I went to Ritz camera the other day to look for a nice small soft-sided case for my new Riocar. I found the Quantaray soft-sided cases that were mentioned on this board but I also found a very nice little hard-sided case for about the same money.

They had about 5 of them in stock and it was $29.99

I don't remember seeing this case on the board so I thought I would take some pics of it for you.







And here is a link to a pic and description of it on

www.Ritzcamera.com

The foam block (which is 1.5" tall) has pre-perforated cuts in it making it easy to trim out the space you need with scissors. As you can see I chose to trim them all out making the player fit right up against the left edge. I may use some light glue and maybe a strip of plastic to firm up the strip of foam to the right of the player. There's still room for remote, power cord, Rca cord, etc.

It could stand to be about a half inch or so deeper as the back sled socket just about touches the back but I think it's great and it looks pretty cool. No "man-bag" look to this bag. On the other hand, somebody might think it's a handgun or something. ;-)

jp

Wow! Pretty cool looking!! (just don't try to carry that through airport security )

just don't try to carry that through airport security

I've cleared airport security three times in the US with an empeg in my hand luggage, just padded with clothes, since September 11. Once it went straight through the X-ray without anyone commenting on the empeg; once the bag was hand-searched without anyone commenting on the empeg; and once it was hand-searched without the person finding the empeg. Whatever it is airport security are looking for, it clearly isn't heavy, unidentifiable metal boxes with wires sticking out...

Peter

I went through security with a toolkit and spares kit for a QZar lasertag game once. "What's this item?" they asked... "Oh, it's a laser for a gun" I replied - DOH.

They let me in eventually

Rob

I've gone through airport security with empeg 6 times now. I have never been asked what it was. But, when you take a laptop or wear shoes onboard, you get hassled. Wierd.

hhe i have the same box.. buy it from gooy guys by chance? i bought it the day o got my player

Indeed, airline security rules are mystifying. For example, laptops have to be OUT of the bag and palm pilots and pagers have to be IN the bag. Weird.

Calvin

i accully had to open my empeg up with the hex and screw driver, and power it on at SFO last month.. kinda of a pain in the ass.. i guess i look soo much like a terrorist

Umm, yeah... There's a whole rash of Boy-Band terrorists going around the US now.

The Pelican 1200 is the perfect "Hey look at this odd thing over here! It looks like something dangerous!" case. I had to take off my shoes and belt in San Fran in January. I can only imagine what would have happened if I had been carrying that case with the empeg. Let alone what would happen if the power cord were packed in the luggage and not available for a demo... Oh oh...

Bruno

heh ya i was lucky i had the power cord..i had it in the same case in the picture.. so it looked kinda weird... so they like went all nutty on me.. and blam.. told me to step aside and open it up.. i was like omg.. i shoudl have just left it at home.. but i love it too much to do that to my baby.. (i dont ahve any pets, so the empeg is it)

Thanks for the info, jp. I just received mine from Ritz.
All that's left to add is a shakle around my wrist and some goons to escort me to my car. hehe
-Greg

Bump from the dead...

I saw this case today in a mall camera store in NJ. The case is a Quantaray QAL1318 and (still) at $30 is very tempting.

Hey, I'd recommend it. It's $70 cheaper than my Pelican 1400 and looks a bit more "pulled together." Ok, not water tight with a pressure release valve, but if you don't need it, why pay for it. And genixia, seeing your tiny soft case at the NY/NJ meet (right?) nearly gave me a heart attack because of lack of padding. Or no, was it the fact that you carried the empeg by ITS handle that gave me a heart attack? Either way, I'd vote "yes" for "bulking up" with the tough case