Proporta Aluminum PSP Case
www.Proporta.com
Price: $34.95
Our Rating:

One of the most popular types of cases for any kind of device has always been the metal hard case. Sticking with the idea that hard cases are popular, the Aluminum hard case from Proporta makes a great appearance in the PSP accessory world.

The Aluminum case from Proporta is a fairly simple design, yet it seems to work great and give very good protection for your PSP in all directions. Coming in a simple white box, the packaging is normal, and nothing spectacular. Inside, you find the case, very good looking and surprisingly light in weight thanks to the aluminum construction. Covering the inside of the case is neoprene to keep your PSP protected from scratches.

Putting your PSP in the case is unbelievably easy. Unlike most cases that you need to slide your PSP in specially, snap something, screw something, or try and wedge the unit into, with the Aluminum case all you need to do is open the case, set your PSP in the case, and apply a slight downward pressure to slide the PSP in (since the neoprene tends to grip it a bit and hold your PSP in the case. Taking your PSP out of the case is just as simple, all you need to do is lift up on the PSP and it slides right out. This all of course is with the lid open! Your PSP will not come falling out easily while carrying your PSP around since the lid closes very securely.

Once in the case, all the buttons are easily accessible. When open, you case get to all the buttons on the front of the PSP very easily since the case does not cover any of the front of the PSP when open. You also can get to the USB Port, Power Switch, Power Plug, Headphones Plug, Wifi Switch, Memory Stick Slot, Shoulder Buttons, and Speakers. When closed, you can still get to the USB Port, Power Switch, Power Plug, Headphones Plug, Wifi Switch, Memory Stick Slot, and Speakers. This is very nice since you can have the case closed and still charge your PSP, listen to music, sync with your computer, turn on/off your PSP, or even switch the Memory Stick.

Opening with a double hinge design on the bottom, the front of the case folds down below the PSP. This makes it so that you can still use the PSP in the case very easily, and I like how this also keeps the balance proper. The case can not fold totally flat behind the PSP (which would be ideal), but it does hang back and down which makes it a bit easier to play your PSP while in the case. One thing that you do want to be careful of with the double hinge is that you fold the hinge up, then close the case. If you are not careful, the clasp on the case can come in contact with the very top part of the PSP potentially causing scratches, but if you are careful this should not be a problem at all (it is just a matter of not just flipping the case shut, but flipping the case up, then shut). The case is securely shut by using a small clasp that is just a small metal piece that slides/clicks over a small plastic bit. It does stay shut very well, and has never opened unexpectedly on me.

Because of the solid back design of the case, the only thing you will not be able to get to is the UMD slot. This means that you will need to slide your PSP out of the case to change games/movies. Now in most cases this would be terrible, but as I had said earlier, it is very easy to remove and insert the PSP in this case, so it does not cause a very big problem.

On the back of the case there are four small rubber feet that make it so you can easily set the case on a flat surface with no worries of scratching the case or the surface you set it on. It also keeps the case from sliding around when you set it down somewhere.

As far as protection of your PSP, I feel this case does a very good job. Since it is aluminum, it protects the screen and controls very well. It also protects the back and most of the edges very good as well. The only thing that you should be careful of is some of the openings, especially the opening for the Memory Stick that makes it so if you were to drop the PSP right on that corner, the corner of your PSP would be what hit. Besides that (which is unavoidable in the design), the protection is very good for your PSP, and excellent for the PSP's screen.

The finish on the case actually is quite nice looking and feeling. It is anodized aluminum and so it has a roughed up exterior that is smooth, yet does not have a shine that would collect lots of finger prints/dirt/etc.

Overall I feel this is a very good metal hard case for your PSP. It is easy to insert and remove your PSP, plus it provides very good protection and accessibility. I personally even use the case just to carry my PSP, it is so easy to remove that I can slide the PSP out when I want to play, and then slide it back in when I am done playing!

Pros:

• Lightweight
• Good Looks
• Good Protection
• Cutouts make using the PSP with the case open or closed (for music/charging) very easy
• Easy to insert/remove PSP

Cons:

• Need to take out PSP to switch UMDs
• Possibly could scratch PSP if you do not full close the first THEN second half of the double hinge
• Hinge can flex a bit

Thanks to Proporta for the Review Sample!