I have purchased two different HandiWork cases for the mPower. I like the second one best.
It has a main pocket where the bn slips in with the end up. I am careful to have the end up with the on/off switch nearest the opening in case I need to turn it off. With the BN in the HW BN case, it is a very tight fit to put it in with the braille display nearest the top.
Besides this main compartment, there is a cell phone holder on one side of the case. There are three smaller pockets on the front but two of the three are not that small. I can easily fit my Victor Stream in the top (smallest) pocket.
On the bottom or back, there are another three pockets. The largest is the size of the entire case and easily holds 8.5 by 11 sheets of paper. Down from it is the only velcro pocket. It works for putting things that you want to have quick access to such as a plane ticket when passing through an airport. Then there is one additional pocket on the back that also has a zipper.
This case has a handle on the top as well as a shoulder strap. The shoulder strap is detachable with a clip similar to a dog clip on either end. I actually wear it around my waste.
When I use my mPower as a GPS, I fasten it around my waste and let it sit on the handiWorks case. I actually use an old BNS strap for my mPower because it is thinner and easier to handle. I do have an external speaker for the BN and when I need to use it, I fasten the BN strap to the mPower as well as the BNS strap and wear that strap over my head and diagonally across my body. The case is deeper and on the few occasions when I have fallen with it, the HandiWorks case touches down first and I think it cushions the BN. I have not hurt it on either "try".
I have tried to lock the keyboard and put it inside the case but I don't like that as well. I haven't tried it lately, but In my memory, the BN beeps every time there is pressure on a key. That is all the time when it is in the case with the keys locked.
The first case that I bought was made the same way as the one described above, but its dimensions were smaller and I could not slip 8.5 by 11 sheets in it without folding them. It had some slots within one of the pockets for credit cards. That was handy and I miss that feature in the new bag.
Their products are well made and durable in my experience.I think there still needs to be a better option for mPower GPS users. I have been trying to come up with the perfect design. It would be a case that allows the BN to slip in with the space bar toward the top. There needs to be enough room to slip my hand inside and use it. A closure at the top such as a zipper would be a great feature as it would protect it in a rain storm. I have tried to think of a way to keep pressure off the keys when in the case. Then there needs to be some additional pockets as I described so that the case can double as a purse or briefcase without being huge. Perhaps redesigning the case I described above so that the long side is the top might just do the trick. I like to fasten my BN around my waste when I use it. That way, I can stand in church and read from the braille display. When I am sitting, I have less fear of dropping it off my lap. This means that it would not work for me to take it out of the BN case. That might be an option, though, for some. Another thought would be to design the BN case with the ability to attach a strap directly to the unit so that I could still keep it fastened to me when it is out of the case.
Just some thoughts that are toward the off topic side of things. Joleen
----- Original Message ----- From: "Tina B." <tinabir@xxxxxxxxxxxxx To: <gps-talkusers@xxxxxxxxxxxxx Date sent: Mon, 10 Dec 2007 17:27:05 -0700 Subject: [gps-talkusers] Re: Question about equipment:
For that handiWork case, is there a zipper to hold the bn in
place or is it
velcro and are there cases fir the m-powers too? Hadn't thought
much of
getting a new case for my m-power, but this one sounds nice so
might think
about it. ----- Original Message ----- From: "Carol Pearson" <carol.pearson@xxxxxxxxxxxx To: <gps-talkusers@xxxxxxxxxxxxx Sent: Monday, December 10, 2007 6:50 AM Subject: [gps-talkusers] Re: Question about equipment:
Mary Ellen,
This interests me, even though I'm in the UK, because I do so
miss a
pocket to store my cards. Presumably though, the folding of the
case
underneath does make it a little more bulky. Is it a padded,
soft
leather?
Thanks for any additional info you can give me.
-- Carol carol.pearson@xxxxxxxxxxxx
----- Original Message ----- From: "Mary Ellen Earls" <meearls@xxxxxxx To: <gps-talkusers@xxxxxxxxxxxxx Sent: Monday, December 10, 2007 1:13 PM Subject: [gps-talkusers] Re: Question about equipment:
Handyworks makes cases for pda and the pk case has a zipper
pocket on the
front of it so you can store your flash cards in it. The case
which Hw
supplies has no pockets in it but this is an extremely nice case
from
Handyworks and the top of it folds underneath and is held fast
by Velcro.
Mary Ellen Earls ----- Original Message ----- From: "alice dampman" <alicedh@xxxxxxxxxxx To: <gps-talkusers@xxxxxxxxxxxxx Sent: Monday, December 10, 2007 4:02 AM Subject: [gps-talkusers] Re: Question about equipment:
Mary Ellen, what is a handyworks case for the PK? What features
does it
have? Alice alicedh@xxxxxxxxxxx ----- Original Message ----- From: "Mary Ellen Earls" <meearls@xxxxxxx To: <gps-talkusers@xxxxxxxxxxxxx Sent: Sunday, December 09, 2007 10:49 AM Subject: [gps-talkusers] Question about equipment:
Well just last Saturday I was walking in the rain with my
Braille Note
Pk so gently affixed the lid of the handyworks case to the
Braille
display and it kept it just fine. Mary Ellen Earls
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