Great-looking (and cheap!) covers

[curtw]

Just found some great bargains at Barnes & Noble (brick and mortar, not on-line). All 2008 calendars and datebooks are marked down to 75% off. If you're a "Member," you also get another 10% off the reduced price. They have several zipper-close datebooks that are almost exactly the size of the reader. They come in both vinyl ($4.50) and leather ($9). I got one of each, planning to experiment with the vinyl one in order to find the best configuration.


The vinyl ones are available in black, brown, red and green (smooth), as well as the "alligator" look red shown here. I only saw the leather ones in red and black.



Inside, there's a ring binder and several pockets. The leather ones include a cloth-covered piece of foam that looks like it'll make a great screen padding



The ring binder is easily removed with pliers and/or a dremel tool. I've covered the binder rivet holes with electrical tape, but I will be looking for something more permanent (maybe another piece of vinyl held on with hot-melt glue).



The reader can be held in with Velcro or elastic. It's a nice snug fit around the edges, but there's enough room for a notepad and pen

I hope somebody finds this useful.

[Ervserver]

Great idea, they look like they were made for the reader

[Lainey807]

How easy is it to remove the rings? I almost bought one I liked, with rings, but was afraid I would tear it up inside trying to get rid of the rings. Can you just pull them out, or do you have to cut them somehow? What is a dremel tool? Forgive me for being so clueless, but those look exactly like what I have been looking for, and really want some additional protection for my 505.
thanks
Lainey

[curtw]

Originally Posted by Lainey807

How easy is it to remove the rings? I almost bought one I liked, with rings, but was afraid I would tear it up inside trying to get rid of the rings. Can you just pull them out, or do you have to cut them somehow? What is a dremel tool? Forgive me for being so clueless, but those look exactly like what I have been looking for, and really want some additional protection for my 505.
thanks
Lainey

Lainey,

You do have to do some cutting to get out the rings, but luckily you don't have to cut the thick metal ring "spine" assembly, just two small rivets holding it in place. I think you are right that if you tried to pull it straight out, the heads of the rivets would have to tear through the inside backing board and the inner vinyl liner, and you could end up with hard-to hide damage.

Dremel is a brand name for a very high-speed, but small handheld drill. Mine has a grip not much bigger around than a broad-tip magic marker. It comes with several different bits, and I used what they call a "cutting wheel' to chop off the rivets between the inside surface of the binder and the "back" of the ring assembly. The rivets are hollow and easily removable if you have experience with the tool, but a novice could end up doing serious damage to both the cover and their own hands.

If you have a friend with any experience with a Dremel, I'd recommend taking it to them. It's about a minute's work. Or, if you have a friend to help hold everything in place, you could probably do the same thing with a coping saw or hacksaw blade.

Otherwise, like I said, it could be done with needle-nose pliers, but will take longer. First, use a flathead screwdriver to pop off the two "dots" at the base of the rings. This lets you see the flared portion of the rivets. Then, with the pliers, you can work your way around the rivets, squeezing them down to a smaller diameter until the whole spine assembly slides off. Then you just need to file the rivets down to get rid of the sharp edges (the nice thing about the Dremel cutting tool is that it simultaneously cuts and files).

This leaves two holes in the backer. I've already replaced my electrical tape with iron-on patches, which look like they'll be quite permanent. The patches can also cover any "oops" moments if you accidentally hit the vinyl surface with the Dremel cutting wheel or your file.

I'm still working on the mechanism for securing the Reader. I decided to go with elastic to hold it in place, with horizontal bands just above and below the screen (that way I can go back to the Sony cover and not worry about Velcro making the whole Reader too thick). But I got to the fabric store after it closed tonight, and will have to try again tomorrow.

Please let me know if I should post additional photos or instructions. If you get really stuck for help, I'd be happy to do that part of the job for you.

[elusivecritter]

I use an old Cambridge day-timer cover I aready had. It's the 5.5 x 8.5 in size. I just slid out the the card that holds the rings and slid in the back of the Sony Reader's cover. It fits perfectly.
I use the pockets on the inside of the front to hold notes, a small lens cleaning microcloth (to clean the display) and an "If found return to..." card.

[rtmichael]

I found Elusivecritter's solution interesting so I went to the office supply store to look around. I found an "AT A GLANCE" planner cover for 4 7/8" x 8" planners perfect for the Reader. You slide the back cover into the slot and you have a zippered cover with a notepad, pen holder and pockets for SD cards and Memory Sticks. I've already ordered the M-Edge cover but I couldn't resist this one for less than $10.00.

[giedre]

Don't mean to hijack this thread, but has anybody found a metal type case for the reader? I am sooo afraid of having my screen cracked. For the first time ever I took my reader with me while going out of town. Put it in my back pack and couldn't help worrying about it. I believe the softer covers are great, but for packing it in a small suitcase there's just got to be something more sturdy.

[Greg Anos]

giedre,

This might be too big for your use, but look at Vaultz's 2 cd metal case at Wal-Mart. It's 10.5 inches by 6 inches by 1.75 inched on the inside with web pockets on the inside as well. You'd have to cut out the cd holders (light plastic) and superglue some velcro straps on the inside, but its a good hardshell case. (with a lock, if you wish)

[gwynevans]

Originally Posted by giedre

for packing it in a small suitcase there's just got to be something more sturdy.

You might take a look at this thread, in case that would be suitable?

[JanetCinNC]

Originally Posted by giedre

Don't mean to hijack this thread, but has anybody found a metal type case for the reader? I am sooo afraid of having my screen cracked. For the first time ever I took my reader with me while going out of town. Put it in my back pack and couldn't help worrying about it. I believe the softer covers are great, but for packing it in a small suitcase there's just got to be something more sturdy.

Hi, I'm a new poster to this site. I own the Sony PRS-505, as do my husband and daughter. Anyway, we found a great metal case for my husband's reader to protect it during travel. It may be available from other sources, but I ordered it from amazon.com.

It's the eCaddy Hardshell Case. It looks a little like a giant unlabelled altoids tin, without the hinged lid. It's lined in neoprene for cushioning, and it holds either the PRS-500 or the PRS-505 with the original soft covers. I don't know if the reader in other covers will fit. I don't think you could drive a car over it, but it does offer nice screen protection.