Big Review of the Contour Design Showcase

[tech]

QUICK GOOD: Looks good and is not heavy. Offers good protection, somewhere between a skin and Armor. Rubber is grippy for holding and setting on table without sliding. Would I recommend it? Yes...the peace of mind in having a safe iPod is worth the money...and it looks good as well.

QUICK BAD: The holes for controls are small and recessed enough to make ?thumbing? difficult. Rubber is grippy, making ?pocketability? more difficult. Belt clip is hard to get onto belt, and could be too easily opened when not paying attention. Concerned about durability of main hinge.


SHORT CONCLUSION: This is a good case for the iPod. It looks good and is not heavy to carry. It also doesn?t add a ton to the dimensions, though it is larger and heavier than a skin. However, if you want to protect an iPod from as many hits and drops as possible, you?re going to have to add bulk?that?s physics.
The belt clip is well built, but I feel it is a flawed design. First off it is hard to put on your belt. It seems they spent more time engineering the spring part than the belt part. Also, I didn?t like how easy it was to forget the type of clip it was and use it like my pager belt clip. This could open the Showcase clip, risking the iPod coming off of the belt?leaving me holding the clip. It didn?t happen, and the spring is pretty strong, but there is that potential.
If you want a nice looking case that offers more protection than a skin, but allows easy access to the buttons, this is a good case to consider.
Please remember that beauty is in the eye of the beholder.

LONG REVIEW: Let me start this review by saying that I have a habit of dropping electronic gadgets. That or they just love to skitter off of tables and on to the floor to get closer to me?
My primary device is a Palm Tungsten T, and I have a Rhinoskin Aluminum case for it. I need a case that is bulletproof, and this is pretty close.
For my 30GB ipod, I knew that a better case than the Apple supplied was in order. For me the iPod is all about Beauty and Functionality. A case is all about Protection and not ruining the iPods Beauty and Functionality.
I did not consider a skin for two reasons: I?m not into colors or attracting attention, and I wanted a higher level of protection. These are my personal reasons only.
The first cases I looked at for these requirements were the iSee, the Flipstand, the PodPaq and the Matais Armor.
I decided against the Armor because I wanted easier access to the buttons. It also looked heavy and bulky. Same with the PodPaq, which is black nylon.
I didn?t like the flip part of the Flipstand because I would have to move it out of the way any time I wanted to use the wheel?but that was the only reason.

The iSee was the most interesting for me?but I had to wait until a 30GB model came out.

Enter the Showcase.

WHAT IS IT? The Showcase is a plastic and rubber case for the iPods. It comes with an attachable belt clip and a foam pad for non 30/40GB iPods.
Carlin on ipodlounge has pictures of the case here when you click on Showcase:
Carlins Web page
There are also pictures here:
More Pictures
And a good review here:
IpodLounge Review



The case closes with a hinge similar to a tool chest, but not identical?it is hard to describe?so look at the pictures.

A thick plastic plate protects the iPod screen with holes for all of the controls. There are holes at the top and bottom ends for headphones/remote, and charger cable.

HOW IS THE QUALITY? Remember, this is not a skin! The Showcase is light in weight and pretty small in dimensions?probably a good mix of being as light and small as possible, while still giving it a good ability to protect your iPod. Some users say it feels cheap, but I don?t feel that way about it. It is plastic and rubber, not aluminum, so it doesn?t have the heft I was expecting. However, it isn?t cheap feeling like most Sharper Image stuff is?not even close.

Moving parts are tight, with no noticeable flexing in the hinges or case itself.
I have some concern about the durability of the main hinge, especially if you open and close it a lot in cold weather, but that concern might be unfounded?especially since you shouldn?t have to open and close it except on rare occasions.

My 30GB ipod fits in very nice and tight, with no movement once the case is closed. Contour includes a foam pad for putting behind non-30/40GB iPods due to size difference?but I don?t have one of those iPods to test with.
There is a 1-2mm gap around the perimeter of the case when it is closed, but it is actually sealed by a clear bit of plastic built into the case.
The belt clip is really interesting, and appears to have really had a lot of brain-power applied to its design. As well built as it is, however, I don?t think I?m in love with it.
The belt clip connects to the back of the Showcase, where there are two slots made for it. One ?L? of the clip goes into one slot. That is easy. The cool part is the second ?L? that is spring loaded. This one ?springs? into the second slot, securing the belt clip. Check out the web site for a flash movie of this.
It is cool, but I?m concerned about getting items hung on it (or triggering it accidentally) and dumping the Showcase on the ground.

HOW IS IT IN ACTUAL USE? I?ve used it now for four days, and really like it. It isn?t perfect, but it is almost exactly what I was looking for in a case.
In that time I have left it plugged in for charging over night and actually listened to music for four hours in one stretch. I did not detect any noticeable heat buildup. This will depend on ambient temperature with the iPod?and it is winter in Chicago?

Here is the biggest negative. Access to the buttons is more restricted than with a naked iPod?as I believe was the case with the iSee and Flipstand. The holes that are cutout for the buttons are the same size as the buttons. The buttons are 2-3mm below the surface of the face-plate of the case. All of this means that ?thumbing?, or just using one finger to access the four function buttons, requires you to aim for the middle. The fatter your thumbs/fingers, the harder this will be. I am sure that they can improve this when they make a Showcase2.

HOW WELL DOES IT PROTECT? This is the big question, and the big reason I bought this case for my $$$$ toy.
The best way to protect an iPod, or anything, is having a material around it to absorb the shock of a fall. I?d feel safer with a case that had 1? of foam around all sides, but that would be huge and defeat the purpose of having an iPod: beauty and functionality.

I am too smart to toss my iPod against walls and the floor, but I have to say that I have a pretty good feeling about this case.
The plastic face seems quite strong. I?m sure it could protect the iPod in a penetration, like poking (without intent to kill) it with a knife or sharp object. The case might be trashed, but the iPod would be safe, and that?s why you have the case.
The rubber sides should absorb some shock from a fall. I wasn?t going to test a drop, but my 13month old assistant had her own ideas. My daughter grabbed the charging/syncing cable and dragged my iPod (in the case) off of a table, down to a hardwood floor. After the loud crashing, and the time it took me to get my heart going again and remember it was in a good case, I picked it up and found that there was no harm done to the iPod or the Showcase.
Will it protect from every fall? No, there are too many variables in a fall to say that?but I can say that I now feel safe with this case, safer than I ever did with the original Apple case.


RECOMMENDATIONS FOR FUTURE VERSIONS: Here are some recommendations for Contour Design when working on the next version.

1) Button access. Make the holes bigger for one-finger access
2) Re-think the beltclip. The spring part is great, but the whole thing is extremely difficult to get on and off a belt.
3) Other have pointed out that accessory use is difficult if not impossible due to the size of the headphone/remote hole...this needs to be looked at.


Would I recommend it? Yes...the peace of mind in having a safe iPod is worth the money...and it looks good as well.

[billsheng]

I am thinking about buying this case for my 3G 15Gb Ipod...
It this case worth it? compare to exo??
can I use my dock with this case on??

which one would u choose? ice exo or showcase?^^

thank you...

[tech]

When choosing a case you have to know what you want to do with it, and what you want it to do for you. It is a balance between looks, protection, and ease of use/functionality.

eXo's are skins that protect from bumps, and look good (just look at all of the available colors). Great "cases", but not made to take drops. They might take drops, but your iPod is less likely to survive than in a hard case.
Skins are thinner, and easier to carry around in pockets. They can stretch to be used in a dock.

The Showcase is a hard case, and is made to protect and look good. It will not work in the Apple dock, but will use the sync/power cable.

These cases are two totally differenct beasts, in my opinion, and are like comparing apples and oranges.

I chose the Showcase because I am more concerned with protection than fitting in my pocket. Frankly, the Showcase might not fit in my jean pockets (haven't tried it) but it fits just fine in my jacket pockets.

oh, and I prefer Snow and Frost to Ice, but with all things only you can decide for you when it comes to what case to get, and what color to get.

T

[anastasia]

I got an iSkin and I think it's great, but I use my iPod to transport files between school and home that are too large/slow for FTP. I am constantly running late, and throw it in the dock. With the iSkin, this is inconvenient. After stretching out the iSkin and putting it back on, I have to fiddle with it a little to get the holes to line up right. I put it back in the apple case so I can just slide it out. OK. Sorry for the rambling. I really want a Showcase.

It looks like it would be easy to take the ipod out and put it back in quickly, as well as protect it in my bookbag. Is this the case?

I am broke and will catch a lot of crap from my boyfriend if I buy yet another case that I don't use.

[tech]

Yes anastasia, it is very easy to just pop the Showcase open and insert or remove the iPod.
However, it is even easier to not use the dock, but use the charge/sync cable instead...which would allow you to leave the iPod in your Showcase or in your iSkin.
T.

[anastasia]

I know, but my firewire thing is at the very bottom of the back of my computer, so the dock has to be at the back of the desk. I have a huge desk b/c I have a huge monitor, so it comes out very far from the wall. If I'm sitting down, I can just barely reach and put it on the dock, but I have to get up to use the plug, which requires 2 hands instead of one, and I am very lazy What I really need is a flat panel monitor!

[Mr. E. Mann]

Will the jack for the shure e2 fit through the contour?

[tech]

I don't have a e2, but I tried Sony Monitor headphones and right-angle mx-400's...they fit just fine...

T.

[Macman]

Just for the record, I inadvertently tested the protection properties of an iSkin Exo last night. iPod was wrapped up in my jacket. Jacket was on the passenger seat of my car. Forgot the iPod was in the jacket and sent said iPod skidding down the driveway when I pulled my jacket out of the car.

Glad to say that there was absolutley no damage and the iPod turned on no problem without having to reboot the software. Very relieved. Hope that gives a little piece of mind to others considering an iSkin.

As for the Showcase. Instead of enlarging the button holes do you think it would suffice just to bevel the edges of the holes to allow more fingertip area to contact the buttons? Sounds more feasible than enlarging as there is not a lot of space between the buttons.

Cheers,
Macman.

[tech]

Macman, good comments, and congrats on surviving your first "test"...always a real heart-stopper!

In terms of the button holes, I think both actions need to be taken. You are correct that there isn't much room, so taking away plastic will decrease the protection of the face. So, I was thinking that either enlarging them, or "stretching" them vertically a little to better fit fingers PLUS your idea of bevelled edges would be a good thing.
I don't have really large fingers, but I think that any little bit that they could do would be a good thing for a good case.

T

[Last Ipod]

How about making the access in the case larger but also using a form of latex to fully cover the openings?

Kind of half Iskin half showcase?

Sounds like the best of both worlds, but looks may not be all that great. However something to ponder.