Professional Reviews

WinCE Lair 4/29/99. PDA Concepts Satellite Carrying Case is awarded WinCE Lair's highest utmost rating of 6 out of 6 Orbs! Make sure to check out this in depth review with plenty of pictures. "I think this case comes about as close to perfection as it gets . . I don't know how I got along without it and can't conceive of life without it. It has become nearly as irreplaceable to me as the H/PC that it securely carries to and from work with me every day." - Gregory A. Light / WinCE Lair

The Gadgeteer 2/4/99. Julie Strietelmeier reviews the Satellite Case. "The Satellite is a terrific case. The quality of the leather and workmanship are excellent. I could not find a thing wrong with it. It is now my favorite larger format gear bag. If you are looking for a professional quality case to hold your expensive PDA or mini-notebook, you should really consider this case." - Julie Strietelmeier / The Gadgeteer

Pen Computing Magazine April 1998 issue Vol. 5 No. 21 page 92 & 96 "..the Hand Stand case from PDA Concepts showed up at the office, and I had to rub my eyes in shock. Here was the PDA lunch box from my dream! I fought the other editors off and took it home.... This case is outstanding in it's functionality and design. I recommend it if you always carry a keyboard." - Andrew J. Breitenbach / Pen Computing Magazine

MacAddict Magazine Check out this review of the new Apple Newton MessagePad 2100 in MacAddict's new March 1998 issue. The Hand Stand was also reviewed and selected as a "cream of the crop" accessory and scored a "freakin' awesome" rating.

The Gadgeteer Julie Strietelmeier reviews the Hand Stand and awards it an Overall "A" rating as well as an "A" for Usefulness and an "A" for Construction. ".. I would say that this is one of the best cases I've ever reviewed for any machine so far." - Julie Strietelmeier / The Gadgeteer

Gecko Magazine

Gecko Magazine Gerald Fox gives a review of the Hand Stand in the January issue and awards it 4.75 Geckos!! "The Hand Stand Case from PDA Concepts came last week and with a few reservations, I feel completely justified in saying that this is the very best thing out there" - Gerald Fox / Gecko Magazine

Mobilis Magazine Dave Holan gives a review of the Hand Stand. "For several months, I've been looking for a Newton carrying case that would handle my various needs in different situations, and I've found one that delivers. The Hand Stand, a brand new case from PDA Concepts, expands and vastly improves the standard issue Apple Newton case." - Dave Holan / Mobilis Magazine.

Palmtop-Pro Magazine Palmtop-Pro tested, independently, a mountain of bags and pouches for all kinds of PDA's - running the "Iron Man Test". The Hand Stand is the winner in category - "The mobile office" and featured as "Top of the Cream". (German)

Newton Pre-Buyers' Guide Peter R. Payne gives a review of the Hand Stand for Pre-Buyers of the Newton. "This is quite obviously the highest you can take the whole Newton Messagepad case business, and I love mine..." - Peter R. Payne

E-Town Electronics Guide Howard Blumenthal gives a review of the Message Pad and Hand Stand. "Since the Newton costs about $1000, I think a case is wise. So far, the best case I've found is the Hand Stand made by PDA Concepts" - Howard Blumenthal / E-Town

MacFormat Magazine Italia (Anno 2 Numero 12 Dicembre 1997 page 78) (Italian)

Il Mio Computer (Anno 2 Numero 12 Dicembre 1997 page 77) (Italian)

Satellite Comments

Hand Stand Comments

------------

Comments on the Hand Stand

------------

Just a quick note to tell you how totally happy I am with the Hand Stand, which I purchased either very early in 98 or late in 97. It has enabled me to take Newt on lots of travels, including camping, and use it whenever and wherever I want to. It is very convenient, easy to transport, and makes typing a pleasure. Congratulations on a fine product. I only wish that there were more Newts coming out for you to market it as effectively as it deserves to be.
Keep up the good work,
Steven Daniel
Rochester, NY

Hello,

First of all, I want to thank you for producing such a fine product. I like the harness system compared to my previous case (Palmtree Glove). I do find the HandStand to be a superior 'laptop' option than any I have seen. I bought the Glove because about half of the time I use my Newton I don't need the keyboard. Currently I am just using it in the harness..
B. Joseph

Thanks for an excellent product and service. The Hand Stand is rugged, well designed, and a perfect match for the Newton. Keep up the great work. I hope Apple follows through on its plan to re-enter the pda market. Your company needs another great pda to match up with. Again,

thanks.

Steve

I have been greatly impressed by both the design and the quality of construction of your Hand Stand case for the Newton Message Pad. I have found the Hand Stand's clever design very accomodating to the many different circumstances that I use my MP2100: in a car, on a lap, standing, and on the very small trays--that are not very accomodating to normal laptop computers--of an airplane seat. The construction, happily domestic, is first rate, rivaling any imports I have seen. You and your team obviously did your homework before bringing this to production. Very well done...

Bishop Auxentios

Saint Gregory Palamas Monastery

I absolutely LOVE this case. No wonder you get such good reviews! It arrived early this morning and I'm already set up and running. I like the fact that since I won't need the keyboard except when I'm away from my desk (I have a pc at home and work), it provides some nice storage space yet still is a good form factor to carry as a planner throughout my day.

Bravo!

Tony Corasaniti

If it weren't for discovering your wonderful case that allows the Message Pad to be used like a super light weight laptop, I would have never have bought the message pad 2100! It needs to have a keyboard for extensive writing, but without a case like yours, the keyboard would be almost unusable.

I'm surprised that Apple doesn't realize this, and hasn't even made an e-mate style laptop unit with a powerful CPU like the 2100.

Apple should be advertising your product!

A. Covan

Love my HandStand! It's a pleasure to use a product so well designed. The following is a copy of a letter I posted on the Newtontalk Digest:

>>Subject: Re: Ntlk Re: How do people prop up their Newton 2100's?

This is not a low cost solution but I recently ordered the Hand Stand case from PDA Concepts and absolutely love it. It is very cleverly designed and beautifully constructed. The angle of the Newton can be quickly and easily adjusted from 5° to 70° to avoid screen glare which is very useful if like me, you are using the Newton in many different environments .

For regular keyboard users, this case is the best design I've seen ? the PDA Concepts people thought of everything and still managed to keep it compact and quickly reconfigurable. I can't say enough good things about this case (I don't have any connection with PDA Concepts ? just a happy consumer). The Hand Stand has transfigured my Newton into a extremely functional mini-laptop, plus provides protection and storage for essential accessories.

M. Motsch

The Hand Stand is probably the BEST design for a Newton case I've seen so far. It is absolutely perfect for my needs and reflects that you are a Newton *user* and not just a Newton *case maker*. The pictures on your web site don't do the case justice - the case is just so much better than the pictures, it isn't funny. When I saw one picture, the one that showed that you can store PCMCIA cards in the part of the case that acted as a screen protector for the Newton, I was sold. I ordered the case and had it shipped to me overnight, and now I wonder why Apple didn't make a case like this for the original MP2K bundle. The Hand Stand is practically perfect in all details, and has been manufactured with quality materials. I'm very impressed!

B. Janz

First class construction and materials throughout and better thought out than any Newton case I've seen in four years (and I've looked at all of them). A truly elegant piece of design.

Bravo!

D. Stein

Just received my PDA Concepts Hand Stand today! For those wondering how this case is in a word - Great! This case solves the problem of using your Newton and keyboard together in an elegant way. No longer do you have to find something to prop the Newt up against to get a good viewing angle! This can all be done right in this play thru case. The newt is held firmly in place with a leather holster which can be taken out of the case for those times when you just want to use the Newt by itself. If you're looking for a case to carry the Newt and the keyboard you really owe it to yourself to check out the PDA Concepts Hand Stand. The construction of the case is top notch. If you have any other questions about this case just e-mail me. <dlloyd@clover.net>

..Just a line or two to let you know how much I really like the Hand Stand.The workmanship of this case

was much more than I ever expected. My newton literally never leaves the protection of this case. Great product!

Dave Lloyd

Hi!

Just wanted to tell you that I took my first trip today with my "lightweight laptop". Had some jealous inquiries. Everyone was impressed.

After using the case for about a week I have found my favorite configuration to be placing the newton to the very far left with the lid up (pc cards down). This allows me easier access to the pen holder. This setup also works very well with I++ which uses this screen orientation as a default preference. I love the holster. Have found that it is stretching out a little bit which will be good. It was a snug fit.

All in all, this is a very nice, well made product. I have found that it lays sufficiently flat enough for me without any breaking in time. I think the case will loosen up a little eventually making it easier to open and close.

Great job and thanks for the nice case.

DK Varner

Got my HandStand late last week and I'm really enjoying it. I own more carry bags than I've owned Newtons and this is the very first one I have really found serviceable.

I like the form factor. When it is closed, it just feels good and fits well in my hand.

I love the Velcro-able surface.

I like being able to leave the dongle plugged in all the time or simply Velcro it off to the side.

I like being able to flip two Velcro straps and release the Newton.

I like the pen holder - add a couple more in strategic places like at the bottom and the opposite side (i.e. ambidextrous).

I want a shorter, snugger (maybe wider) optional top strap. The shoulder strap is OK, but doesn't work as well for my particular frame as I would like. Gimme a wide top strap close to the case - like a snug briefcase-ish strap. [Done deal! click here to see the Leather Handle Accessory.]

More little pcmcia-size slots under the KB or in that space for misc stuff. Nothing bulky, just an odd business card or credit card or scrap of info.

Add little elastic loops around to maybe hold cables on the desktop when at the office. I switch between the KB and the connection cable. I guess a spot of Velcro would solve this, too. I put a spot on the KB plug and it holds in place fine when not in use.

Jammin'. Absolutely Jammin'!

...and, um, if you have a beta-test program, I, um, would be more than happy to, um, volunteer my, uh, services...! <grin>

C. Moore

I have been using HandStand for a few days now and these are my impressions:-

1. Service from PDA Concepts is excellent even from far away Australia.

2. HandStand is thoughtfully designed and well made.

3. HandStand lets me use my MP2000 in a manner something like a "bMate".

4. I have tried using it with the "holster" (which secures the MP2000 with velcro) and loose mounted. I prefer loose mounted so that I can grab the Newton at any time and use it in the traditional way and also get to the back quickly for resets. The velcro is good in that it secures the Newton and makes the ON/OFF switch more accessible but it actually hold a little too strongly for my liking.

5. The dongle has to be disconnected to zip up the case. The whole dongle thing is an issue for Apple of course. It would be much better if there was a right angle dongle.

Basically I am pretty happy with HandStand.

----------------------------------

Dick Campbell

racampbl@ozemail.com.au

+61 417 262 217

0412 262 217

-----------------------------------

" I can set up the Newton plus keyboard without having to have any extra pieces (like a stand to keep the Newton screen at an angle). - Steven Shaviro

"[I Like] The care that went into the design and the quality of the materials." - Brian Love

"The case is much more than I thought it would be! I have bought many cases for my Newtons over the years but your case provides the highest quality and functionality of any of them...The features I like most are the play-thru ability along with the rugged construction and small footprint." - David Lloyd

[Features I Like Most]

1) The overall "binder" look and feel: unlike the floppy, spineless case Apple shipped.

2) Holds keyboard.

3) has room for slips of paper.

4) full Velcro "loop" interior (I've already made custom pieces for it)

-Wesleyan Hsu

"I like the way it serves as both a stand and a case." - Noah Schubert

" [A] Case that makes Newton best of both worlds - in case like a lap top, out - a handheld computer." - John Curtis

" [ I like most ] The cover flaps that protect the keyboard and screen, the copious space for PCMCIA cards and cables, the fact that the Newton is ready to be used quickly while in the case (i.e., I can flip the case open and be set up and ready to go in seconds). - Richard Fall