Some weeks after the effective coming out of the 605, Norêve is the first offering a quality cover which will protect correctly your precious. Accustomed to do some quality work, will Norêve impose itself on the Archos PMPs protection field again ? We offer you a detailed review on this cover.
We can’t say the passing from one generation to the next one has reinforced the products resistance. On the contrary, the 605 seems to us more fragile than its ancestor, the 604 WiFi. It is, so to say, obligatory to pass through the cash register to replace the sock included on the 605 package.
As always, Norêve impresses you even before having slipped the PMP inside the cover. The last is, in fact, delicately put inside an elegant black carton box.
While opening it, the cover is exposed as if it was a jewel, keep in place by little foams which allow a glimpse of Mediterranean charming leather.
The model we have on test is the basic version for Archos 605 S and F, and boasts a black dress. Norêve proposes a complete palette of colors and, in fact, has recently added to its catalogue new ones (Sable Vintage, Dark Vintage and Passion Vintage), prestigious ones which already make the writers of the Redaction dream about it. A version designed for the 605 H model will be available very soon.
First impressions are good. The leather is absolutely amazing and resists well to scratches. Seams are clean ; it’s hard to find the little thing here, thanks to the irrevocable quality. Norêve has changed the cover’s internal tissue. This one, boasting the brand’s name, is less rough than the ancient one.
Charmed by the odor coming out of the cover’s leather, it is now time to slip the 605 inside its new protector.
First reaction : the PMP is correctly retained, there is no extra place inside. The whole keypad is accessible. Unluckily (and this surely provoked a lot of questions at Norêve’s), and even if the fault should be Archos’s, the “OK” key of the 605 is hardly accessible.
Thinking about it, I concluded Norêve couldn’t easily circumvent the problem. Thus, the use of the touch screen instead of this key will be the best to do.
The speakers of the 605 will be able to spit (I just can’t find another word for it) their breath with all their strength, as little holes have been made on the cover.
Let’s low a bit our sight to take a look at the PMP’s ports. Here, again, Norêve has cut the leather in order to make the ports accessible. In practice, it will be hard, and even impossible to plug Archos accessories (Mini Dock, Battery Dock, DVR Station). However, the Archos USB cable is completely pluggable. Let’s hope the Archos Remote will work…
And don’t be afraid, the Reset button remains accessible, luckily, specially during this troubled times.
Let’s move on to the cuts designed for the jack plug (nothing to add) and the luminous indicators. There is not a lot to say about it, or then, I would need to be on retirement and the obsession of word handling enters on the deepest part of me (we’re not far from that, NOTR).
Let’s move on to the back side of the cover, where we can find a beautiful leg stand. This one can be clipped and bent as you want, and will offer a 2in stability to your PMP. It doesn’t resist an important inclination.
In fact, the cover stands well at 6°, which will allow you to adjust the inclination from 6° to 70°.
On the below side, ON/OFF and TV/Hold buttons are easily accessible but still far from unwanted functioning.
On the inside, two slits will allow you to slip credit cards or else. Some will say it would have been netter to place the slits on the same side as the jack plug… but in anyway, cars will be correctly accessible only while the cover is open, which limits the impact…
The above and below parts become one via a thin pressure strap. Here again, that’s perfect.
From a more general point of view, the PMP is correctly protected. The screean will be protected by the leather, reinforced by a paperboard solid enough (for carrying it inside a backpack or else)
The two lower corners of the 605 will be protected from falls by the cover’s corners, even if they are not really covered by leather.
However, as for the above corners, everything is inversed. While the upper part of the PMP is completely protected against scratches by the flexible leather, no reinforcement will avoid the damage caused by a hit. Let’s hope the balance of the masses will make the PMP fall on its lower side.
Count 1in thickness for this cover, which remains reasonable. Of course, our Thocan would not be able to slip it in his vest pocket.
As for the weight, 90 grams.
Norêve didn’t find it reasonable to add a place for the stylus. We understand that, since there are many different sorts of stylus (who uses the Archos included one ?) and it would hae been impossible and risky to do so. And, especially, where ?
Though, the Archos stylus fits perfectly and durably under the upper part of the cover. That’s not designed for it, but it could do in the meantime…
We encourage you to buy this cover, which will decrease the damage your PMP would endure in your adventurer life. Besides, Norêve is the only one on this market for the moment, even if competitors should be dealing with it in the forthcoming weeks. This cover allies esthetics, manufacture quality and will know how to protect your precious the best way. It is placed among a range of pretty expensive products, but compared to other manufacturers’ products (for previous generations of PMPs), the Norêve cover offers a very good balance between quality and price. It is up to you…
