Have You Stopped Using a MP3 Player Protective Case?

[Spyro]

Many of us a very careful to begin with and it seems the prices have come down so much and the features keep updating that we are getting a new player every other year if not sooner.

Has anyone actually used a case but stopped using it? I suppose the added wear and tear would hurt resale value but some of the players are things of beauty and ya hate to cover them up. Almost like a 1970's thing where people would have clear plastic coverings protecting their beautiful couches and lamps.

 

[tk3]

I bought a case for my iMod but I just found it to be too bulky, so I stopped using it.
Now I think I'll just get one of those glue-on skins in the near future, so I can actually stuff the thing in my pocket without scratching it to hell.

Resale value doesn't bother me, since I'm perfectly happy with the unit, don't think I'll sell or replace it until they come up with the next breakthrough. (cassette -> cd -> MD? -> mp3 -> etc)

 

[lustaficko]

Yes. I've stopped using a case on my 3G iPod because it is already scratched up enough and looks much better without a case on it.

 

[FaLLeNAn9eL]

I've had my PSP since the day it came out. It has always been living in the case since day 1. Always have, always will.

 

[Dregur]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Spyro /img/forum/go_quote.gif Many of us a very careful to begin with and it seems the prices have come down so much and the features keep updating that we are getting a new player every other year if not sooner. Has anyone actually used a case but stopped using it? I suppose the added wear and tear would hurt resale value but some of the players are things of beauty and ya hate to cover them up. Almost like a 1970's thing where people would have clear plastic coverings protecting their beautiful couches and lamps.

Yeah, but I also had an BSE on my iPod, so I can still put in my pocket whenever I wanted to (and it's infinitely more pocketable after taking off the aluminum case).

-The Grinman

 

[stevenjchang]

ya, when i use to have apple 4th gen, i never covered it, and it looked as beautiful as anything

the zune however, im paraoid over, just cuz the screen is so nice, enough though its hard to scratch, its still possible, so i use agent 18

basically adds bulk to bulk...kinda silly, but i do it.

so i went in reverse of what you did

 

[stan11003]

yeah, didn't like the added thickness too my 5g 30gb ipod. Now its really comfortable in my pocket.

 

[goldenratiophi]

I don't like the added bulk of protective cases (and portable amps), and scratches? All my iPod scratches are covered with stickers!

 

[RubenNYC]

I have little to no confidence that anybody will make a future DAP that makes me as happy as my vibez does. So, understandably, I want it to last as long a possible.

I'm definitely a big believer in keeping it in its case.

 

[GreatDane]

I've kept my 80 GB iPod in a case since day one and it is flawless. I like how the case looks. I didn't use a case for my previous player(ZV:M) and it was scratched badly in the end, even though I did tune up the screen with plastic polish at the beginning...that gets old fast.

 

[VolkswagenFox]

I bought my 5G iPod when it first came out almost 2 years ago. I always put it in the pouch that came with it, patiently waiting for the first cases to come out. I bought the first clear case available, and I have been using it ever since. It looks almost flawless still. Using my iPod without a case is like walking around naked to me.

 

[Mark Larson]

Mmm, Massive Attack.

 

[soozieq]

I bought a clear hard case for my Sony NW-A808, not because I was worried about scratches, but because the unit is really thin and I didn't like how it felt in my hand. The case bulks it up just enough to give it more substance.

 

[krmathis]

No! Cause I have never used a protective case in the first place...

 

[LaBreaHead]

Never used one. Screen protectors, yes; cases, no.

I remember reading about people ordering custom-fitting $80 leather cases for a player that might last three years of daily use.

I like the surface of the Rio Carbon and the 2nd generation iPod Nano -- they don't really need cases for moderate use. My small capacity flash players don't need cases. If I carried around the Rio Karma, I'd probably use a case ... as it is, I treat it with kid gloves (figuratively speaking). If I carried around the 4th generation iPod, I'd use a simple silicone case -- I've seen them work well.

We get so excited about getting these (usually) great players, we forget that they're devices, not heirlooms. Most won't be working in three or four years, or if they are, the owner will have moved on to the next big thing ... so unless we're throwing them casually into a book bag or we tend to drop things a lot, I think cases are to a degree overkill.

People I talk to at work about their first iPods (OK, one woman has a purple Sony and one woman has a black Toshiba) are surprised when I remind them that built-in batteries have a finite life span and that other things can go wrong with their players ... I guess people get the more expensive cases out of wishful thinking that their players can last forever with just that extra bit of care.

_______________________________________
Sources (in order of purchase):
2nd Generation 10GB iPod for Windows (retired)
Creative Muvo 256MB (recently found the receipt -- over $100!)
Creative Muvo 1GB (out on loan)
Rio Carbon 5GB
Cowon iAudio 5 1GB (out on loan)
Rio Karma 20GB (low-mileage collector’s item)
Creative Zen Nano 1GB
Samsung YP-U2 512MB (out on short-term loan)
4th Generation 40GB iPod (monochrome; used as home jukebox)
2nd Generation iPod Nano 4GB
Creative Zen Stone 1GB
iRiver T60 2GB