Registered: Feb 2000
Location: Los Angeles, CA
Posts: 165

I was at Best Buy last night and saw a really sharp looking protective case being sold by Fellowes, called the "Bumper." (Check it out on their website, at http://www.fellowes.com/new/pda/98030.htm)

It's exactly what I'm looking for, not too expensive, and although it is Palm-specific, I can deal with not being able to IR in the case... but will my Visor fit??? I've been poking around online and I haven't been able to find anything. It *looks* like it would fit, but they didn't have a display model open and I didn't want to drop the money without being sure.

Thanks for any help y'all can provide!!

Best Regards,

Andy

Registered: Jan 2000
Location:
Posts: 5

The bumper case *does* fit, although there's excess space along the sides inside the case because the Visor is not as wide as a Palm III. The visor is also barely taller than the Palm III, but not enough so for it not to fit. Somebody else posted that the Bumper Case didn't fit, according to Concept Kitchen. Well, either they're wrong, or Concept Kitchen is. My wife and daughter both use Bumper Cases with their Palm IIIs, and I tried 'em with my BVD.

It's necessary to take the Visor out to synch or beam, however.

Registered: Jan 2000
Location: Twin Cities, MN
Posts: 1683

I emailed Concept Kitchen about this and they said that they have no immediate plans to produce a "bumper" for the visor, but that they may consider it.

I want one myself! I'd recommend that if you are interested in one, email Concept Kitchen and tell them that you want one for your Visor!

Registered: Feb 2000
Location: Los Angeles, CA
Posts: 165

Well, upon reading that the Visor will fit in the Bumper, I went out and paid $29.99 for one at Best Buy. What a PIECE OF CRAP! True, the Visor fits, if a bit snugly, but the latch mechanism only worked *once* - there's a small nub of the rubbery case material that sticks up, with a lip protruding perhaps 1/32" out (if that!), and a corresponding hole in the cover flap; the concept being that you push the flap down over the peg, which pops through and holds the flap in place.

The problem is that the case isn't as rigid as it looks, and the extra material on that nub is so minimal that the first time you open the lid back up, you lose the edge that was holding it down. And the case is so flimsy that the only leverage you get when trying to push the lid down is from your PDA, which is nothing you want to be exerting pressure on!

I promptly returned the case to Best Buy, who didn't seem surprised that the lid wouldn't close and refunded my money without any hassles. Time to look at a Shock Suit from RhinoSkin, I guess.

Registered: Jan 2000
Location:
Posts: 5

You describe a defective Bumper Case; neither my wife's nor daughter's have had that problem.

I have a hypothesis, based on experiences with Write-Rights, that the Concept Kitchen tie-in with Fellowes has resulted in a decline in quality control. I don't have enough data to be sure my experiences haven't been flukes, but in the old days I *never* had a problem with Write-Rights, but I've found several defective packets since they started carrying the Fellowes-labelled version at Best Buy. Your experience with a bad Bumper Case is more evidence to support my suspicions.

Registered: Nov 1999
Location: Boston, MA, USA
Posts: 90

I would have to agree with zivatar about the drop off in Concept Kitchen QC. Having said that, their customer support people seem very willing to help, but I wonder if the demand through Fellowes is nearly outstripping supply and so stuff of dubious quality is going out just to satisfy orders...?

I was one of the people who posted that the bumper would not fit the Visor and that was based on what the Concept Kitchen CSR told me. After reading this board I went out and bought one and it seems OK. I think I'll use that as an extra protection case and get a nice leather one for when I want to look more respectable...! Maybe the HS microfibre one with the leather trim....