OtterBox Defender Case for BlackBerry Bold Review

CaseandCover.com reviews OtterBox cases and covers for the iPhone, iPod, and BlackBerry. Trusted reviews, from trusted sources throughout the internet.
1937-0545

If your a BlackBerry Bold user, I’m sure you want to best protection for your baby. Our friends at OtterBox have released the OtterBox Defender case for the BlackBerry Bold. The case is made up of three layers of solid protection. The first layer is a thin thermal-formed plastic wrap which protects your screen and keyboard from dust, dirt and mist. The second layer is a Polycarbonate shell which gives the case its durable body to protect against drops and bumps. The last layer is a Silicone skin which will cover the OtterBox case to provide a stylish silk design.


The overall construction of the Defender case is amazing. Its very well built and includes a durable plastic holster, which reminds me of the old school BlackBerry 7200/8700 series. Anyone who is upgrading from one of those older models will surely appreciate it. The Defender case itself can take a great amount of bumps and drops. Previously I took my BlackBerry Pearl in one of the OtterBox Defender cases and threw it against my concrete deck without any issues my phone still works and looks perfect. All OtterBox cases come with a life time warranty so if for some reason something breaks on the case they simply replace it for you.

Here is a bit more in detail of the Defender case layers:
Layer 1: Thermal formed protective clear membrane to safeguard screen and keyboard against scratching as well as dust and dirt* (layer optional depending on the level of ruggedization desired).
Layer 2: Hi-impact polycarbonate shell.
Layer 3: Silicone skin absorbs bump and shock (silicone includes innovative retaining features to hold it in place).

Recently OtterBox also introduced their new Impact Case for the BlackBerry Bold. These cases are similar to the RIM rubber skins, however just a little more protective. Those cases are available to order from OtterBox.com for only $19.95 USD.
Overall I’m usually pretty impressed with OtterBox’s products. They never seem to fail for those who are looking for maximum protection. The Bold Defender series case is a great fit and keeps the phone well protected. I recommend picking one up if your looking for that something extra. Although the price tag is a little higher than most cases the life time warranty and great quality more than make up for it.


This OtterBox Defender case is available in all black or yellow and black combination. You can pick up one of these bad boys up at The BlackBerry Sync Store for $49.95 USD and get $5.95 shipping to anywhere in the USA!

Rating: starstarstarstarhalfstar
From BlackBerrySync.com

Review: Otterbox Armor Series iPod Touch case

CaseandCover.com reviews OtterBox cases and covers for the iPhone, iPod, and BlackBerry. Trusted reviews, from trusted sources throughout the internet.
otterbox
by Doug Aamoth on March 10, 2008

The Otterbox Armor Series iPod Touch case is waterproof, dustproof, dirtproof, sandproof, and drop-proof while at the same time allowing access to most of the Touch’s functions. While the extra added bulk might scare some people off, those who need maximum protection at a not-too-shabby price will appreciate this case.

Features
The Otterbox Armor Series case protects an iPod Touch on all sides with impact-absorbing rubber while allowing use of the touch screen through a thin-but-tough membrane. There’s an external headphone jack that hooks into your iPod’s headphone jack, a rubberized main button, and a belt clip on the backside of the case.
otterbox1
otterbox6
otterbox2
otterbox5
Pros
The Armor Series feels like it can take a beating — like a drop from a moving car and getting run over by the car behind it kind of beating. It feels that tough.
I didn’t test the claim that the case is waterproof up to 3 feet or drop it out of a moving car because I’m not insane and the thought of replacing a device I bought for $400 and use almost every day makes me bunch up a bit. I would, however, take this out to the beach without worrying that I was going to ruin the precious cargo inside.
Also, at $50, the price is nice for what you get. It’s my opinion that too much of a premium is put on “rugged” devices and cases. You could probably find similar cases selling for $80 an up. This seems like a good value if you’re going to be using your iPod in some pretty rough conditions. Those of you in the military, especially, could use this.
Cons
One glaring drawback is that the Armor case makes your otherwise svelte and pocketable device into a considerably larger, plastic-covered device. You’d have to have mighty big pockets to carry this around without using the belt clip or the included lanyard. That being said, it’s being marketed for toughness, not portability.
The second minor gripe is that, while you’re still able to control the Touch, the gentle finger swoops that you’re used to become much more deliberate presses thanks to the membrane that covers the screen. Don’t get me wrong, it’s cool that the screen even works while in this case. It looks like it wouldn’t. It’s just not as elegant. Also, the power button on the top of the iPod Touch gets covered up completely. Not a huge deal since the device will eventually go into sleep mode.
otterbox3

Other Stuff

This could be a pro or a con depending whom you ask, but the belt clip positions the iPod Touch upside-down (notice where the headphone jack is located in the photo on the right).
It works well for looking down and futzing with the controls, though.
Conclusion
The Otterbox for iPod Touch Armor Series case is a great buy for anyone looking for some serious protection. Everyone else could easily get by with a slimmer, cheaper solution. The build quality and the price of the Armor case make it a winner, though.