Vaja Zune Case Review

Product category: Cases

Description: The Vaja Balance Leather Case is a Slipcase for the 30GB Microsoft Zune Player (1G)

Pros: Made with high-quality and good-looking leather. Changeable screen protector and optional belt clip. Full access to all ports and controls. Gives the Zune a luxury look & feel.

Cons: Some corners of the Zune are exposed. Expensive. Screen protector becomes rapidly covered with fingerprints, can easily be scratched and add reflection to the screen.

Pricing and availability: Available now from Vaja for $60 to $110, depending on options.

Options: Choice of 18 leather colors, clips and personalization with text or graphic

Company website: VajaCases.com

Made for: 30Gb Microsoft Zune Player (1G)

Product Quality (9/10):

With their complete line of high-quality Argentinean leather, Vaja brings high quality to the Zune. The build quality of the product is excellent. Stitching is solid and look very good as well. The back and front of the case are rigid and the sides are soft.

Be careful, the leather can be easily scratched as well as the screen protector. Fortunately, the case came with two replacement screen protectors. This is great since the protector is probably the weakest part of the case and a scratch in the middle of the screen can be really annoying. If you take your Zune in and out of the case often, you will add of those scratches to the screen protector. When the Zune is not in the case, you can press it without doing any damages to it. But don't bend the case because you will easily make permanent damages to it

Usability (8/10):

The case is very convenient since all buttons and connectors are accessible while the Zune is in the case. Slipping the Zune in the case was easy and it fits the device snugly. Removing it was a bit more difficult but without making it impossible. The pause/play and back buttons are a bit difficult to access but nothing annoying or enough to make the Zune unusable while in the case. We did not use the case for a long time, so it is difficult to know if the sides will stretch over time, making the Zune a bit loose in it. But that should not be a issue.

Player Protectiveness (7/10):

The case gives a decent protection to your Zune player, but the top is completely open and is potentially a place where you could damage your Zune. The screen protector has a cut-out in it to let you use the controls easily. But this cut-out reduces the protectiveness of the Zune faceplate. The Zune screen is very well protected. Some corners are also unprotected but not enough to easily put your device at risk. Don't see this case as full proof case but a decent protection for a normal everyday use.

Other Features (9/10):

Vaja cases become interesting when customizing is needed. With a choice of 18 different leather colors, you will find something that fits your style. You can also personalize your case with text and graphic. Having the choice of 2 kinds of belt clips or even no clip at all, makes this case versatile. We could not test the belt clips since the model we add came without one.

Conclusions (8/10):

Vaja cases are very expensive but they rapidly show their value when you have your Zune in one of them. It brings a feeling of preciousness to the Zune. You just want to keep it in your hands to feel the touch of it. The case also gives the Zune a bit more of high-end design it lacks when compared naked to an iPod.

But luxury has a price. With a price tag ranging from $60 to $110, this is not for all Zuners. Delivery could also be an issue since you have to order it directly from Vaja in Argentina and it could take up to 2 weeks before the case is shipped by Fedex. Is it worth the price and wait? The answer is simply yes! They are irresistible!

Comments

[Aussie Zune]

Thanks fot the review. Very useful!!! Im just about to get mine. Cant wait :)