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Sep 21 2005
Vaja I-Volution Leather Suit Review
PSP Hardware Review | PSP Case
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| Summary: Top of the Line
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.
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Comments
yoyo_pete said: "I gotta know.... Tell us about wearing it around your neck. How often do you play it or have it on? Do you play theme music wherever you go? I really want to know all the details of your PSP habits."
Hahaha. Yeah, I pretty much bring it everywhere I go. I haven't done the theme music, but I like that idea if only to annoy the girl. :-)
When we go shopping, I can just find a seat and get my game on. The PSP is never off. The first feature I fell in love with was the sleep option. And now that I've got a good web browser with all of my bookmarks (thanks PSPware) I can hit my favorite sites anywhere there is a hot spot.
One thing I've noticed though. I used to read a lot. Now it can take me a month or more to get through a short novel.
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looks nice but still no space to carry a couple of UMD's???
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Doesn't look...too protective. But it is sexy.
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