Vaja iVolution T7 Case Review
February 13, 2006
The Vaja T7 for Treo 700w case is a gorgeous looking case that offers numerous customization
options and solid protection.
Build Quality
Vaja uses only the finest leather to construct their cases. The Vaja T7 is no exception. According to Vaja, they use full grain cowhide. The hides are from the top ten percent of Argentina's leather. Handling the 700w in the Vaja T7 felt great. The case could
be consider a "hard" case that is wrapped in fine leather. The leather is soft, subtle and has an expensive feel to it. The
Treo 700w slipped into the case and the fit was perfect. I've reviewed previous Vaja cases for the
Treo 650 and the fit of the 700w was slightly different. The Vaja T7 made the 700w feel secure, but the fit wasn't as tight as with
the 650. Since these are handmade, I suppose it's safe to say there might be small differences in each case, but I felt the differences between the cases worth noting. There were no gaps or lines of space between the case and the Treo 700w. You can actually see an example of this in the below photo. Notice how well the case is constructed around the open keyboard.
Protection
Despite what I found to be a better fit (not as snug as Vaja T65), there is no risk of the 700w falling out
of the case. I turned the 700 upside down and aggressively shook the Treo. Thankfully for me and prospective T7 owners,
the 700w didn't budge. Being a hard case, if you drop the 700w, you will have a solid layer of protection. The only exposed corner is top right hand corner where you access the stylus. The Vaja T7 is an open faced case, so I'd recommend screen protectors to guard against scratches. A flip-lid case would offer more protection, but would also affect your ability to access the keyboard, screen and all important Today screen. Overall, the Vaja T7 offers solid protection.
Treo Access
The Vaja T7 is open faced, allowing easy access to the keyboard and Today screen. There are cut-outs throughout the T7 allowing access to the side buttons, stylus, ActiveSync, ringer switch and SD card. Both speakers have metal mesh coverage allowing you to hear and provides a stylish look to the T7. There is a transparent piece of plastic that covers the LED hole allowing you to see the status of the LED.
While there is a cutout for the ActiveSync cable, the Vaja T7 will not work with certain Treo accessories such as the Seidio Cradle. If you're using the included cable, then access is not a problem.
Available Options
The case we recieved was black. However, Vaja offers literally hundreds of color combinations. You can choose one solid
color or a combination for the front and back. You can also choose to have the case with or without a clip. There are two clip options:
The case we received did not have a clip, so I'm unable to comment. Having used the Ultra Clip, I can vouch for it's quality. The Rivet Clip looks to be a heavy duty clip system. Personalization
options are also available.
Conclusion
Pros
- Gorgeous looking case
- Excellent build and fit for 700w
- Provides access to all ports
- Hundreds of personalization options
- Solid protection
Cons
- Cost
- Takes 40 days to produce case
- Shipping additional
- Requires additional screen protection to avoid scratches
- Case may not work with certain accessories such as Seidio cradle
The Vaja T7 starts $99 and is available at Vaja Cases. Clips start from $4 up to $20 for the Rivet Clip. All orders are custom and take up to 40 days.
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