Cases for the eNTourage eDGe

[paulckennedy]

I noticed that every accessory is "Out of Stock" too. Interesting!!!

[mgm1979]

meh - my guess is enTourage has been more focused on getting the devices out vs. stocking their line of accessories...once the 2nd batch ships, I bet things improve on that front.

I'm not real crazy about that particular sleeve, myself, so I'll be shopping around town in the next few days anyway. What I REALLY want to see released is an SkinIt, or something to deal with these finger prints.

[Spiritwnd]

Speaking of accessories -
the stylus that you are using.. they appear similar to the Nintendo DS stylus. Is the assumption accurate?
I would gather that you could use anything that is a stylus type device.

(Going to run around with a Pokemon Stylus so the other developers don't steal it!)

-Spirit

[paulckennedy]

It has to be an RF stylus. A DS Stylus doesn't work. I tried it.

[Batman Jr.]

Originally Posted by mgm1979

meh - my guess is enTourage has been more focused on getting the devices out vs. stocking their line of accessories...once the 2nd batch ships, I bet things improve on that front.

I'm not real crazy about that particular sleeve, myself, so I'll be shopping around town in the next few days anyway. What I REALLY want to see released is an SkinIt, or something to deal with these finger prints.

mgm1979,

Sure hope that's right, and on the fingerprints! I've been using an old leather laptop case to carry the eDGe around in this past week that works pretty well, but it doesn't have a shoulder strap, which I think I'd prefer. I am looking at these on Amazon:

http://www.amazon.com/CaseCrown-Mess...=37QCGHF3CN5WO

http://www.amazon.com/Targus-CityGea...=37QCGHF3CN5WO

http://www.amazon.com/Sumdex-Netbook...=37QCGHF3CN5WO

[mgm1979]

oh yeah, I like all 3 of those...personally, I'm looking for more of a sleeve - but something that can handle the charger as well. I already carry a laptop around for work, so its going to end up in there anyway - just want to be able to keep everything together.

My fear is that the standard netbook cases won't fit quite right, since the eDGe is a coupe inches wider than a netbook.

[sarah11918]

In the laptop mag video review here (video review is p. 7 or 8 I think), the reviewer says that the edge is just slightly too big for net book sleeves. So, I'm assuming that would also go for cases that are designed to just barely accommodate 10.2 inch net books, too.

http://blog.laptopmag.com/entourage-edge-reviewed

[mgm1979]

/\ that's my fear...I'm gonna go to a few places tonight after work, eDGe in hand...figure I MAY have to go to an 11" netbook/laptop sleeve...we'll see. I'll report my findings, and maybe some pics.

[Spinningmind]

Originally Posted by Spiritwnd

Speaking of accessories -
the stylus that you are using.. they appear similar to the Nintendo DS stylus. Is the assumption accurate?
I would gather that you could use anything that is a stylus type device.

The Nintendo DS uses a fairly simple type of touch screen: a transparent layer over top of the screen that can sense any object touching it. I've controlled my DS with a finger nail and the back end of a pen, for example. I believe that the Entourage Edge uses Wacom's stylus technology where the sensor lies under the screen and can only sense special styli. I have a Wacom drawing table and it won't even detect really old Wacom brand styli. Based on this I think you will need an Entourage brand or very similar Wacom technology stylus. My second wave shipment Edge hasn't arrived so I can't test for sure yet.

[mgm1979]

Hit up Best Buy, Staples, Target, and Office Depot while running some errands tonight...generally, the 10.2" netbook sleeves either don't fit at all, or are tight to get the zipper around. Any of the 10.2" netbook "cases" we found fit the eDGe quite nicely, although there were a couple where exceptions.

Pics below of what we found (naturally, the case we liked the best for our eDGe's were found at the LAST stop of the night...):

Top 3 @ Best Buy

Targus 12" Slipcase ($20 on Amazon)- Fit well, but has about an inch of wiggle room in the length, and maybe 1/2" width-wise. Wasn't terrible though, and almost walked out of the store with this one (had it not been the first stop). Nice front pouch for power adapter/accessories.


Targus CityGear Netbook Case ($27 on Amazon) - This case was also very nice, plenty of room for "extras"; if we were looking for a case that could do a little more, this would probably be it...we were looking for more of a "sleeve," so we chose to keep looking.



Targus 10" Slipskin Peel - Tight to get the zipper around, but we got it. Didn't care for this one much b/c it didn't have anything to carry the power supply in.


Top 3 @ Target

Belkin 10.2" Netbook Sleeve - Good case, with a pouch for the power supply, but it wasn't zippered. Was afraid to lose smaller accessories using this one. Fit was tight.


Belkin Netbook Case - This was a nice case...a pouch on either side of the main compartment for accessories, but again, I would be worried about losing smaller things (thumb drives, memory cards, etc). Also, not looking for a "case" so much as a sleeve, so we passed.


Generic Netbook (Hard) Case - Interesting concept. Not exactly my style, but the thought/idea of a hard-sided case caught my eye. The eDGe fit fine, with some space that I'm pretty sure could handle the power pack, and serve to keep the device from sliding around inside. About 1/4" thicker than the eDGe, which might allow for some added padding to added as insurance. Not what we were looking for, but like I said - interesting.

[mgm1979]

(continued)...

Staples

SwissGear Netbook Case - I'm a HUGE fan of SwissGear everything...this case had two compartments, one was harder to get the eDGe into than the other, but it was a nice case. Just couldn't justify spending $40 on it.


Built Netbook Sleeve - This thing was interesting, EXTREMELY tight fit, but we managed. No pouch to carry anything else in, so it was a pass. We liked the idea of the shoulder strap though, for ease of carrying.


Office Depot

Generic Netbook Case/Sleeve - We found this at our last stop, after touching well over a dozen different cases at all the different stores. In fact, we almost didn't even stop. When we saw it, and confirmed the fit, I think it started glowing and Angels started singing - we knew it was the winner! This 10" netbook case was bigger than the others we saw...no issues with zipping it closed whatsoever. TWO separate pouches on the front to keep the "extras" in order, AND a small pocket on the inside for a USB/SD card to boot! At $20, we couldn't pass it up - they had purple, grey, and blue-accented "flavors".



Sorry for the image quality on some of the pics - lighting in some of the stores and camera phone combined for some fun photo ops (sarcastic). Moral of the story, cases ARE out there - just gotta put some time in to find THE ONE for you.

Oh, one more thought...I've got this Solo Netbook Case, that I use for my MSI Wind, and we were surprised to see that the eDGe actually fit pretty well in it. It's too much case for JUST the eDGe though, for us...but an option, nonetheless.

Happy shopping!

[dls81]

Great review of some of the options out there! I'll have to end up buying a case online and I want to do it quick before I risk scratching or damaging my eDGe (once it finally arrives... hopefully this week!), so thank you very much!

[Batman Jr.]

F.Y.I., there's some new (new to me, anyway) cases being shown on enTourage's site:

http://www.entourageedge.com/accessories/bags.html

Listed as "Coming soon/Out of stock" currently.

[sarah11918]

I do like the look of those cases, but I wish there were a lot more pictures of it.

EDITED TO ADD: This seems to be the product's website: http://www.cocooninnovations.com/pro...product_id=146 (Also check out the "GRID-IT" system - pretty neat)

EDITED AGAIN: Geez, this is just not my day. Between the time I looked yesterday and today, enTourage did add the internal picture on their own site.

[Batman Jr.]

Originally Posted by sarah11918

I do like the look of those cases, but I wish there were a lot more pictures of it.

EDITED TO ADD: This seems to be the product's website: http://www.cocooninnovations.com/pro...product_id=146 (Also check out the "GRID-IT" system - pretty neat)

EDITED AGAIN: Geez, this is just not my day. Between the time I looked yesterday and today, enTourage did add the internal picture on their own site.

Sarah,

for posting this. I couldn't tell much detail from the enTourage pics, so these help. Unfortunately, I'm looking for a case with a handle grip and detachable shoulder strap, and enTourage confirms that this one just has the strap . But I may give it a second look down the line. Thanks again.