I've been a very satisfied owner of the titanium RhinoSkin case for quite a
while.  It's taken a lot of abuse (dropped, banged, etc.) and my Palm hasn't
suffered a bit.

Regarding the fingerprint concerns expressed by other owners, I too didn't
like the matte finish's propensity to grab fingerprints.  I solved that
easily by polishing the case with fine steel wool.  Polishing breaks the
matte finish, but does result in a shinier case surface.  Fingerprints,
however, either don't occur as frequently or wipe right off.

Keith Zeisloft

Julie:  I bought the Rhino Ti case for a trip to New Zealand last
December....it worked great, and more than that, I had "no worries mate"
about damaging it....and not worrying is worth the $100 right there.

After I got home, I found that on some occasions, I would like to put the
Pilot in my Sport Coat pocket, rather than wear it on my belt....so I bought
the thinner leather Flip case, for my less destructive days, when I'd be
wearing a suit.  It worked well.  Until this morning.  I was standing up
next to my desk with the Flip case on my Palm, and I dropped it!
12"-14"...that's inches, not feet!  The palm hit the edge of my desk with
the side of the case, unprotected by the Flip case.  When I picked it up,
the screen was black, and nothing I could do, nor 3Com phone support could
put it back to working order again.  So now I'm stuck having to send them
$100 for a refurbished unit.

Moral....the Rhinoskin is the way to go....last week I dropped it onto my
concrete driveway, and it struck it with the corner of the case....still no
damage to my Palm, and only  a slight scratch to my Ti case.  If I do decide
to use a slimmer case for "dress" occassion, it will be in a more protected
case.

George Saffas

An update on the absent interior clip in the comment below. This is the really quick response (<1 hr.) from RhinoSkin.

Terry,
The business/credit card clip was eliminated from the design of the case this fall when it ultimately thrust us into a back order situation for two months. Titanium is a very difficult material to bend and manipulate and the business/credit card clip had to be bent 180 degrees causing it to often crack or break on our manufacturer. This led to a back order situation and we were really left with no choice but to scrap it from the design. A few guys in the office have come up with a good alternative and that is to put a few business/credit cards under the unit itself where there is a cutout in the neoprene. It may not work quite as well, but it will do the job. Thanks!
Mike Mathews
RhinoSkin

As a new Palm Pilot owner, I thoroughly enjoy your reviews. They have assisted in making several decisions on software and accessories.

I purchased a CockPit based on your comments, especially the durability factor. As an engineer, mine gets carried into "field" environments or tossed into a softsided briefcase. I don't have to worry about Palm survival. The stock stylus is difficult to insert & remove but the PDA Panache PalmIII Deluxe slips in and out easily.

I find inserting and removal of the Palm not to be a difficult process. The "finely illustrated & highly technical directions" on adjusting the hinge should make every person with no artistic ability realize there's someone else out there that's just as inept as you.

Interestingly enough mine came without the interior "clip". I'm not sure if that's a "new optional accessory" or a manufacturers oversight. Overall, I'm highly satisfied with the case and the service from PalmPilot HQ where it was ordered from.

Keep up the good work.

Terry Hansen

Julie, I read your Gadgeteer review of RhinoSkin's titanium hardcase for
the Palm Pilot.  First of all, that was a well-written, descriptive piece.
You asked for feedback - here you go...

I think the titanium case is great and I love it.  You are right, however - it
does fingerprint easily.  Also, I have to admit, it took three separate
shipments before I got one that I was happy with.  The first one sent had
a crease in the metal extending across the back cover, the second one,
strangely, had a back cover made of a thinner gauge metal than the front
cover.  In talking with RhinoSkin, they didn't believe that one, but it was
certainly true.  Finally, on the third attempt, I got one that had neither of
these imperfections.  I figure for $100 it'd better be one I'm happy with.

I have a bit of a difficult time sliding my Palm Pilot in and out of the case.
Does that get easier with use? 

My wife thinks the case is ugly and wants me to get a nice leather one,
such as a Coach case, but I'm sold on the titanium.  It feels right, it's
tough, and it's made of titanium - how cool! 

Thanks for the write-up. 

Troy Burgess

...Regarding Worries that the Rhinoskin case may 'Fly Open' when dropped after dimple wear

I have examined my case, and have found that there is no possible
way for this to happen. The hinge is constructed such that it will lurch
outward absorbing kinetic energy in a fall and preventing the case from
opening. Here is a diagram:

(pre-drop)
 _____________________________
|@ <-- Hinge     Rhinoskin Case            |
|_____________________________|

(post-drop)
~~~~----..,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,__________
|@ <-- Hinge (shifted upward)            |
|____________________________|

    The hinge end flies up an internal groove in the slot using the
bounce-energy of the fall, using it before it can cause the case to
open. This is a normal part of the case's operation, and the slot easily
presses back down into the proper groove when you try to open it, or
just press lightly with your thumbs. You may not have noticed this until
now. This is why the case can survive falls from motorcycles travelling
at highway speeds and very high places onto a concrete floor.

Kevin Dawes

Dear Julie:

A few weeks ago I received a Titanium case from PilotGearHQ and I am very pleased with it. This case is everything you described in your review. So far, thanks in part to its durability, my very inquisitive 2-year-old has failed miserably in his quest to harm my PalmIII. Now when he comes running I don't instinctively have to shield my organizer and deposit it out of harm's way before playing with him. The only problem I have encountered is that some people, until they take a closer look, think I am carrying a hand gun. Due to weight considerations and the fact that I wear a suit most of the time,  I   carry mine in a BurroPak from LandWare (reviewed elsewhere in your site). I have never liked belt clips and the BurroPak is a perfect fit for the Titanium case. However, even when empty the BurroPak can give people the wrong impression.  Add a Titanium case and to the casual observer it looks like the clip from a semiautomatic handgun, albeit a rather compact model,  is protruding from the BurroPak. When I am working the computer help desk (technical support) this actually might not be such a bad thing, now that I think about it  ; )
Keep up the good work.  You site has excellent information!

Sincerely,

Robert Sanders

I purchased the Rhinoskin as soon as I saw it in the Palmpilot catalog. Its worth the money in peace of mind. I have dropped the palmpilot while encased in the Rhinoskin several times with no damage to either.

Two minor complaints. The neoprene lining seems to wear in the corners from removing and reinstalling the pilot. Remember, you can't Hotsync in the case. Also, the clip case is not tan, but rather olive drab. I disagree that it is hard to remove the case from the belt pak. I find this to be a quick, one handed operation.

Bob Klein

Hi I just got my tittanium cockpit from pilotgear hq, and I am not really
impressed by it, though the material titanium is interesting to have as a
case, but I found the workmanship of the case to be poor, the sides are
cracked and the case seemed too loose to actually hold it closed. The
cracked part is not really noticable, as it the the flap that is folded
inwards to form the namecard holder inside, but paying about $100 for a
case, I would have expected better workmanship, and quality product. But I
would continue using case, as it offers the best protection.

jimhoyd

Ms. Strietelmeier:

I've just read your accurate review of the Rhinoskin Titanium Cockpit and
ClipPak Pilot Cases.  As a Cockpit and ClipPak owner for several months, I
thought I'd throw out a few observations of my own arising from daily use:

It's noisy and not subtle, opening and closing with a ostentatious and
distinctive clanking sound.  That's not necessarily a drawback, but it does
turn heads in a conference room (then you get to explain to the curious
exactly what you've got...).

The case loosened up with use, perhaps resulting from the dimples wearing in.
Not a significant problem but, when loose, the cover might tend to fly open if
dropped.  There's an easy solution related at the Rino Skin home page:  a
slight bending of the locking tab restores (or adjusts) the amount of force
needed to open and close the case cover.  It may be that only one such
adjustment is needed after an initial break-in period.

Although you can access all Pilot buttons, you can't access the contrast wheel
without removing the Pilot from the case.

You're right about the cost -- it is a little pricey.  As a former machinist,
though, I appreciate the quality of construction and the obvious attention to
detail during fabrication.  I also know that titanium can be a difficult
material to work with.  I recall reading that each case is essentially hand-
made which, if true, may partially explain the cost.

It is bulky and heavy, compared to other cases I've used.  This one won't slip
unobtrusively into a pocket.  Consequently, I use another slimmer and lighter
leather case when I'm not traveling or mucking about construction sites.  The
ClipPak is almost a necessity for carrying the CockPit around.

I'm a little less enthusiastic about the ClipPak, although overall I think it
too is an excellent product.  The spring metal beltclip is attached to the
back of the ClipPak nylon case by a sewn patch.  The patch itself is not a
problem; the material is relatively thick and rip-resistant.  However,  I've
had the patch resewn twice because because the stitching started to tear.  (I
wear mine on my belt on my hip.  Sitting while wearing the ClipPak in this
position isn't uncomfortable, but it can stress the belt clip and attaching
patch.  Snagging the relatively bulky case on a doorjamb, filing cabinet, etc.
happens too.)  I paid a few bucks to a shoe repairman to double stitch the
patch after the second tear.  No problems since then.

Thanks for an excellent review.

Keith Zeisloft

Dear Julie:

Your review of the Titanium case is almost on the
mark with a few exceptions, e.g., price and weight.

Titanium is a metal, that is not easy to work with
in the 1st place, it is a "natural element" and
therefore expensive as raw material compared to
steel, plastic, aluminium, etc.

I wear an Omega all-Titanium watch, which is guaranteed
to withstand water pressure down to 1,000 feet or as
a pilot - in an un pressurized cockpit, an altitude that
approaches real Space.

Workmanship to such a high degree as this case, is NOT
easy to find in the USA (domestic production), except
perhaps in the military.  Having spent a considerable
time in the USAF as a combat pilot, I can tell you, that
the Cockpit is built to what is known as MIL-Specs.

It may "feel" heavier to you, but in reality, it is
lighter than aluminium - all things being equal, infi-
nitelly stronger than steel (size/weight ratio).  It IS
designed for very rugged environment, such as a REAL
aircraft cockpit.  Just try to fly (as a pilot) a plane,
suddenly you hit an air pocket, the aircraft drops 100'
and you have to recover or else you may go into an un-
recoverable "flat spin" and crash; while your Palm
Pilot falls violently to the cockpit floor and breaks.

A recent example of the "effect" of what an air pocket
can do and has done, made headlines less than a month
ago, when a United flight out of Tokyo, dropped 150'
in an air pocket, killing at least one passenger and
injuring many others. 'Nuff said.

The slip cover shown on your page, is actually made of
ballistic cordura, which will take a tremendous amount
of abuse before replacement is needed.

Perhaps this will explain the "high price". A rhetorical
question: just how much is it worth to you or me to loose
the Palm Pilot and all the info in it if dropped and it
breaks - and the latest data has not been backed up yet?
For me, it would be a disaster - I use it for navigational
information from point A to point B, etc.

Your home page BTW, is extraordinary and well done.  The links
are great and your frequent updates/reviews are well done!
Congratulations!  All the best,

Andrew N. Hardy
Erie, PA

Julie,

After reading your review of the Rhinoskin Cockpit and ClipPak I feel
compelled to add a few comments.

I agree with you,  the Cockpit is a great case, probably not for
everyone though. You felt the Cockpit would be good for campers and
outdoorsman.  An addition to this list begs to be made.  The Cockpit is
an outstanding Palmpilot case for use in an industrial work environment
or for that matter any work environment more demanding that an office.

I was kind of amused over your comments about the Cockpit smudging and
finger printing a little too easily.  Rest assured, anyone that uses
this kind of case is not worried about smudges on the case.  They are
worried about their PalmPilot surviving another day intact.

Your comments regarding the ClipPak leads me to believe you were either
paid by RhinoSkin to do this review (just kidding)  or you never really
used the ClipPak.   The Cockpit does not easily slide into and out of
this flimsy fabric case.  In fact, when wearing a coat it can be quite
difficult to get the Cockpit into the ClipPak belt carrier.  Under the
best of conditions the Cockpit never really slides easily into the
ClipPak.  Because of this one tends to  put the Cockpit into a coat
pocket where it can easily slide out and get lost.  I'm currently
working with a friend to design a leather belt carrying holster that
will allow me easier access to my PalmPilot Cockpit case.

Anyhow, just thought I'd  throw in my two cents worth regarding these
products.  Keep up the good work.

George Evans