Product Requirements:
Device:
Palm m500/505

Anyone that has been around PDAs for any amount of time has most likely heard of the titanium hard cases made by Rhinoskin.  Beginning with the titanium book-style case that Rhinoskin offered for the original Palm Pilot, and evolving into the Ti - slider style that appeared when the Palm III first came out, Rhinoskin has continued to add innovative ruggedized solutions to their line of cases. In recent years, Rhinoskin has also made several styles using aluminum for those that wanted the protection of  metal, without all of the weight of titanium.

Palm V owners have enjoyed special treatment from Rhinoskin. Not only did they get a choice of aluminum or titanium for their cases, they were also offered a choice of fitted or slider styles. In this review, Julie and I want to show you the next generation of Rhinoskin offerings for the next generation of the Palm V/Vx -  the m500 and the m505.

Aluminum Hardcase for the Palm m500 and m505
by Judie Clark
I have been a fan of the Rhinoskin line of hard cases for years - almost every Palm that ever accompanied me to the ranch I work at came along inside a Rhinoskin Ti - slider. It seemed almost a crime to hide my Palm m505's gorgeous curves in a square block of metal, and I am quite pleased that with the fitted Aluminum Hardcase, I don't have to.

This case's beauty lies in its smooth industrial design. The Rhinoskin case is subtly decorated by the deep grooves on its front and back, and by the two-toned hinge in its left side. The raised Rhinoskin logo on the front is this case's only decoration.

Opening the Rhinoskin, you will find that your Palm is to be held in place with a thin metal rail that inserts into the left silo. Thus, there is no need for Velcro or tension between the Palm and the case's lining to keep your PDA inserted properly.

Both the front and back sides of the Hardcase are lined in thin, shock-absorbing neoprene. There are identical cutouts in both sides of the neoprene to accommodate the up/down scrollbar on the front of the Palm.

Why both sides? Well, because if you are left-handed you might want to install the Palm so that the side-rail is inserted on the right side. Since this case opens book-style, this might make it a bit easier for you "lefties" to enjoy the case. There is a catch, though...

Even though the Rhinoskin comes with plastic inserts so that you can  install the case using the rail in the larger right silo, there is no stylus that I am aware of that will fit the smaller left silo. You will be forced to use another type stylus entirely, such as a multi-pen that you would carry in your pocket. This is certainly not a design flaw of the Rhinoskin case, the fault rests entirely with Palm.

You can also use the included plastic rail inserts for retrofitting an older Palm V/Vx into this aluminum case. So, if you have been holding back on purchasing this type of protective metal case, it is good to know that Rhinoskin saw fit to keep this model backwards compatible.

The measurements of the Aluminum Hardcase are 4.8" (12.2cm) tall x 3.5" (9cm) wide x 0.8" (2cm) thick. With a Palm m505 inserted, the total weight is 7.7 ounces (220g). Even though the Rhinoskin Hardcase does add extra bulk, the package still remains easily pocketable.

When the Rhinoskin case is opened, you have easy access to the stylus, the infrared port, and the on/off button.

I won't say that this case could stop a bullet or keep a car from squishing your PDA should you drop it under a tire, but I do think that for just about any other extreme you and your PDA might encounter during the course of the day - you will be covered. I believe that

This case is extraordinary. If you are a person that likes to get outdoors and bring your Palm along, or if you work in a harsh environment where protection is a necessity, then you owe it to yourself to get this case.

Price: $49.99

Pros:
Neoprene cushions Palm from dings and knocks inside aluminum shell
Includes plastic rail-guards to retro-fit to a Palm V/Vx
Edges are smooth and fit perfectly together
When case is closed - every surface of Palm is covered and protected
Adds only 2.3 ounces (66g) to Palm

Cons:
Makes Palm a bit bulkier
Cannot sync easily with the cradle while the PDA is in the case

Titanium Hardcase for the Palm m500 and m505
by Julie Strietelmeier
When people think about the ultimate PDA case, the first thing that automatically comes to mind (at least to me) is the almost legendary Rhinoskin Titanium cases. Rhinoskin has had several titanium cases for Palm III series, and Palm V series PDAs. Now they have a brand new molded titanium case specifically for the Palm m500 series PDA.

The Palm m500/m505 Molded Titanium Hardcase is a crush resistant, scratch resistant, neoprene lined case made of 100% grade 1 titanium. This bad boy is definitely built to last and to protect your PDA. Titanium is a metal that is lighter and harder than stainless steel and unfortunately, about three times as expensive.

This hardcase looks almost identical to the Aluminum Molded Palm V case that I reviewed a year ago. But instead of having a satiny silver color, it has the grayish golden color associated with the metal titanium. It is also a little heftier than the aluminum case.

I found this hardcase to be very solid. It didn't flex at all when I would squeeze or twist it. It has a clamshell design that opens and closes like a book. The two halves of the case are lined with a black neoprene material that protects the PDA from scratches as well as providing a bit of cushion. Both sides of the case have a cutout in the neoprene that lines up with the Up / Down scroll buttons. The cutout helps prevent any type of accidental activation while the case is closed.

You might ask why there is a cutout on both sides of the case instead of just the left side. It is there because you can attach the PDA by either the left or right side depending on preference. This is a nice benefit for other southpaws like myself.

Besides the cutouts for the Up/Down buttons, there is a cutout for the IR port and a cutout to allow you access to your stylus.

The PDA attaches to the case with a rail that is built into the hinge. The rail is also made of titanium and is fashioned to fit into the left stylus silo on the PDA. It fits securely and will not detach of its own accord. For those of you that want to attach the PDA by the right silo which is larger, Rhinoskin has included two plastic sleeves which fit over each end of the rail to increase its size. These sleeves also make the case compatible with the Palm V/Vx PDAs. Although these sleeves are easy to slide on and off the rail, I found that the resulting rail needed to be just a little bit larger for the Palm V. It would not stay securely on the rail. It worked fine with the m505 though.

The case is held closed with a press fit latch. Although the case stays closed fine, I would feel more secure if there were some type of locking mechanism to make doubly sure that it couldn't come open during a fall.

The Titanium Hardcase is plain except for the small Rhinoskin logo which is embossed on the front. It has a cool industrial look to it that I really like. The whole case is molded to the contours of the m500 which keeps it as small as possible while still providing protection. That said, the case does add some bulk and weight to your PDA. The size is: 4.81 x  3.54 x 0.89in (122.2 x 90 x 22.6mm) and weight is 8.6oz (243.8g) with an m505 inside.

Upon close inspection, I found this case to be very well made. The finish is attractive, the edges are smooth and not sharp like some previous versions and the hinge opens and closes without sticking or squeaking. Although this case is pretty expensive, if you need the most crushproof case available, this is the one you definitely want to check out!

Price: $99.95

Pros:
Excellent overall protection
PDA can be attached by either rail for lefties

Cons:
Expensive
Doesn't have a secure lock to keep cover closed