Have you ever dropped your Treo and thought “…crud, if only I had this thing encased in armor”? Well, you might not be able to find any real armor for your Treo (boy, THAT would be heavy!), but the next best thing is an aluminum hard case by Innopocket. This review was made possible by the folks at Stylus Central, and can be purchased from their store currently for $24.99.
I have had the pleasure of using this case which, like the Rhinoskin aluminum case I had previously, offers wonderful protection for your Treo 650. Innopocket uses 100% aircraft grade aluminum to make this case, and not only does it stand up to bumps, tumbles and drops, but it also resists scratching well. This case also includes a belt clip and a “post” which screws into the back of the case with a coin or screwdriver to assure tightness.
Worried about scratching your screen? Well, there is hope! The Innopocket case also features a clear, plastic “window” to completely cover your screen. The only issue you might have with this is that you have to open the case if you need to use your stylus to tap the screen.
There is a wide array of cutouts for the buttons on your Treo, as well as openings for the stylus, camera, charging/hotsync receptacle, mic, speaker, volume and function buttons and headphone jack. The only issue I had with the arrangement of the openings is that the bottom portion that surrounds the mic hole overlaps a little…now, I haven’t had anybody tell me that they can’t hear me during a call, so I would assume it doesn’t affect sound; also, the cutout on the front of the case which gives access to the phone and power buttons is a little restrictive. I have “average” sized hands, and it is difficult to press either of these buttons because they lie so close to the case edges and it is a little difficult to accurately press “up” or “down” on the 5 way navigator.
One thing that is a definite plus with this case is the fact that when I’m on a call, I don’t get any facial oils on the screen or top edge of my Treo. Instead, any oils stay on the outside of the case, which is then easily wiped off. A downside, however, to blocking goo from your Treo is the fact that you don’t have access to the keypad…another reason you have to open the case.
Overall, the case was designed to fit well and gives the impression that it was poured around a Treo. It is a little difficult to slide the Treo into and out of the case, though. The neoprene lining is a tad bit tacky (for good reason), so you have to be careful when pulling and tugging on your Treo; I noticed while taking mine out of the case (by pulling the antenna) that the antenna seemed to separate a little from the body of the phone. Not a big deal, but I can see how that might create wear on that particular component. There are also small, rubber “grips” on the sides of the case (two on the right side, one on the left) which help when just carrying the phone in your hand.
The case can be carried with the supplied belt clip mechanism, but you can also remove the back post and put it in a pocket, although it is a little thick: it has dimensions of 116 x 69 x 32mm. Weight may also be another issue if you are looking for a “stealthy” approach to carrying your Treo: it weighs in at 47g.
So, in conclusion, if you’re looking for a nice, solid container for your Treo (especially if you are a rough and tumble type of person), then the Innopocket may be for you. Take into consideration the size, weight, and whether you will always need access to the front of the Treo.
PROS:
Very protective
Keeps goo from the outside of your Treo
Screen protection
Belt Clip
CONS:
Heavy
Thick
No access to keypad
Limited access to “phone” and “power” buttons
Limited access to “up” and “down” on the 5 way navigator
I give the Innopocket Aluminum Hard Case four out of five treos: 
cyberhomie’s two cents :
I have a proporta Aluminum Case just like this one, and I really like it. Both the aluminum and its texture matches my PowerBook so they look good together. For my boney fingers the buttons are still easy for me to access. I personally don’t think the lack of access to the keypad is a con. This case gives you access to the phone buttons easily enough but if you are going to do some typing, your going to be opening up the lid anyway to use the stylus also. If you want one that has access to the keyboard - other aluminum ones are available. Like the Pacific Rim Open Hard Case for Treo 600/650. I do have to agree however that it is bulky, but that is a side affect of it being soo protective.
Stylus Central Store: Stylus Central-Innopocket Hard Case for Treo 650
treo Addicts Store : Innopocket Hard Case for Treo 650
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November 1st, 2005 at 9:39 pm
I’m on my second Proporta aluminum case due to the weak window/aluminum interface. When I received my first case I noticed the plastic window was loose in one corner and creaked, so I sent it back. They sent me a new one which didn’t seem to have this problem.
Once I started using it I enjoyed it but my fingers had a hard time accessing the buttons through the front slot. So I had my machinist friend cut the lower part of the keypad cover off and smooth it down. He did such a great job you couldn’t tell it was modified! This made the case much more practical for me as now the keypad was exposed yet it still provided screen protection.
Unfortunately, it didn’t last long! Just today the screen “popped” again and is loose on the top right corner. This time it was partly my fault: I was holding the case between a receipt and my fingers when I felt it start to slip. So I so I squeezed harder, at which point I felt something give, and yes, the top right of the screen has the same symptom the original had.
I think I will try to live with it and just be more careful. Even with that corner slightly loose, the window is still fairly firm in it’s frame, but I think this design is flawed. The window is glued into the case from the inside, so a force pushing in can easily break the glue bond.