A visit to Vaja's Web site is like browsing an upscale store on Rodeo Drive. Pretty much the entire site is Macromedia Flash driven, and changes frequently as new product models are introduced.

Admire the front intro page (where their latest product is usually on display) and click either "English" or "Espanol" to enter the store. As you move your mouse pointer over a scrolling band of their product lines, click on "smartphone" and then select "Palm" from the list on the next page, and your Treo model from the list that pops up on the right. In this case, we'll select the Treo 700 series, although if you want to duck past the snazzy intros and go directly there, just click on this link.

For this new model, scroll down a bit and find "i-Volution Top Visor." Click the picture of the case and a new window will open that shows off the case and all its features with some truly stunning images:

Ready to custom order your case? Click the "Make it custom" link to start the process. A full screen window opens with an all black case on display. As you use the various tools on that page, you'll instantly see a preview of exactly what your case will look like before you place the order. This part of the process is not only cool but fun to play around with. It reminds me of years past when you custom ordered a new car instead of just buying one off the lot.

Vaja is the only Treo case-maker I know of who uses the Pantone color matching system. If you want an i-Volution case that matches the color of your car's leather or paint job, or your favorite handbag or shoes, go for it!

Each i-Volution case has a front section (the "top Visor" or lid) and a back section, and as you click the colored squares to the right, you'll see the colors change on the "showroom" example on the left along with the name of the chosen colors. With the huge palette of colors available for the front and back of the case, there are literally over a thousand possible color combinations! Go boardroom conservative or as wild as you want to get. Black on black, red on purple, yellow on blue, almost any combo you can imagine. And, no extra charge for any color combination you care to choose.

Next, you can customize your case with one of Vaja's two clip systems: the UltraClip system:

Or the higher tech, stainless steel Rivet Clip system:

Or you can opt for a case with a totally smooth back and neither clip.

As you click each option, it magically appears on the sample case on the left. Think that's cool? Select the Ultra Clip option and then click the "append clip" link just below the case and be amazed as you watch an animation of how the clip is affixed to, and removed from the case.

Want to customize the back of the case? Select the "Personalization" link on the right and type in your name (or the name of the lucky recipient if you're ordering the case as a gift for someone) and watch it appear on the sample case as you type it! Here I've entered my name and "Treocentral" to customize the case I received:

And the results:

You can even upload a graphic of your company's logo and Vaja will laser-engrave it on the back of your case.

Throughout the ordering process there are more links that describe and detail the various possible options, leather, policies, shipping details and more. I've honestly never seen a Web site for ordering something as seemingly simple as a case with such a stunning design that displays your customization choices AS you choose them. It's obvious a tremendous amount of thought and care went into the design of this site, just as Vaja puts so much care into the design and construction of their products.

Prices and wait time

With a base price of $120.00 plus $17.00 for Fedex shipping from Argentina to your door, each additional option except for the color will add to the total tab, and each is displayed on the site as you choose it. So choose wisely, as once you've committed to the colors and other options and entered your credit card information, you have 24 hours to contact Vaja to back out or change something, otherwise, the order is locked in and the construction begins.

Since each i-Volution is hand-made, and the process doesn't start until you go through the customization and ordering steps, this isn't a case that's going to show up on your doorstep in a day or two. You can generally expect to receive your case within 2-3 weeks after placing your order.

If you love high quality leather, want to make a statement and can hack the prices, then Vaja is your brand. Like Mercedes is to cars, Leica to cameras, Chivas to booze, Vaja cases are a status symbol - The finest never comes cheap.

Usability

After my i-Volution "Top with Visor" arrived from Vaja, I eagerly slipped my 700p into it. The fit was tight, but perfect. In the snazzy gift box was a slipcase filled with beautiful color postcards picturing a dozen other Vaja products, Treo insertion and removal instructions, and, the Ultra Clip. Vaja also sent me a second case with the Rivet Clip system, which was packed in a separate box, tucked into a foam insert like a shining jewel.

The two different clip systems use two different mounts that are affixed permanently INSIDE the leather on the back of the case, and the clips are not interchangeable. That is, a different style and size fastener is used for the two different clips. Both are extremely secure and designed in such a way that the Treo in its i-Volution case can rotate a full 360 degrees in its clip, but can't accidentally pop off as illustrated above.

Since this style i-Volution's lid or "top" is affixed to the back of the case with a permanent leather hinge, I know of no desk or car cradle into which you can slip a Treo while it's in one of these cases. This is really the only drawback of this case.

Unlike some cheap i-Volution clones I've seen, with the real thing you DO have full access (with the top open) to the entire Treo keyboard, including the farthest outboard keys.

And while perfectly-shaped cutouts, stainless steel screens, and openings are provided for the Treo's earpiece, rear speaker, side buttons, camera, power LED, and, on the bottom, the audio jack, when the top is closed, there's no way to charge or sync the phone. The bottom leather hinge is too wide to sneak even Palm's tiny square charging jack in next to it while the top's closed,

So charging or syncing forces you to open the lid and keep it open during either process. I wouldn't call this a "defect", but if Vaja made the leather hinge just a squinch (technical term) narrower, or put a little square hole in it, one could get the small square charging jack in there with the lid closed.

---