button would be hard to operate under the skin. The Vaja case is cutout.

Does anyone know whether it would be easy/hard to do the cutout myself ?

Also, does anyone know if you can operate the touch screen through the plastic protective screen cover on the Speck case .. if not I'd probably want to cut that off.

[chris]

IMHO, you can't find a better made case than Vaja. That being said, they are expensive and do add bulk to the Treo. It all depends on how you use your Treo 650 - and your needs in terms of size. I'm in the process of doing a review of the T66 by Vaja -- I dropped it my Treo on concrete and was VERY scared.

The Vaja absorbed the entire hit and my Treo is fine. With a skin case, you are getting protection against scratches more than against drops. I haven't used either of the skin cases you referenced. With any open case, I'd recommend investing in Screen Protectors. I never worry when using an open faced case, because I'm using a screen protector. This allows me to throw my Treo in my pocket and not worry about scratching the screen.

I've owned both Skin Cases and a Vaja case for my iPod. After a few months, this particular skin case looked kind of ratty. I probably could have washed with warm water/soap, but I decided to go with a Vaja from the Apple Store. After almost two years, a little leather cleaner and the Vaja looks great. Same thing -- I've dropped my iPod on several occasions and it's still humming.

So, I guess it would depend on preference and everyday use. If you're using a belt clip, I'd say you wouldn't notice the added bulk of the Vaja. If you're not clumsy (like me), then a skin case will offer you protection against scratches, minimize the size added to your Treo and allow people to actually see your phone! :D

-Chris

[ArtP]

Could someone offer some opinions about the

Vaja case vs. the TreoCentral skin case vs. the Speck case


Also, does anyone know if you can operate the touch screen through the plastic protective screen cover on the Speck case .. if not I'd probably want to cut that off.

I just received my Speck Case this week and I like it so far but it will takes some getting used to. The touch screen is actually covered by a "Flip Up" hard clear plastic cover flap so most of your functions will be (quickly) done via the navigator button.

I got used to hitting the Answer Button on the touch screen for incoming calls (and dialing numbers) but the Flip Up Cover makes it more inconvenient (hit answer, flip cover down, talk). I guess when I get my Bluetooth headset, this may be a non issue some of the time.

I like the rubberized NON SLIP feel of the case, and the buttons are still VERY functional under the rubber.

I got the Speck case on ebay pretty cheap so it is serving the purpose, overall I like it short of the "Flip Up Plastic Screen" which can be removed.

[greeniis]

Also, does anyone know if you can operate the touch screen through the plastic protective screen cover on the Speck case .. if not I'd probably want to cut that off.

I have the Speck case. The plastic screen cover is a bit of a pain, but it is designed to be removable/replaceable. You wouldn't need to cut it off.

I am still considering the Vaja as an upgrade...

[xxpinballxx]

I have a vaja i-volution and a boxwave flexskin.....

The vaja does make the phones size substantially bigger but does well in ways of protection.....

The skin case is very thin and soft....there are no problems with using the buttons....the flexskin does a good job of mimicking the buttons in the case itself....once put on the phone right there is no difference in button accessing

[chris]

I have a vaja i-volution

What color Vaja did you get? Did you customize from Vaja cases?

[xxpinballxx]

yeah I got the dark blue and grey.....

Its a real nice case but the one day going to the car it slipped off my stack of things and bounced into the tire....the scuff mark off the ground is now a different color...a little dirtier than the rest of the grey...couldn't hav hit on the Blue...NO has to scuff the light color!

[chris]

I'm thinking it's a good thing it scuffed your case and not your Treo!:eek:

[xxpinballxx]

Well I dropped the phone in a puddle day one of geting it but luckily I bought a boxwave flexskin with is so it was nicely protected....bounced right out of the puddle and i dried off the cover and took it off then dried the scren and everything else....No worries still working great....
Since then i do not leave it ina shirt pocket and try getting out of a car....

Once you bend over I guess this thing called gravity.....it takes over!

[nobbie]

I don't have a case for my T650 yet. But I did get a Speck case for my Blackberry. I took it off after a while. I like to have it in my pocket and the sticky rubber was great for preventing it from sliding around during spirited driving stunts, it would make insertion and extraction from my pocket a chore. Plus, dust and lint were accumulating behind the protective screen rendering it opaque! That it never quite fit perfectly.