RhinoSkin Aluminum Treo Hardcase Review

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Posted by Bryan Shepherd on June 24, 2005 01:39 AM

Treo accessories reviews

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Let’s face it, Treo 650s aren’t cheap. And no one runs down to their local cellular retailer and says, “I need a headset, a charger, and oh, give me two or three of them there Treos….�? So having recently shelled out half a house payment for a new Treo 650, after getting it home and gently unwrapping it, my first thought was “How do I protect this marvel of technology against my normal buffoonery?�?

Now don’t get me wrong. I would never do anything intentional to endanger my beautiful new electronic toy. But I am planning to put some heavy miles on this thing so I needed it to be able to resist as much wear and tear as possible. Combine that with the fact that cell phones don’t tend to last long in my fiancé's presence and I was in desperate need of some serious protection. Enter the RhinoSkin Aluminum Hardcase by Saunders.

According to the Saunders website this case is for both the Treo 600 and the Treo 650. I only have experience with it on a Treo 650; however, given the similarities in the form factor between the two models there should be only minor differences in functionality.

The first thing I noticed about the case was how sturdy it seemed. When I think of aluminum, I think of cans and kitchen wrap. Therefore, I was surprised at both the weight and rigidity of the case. That’s not to say that this case is overly heavy, but if you’ll be carrying this around in your pocket or belt 24/7 and weight is a primary concern for you, you may want to consider another case.

As far as functionality the Rhino-skin seems to do what it claims to do – protect your investment. I’d be willing to bet that I could drop my Treo from oh, say 5 ft and it would come out relatively unscathed. The inside is coated with a soft neoprene cushioning and the fit is snug and comfy.

However, in terms of the usability of the Treo while in the Rhinoskin, this case definitely loses some points. There are cut-outs for the side keys, the main function keys on the front, the microphone and speakers, the hotsync and charger cables, the camera, and a complete cutout across the top for access to the stylus, SD card and etc. So one can receive calls, make a call using your contact list, sync using the cable, or charge your device without taking the Treo out of the case. But for almost any other function you’ll have to open it up.

And opening this thing isn’t easy. With quite a bit of difficulty I can open the case with one hand. Depending on what you use your Treo for, this can make the case slightly impractical. After a few days of opening the case after every set to enter workout information at the gym, I finally decided to remove the clear plastic that protects the screen so I could input with the stylus. Surely this compromises some of the protectiveness of the case, but it allows me to access most of the non-cell phone features of the device without opening the case and with a normal screen protector covering it I still feel pretty secure.

The one final kicker is that the front cut-out panel that gives access to the application buttons is small. While I don’t mind this, I can see others finding this frustrating.

All in all the Rhino-skin case seems to be one of the better ones for the price (US$34.95 plus shipping on the Saunders website link above – the MTDN store doesn’t carry them right now). It provides excellent protection, allows adequate use of the cell phone capabilities without any trouble and is actually quite light for the amount of protection it provides. On top of that, it just looks slick.

There are a few features that might be potential deal breakers for some. First (and most importantly), many PDA functions of the device are virtually inaccessible while the PDA is in the case, without some modifications that compromise the cases protectiveness. Second, even though it's lighter than you might expect, you may find the bulk excessive if you don’t need such a high level of protection.

Consider the Rhinoskin if you are in need of a high level of protection for a relatively low price and are willing to sacrifice some functionality to get it (or are willing to modify the case for increased functionality but decreased protectiveness).

Reviewed by Bryan Shepherd (user name "Choz").

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Comments

June 24, 2005 08:25 AM {#}

Cripple says:

Why do they make these Hard Cases with hinges on the right? They must be from Ned Flander's Leftorium shop.

June 24, 2005 08:49 AM {#}

Chas says:

I've got one and get on very well with it.
It offers great protection when I carry the Treo in my pocket.

If the hinge was on the left it would be difficult to hold it in your left hand and have the door open and use your right hand for writing. As it is, when I have it open the door hangs off my finger tips just right. Unless you try it you might not understand :)

June 24, 2005 09:29 PM {#}

Bryan (Choz) says:

Thanks for your comments; love the Simpsons reference.

I agree with Chas, it probably does make it a little easier to use while the case is open. Plus the hinges on the right (or more specifically, the latch on the left) make it possible to open it with just the right hand. If they were on the left (and the latch on the right), one would have to use one's left to open it with one hand (at least with the method I use.) So all in all it probably works out best for right-handers even if it doesn't initially make much sense or do much good for us left-handers.

They really would have improved the functionality of the product if they had made it as secure as it is now but more easy to open. Hopefully, future versions will either figure out a way to get around this problem or move away from the friction latch and consider adding some other sort of mechanism.

Btw, thanks for the tip, Tipster : ) Just a post-submission editing error, they happen.

Screw Flanders Screw Flanders Screw Flanders Screw Flanders Screw Flanders Screw Flanders

June 25, 2005 04:06 AM {#}

Chris says:

I just went by CompUSA to check, you never know....and they had the exact same case for $29, but it's branded as the treo600 case. But the cutouts match the 650 perfectly, side button and mirror for the camera on the back, what morons!

June 28, 2005 10:38 PM {#}

Khaytsus says:

Are you sure this isn't the Innopocket? It looks *EXACTLY* the same! I thought the Rino was quite a big different.

June 30, 2005 06:17 AM {#}

Pasha says:

I got this case, used it for a total of about 10 days, and then had to throw it away, because the screw-in belt clip knob on the back stripped itself out and would no longer hold... just normal usage over that period, putting it in and taking it out of the belt clip. When my Treo started falling off my belt of its own accord every 5 minutes, that was about enough for the Rhinoskin.

July 3, 2005 11:05 PM {#}

Bryan (Choz) says:

Thanks for your comments.

I haven't run into any problems with the clip stripping but it would be good to know if others are having this problem. It seemed sturdy when I tested it, but I usually carry my Treo in my pocket. I do like the fact that the clip is completely removable so the whole thing fits better in your pocket if you don't want to use it, but I didn't like the way that the unit spun around so easily when on the clip.

July 4, 2005 06:48 PM {#}

JamieB2k5 says:

I am extremely hard on phones. Before i got my treo 600 a couple of months ago i had been through 3 phones in the last 6 months due to accidental damage. I purchased the Rhino Skin before i had even received my Treo 600. So far it has taken about 5 major spills and not a scratch on the treo. The case has held up even though the door does fly open upon impact.
The screw that holds the belt clip could be improved upon by adding a lock washer (with gripping teeth). If you do not torque down the screw with a screw driver it will eventually come loose. The cutouts for the controls allows you to answer phone calls and if you have numbers on your call log it allows easy access to make phone calls. The cutouts are a little small in particular when you are trying to access the buttons on the sides, at least for me due to my big fingers. Over all it is an excellent case. Shop around on the interenet for best pricing. I saved about $10 compared to most pricing i have seen on this.

July 7, 2005 04:33 AM {#}

Bryan (Choz) says:

Thanks for the comments and pricing tip. The lock washer is a great idea. Especially since you can pick one up at any hardware store for around $.10.

August 4, 2005 07:56 PM {#}

calvin cole says:

If anyone has one of these, and feel the need to get rid of it, post it on e-bay. I would love to try it. It seems as though the case works for some and not for others. I work in an office atmosphere by day and deal with rental property by evening and at times, need the added protection for my 650.

September 12, 2005 05:12 PM {#}

Daniel Jones says:

I also had the problem with the screw-in clip holder stripping after about 2 months. Bad design. I will not buy another one.

September 15, 2005 04:09 PM {#}

richord ? says:

I read this review a bit too late. The screw kept getting loose and finally the threads no longer hold the screw! I caught it just before it fell off my belt clip. Wish I had put a lock washer on.

This is a great case but poor design of the screw. Maybe I'll just have it welded to the case :)

October 5, 2005 01:57 PM {#}

Daniel Causey says:

I am very hard on phones, and when my employer purchased a Treo 650 for me, I wanted to take care of it. I found the Innopocket hard aluminum case online and purchased it. I had the initial issue of the screw-in belt clip knob coming out of the back of the case but a drop of LOCTITE® and the screw never came out again.

My issue is that the Innopocket was that the screw-in belt clip knob is metal and the belt clip is plastic. I found that the screw-in belt clip knob over time wears out the plastic parts of the belt clip to the point that there is nothing left to hold the screw-in belt clip knob in the belt clip. From that point the only thing keeping the phone on your belt is gravity and when you sit down in the car it falls on the seat or the floor.

About the time that the clip wore out I found the Rhinoskin version of the case at CompUSA for about the same price as I paid for the Innopocket. Purchased a new Rhinoskin case and moved my Treo into its new home. The cases are almost identical even down to the problem parts, a drop of LOCTITE® on the screw-in belt clip knob and my only issue was how long before the plastic on the belt clip would wear out.

Then last week the Rhinoskin belt clip wore out and my phone started saying behind the car and the recliner at home. I went back to CompUSA for the third case in nine months. I’m now looking online to purchase only the belt clip because now I have three good cases but three belt clips which have worn out.

My review would be purchase the case, purchase some LOCTITE®, and find a source for replacement belt clips until such time as Rhinoskin improves the belt clip.

December 15, 2005 09:20 PM {#}

Vince says:

If you have trouble with the small openings, why not enlarge them? I used my dremel with a grinding bit to make the openings more user-friendly. If you take your time with the enlarging, you'll end up with a straight edge. Sand it by hand to take off the burrs, and then use the soft cotton polishing tip to finish the edge. I can use my 600 much more easily now since I don't have to fight to hit the end buttons.