What iPhone Case do you prefer?

[StanTheMan]

I remember Mike K talking about a Silicone Skin for one of his new iPhone acquisitions, but searches on this subject have turned up no results.
Hence this thread, if there is something similar that is fairly recent please direct me to it.

Apparently there are pitfalls to avoid, Cases which appear to be a 'sealed' fit but let in debris which can cause scratching, and 'sticky' finishes which are good to grip but tend to grip your clothing as well.

There are so many Cases out there which one to choose?
I bought a case at the same time as the iPhone but had to return it. proved to be for an earlier model.
Protection is vital, all around if possible, so I bought a simple leather sleeve with a 'pull' tape to extract the phone as a temporary measure.
This is OK but leaves a lot to be desired so I set out on the trail of a good case tat would provide most if not all of my requirements.

What have you folk settled on, and why?

[Mike K]

I use the Otter Box Defender Case as it is sealed. It is a bit bulky and does grab the clothing a bit but it has already saved my phone when I handed my iPone to one of my slightly intoxicated friends and he accidentally dropped it into his full glass of Crown and Coke. Still working and to date no scratches at all. I put my brand new replacement iPhone in it right out of the box.

www.otterbox.com/iphone-3g-3gs/iphone-3g-3gs-defender-case/

[Mordak5]

I don't use a case, I like my iPhone the way it is, why hide it!. I accept that it may get a bit scratched over time, but so far, nothing much has happened to the case/back of the iPhone and the screen looks fine as well, I am careful not to put it in a pocket with anything else (Keys money etc), but other than that just get on with it.

[StanTheMan]

Two extremes indicated already  .

I did not realise the Otterbox was 'liquid' proof Mike, perhaps I should have drawn a few clues from the name?
Though I have never seen a picture of a dry Otter.
If you have the time it would be useful to learn what became of your early purchases of iPhone protection.

I agree with the sentiment Mordak, it is a work of art, lovely to hold and use.......... if you do not have the need to protect your iPhone then it is naturally dropping off the 'to do' list.

In real life the iPhone is a tad slippery and reasonably easy to damage, drunken friends or not.
In the environment I often create protection is vital, if I were office bound all the time then protection would be of much less concern.

IMO it is a horses for courses issue, as a tool of the trade Mike cannot afford to have downtime on vital equipment and not many of us want to fork out cash for repairs or replacements.
We are all different doing different things, some users can be more attentive to their kit for most of the time, but it is possible for accidents to happen.

Thanks as always for all your input, especially from new posters, please tell us what Case you have chosen and why you made that decision.

[Mordak5]

We are all different doing different things, some users can be more attentive to their kit for most of the time, but it is possible for accidents to happen./quote]

Yeah I dropped my 1st gen iTouch in the Bath, took about 10 seconds to get it out, I was sitting the bath at the time!.
It dried out, and apart from a reduction in battery life has continued to work fine.  

I am a bit more attentive about the iPhone, but worst case, my Home Insurance covers it less

[StanTheMan]

Hope I am reading your post correctly Mordak?

The iPhone [Oops sorry I mean iTouch] is a little bit like an Otter 'out of the box' then? 

I like it, an iPhone [ditto above] having a quick dip  .
Great story.

That's one place I have not been, don't wanna go and ain't gonna get the 'T' shirt, thank you very much.

EDIT: Get yer glasses on STM!

[Mike K]

If you have the time it would be useful to learn what became of your early purchases of iPhone protection.

My first case scratched the back and bezel of my iPhone as debris would get between the hard plastic of the case of the iPhone leading to abrasion. (Even with constant removal and cleaning). I don't want to mention the name of the company as they offered to buy me a new iPhone and I even got to keep my old one which ended up in my wife's hands. Now she is addicted also

[JamesJM]

I'm siding with Mordak on this one.  In my case, however, I was late in coming around... just a couple of weeks ago, in fact. 

I began with a leather case and an invisibleshield.  I never did like it.  I felt like I had never really unpacked my iPhone.  The invisible shield IS protective, but it never felt the same nor did it look the same.  Slightly 'blurred', and slightly 'sticky' to the touch.  But I left it like that until two weeks ago when....

My Mophie Juice Pack came in... had to get it for battery life, it overrode all other concerns.  When I got it I decided, "What the hell?", and removed the invisible shield as well.  So my iPhone IS in a case now, the Mophie, but not all the time.  And the touchscreen is naked... and I love it. 

So the 'protective' devices did the trick... when I took off the leather case and removed the invisible shield my iPhone looked like new....  but I never could fully enjoy it wrapped up like it was. 

Now it will probably, surely, get scratched eventually... but by God I'm loving it the way it's meant to be loved.    - JamesJM

[StanTheMan]

Thanks for the info about Invisible Shield James [do we need a Thumbs Up Icon?] cos that what ya get.

I have often wondered about the product, many users wax lyrical about their acquisition but having parted with money cannot accept they have perhaps made a mistake.

None of us want to make mistakes and so seek knowledge being freely shared.
That to me is contained in the essence of this Forum, avoiding mistakes by disseminating information.
I would point out to non contributors, who may feel they have nothing to share, that their problems/issues/early experiences probably will be valuable input to the community.
So please do not keep it all to yourselves, join in and give us more to share.

[JamesJM]

That's a very good point, Stan... about those that read this forum a lot but do not contribute that much.  I think a lot of that is like the way it is in most forums... people are generally a little hesitant to jump in thinking they might sound 'dumb'.. when nothing could be further from the truth.

leave DUMB to me... I sound 'dumb' all the time but I'm fortunate in that I have also lost all sense of pride. 

It is amazing how the 'little' things can often lead to BIG solutions for computer problems and 'how to's'.  You may think your experience unworthy of posting about but it may be PRECISELY what another user is trying to work out for him/herself. 

I learn something new about Mac's every day, and not always from the 'experts'.  In fact, I'm not even sure it's "mostly" from the experts.  People who do not consider themselves tech savy in the least have made posts on forums in which I simply smacked my forehead and thought, "That was brilliant.  Why didn't I think of that?".  - JamesJM

[StanTheMan]

Ideally 'my' Case needed to provide all round protection with security against being dropped when cold hands are the order of the day, at the same time having the ability to contain the important items normally caried in a Wallet.

I have settled on a Piel Frama Leather Case with a flip over magnetically latching cover.

The 'wallet' section is in the flap which serves as a protector for the screen.
Max capacity is a UK Drivers [Photo Card] Licence, 3 other plastic cards, a couple of folded Bank Notes and a spare Key for my house.
More than the above and it will pop open too easily.
This has enabled me to ditch my old wallet and achieve another step in my iPhone 'gizmo' replacement program.

The end result is a package that is slightly slimmer than the combined iPhone, in a very slim sheath, plus the old wallet.
When carried on the supplied Belt Clip if feels very secure and is out of harms way when I am working.

The only thing missing on the Case was place to attach a Lanyard or Wrist Strap.
This has been resolved by fitting a DIY Attachment which is held in place by the Case Fitting which connects to the Belt Clip.
For those who do not require the use of a Belt Clip, the Case Fitting is completely removable and provided an easy means of securing my 'Attachment', which is free to rotate about the Case Fitting.
This latter feature makes it possible to wear the Belt Clip on either left or right hand side.

The Lanyard is a two part arrangement, the first worn around the neck and the second part [effectively a Wrist Strap] clipped by Carabiners to both the first part and the iPhone.
This set up allows the iPhone to be detached from tethering around the neck and be mounted in the vehicle.
The Wrist Strap is draped over the Vehicle Mount as security against accidental dislodgement.
The Vehicle Mount comprises a Stainless Steel Plate carrying part of a Griffin Window Seat Bracket with the original iPhone Support Plate modified to accept a spare Belt Clip.
The iPhone remains in it's Case when in use as a SAT NAV.

The Belt Clips each have a release button which have to be pressed quite firmly. 

They say a Picture paints a .....................


Attachment fitted to Case, it is made from Stainless Steel 0.6mm thick with a brushed finish. The marks on it show that it is protecting the Case from abrasion by the Belt Clip.


Triangular 'ring' protrudes just enough to take the Carabiner, soon as I can lay hands on suitable material this 'ring' will be made from Stainless Steel.


This Lanyard- Wrist Strap set up is designed to avoid the iPhone landing here!

EDIT: Clarified the caption above.

[Mordak5]

Still no case for me,