I received my Oberon 505 cover in "Saddle - Tree of Life" today and I thought I would share my first impressions with you all.
The dimensions and care instructions can all be found on the Oberon site, of course, so I thought I would describe what you will only find out when you have one of the covers in your hands. The weight and smell of the leather, the care and attention to the packaging, the sense of security that your Reader inherits when inside its new cover, and of course the free gift. Yes, I got a freebie!
I ordered it direct on the day they were available on the website and despite the 4th of July holidays, it was shipped within a week. International shipping to the UK took another week and the courier delivered it today in perfect condition. I was fortunate enough that it was simply passed through Customs with no Duty (luck of the draw) which meant that the total cost was £60.
It arrived in a rigid shipping box and was carefully wrapped in brown paper inside...
You see here the free gift - a key charm. Yes, I know it is technically just advertising, but you will *want* to tell your eReader friends about the cover!
The actual colour of the Saddle leather is a little less orange than shown here - the vagaries of web colours I guess - particularly in the second shot.
EDIT : the actual colours "in the hand" so to speak, are much more like plain and milk chocolate than the orange/brown shown in these shots. The "foreground" is a rich brown and the "background" is a darker colour.
One thing I noticed about the interior - there is just the single pocket at the bottom left - business cards and SD cards are not in separate pockets. The wool felt is prone to shedding a little fluff for the first few minutes, but this will pass I am sure. Inside the two halves are plastic stiffeners - I hardly feel they are necessary but perhaps in an older cover they would provide some extra benefit. The leather used for the cover is thick and solid. Two spare bungees to close the cover are supplied but there are no fitting instructions for them - refer to the website I assume.
Fitting instructions for the 505 are the two right corners in first - they are a snug and secure fit. Then the lower left - there is a little extra length in that piece of leather but it holds it well. The top left bungee is last and does not obscure the power switch.
The next three shots show you how the buttons can still be accessed. The Oberon site shows this angle too.
Now for the thickness. This is good solid leather. Since it is new, there are a few bends to it that will settle out over time and use. The spine is a single thickness but due to all the straps and other layers, the front and rear panels are double thickness at least and are very protecting for the screen and corners.
Old and new for comparison. You all know how flimsy the Sony cover is... here is the proof!
Would I recommend this to a friend? YES!