9900:Resurgence of popularity!
Originally Posted by
EFats Aah this is stuff I could really sink my teeth into! Stainless steel would be my choice if cost was not the primary objective.
Most people aren't aware there isn't really anything like bare Aluminium. It's actually a highly reactive material but the thin oxide it quickly develops is transparent. (Same stuff as sapphire). You could hard anodized it to get a really hard finish, harder than even the steel but I think in the past you get stuck with a dark grey colour.
I wish someone would write up an article about the engineering and design that went into some of these "classic" BlackBerry's. Would be a fascinating read.
Speaking of polycarbonate I got an interesting case for my iPhone that has an outer "stainless in appearance" band around the case to provide structural strength and rigidity BUT it is not stainless it is polycarbonate.
I know you don't care to see an iPhone but here is the case......
https://youtu.be/6UMpf-rTOH0
Now the thing I do like about the polycarbonate that looks like aluminium or stainless steel is that it does allow for some flexibility and this makes it much easier to put the device in the case, but still maintains the right amount of rigidity so no dust can get in under the case and possibly causing scratching on the device itself.
It certainly is no where near as solid or stiff feeling as the 9900 and it's solid stainless steel band but the only other advantage I can think of for polycarbonate is possibly some impact absorption and lighter weight.
Edit: and it looks like the polycarbonate is scratching VERY easily, where you lay it on a table.
9900:Resurgence of popularity!
Originally Posted by
Michniks One thing I have never like in cases for phones. Someone made an effort to create quite good looking device and then people put it into some "not good looking" cases"... :/
The alternative is paying $950 when you drop it without a case ;-). But it also depends if the case is nice or not, but that is totally subjective to the person. If you've ever experienced how slippery one of the newer iPhones is without a case, well let's just say it's a scary scenario especially when new.
9900 never needed a case in my opinion, it sticks to your hand it sized perfectly and the buttons function better without a case in my experience.
How hard would it be for every cell phone manufacture to put a rubber band around it built into it similar to what the 9900 has. Of course then there would be some people that would hate that and then they would probably put a smooth case over it just so they didn't feel the silicone-type rubber.
I also I'm not sold on the rounded edges on iPhones and other newer cell phones, it's almost like they want you to drop it as it slips out of your hand because of the rounded edges. That's where cases can come in and gives you squared edges like this one, a place to rest your fingers more securely.
Edit: it's funny that have never liked using cases with my blackberries. Even when I bought the 9780 White new, I had purchased a case mate shiny hard backing case for $29 are used it for about three days and then I hated it. It made the BlackBerry just too thick and bulky feeling. 9900 was the same, I think the bevelled edges on the 9900 where the rubber is thinner actually tricks your hand into thinking the device is thinner than it is, because you feel the edges when you hold it.
The OtterBox commuter makes a device feel too thick, and that is the "thinner" serious protection case, but the trade-off is this new case is a slimline low profile case with probably not the same protection as something like an Otterbox.