Noreve Tradition Case Review
As part 4 of our 7 part HTC Wizard case shootout review I'll be looking at the Noreve Tradition case for the HTC Wizard. Although relative newcomers to the PDA case market (2004), Noreve have quickly established themselves as force to be reckoned with. Can this boom continue with the Noreve Tradition case for the HTC Wizard?
Read on to find out!
Special thanks go out to Martin from Noreve for supplying us with a review sample.
Remember, the direct case comparison review will be posted on Wednesday 1st March after the last of the individual reviews.
For your delectation all photographs are thumbnails which may be clicked on to load an image.
Supplier: Noreve
Product: Noreve Tradition HTC Wizard Case
Cost: 39.99 Euros. 5.50 Euros for UK Shipping. (£27 approx)
Supplier Web Site: http://www.noreve.com
Supplier Product Web Site: http://www.noreve.com/category/PC+de+poche_Qtek+-+XDA/product/Etui_cuir_Qtek_9100_-_XDA_Mini_Pro_-_i-Mate_K-Jam_Tradition.html
Introduction
I've never owned a Noreve case. In fact it was Windows who pointed me at this case for the shootout. There's no particular reason why I haven't, and from recent perusal of the Noreve website, I feel I've been missing out. Hailing from sunny St-Tropez, the town itself synomomous with style, it's immediately obvious that Noreve cases have the looks to impress. There's a real feeling of class about the website, and the product line. PDA cases aren't just about being a pretty face though, so the questions is, does the French Riviera chic contain enough old fashioned functionality? Read on......
Aesthetics
THIS is the most beautiful case on the market today, and I bow my head in shame because my photographs just don't do it any justice at all. Period. I think the Noreve Tradition would be more at home in a chic boutique than in a mobile phone shop. At first glance the leather looks a very nice slate grey, but when you catch it in the light you can see it sparkle, as with the metallic paint on an expensive sports car. The lines of the Tradition, from the arc on the front of the flip, to the 3/4 quarter length holster could almost have rolled off the production line at the Pininfarina design house itself. Even the off centre metallic Noreve button looks cool, and the leather feels soft and feels sturdy and well machined.
Phone Functionality
The Noreve tradition case has many niches and cutouts intersecting its svelte lines to enable you to access your device controls. You cannot access the keyboard while the Wizard is in the case, nor can you see the screen. Otherwise, almost everything else is presented. You'd need to unclip the flip to get at the usb, but the SD Card, power switch, wifi button, speakers,IR, stylus etc remain in play while seated. Bizarrely though there is no cutout for the camera, so you'd have to remove your PDA to use it. As I said I like the 3/4 design of the holster, but this leaves the top quarter of the device exposed to the pressure from the flip. So effectively you'll need to power off or risk the email applet and internet explorer being started up by rogue presses. As well as covering the front of the Wizard the flip also offers two SD cards slots on its underside. These are placed side by side so as not to push on the screen.
The clip is not an unusual one that has a slight hinge to attach around a belt or to grip to a trouser/skirt etc waist. You connect the clip to the case using a special knob. The knob is screwed into the case using your nail or a 5p piece or something, and seems sturdy with no sign of movement. There's an included Noreve branded blank so that should you remove the connector you can plug the hole underneath, but the blank is about 3mm deep and so it would not sit flat on a desk. A nice touch. I used the clip in the office and while cycling, and it did its job. The clip is positioned very high up on the rear of the case which explains the lack of camera access. The advantage the high clip means you get a very comfortable wearing position.
Personally I found it impossible to connect the clip to the case. I'm not sure whether this was just that the connector I used had a dodgy thread, but I would think so.
Physical Security
The Tradition covers the majority of the exterior of the device, with a couple what I think are glaring exceptions. The bottom rear corners of the device are exposed. I presume that one of the corners has been cut out to allow access to the stylus, and the other to provide access to the lanyard hoop. While I can appreciate the requirement to access all the controls, I'm not sure when inside this case you'd survive a bounce.
Value
Cost: 39.99 Euros. 5.50 Euros for UK Shipping.
40 euros is a reasonable price for this case in my opinion. There are cheaper cases around, but you get the feeling you are buying very much a designer case, and a bit of a fashion accessory.
Pro's
Colour.
Quality leather work.
Good "sitting" position.
Excellent access to ports and controls.
Access to SD card with case closed.
Connector blank included.
Con's
Bottom corners of device exposed.
Fiddly clip connector.
Case presses against the IE and Mail buttons.
Can't use keyboard while device is in case.
No camera access.
4WM Rating
70% 80%
Conclusion
There's no doubt that the Noreve Tradition case is one of the best looking you can buy. The metallic effect leather and designer lines humble the high tech aesthetics of even the Wizard itself. Unfortunately there are big holes (literally) in the security protection being offered to your device. My personal opinion is that if you want a great looking way of attaching your PDA to your side, the Noreve Tradition case is right up your street. Just don't drop it!
UPDATE!!!
Since the review went live I've been contacted by Julien from Noreve. He's sent me a new type of connector with a new thread on that makes the connection a dream. This new connector is being shipped with the case now. Julien also pointed out a special fold in the case which does allow the camera to be used whilst inside. Something I'd missed. The connector was a major issue for me, and the camera access is a bonus, so I've re-scored the review to take into account the new connector and the camera access functionality.
Last edited by waveydavey on 26 Feb 2006 05:03 pm; edited 2 times in total
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