I was recently asked to review the new Orbino Luxury Italian Palm Cases for the Palm V and Palm m500 series of PDAs at http://www.orbino.com. The cases are made by the Centro Stile Orbino in Italy, a group of industrial designers who also conceived of and launched the Ondata line of Italian cases. The artisans responsible for the fine workmanship on the Orbino cases also hand-stitch many of the steering wheels, stick shifts, and other fine leather elements for some of the finest luxury Italian sports cars, such as Ferrari, Maserati, and Bugatti. If you want to "dress for success" to succeed in business, the Orbino is the case for you.

A work of art
Since I was told that it was a "higher-end case," I was certainly intrigued. However, I was also somewhat skeptical, as I could hardly imagine how they could have improved on the original. Well readers, I'm here to tell you that this is truly the case (pun intended). They've definitely improved on the original. This company has crafted a true work of art. It's difficult to describe, and pictures do it little justice, but take a look at Figure A nonetheless.

FIGURE A

The Orbino Luxury Italian Palm Cases are form-fitting around the contours of the Palm V. Click picture for a larger image.

You must actually handle the sumptuous leather and slide your Palm handheld into it to appreciate the beauty of this case.

The case arrives in a beautiful box that includes a drawstring carrying case for the case itself! It also includes a very nicely done booklet that gives you some information on the origins of the case, as well as a signed and numbered certificate of authenticity for each unit.

The case itself is available in a variety of colors. The one I reviewed is black leather. The leather bears some description, as it's crafted using an ancient technique called "glass glazing," which gives the leather an extraordinary, sumptuous finish. Apparently, the Orbino people have a special relationship with the leather tannery, as I'm told that these particular calfskin leathers are only made available to a select few.

This particular case is a limited-edition design that also boasts a pair of palladium flanks. Palladium is one of the world's most precious metals, and it lends an air of elegance to the case that must be seen to be appreciated. It also serves to solidify the case, making for a solid, substantial feel. Other cases feature equally elegant polished-nickel flanks, as pictured in Figure B.