Registered: Jul 2000
Location: austin, texas
Posts: 61

i'm thinking about finally buying a belt clip style case, either the vaja or the EB. has anyone with these types of belt clips ever had the visor come off the clip accidentally and fall, like maybe when you swivel the visor for when you sit down to drive or something? how secure is the visor to the beltclip??

thanks!!

go oilers!!

__________________
i CAN spell, i just don't have time...

Registered: Apr 2000
Location: Seattle, WA
Posts: 604

I've got both the Vaja and the EB, and no, I haven't had that type of accident. Nor am I seriously worried about it. IMHO, the more likely accident with this type of case is fumbling and dropping the unit while in the process of clipping or unclipping the thing from your belt.

The two cases have very similar clip mechanisms - indeed, the "post" on the case is identical on each, so you can use the belt clip part interchangeably.

If you are worried about it, I'd go with the EB case. Both clips seem very stable, but the EB clip has a metal catch, it's probably more durable long-term. I think the Vaja clip action would be more likely to give if subjected to sufficient stress.

That said, I tend to use the Vaja clip more, because it's action is a little smoother in terms of clipping and unclipping the case from the belt.

Registered: Jul 2000
Location: austin, texas
Posts: 61

which of the two cases themselves do you prefer? i've only seen the eb in real life, and it seems like the vaja leather is thicker and more robust while the EB leather is more of a thin/golf glove type leather? i'm leaning toward the vaja, but i read a post somewhere that people with vajas were just buying the five dollar belt clip from EB and using it with the vaja case as it seemed stronger.

and does the whole thing swivel easily when you sit down? have you ever crunched it lengthwise on a chair as you sat down? how about driving with it?

but ya, which case do you prefer? (not for the clip, but the case itself)

thanks for the help..

__________________
i CAN spell, i just don't have time...

Registered: Apr 2000
Location: Seattle, WA
Posts: 604

They are both nice. On the whole, I think I prefer the EB case.

Things in the EB Slipper's Favor:

1. The fit is somewhat better. I've got a Prism. If you look up other posts, you will find complaints that the Vaja case doesn't quite fit the Prism perfectly - I think it's a function of the little hump over the rechargeable battery. I can verify those complaints from my own experience. It gets better over time, but I'm not sure it will ever get perfect. That said, if you don't have a Prism, might not be an issue.

2. I think the EB gives you a little bit more protection - it has a bit more padding. Not much in either, but better than nothing.

3. It's much cheaper.

4. It doesn't have the clear plastic over the buttons, which I hate.

5. A bit easier to get out of the case (which you need to do if you have oversized modules, use the back up module, etc.)

Things in Vaja's favor:

1. Leather is definitely nicer, IMHO. Most seem to agree with that assessment.

2. Looks more "professional."

3. No velcro. I have the magnetic closure model, but I played with the snap closure too. Both somewhat nicer than velcro on EB case. That said, the EB has the nicest velcro I've ever seen. If you get one, you will see what I mean - kind of soft and fuzzy, not too noisy a "rrriipp" when you open it.

They are both good cases, and I'm glad I have them - I switch between them depending on my mood (they are different colors). But if I had to buy just one, it would be the EB - better value for the bucks. It's very subjective though, and you might feel different.

Registered: Jan 2000
Location:
Posts: 152

I have had both and prefer the Vaja. The Velcro on the EB tends to get on the Visor and it eventually wore out, so the cover would not stay closed.

The leather on the Vaja is much nicer. If you look at getting the magnetic clip, know that you can not put credit cards or anything with a magnetic strip. I have the snap clip and it is fine.

__________________
Howard

Registered: Apr 2001
Location: Atlanta, GA
Posts: 708

I just purchased the EB Slipper Prism (see earlier thread) and I really like it. As for the clip, it is my belief that it is well made and durable. I owned the same type concept for an old Nokia cellular phone and the design for the EB is much better. The swivel really works great for sitting around, but I usually take it off to drive. Not that it would be uncomfortable, I just do not like the seat belt hooked over it. I really thought long and hard between the EB and the Vaja but chose the EB based on price. It is so much cheaper. I was very pleased once I got it. My only concern is the Velcro. While it may not make a lot of noise it just does not seem to fasten very well. It could be by design but the longetivity concerns me a little. That said, I would certainly recommend the case.

One more thing, I know they say you can HotSync and use the Stowaway with the case on. This is true, however I find it faster and more convenient to just take the Prism out of the case for those things. Normally if I am typing on the Stowaway, it is attached all day and if the Prism is in my cradle it is there for a while as well.

In short, I love my EB Slipper and would probably love the Vaja, I would have just wanted to see the Vaja before spending the extra money for it. Good luck with your choice, I honestly do not believe you will be disappointed either way.

__________________
In my Father's house are many mansions: if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you. JOHN 14:2

Registered: Aug 2000
Location: St. Louis
Posts: 308

I use the GrinderGear basecamp, and i have yet to have it fall off. nock on wood.

__________________
Sam Kleinman

PocketPCThoughts.com
CollectiveArts
Free-ePress
Musings of a Teal Artist
CollectiveArts TechMusings

"Everybody don't like something and we all don't like you." -- Richard Thompson, Hard Luck Stories

Registered: Mar 2001
Location: Nebraska- the Good life
Posts: 695

Warning- do not use the belt clips if you either like wide belts (that the clips do not surround easily), or are a big person.

We large guys push on the case itself a bit and that tends to open the spring clip, letting the whole thing drop off at the wrong times.

"Rigid" belt straps and so on can be uncomfortable if they hold the case too high or too low and it digs in.

E&B, Vaja, and even Rhinoskin Shocksuit has done this to me (but I am pretty big, too.)

Registered: Dec 1999
Location:
Posts: 4

Clip durability

I currently have a Shocksuit case for my Prism and it has saved me on numerous occasions with its padding. My chief complaint is the use of a plastic clip attachment on the case. I'm on my third case and now it broke too (way too easy to do when it catches on something). I understand the Vaja and EB have metal tabs. Any experience with the durability of these?

Registered: Apr 2000
Location: Seattle, WA
Posts: 604

You are correct about the EB and Vaja having metal tabs. It seems very durable to me - no problems so far.

Registered: Feb 2001
Location: Vancouver, Canada
Posts: 42

I've had my EB Slipper for over a month now. I use the belt clip exclusively to carry my Visor around. Since I don't wear a belt I just clip it to my pants. Not once has my Visor fallen out of the belt clip.

However, the belt clip itself does move around and has managed to unclip itself once while I was taking off my jacket (jacket caught the bottom of the Visor and yanked the clip off my pants). Luckily it didn't fall to the ground. Now I'm extra careful when taking off my jacket.

Registered: Sep 2000
Location: Seattle, WA
Posts: 501

Beltclips Are Good (but a few hints)

I've had a Rhodiana case with belt clip for my Visor for the last year. The belt clip was the essential feature for the case; the goal was to have my Visor on hand at all times, and the belt clip was the most convenient way to do this. (I write software --> have geek dress code --> no pockets on sweatshirts sporting pithy remarks.)

Well, I'm still using the Rhodiana and the belt clip, and it is the way to go (for me); but I have learned a few things. The main hint is this: Always clip your belt clip on the hip so that it doesn't obstruct the movement of your leg.

I have my belt clip positioned at 270 degrees (9 o'clock) on my belt, so to speak; and this is an important thing when you climb into a small car. I -- twice (I'm a slow learner) -- had my belt clip attached so that it was around 310 degrees (10 o'clock (OK, 10:30 ) when I got into my Civic. My leg pushed the case & Visor upwards while my beltclip stayed vertical.

In one case, the belt clip release button was pressed into my body hard enough to cause it to release; in the other, the clip just snapped, period. Luckily for me, the Rhodiana case is very rugged, and the drop to the ground caused no problems whatsoever.

I don't blame Rhodiana for the belt clip problem, since in both cases it was pushing the clip into a situation where something had to break. But I have learned to be careful where I snap the belt clip. After I learned that, no more problems with the belt clip.

PS I'm very impressed with Rhodiana, and I would recommend their cases (with or without belt clips) to anyone. If you like a utilitian look to your case (as opposed to the elegant/expensive look of the Vaja cases), I'd take a look.

__________________
Jeff Meyer

"And he died like he lived: with his mouth wide open."

Registered: Jan 2000
Location:
Posts: 7

Vaja Case vs Slipper Case

I've had Slipper cases from E&B for both my old Visor Deluxe and then my Visor Prism. The fit wasn't great with the Slipper case, but they were both very sturdy and the belt clip was very secure. There were many, many times when I caught the edge of the door frame getting into the car. I would feel a tug on my Visor case and it never came off.

I was attracted to the look of the Vaja case, so I ordered one and received it about two weeks ago. Today while getting into the car I caught the door frame edge, felt a tug and the next thing I know my Visor Prism is landing on the pavement below (thankfully it's fine.) I thought the belt clip simply came undone. However, the pin sewn in the back of the Vaja case ripped through the leather! I still have my Slipper case so I compared the back of it with the Vaja case. The Slipper case design is much more secure. It has a larger pin plate sewn into the leather and it is completely sewn on all four sides. (The Vaja case is only sewn on two sides.) Anyway, I'm sending an email to Vaja to see what they'll do. I'll keep you posted.

Registered: Sep 2000
Location: Seattle, WA
Posts: 501

Re: more on Rhodiana

Just to clarify: the problems I had with the Rhodiana weren't do to weak attachments of the plastic "tab" to the Rhodiana case (that's sewed on all four sides). The problem was the inside rim of the plastic tab wore out, and cracked.

The workmanship of the Rhodiana case is just fine; wish they could find a more durable substance for the tab, however. The Slipper belt clip's metal tab looks permanent, but I'm not crazy about the case itself.

__________________
Jeff Meyer

"And he died like he lived: with his mouth wide open."

Last edited by bookrats on 05-01-2001 at 09:35 PM