Placing a weight, such as a book, holds the Palm device in place in its cradle, but it seems like an inordinate amount of maneuvering to me. I just remove it from the case when it's time to charge and Hot Sync. Some people find removing it from the case to be a nuisance, so be advised. The manufacturer says they're aware of this minor flaw.

So, is this the case for you? If you appreciate fine, old-world craftsmanship, excellent materials, and a well-designed product, the answer may very well be yes. But be prepared to pay for all this luxury. The Ondata case is offered for $119.95 at the Ondata Web site. You can check it out at http://www.ondata.it/. Unfortunately, at this price, some buyers may be excluded from owning this luxury.

Personally, I also own the leather belt clip case from Palm. It cost $24.95. There are times when I need the belt clip case for obvious reasons, but the luxurious Ondata case is where my Palm Vx lives most of the time.

Product availability and resources Admire and order the Ondata luxury leather case at http://www.ondata.it/. You can check out the leather belt clip case from Palm at http://palmorder.modusmedia.com/P5/P5-10407U.htm. Bulk reprints Bulk reprints of this article (in quantities of 100 or more) are available for a fee from Reprint Services, a ZATZ business partner. Contact them at reprints@zatz.com or by calling 1-800-217-7874.

Mark Asadoorian is a computer and electronics hobbyist and an avid gadget collector from New York.