Coming from a family where my Mother has Multiple Sclerosis, I understood clumsiness, falling, and breakage from an early age. We went through a set of dishes nearly every two years because they were just too heavy and one-by-one they would miss the cabinet and end up falling to the countertop with a smash. But it came with the territory and my Mom could still walk so we took it as a small price to pay for the mild symptoms she experienced. Then four years ago, it came time for her to get her first smart phone. With her dexterity issues, we were admittedly nervous. It was important to choose a large screen so the keypad would be easily visible, but one that had a variety of sturdy grip-worthy cases on the market. She opted for an iPhone and she has never looked back. Immediately, my Dad bought her a textured, cushioned case. That first phone was buried in the backyard by their dog (in her puppyhood, of course), dropped countless times, put in the grocery bag under frozen food, and so many more adventures I never even heard about. Through it all, that case (and screen protector) kept it going in tip-top shape.
Fast forward to March when I got a new smart phone myself. Being the coordinated one in the family, I thought I’d have time to shop around for a pretty case. Ah, how funny life is when you think you have it all figured out! Within one week of getting the brand new phone, it slipped between pocket and hand to the tile floor and the screen was shattered. Some friends said it should have been able to handle falling three feet without breaking, others just consoled me with a pat on the back. The amazing thing is, it still worked perfectly, it just looked like it was in a bar fight. Not ideal in a touch screen, let me tell you. This is not a mistake I will make again! My new smart phone was outfitted with an Otterbox Defender to withstand tile floors, car keys against it in my handbag, and even the untrained puppy grabbing it from my hand and running around the house with it. No more faith in gravity liking me or that I’ll be ‘lucky’ with my gadgets, this is about protecting my investment.
It doesn’t matter what you have planned because gravity and the hustle and bustle of daily life are everywhere as a reminder that even the best built tools are challenged by asphalt, tile flooring, sloping sink rims, ripped pockets, and pets or small children. I bet you wouldn’t consider taking your Jimmy Choos on a nature walk or letting your new cat sleep on the white suede sofa. So, why expect your smart phone, tablet, or laptop to withstand extreme conditions? If you want your gadget to keep up with you every day, make sure it is protected from the hazards that you would guard any other treasure against.
Oh, and my Mom’s iPhone has an Otterbox Defender which has protected it from their latest puppy and her rolling over it (the phone, not the puppy) with her wheelchair.
Otterbox is based in Fort Collins, Colorado with offices in Cork, Ireland and Dubai, UAE. Phone cases can cost as little as $19.95 up to $49.95 in a range of designs and colors. Kindle, eReader, and iPad cases start around $49.95. Otterbox outfits Amazon Kindle, Apple, Barnes & Noble Nook, Blackberry, Dell, Google Nexus, HP, HTC, LG, Motorola, Nokia, Palm, Samsung, Sony, and Trimble, to name a few. http://www.otterbox.com. Otterbox cases and accessories are also available from Amazon.com
My ancient phone is so obsolete that it can only be recharged by a coal-fired power-station. It still works perfectly but I wish I had learned how to use it properly when I first got it. Each time Apple brings a new iPhone I decide to wait for the next upgrade. When will iPhone 25 become available?