87
It isn't often that you see products bearing 'aircraft grade aluminum' qualities, but after paying more than $250 for a PSP, that's the kind of security some of you will be demanding. If you're one of those people, then the Brando Aluminum PSP Case may be just for you.
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40
just thrown this case out,absolutely useless...has scratched my PSP in 3 places..
cases are meant to protect not scatch!!!
the opening backwards thing is annoying too and the fact that you have to take the PSP out every time to change umds..meaning you will scratch it every time you do this!!!
avoid like the plague is my advice!!!!!!!!!!
95
I like my PlayGear Pocket just fine, but sometimes it's a little bulky. When I need something slimmer to protect my PSP, I use this case.
Protection
This case is sturdy. It's as stiff as the PlayGear is, and offers a thin neoprene lining that helps protect your PSP from scratching by the case itself. I'm not sure how much impact buffering it will give you, but probably not much. I'm not about to drive over this thing, 'cus I want to keep it, but there's no doubt that it wll protect your PSP in any pocket or bag you carry it in, even if you sit on it or bump into something. That said, it's not an Otterbox. There's openings all over the place, so it won't keep moisture out at all, so don't drop it in the pool, mmmkay? Ok.
Features
This case has openings for practically everything, including the UMD door release, but not the UMD door itself. Kind of silly to have a hole for the release, but not be able to actually open the door without taking the PSP out of the case, but it's there. The IR port, all buttons and switches, the USB jack, and even the speaker holes on the bottom are uncovered. The screw holes for another case or cover are covered, but it's not like you need those in this case.
Use
The way this case works is kind of backwards from most other cases. Instead of opening from the bottom up, it opens from the top down. There's even a sticker inside the case that shows you how to put the PSP in, so you don't try to put it in upside down. While I don't find it uncomfortable to hold the PSP while playing in the case, it's not terribly comfortable either. The cover kind of dangles there between your hands, and can get in the way depending on where you hold your PSP while gaming, such as up against your chest or something. The case doesn't alleviate cramping either, since it's so thin, and doesn't add enough bulk to the PSP to change how it needs to be held. Fortunately, for you travelers, the double-hinge allows the cover to be folded under the PSP half such that it can be used to prop the PSP for viewing, kind of the reverse of how the PlayGear can be used as an easel.
Overall
I think this is a great case for those who want good protection, but not a lot of bulk. There are no slots for games or cards in it, so you'll need to be playing Homebrew or having a single game you really love, or something else to hold the other stuff, with this case.
For what this is, I give it an almost perfect score. It does everything it tries to do very well.
95
This case is made of aluminum and is very light. For being about 1cm in width, it adds no extra bulk to your PSP while it is in your pocket. The inside of the case is lined with neoprene to absorb the shocks from bumps you may encounter.
It might seem strange to some people, but the top part of the case folds downwards instead of turning upward to become a sun-visor like the Playgear Pocket.
Compared to the Logitech Playgear Pocket, this nifty little case can do just about anything the PGP can do except being a movie stand. Seeing as I have small hands, this case feels just like holding a PSP without a case when playing, which I find very comfortable.
With this case's sleek looks and features I'm sure you will be very satistfied like I am.
90
Ebay for $12.00 US total (black, no name brand). Cheap enough. Shipped from Hong Kong to Canada in 8 days.Fast enough. Solid aluminum with metal hinge. Strong enough.
I agree with most everything other people has stated about this case except 2 things bug me:
• The "backwards" hinge. Sorry, but as I much as I try to not let this bother me, I can't. I simply find it uncomfortable.
• The "stand" feature. When the case is new, there is enough friction in the hinge to position the lid almost any which way you like as a stand. But soon, the hinge breaks in and swings around freely and you're left with one stand postion and it isn't the best postion IMO.
Not a perfect case but pretty good for the money. I'm now waiting for the Stealth case. Just need to get rid of that rude looking Madcatz logo.
95
Initial Reaction
My Brando case came in about a week. A lot faster than I expected. My first reaction when I opened the packaging was how light the case was. The PSP is heavy as it is. I was very pleased to know that the case wouldn't add a lot more weight.
Material
The aluminum and the neoprene interior are each 1mm thick. It doesn't sound like much but I think its a good compromise between functionality and usability. The finish is very clean and professional. The edges of the aluminum are not sharp. It's a very plain looking case so if you're looking for something to scream "I OWN A PSP," this may not be the case you want. I also had an air bubble underneath the neoprene but I took care of it with a thumb tack.
Protection
The case is very sturdy. The PSP sits snuggly inside and there is no movement whatsoever. All the standard ports are exposed so you can use it with the lid closed. I don't understand why they exposed the UMD eject button though since you can't change UMD's with the PSP inside the case. I'm also slightly concerned with the memory slot/headphone corner. It's more exposed than I'm comfortable with but then again, I dont see any way of protecting that corner more without covering up the ports.
Functionality
The lid is hinged at the bottom. There is an aluminum tab that's part of the top of the case. It's held down by a plastic tab that's part of the bottom of the case. It's secure but easy to open and close. I worry about the plastic tab wearing down over time and not securely closing anymore.
When you open the lid, you can fold it back completely or fold it back partially to put the PSP into viewing mode. Either way, the tab comes in contact with the resting surface. It's not wobbly but it just seems weird to me. When playing games, you can fold it back all the way which gives you a better grip on the unit or just let it hang down below the PSP. Either way, its comfortable. The headphone remote plug that comes with the value pack intereferes with the opening and closing of the case. You have to bend the cord to get the lid to open and close. This isn't a problem if you have headphones with a plug that's L-shaped.
With the way that the case is hinged, if you don't close it carefully, the tab that keeps the case closed will come in contact with the top of the PSP. Fortunately, the tab surface is smooth and I dont think there's a chance that it will scratch the PSP.
Overall
Pros: Very lightweight, strong material, secure fit, good finish
Cons: Some minor usability issues, bland looking to some people
I think this is an excellent case and worth the money.
89
At a glance from a distance, the PDAir/Brando Metal Case for PSP appears to be a block of silver, similar to those carried by PDA/PPC users. When I arrived at the store I ordered the case, I mistook the PDAir case for the Brando case until I read distinctly on the packaging “PDAir PSP Metal Case.” However when I arrived home, I immediately went on both the Brando and PDAir website and compared both of them and realized one thing. They are strikingly similar if not the same. They have the exact same holes, hinges on the bottom, grooved curves for the hands as well as four rubber feet and they even posses that goofy UMD switch (which I’ll cover later). To make matters more intriguing, neither case appears to have a logo identifying the maker. It leads me to believe either one stole the design off one another or they hired a generic company to design it and both bought the rights.
The case itself is cast from "aircraft grade" aluminum which is quite light. According to the Brando specs (I’m assuming both cases are the same), it weighs a meager 92grams by itself. The case within is lined with black neoprene which is firm and spongy to possibly absorb shocks if the PSP is ever dropped within the case.
If you visit either site, you should have seen by now that the hinges that hold the case together are on the bottom, with the top part fill with holes for the IR port, USB port, the UMD switch port and access to left/right buttons. Going back to the bottom of the case, there are holes for the 5v DC plug and WiFi switch, earphones and a noticeably large hole for easy access to the Memory Stick Duo port. Attached on the back of the case are four rubber feet so when you lay the PSP on a table, it won’t slide easily as it does with the stock case that came with the Value Pack.
Also on the back are grooves for the hands which are molded like the PSP for more comfort when playing the PSP. To note, when the PSP is in the case, there is a tiny bit of space since the bottom isn’t molded exactly like the PSP so the paranoid may be worried about dust or other particles getting in. It can easily be cured by taking out the PSP and giving it a good cleaning.
Now onto the juicy part of the review, how is the case? On the inside of the case on the neoprene there are points where there is a little bulge to “snap” the PSP in place. It will offer a TINY bit of resistance when sliding the PSP out which is a good thing, but requires very little force to pull free. As for the latch on top of the case where the access ports are, it works quite nicely. Thankfully it requires a bit more force to open but not so much that you need to pry the case apart with your might. However it is possible for the latch to be hooked onto something and opening the case. With the proper care however, it shouldn’t be too much of a problem.
The aluminum frame is quite strong (I opened it up and knocked on it to see if would be easily bent, which it isn’t). From that I would assume you would be able to drop the PSP and it would still be intact for the most part, you could probably smack someone on the head with the case and the PSP wouldn’t be affected because of the neoprene lining (not that I’m suggesting you try it.) Although I mentioned earlier the PSP can be easily slipped in and out with ease, it fits snugly into the case. I actually put the PSP inside and gave it quite a shake and heard nothing =). Sadly there isn’t any space for UMDs in the case, however the cleaning cloth that comes with the Value Pack can be placed on top of the screen before closing it.
Keep in mind UMD storage would have added bulk to the case and the purpose of the case is to protect the PSP (in a stylish way). Since I wear pants with large pockets I can easily slip the case with the PSP into one of my pockets whenever I will it. One feature I find quite interesting is that it IS possible to use the case as a stand (although it’s not exactly a sturdy one). I vaguely remember the little sticker manual saying not to use the case that way but I chucked that in the trash the moment I cracked open the packaging. To use the case as a stand merely flip the case open, position the flap of the case behind the psp and rest the bottom rubber feet on the case and there you have it; a PSP stand for watching movies!
For those of you who are wondering yes you do need to remove the PSP from the sleek case before switching UMDs. That makes the UMD switch mentioned earlier useless which could have been a flaw from a rushed design or to satisfy those who feel the need to tug or touch their UMD switch at random times. Lastly the memory stick port is quite large to accommodate the size of the cover on the PSP. It’s nice to be able to easily remove the Memory Stick Duo at ease however if dropped at an angle it is possible for the PSP to directly contact the ground first and not the case. It shouldn’t be a problem unless you’re reckless with the case believing it can protect you’re PSP from all ordeals (To my dismay).
The PDAir website lists the PDAir version to be $30.99 USD while the Brando one is listed at a flat $28.00. Unless you can’t find a Brando supplier near you or are a hardcore PDAir fan you might as well save the three bucks.
I’ll admit not every product is perfect and even though this case if my first, it’ll probably be my last since it appears quite durable and I just adore the smooth silver color. Overall the case does its job at protecting the PSP (eg. in a bag full of binder and books) but do take care in protecting your entertainment system.
Sadly for those with decals, the PSP won’t show the decal on the back if there is one that came with your set unless you remove the PSP from the case to show your friends. However the decal can still be viewed on the front. A particular rant I have about the case is it doesn’t have any screws, although I realize if it did the hinges would be on top possibly blocking access to the USB port and it would be a pain to remove the PSP just to switch UMDs so I’ll forgive PDAir and Brando for that…for now. Although the case doesn’t have space to hold excess UMDs it holds a cleaning cloth which is just fine for me since I usually stick with a game for the day and constantly have the need to keep my screen fingerprint-free. For those who are extra paranoid you may want to buy a screen protector (I recommend Hori) if you don’t think the neoprene will do the job of protecting your PSP screen (or worried some little kid will try and scratch you’re screen while you’re playing.)
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