97
This is my fourth PSP case. The others run the gamut from so-so to really good. I was of the opinion that I would probably never find a case that I liked better than the Playgear Pocket. It was sturdy looked decent hanging from my neck strap, and I could put in Blood Rayne inserts.
The I-Volution looked intriguing, but I was still a little leary of spending almost as much for a case as I did for the PSP. Looking at Vaja’s site I saw that they had iPod cases for quite a bit less. I was still in the market for a case for my iPod so I thought I would see how that looked for the money. If I didn’t like it I could always sell it on ebay.
When the iPod case finally showed up, I was so impressed with it that I immediately went back to Vaja’s site and ordered the PSP case. After another three week wait, I had it and have been enamored ever since.
It has that new car smell, and it looks as good as one, too. I ordered one that was black (to match my entire wardrobe) with a jade interior. The quality of Vaja’s leather work is as top notch as they come. The edges where the interior and exterior come together are smooth and blemish free. I expected at least a small bit uneven form somewhere, but there is none. I wear the PSP on a neck strap, and I get a lot of compliments on how nice it looks.
I like how well it fits on the PSP, too. It adds very little bulk to the size of the PSP. Some of my other cases add a lot of mass to the machine making it hard to put in a pocket and far too heavy to wear on a neck strap. Basically, it has a really elegant look to it. I wish I had it when I took my mom out for Mother’s Day. It goes much better with my suits than the others.
The case is padded since it is made up of soft, high quality leather. I wouldn’t like to drop it or fall on it, but I think it could protect the PSP in a short drop. It’s not nearly as sturdy as the Logitech Playgear Pocket, but what is? It does share one problem with the Playgear, though. The Vaja case has several openings, leaving access to all of the PSP’s ports, shoulder buttons, and access hatches. So,as with the other case, if I’m outside and it starts raining, I find myself frantically trying to stuff the PSP inside my shirt. The Nyko charger case is water resistant, but there’s no carrying it on my neck anyway so it won’t get wet unless I fall in a puddle.
I do find it amusing to be walking along with my girlfriend, have a drop of rain hit me on the head, and I start screaming as if I’m being murdered while she covers her face in shame. But other than water getting in, I don’t think my PSP will come to harm in the I-Volution.
I really like how useful the case is. I can change memory sticks and UMD discs without having to remove the PSP. I can operate all of the machines functions with it in there. The Wi-Fi signal passes through with no problems and I seem to get the same range to my access point. Most importantly, the case allows for easy gaming. There is enough room around the analog nub to allow for the full range of movement.
The case can even be used as a stand for watching movies. But, when doing so there isn’t a lot of space available for a headphone or speaker plug. If the headphones you use have a plug that is rather long you may have an issue. I haven’t tried it with the headphones that came with the PSP since I never use those, but my Sennheiser earbuds have a plug with a 90 degree angle, allowing them to tit with no problem.
One thing I really like about this case is the clasp. The use of a magnet was a stroke of genius. I see my Charger Case latch getting weaker and weaker with use. It is starting to worry me. I see the same thing with the Playgear, but it is far less pronounced so far. The magnet in the I-Volution should hold up for years. There is no worry about it falling open because there is no weight on it. The PSP is strapped to the bottom of the case so the lid is basically a cover. The magnet is more than strong enough to keep it closed.
The three pockets on the inside of the lid each hold one memory stick Duo. They are easy to get in and out, far easier than I thought it would be. Not having to carry around the cases that Memory Sticks come in turned out to be a big plus. I can carry around the entire Lord of the Rings trilogy. I won’t have enough battery life to get through it, but I’ll have it with me anyway.
I love this case. It does almost everything I need a case to do, while looking better than I would think a case would look. They call it a “leather suit” for the PSP and that is what it is. It’s a luxury item for those who want to splurge on something nice for their favorite toy. This is easily my favorite PSP accessory.
Vaja does fantastic work, and I have no problem recommending such a nice piece of work to anyone. People often ask me where I got it. Even when I warn them about the price, some want one anyway.
Yes, it costs a lot of money. Yes, there is a stronger case out there. No, there is no other case on the market today that looks and feels as good as this one. No one needs this case. But a lot of people want one. I say, if you have the means to get it, you won’t be sorry you did. I highly recommend this case.
95
The number of cases available for the PSP is overwhelming. There are many cheapies that do a half-effort job and then one or two that do an incredible job. Vaja, a company known for its line of high-quality cases for laptops, iPod's and other gadget's has taken a liking to the PSP with their i-volution PSP Leather Suit. It's true that with this level of quality comes a much higher price tag, but is it worth it? Let's find out.
Our i-volution case has a mid-grey exterior and orange interior, beautifully matched. The top has a very small and simple, metallic Vaja logo in the bottom right corner, a silent lock clasp in the middle and two snaps on the back to keep your PSP secure. The top of the case has two 'blocks' that are slightly raised and padded. At first, it looks like a design element, but it actually functions as a stand. The firmness of the UMD portion of case is quite strong, but the weight of the PSP is enough to cause the rest of the case to sit comfortably. Look at picture 4 on the left to see how this works. Altogether, the leather is soft to the touch, but it clearly has a firm body to keep your PSP protected.
Inside there are compartments for three Memory Stick cards. These aren't separate pockets that are added onto the internal casing, but rather an actual part of the internal casing. It should be pointed out that except for the portion of the case which sits behind the PSP, everything here is leather. To put your PSP in, you simply undo the two snaps and slide it in. The back of the PSP, nearly up to the shoulder buttons, becomes covered in the lovely grey leather. Once you've snapped the holding snaps into place, your PSP will feel fully secure. When closed, the case gives you access to the PSP's headphone jack.
The design is very conducive to gaming. The shoulder buttons and all other front buttons, as well as the headphone jack, power port and USB port are accessible. To play, you simply hold the PSP as you would normally do, and the back of the case simply flops backwards. If you look at the second picture on the left, the portion of the case which sits directly behind the UMD door is flexible and can flop back. This portion is connected to the top of the case which is what comfortably gets out of your way when you want to play games or watch movies. It's easy to access the buttons and even the analog stick. You might even find that holding the PSP with the case on makes gaming easier as the case is dry and not slippery, unlike the PSP after a bit of tense gaming.
Locking the case together is equally as well thought out as the other features. The lock is in the middle, where you would expect it (think Logitech PlayGear). But wherein the Logitech and other cases requires you to do a press or pull, the i-volution requires nothing but a surprisingly soft opening action. That is, you simply open the case as if you were flipping up the top portion. No unlocking, no snapping. It was incredibly surprising to see how easily and silently the case closed and opened. We did a quick shake test to see if the lock was as secure as it was quiet by holding the back of the case facing up and shaking violently. To our surprise, nothing came undone, everything was perfectly secure.
The case is noticeably light and slim, unlike the Logitech or other cases. Vaja's i-volution leather case provides incredible protection both outside and inside. Playing games with the case on not only feels totally comfortable, it keeps your PSP protected in a way that other cases can't compare. It is clear in so many ways that this isn't your regular off-the-shelf case. When you order your case online, you can choose from over 40 colour combinations. Not only that, you can personalize the case with your name for an extra $10 or even get a logo embossed for $30. You thought people's heads spin when they see your PSP's screen, wait until they see your PSP with the Vaja case on. You're practically guaranteed to have a one-of-a-kind case.
The quality of the leather, modern aesthetic and level of skilled craftsmanship is absolutely unparalleled as far as PSP cases go. You simply will not find anything else as high quality as this. Conversely, at $180 USD, this is the most expensive case you'll find. As the saying goes, you get what you pay for, and the Vaja i-volution Leather PSP Suit is a product fit for that breed of PSP fanatic that demands a case with the best protection and unmatched quality and aesthetics. If you can afford it, get it.
|
18