The Proporta Crystal Case feels robust and study when held. Just about all parts of the phone are covered. The top and bottom have been left exposed for access to the headphone jack, hold button, dock connector, and speakers. Other parts left exposed are for the volume cradle, earpiece, and home button. What’s great about the case is that the phone’s display is recessed into the case, so it would hopefully be protected if it were to fall face front. The one thing the case lacks is the inclusion of a screen protector. If Proporta threw one in with the Crystal case, that would have been better deal.

Putting on the case is a snap, it took just a few seconds to quickly sandwich the iPhone between the front and back plates. However removing it from the case is a difficult task. After trying to pry it open and even using the included “removal card tool,” it was still a pain to remove. On the other hand, not being able to easily remove the case might be a good thing. I’m well assured that dropping the phone in the case wouldn’t cause the case to easily split apart or shatter.

Overall, the Proporta Crystal Case for the iPhone 3G and 3GS is a great accessory. If you need a case, we definitely give this one a thumbs up. It’s available for purchase on line for $18.95 before tax and shipping. However as a reader of Skatter Tech you are eligible for a special 10% discount by using the promotional code ‘SKATTERTECH’ (no quotes). What case do you use or recommend? Let us know!

Buy It: Proporta.com – iPhone Crystal Case
Promo Code: SKATTERTECH

The delicate yet durable feel of the case is a good blend of classiness and strength of protection you would find in any premium quality protective cases. However this particular product boasts a neat little innovative design. The design allows the ability to use your system while still in the case! The workmanship is excellent and seems quite durable. The white stitching works with the black color of the rest of the case, especially since my Aspire One was also white. The case is held together by a magnetic clasp which is a lot nicer than alternative mechanisms such as zippers and velcro straps. The designers of the case were thoughtful when it comes to functionality since they even created pores on the bottom to allow the laptop to “breathe” meaning maintaining cooler temperatures. Although, I wasn’t to wild about the appearance of the ventilation pores, it servers a purpose and in the end goes pretty much unnoticed.

Furthermore, there are various sized pockets suitable for holding a couple of your SD cards as well as a credit card sized pocket. A look behind those reveal an even larger pocket; ideal for holding perhaps a lint-free cloth for maintaining the Acer’s LCD screen while traveling. The careful placement of the cut outs in the leather design provide access to every necessary hardware component. Components such as the track pad, Wi-Fi indicator/switch, and card reader are all accessible through cutouts in the case. I originally assumed a case would make typing difficult, but I instead found the tiny palm rests even more comfortable with the leather covering. The simplicity and compactness makes the case an excellent accessory. There is always a slight addition of bulk with any case, but this case was just the right balance from providing enough protection without too much extra baggage.

Conclusion:
Proporta’s Leather Case for the Acer Aspire One is affordable and durable. Prior to reviewing this product I was using a generic polyester case for portable DVD players. The substantial difference was the fact that I would no longer need to create a commotion during a class lecture to take out my laptop with a noisy zippers, which is definitely a thumbs up on Proporta’s magnetic clasp design. If you are in the market for a case for your netbook and enjoy the leather look, this accessory is a great choice. And if you are conscious of animal rights, Proporta delivers this to you animal parts-free! And as a bonus, as a reader of Skatter Tech, you are entitled to a 10% discount. Just enter the code “skattertech” (no quotes) during checkout. In addition Proporta provides a Lifetime Warranty on this product!

Rating: 4.5/5 stars
Links: Proporta.com

The Battery Pack – 5/5 stars
The Proporta Rechargeable Battery Back seems to be an excellent idea all around. The unit is fairly small (about the size of a iPod Classic), quite robust, lightweight (4.2 oz) and fairly good looking. There is only one button on the device which also contains an LED indicator inside. The indicator turns red while charging and goes green when complete. You’ll have to click the button to begin charging a connected device and the light remains green until it completes charging. The front side has a mini-USB input to charge the battery pack and a standard USB port to output power to your gadgets. The battery contained inside has 3400 mAH of storage and can output energy at 5v (700mA). I was able to fully recharge a completely depleted Creative Zen and a Apple iPod Nano without having to recharge.

Charging The Battery Pack – 5/5 stars
I was quite impressed to see that Proporta had provided many useful ways to recharge the Rechargeable Battery Pack. First method would be to use the included AC Adapter which has a USB port on the bottom. Just connect the battery to it using the included USB cable and it begins charging. Proporta provides pins for four major countries for the AC adapter, so you should be covered in some regard. The second method to charge the battery would be to use the cigarette car charger. You’ll have to use that standard cable in this situation as well. And if you have not already guessed the third method, it would be to just plug that USB cable into a computer.

Charging Gadgets With The Battery – 5/5 stars
Proporta outdid themselves in this category as well. I was able to charge just about every gadget I owned with this battery pack. For example I was able to use the USB cable that came with my iPod Nano to make the connection between the two. I used the included mini-USB cable to charge the Creative Zen and Motorola RAZR. I was also able to charge the LG Dare and LG Chocolate 3 (review units) with the USB cables that came with those phones. The best part about this being a USB interface might be the fact that when the device has received enough power, it sends a signal to the battery pack to shutdown, which saves battery for other devices. Proporta also includes a set of adapters for major brands of devices, these include: Nokia, Sony Ericsson, Apple iPod, Samsung, Mini USB, Micro USB, and a 4.0 DC. Proporta even sells additional adapters for other gadgets online, if needed. In my situation the included accessories for the battery was able to cover just about all the devices I had. In addition as a bonus, since one end of all the adapters is a USB head, you can charge any of the devices you would have been able to charging using the battery pack with either the AC Adapter or Car Charger.

Conclusion
I would have to say that this is probably one of my favorite accessories I have used or reviewed. The entire product was well thought out and just works. It is quite practical and thanks to the widespread use of USB this has become possible. As long as the lifespan of the battery pack last at least a couple of years, this should be an excellent accessory for long trips or commutes. Proporta even includes a designer Ted Baker soft case to hold all the components of the kit together, so you’ll never have to worry about loosing them. I will definitely packing this with me on the next trip I take. The Ted Baker Charging Kit is available for purchase on Proporta.com for $49, however since you are a Skatter Tech reader you are welcome to use the coupon code ’skattertech’ (no quotes) to receive a 10% discount.

Links: Ted Baker Rechargeable Battery Pack
Coupon Code: skattertech
Related: Proporta.com/Power

Skatter Tech recently got a hold of Proporta’s Alu-Leather Case and Advance Screen Protector for the Creative ZEN. I put them to the test right away by carrying it around to see how well the Proporta accessories would protect my gizmo. I was quite pleased as the case was quite rigid while it maintained a fairly fancy look and the screen protector adhered and fit the screen perfectly. The Creative ZEN digital audio player slides into the case and is held in place by to well padded clamps. The case is enclosed by a strong flap which is fastened with a magnetic clasp. A lightweight yet strong aluminum sheet is embedded into the leather both on the bottom and top flaps to provide additional support. Proporta provides an attachable belt clip which can be easily removed if you don’t plan on using it. The headphone jack and the USB port have been left open therefore listening to music and/or charging the device won’t be a problem. No functionality of the ZEN is lost and even the SD card slot is reachable without having to remove the device from the case.

The Advance Screen Protector for the Creative ZEN has been pre-cut exactly to fit the square around the screen. Although the protector achieves its goal of guarding the screen, it fails to cover any other portion of the top of the player such as the controls. Proporta provides a cleaning cloth and a application card in the packaging so that the screen protector can be applied easily and properly. The main issue we faced was the fact that screen clarity is lost due to the graininess of the plastic sheet. Although it isn’t a problem for browsing through music, it can become very irritating if you plan to watch videos.

The leather case and screen protector are available for purchase from Proporta’s website for $34.95 and $9.95, respectively. However by using the coupon code “skattertech” (no quotes) during checkout you’ll get a 10% discount bringing the price of both items to just $40.41. Overall we were quite satisfied with both these products, however if you own a Creative ZEN and you feel you know of a better way to protect your device, please let us know by replying in the comments.

Links: Proporta Alu-Leather Case | Advance Screen Protector
Coupon Code: skattertech

I recently reviewed Proporta’s screen protector for the iPod Touch, which I highly recommended all owners to purchase. Although that was good step towards protecting your iPod, it won’t be able to protect the other parts of the device from rough handling or drops. This is where Proporta’s Leather Case for the iPod Touch plays a role. The iPod touch slides in and the case’s clamps hold the device in place and it’s actually quite durable. As the implied in the title with the word “Alu-,” Proporta has actually embedded a strong lightweight aluminum sheet in between the leather layers to protect the iPod Touch even further. The case will be able to protect the iPod Touch from a fairly good amount of pressure. Proporta also includes a belt clip which can easily be removed. All ports and buttons are accessible and no functionality will be lost. As seen in the picture, the bottom is left open so headphones can connected even if the case has been closed.

As I’ve mentioned before, it’s a good idea to spend a few bucks to protect your $300-400 investment. Especially since it is something you’ll be carrying around with you everywhere you go. Purchasing a screen protector to go along with this case will offer just about all the protection you can get without loosing usability. If you aren’t a fan of leather cases, take a look at our review of iFrogz’s Silicone Case. Anyways the Alu-Leather case by Proporta is available for purchase on their website. It will cost you $45.95 USD, however you’ll receive a 10% discount if you use the promotion code “skattertech” (no quotes) during checkout. If you know of any better products or have a case you would like us to review, please leave us a comment or send us an email.

Links: Proporta Alu-Leather iPod Touch Case
Promotion Code: skattertech

The iPod Touch might be the “king” of all portable media players, but isn’t exactly the most robust device. If you are a iPod Touch owner, pay attention, this is an essential accessory. The enormous touch screen display has been left unprotected and is bound to easily gather scratches with everyday use. To protect the touch screen, Proporta offers a high quality “advance screen protector”. The protective sheet isn’t permanent, but it grips onto the iPod Touch with enough strength so it won’t slide off. If necessary it can be easily removed without any remnants. In fact the protective sheet can be washed when it collects too much dust and then reapplied. In addition, unlike Proporta’s Universal Screen Overlay, which we reviewed a few months ago, this overlay sheet has been pre-cut specifically for the iPod Touch. All you’ll have to do is clean the iPod’s screen using the included lint-free cloth, apply it, and smooth out any air pockets with the application card. (The touch screen’s responsiveness remains about the same.)

The overlay sheet normally costs $9.95, but with the coupon code “SKATTERTECH” (no quotes), you’ll receive a 10% discount! It’s a good price considering that the iPod Touch costs nearly $300 or $400 depending on whether you’ve got the 8GB or 16GB model. We highly recommend purchasing some sort of protection for your screen if own an iPod Touch, whether it’s from Proporta or from another vendor. In addition the overlay reduces screen glare and Proporta even offers lifetime warranty if it were to become damaged. It’s available for purchase on Proporta’s website, follow the link below to get one.

Links: Proporta Advance Screen Protector for iPod Touch
Discount Code: SKATTERTECH