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First of all, A BIG THANKS to StylusCentral for providing the Innopocket Metal Deluxe Case for Treo 700w/wx for this review.

Those who are regular readers will already know that I’ve previously written a review on the Innopocket Metal Deluxe Case for the Treo 650. Although I know that the case will be very similar, I thought that it would be interesting to review it and be able to make some comparisons between the two cases, especially having them side by side and also attempting to try to fit my Treo 650 into this case. I have attempted to do so in the video and have put them side by side for a good comparison.

Unfortunately, since I do not own a Treo 700w or 700wx, the display of the case will be limited to only using the supplied cardboard image of the 700w as you will see in the pictures and in the video. Unless someone can provide me with the 700w or 700wx, I guess that’s the best I can do.

Pics of the Innopocket Metal Deluxe Case for Treo 700w/wx

Click on the images for a bigger picture.

Video of the Innopocket Metal Deluxe Case for Treo 700w/wx

Video of Innopocket Metal Deluxe Case for Treo 700w/wx at Vimeo

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Alternative link: Video at YouTube

The case, like the other Innopocket Metal Deluxe Case I’ve reviewed for the Treo 650 is made out of aircraft grade anodized aluminum. It’s very lightweight and strong, quality, durable case. I’ve had mine, the one for the Treo 650 since March and aside from a few scratches, it shows no worse for wear. With the inner neoprene lining, it does a great job of cushioning the hard case, which without it, would have not been as good at absorbing shocks due to accidental drops or bumps or hits. I have dropped my Treo with the case a few times (and I am usually quite careful) and the Treo shows no sign of breakage or problems, most likely due to the neoprene lining which likely absorbed most of the shock.

Again, I love the transparent clear window that protects the screen from any accidental scratches from happening. The main difference between this one and the one for the Treo 650 is that the for the 700w/wx, the flap/door only covers the screen, exposing the QWERTY and hardware keys. So, you may still experience some accidental pressing of the keys which may turn it on without your knowledge and possibly drain the battery. With the 650 case, since there’s a cutout for the hardware buttons only, there’s much less chance of that happening.

Here are my observations (similar to those for the Treo 650). My previous experience with the belt clip (mind you that this is in reference to the Treo 650’s belt clip which is very much the same as for this case) is that they tend to fail on me. I have not experienced any removable belt clip for any device that has not failed on me. What I think they need to do is either have the screw permanently stuck to the case, which, may not be a good idea as it does pose a problem when placing the case on a flat surface as it won’t lay flat and does “stick out”.

My previous gripe with the Treo 650’s case is that the door/flap would get in the way when I’m trying to type or text messaging on the Treo. With the half door design of this case, it no longer is an issue as there’s nothing to get in the way of my fingers. Previously with the Treo 650 case, part of the door/flap will get in the way so that my right hand is somewhat cramped as I can’t hold or wrap around the Treo as I’d like. So, that’s a plus in that department. But of course, that also means that the the QWERTY keys are exposed. So, with most things, you have to balance between the plus and minus.

Again, I really like the case because I find that it does a good job of protecting my Treo and cushioning the blows with the inner neoprene lining. The aluminum case is a bit slippery and even though they do have some rubbery slits on the side to give it a bit more grip, so you may want to consider getting some generic eGrips, cutting them to a comfortable size and stick them on. I personally find that it really helps.

As I’ve also mentioned in my previous review, with this particular and other cases where there’s a hinge, you may want to consider wrapping an elastic band around the hinge to prevent the inner rod from falling out over time. Without the rod inside the hinge, the case will fall apart and you’re stuck with two separate pieces. So, it’s very important to keep the rod inside the hinge. Check out my previous review on the Innopocket case for the Treo 650 for a pic of what it looks like with the elastic band. With the elastic band keeping inner rod inside the hinge, the case has been working great.

Keep in mind, as I’ve noted and discovered in the video review that a Treo 650 will not properly fit this case. It can be done, but the cut outs for the camera, mirror, speaker, and side buttons won’t flush properly as the Treo 650 doesn’t fully slide to the bottom of the case due to the sharp edge of the design of the case at the bottom. This is shown very clearly in the video. But, of course, keep in mind that this case is designed for the Treo 700w/wx so I really can’t complain about that.

Aside from the half flap/door of the case which may expose the QWERTY keys as well as the potential and eventual sliding out of the inner rod inside the hinge of the case, the Innopocket Metal Deluxe Case is a solid investment for owners of the Treo 700w/wx. Again, keep in mind that this case is designed for the Treo 700w/wx and as I’ve shown, it doesn’t fit the Treo 650 very well, although it can be done somewhat. Just like I’ve mentioned for my review on the Innopocket Metal Deluxe Case for the Treo 650, I highly recommend this case for most of the same reasons. Keep in mind that these are my opinions based on my preferences as you may have differing opinion on what you prefer. I do tend to prefer hard case over soft ones.

Again, I’d like to thank StylusCentral for providing the product for the review. Please check out the Innopocket Metal Deluxe Case for the Treo 700w/wx at StylusCentral.com where it is currently on sale. I am not an affiliate of StylusCentral but thank StylusCentral for supplying the product.

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