Product Requirements:
Devices:
Cases are made to specifically fit the following PDAs: iPAQ 3100/3600/3700/3800 series, Palm m500 and V series, Palm III/IIIc series, Casio E-125, Visor Edge and Visor Deluxe

If you spend more time in the great outdoors than you do behind an office desk - yet you still need to have access to your PDA, then you have entered into an area that calls for specialized equipment.

For some, a non-padded product like the Aquapak that I reviewed last year might do the trick. Then there are those that work in environments that are so extreme that adjectives such as crushproof, water-resistant, airtight, and shock resistant are necessary when describing their perfect PDA case. I am not talking about those of you that every once in a while will go where it's dirty or rainy - I am talking about those of you that are boat captains, ranchers, dock workers, rock climbers, etc. etc...

Up until now, such a PDA user's options were slim; but with the introduction of the Otterbox Heavy Armor 2000 Dry Box PDA Case, that is no longer the situation. There are Otterboxes for the iPAQ 3100/3600/3700/3800 series, Palm m500 and V series, Palm III/IIIc series, Casio E-125, Visor Edge and the Visor Deluxe. I was presented with a box specifically for the iPAQ. I was pleasantly surprised to find that it was a gorgeous shade of green - massive points for Otterbox! With a little bit of lining up, I was able to get the iPAQ's buttons to fit in the Otterbox's screen cover's button forms.

The Armor by Otterbox is made of ABS plastic and polycarbonate that has been reinforced with fiberglass. A plastic piano hinge with a metal rod runs down the left side of the case, and on the right are two heavy-duty plastic clamps.

The back of the case has a removable and adjustable neoprene and Velcro hand strap. You can even use this strap with gloves on, it is that adjustable. For my use, gloves aren't necessary - but I like the sense of security that the wide strap provides me with.

It's not necessary to remove your PDA from the case when you are ready to write something on its screen, because of the recessed plastic screen cover that allows you to write directly to your PDA's touch-screen. While this method works, you do (of course) lose some of your touch-screen's sensitivity. However, if you need to use your PDA in a gale-force hurricane, you should expect to trade something for that privilege. From what I can tell, the depressions in the screen cover may be what determines which PDA will fit in each case. This is fine for the larger PDAs, but I wonder about the additional bulk this will add to a smaller PDA, such as a Palm m500.

The screen cover looks like it might be replaceable as it is not permanently attached to the case. In these pictures, you can see that it is held in place with a replaceable silicon and Buna gasket that fits into its molded edge - locking it into the lid's molded gasket.

Even though Otterbox calls the case waterproof, you are not supposed to actually use it underwater. In my book, that makes the Otterbox water-resistant not waterproof - which is still a good thing - just not the same thing.

In any case, we'll see just how water resistant the Otterbox is in just a little bit...

If you are wondering how you are supposed to write on the screen when your stylus is locked inside the Otterbox with your PDA, there is an integrated rubber stylus holder on the outside. Personally, I didn't like keeping a stylus there as it seemed rather easy to knock off. Instead, I used a pocketable multi-pen. The option is there for you if you would like to use it, though.

The Otterbox is quite a bit bigger than the naked iPAQ. In fact, you will need to use the blank sleeve, a silver slider, or a CF sleeve in order to keep your iPAQ from sliding around in the case. I would actually recommend adding a little bit of padding to the top and bottom area, too. By the way, a PCMCIA sleeve makes the iPAQ too large, and the Otterbox will not close with one inside. Obviously the dual PCMCIA sleeve will not work, either.

Although there is a clear spot in the general vicinity of the Infrared port, it doesn't really line up well enough with the iPAQ to be useful, so that was another reason I went ahead and added the padding.

For this review, I used the CF sleeve and surrounded the iPAQ with cotton balls...

As you can imagine, the Otterbox will add quite a bit of bulk to your PDA. Here are the measurements for this case:

Okay - that was your overview of the case - now let's see if the Otterbox Armor can actually live up to some of its claims!

Crushproof

As of this morning, I weighed 140. I placed my iPAQ 3670 inside the Otterbox, and as you can see in this photo I stood on the case. What you can't see is that I rocked back and forth.

My iPAQ survived the ordeal unscathed, so that gives you an idea of how tough this sucker is.

Water Resistant

I placed my iPAQ in the Otterbox, and put it under the faucet in my kitchen with the water on full blast...

Once again, my iPAQ lived to tell about the experience!

Airtight
See above...

Floats

Yep, your PDA will float in this case...

After all of the water abuse I dealt it, my iPAQ remained bone dry. YAY! :0D

Shock Resistant
I dropped my iPAQ from a height of 5 feet...I guess the neoprene liner in the back of the case really was enough to protect it from blowing up.

Outdoor Use
As evidenced by the Otterbox's water resistance, there should be no problem keeping out dirt, water, humidity, or snow.  If you are really planning on going out into a hurricane with your PDA, and you are feeling a bit paranoid, you can even attach a tether or lanyard to the Otterbox through the provided holes.

Do I recommend this case for the average weekend warrior? Certainly not! Other than the obvious difficulties of writing through a sheet of plastic, and the fact that the case seems to be a bit too big to perfectly fit the PDA it is designed for, this case is simply so hefty that you wouldn't want to carry it - unless you really needed it. But, if you really need it, the Otterbox can not be beat!

You can order the Otterbox Heavy Armor 2000 Dry Box PDA Case directly from the manufacturer, or from other retailers.

Price: $49.95
Available to fit the following specific PDAs: iPAQ 3100/3600/3700/3800 series, Palm m500 and V series, Palm III/IIIc series, Casio E-125, Visor Edge and Visor Deluxe
Comes with a Lifetime Guarantee - "Otter Box will replace the case for any reason at anytime if the product fails."
Available in Midnight Black, Fluorescent Yellow, Forest Green and Sky Blue.

Pros:
Ultimate protection for your PDA

Cons:
Case is too big for PDA, may wish to add insulation to keep it from moving
Infrared port cutout in case does not line up with PDA's Infrared port
Must use a sleeve with case, but PCMCIA sleeve is too big