I have never used a case before other than my 2nd gen 10gb ipod back in the day. Although they have been getting better over the years, I still hadn't found a case I really liked for any of the first 3 iphones. I am pretty easy on phones, and my 3gs looks like, after a year of use, like it just came out of a case but this iphone 4 has me a bit nervous and it feels like it may slip from my hand, and with the exposed glass edges, doesn't seem like it would take much to shatter the glass. I think that this feeling along with the antenna issues pushed me over the edge as far as wanting to try a case.
So after a couple days of use, I have a couple thoughts on the bumper from a traditionally non case using user. First, I have to say, as far as cases go, it's pretty good and doesn't add a whole lot of bulk to the phone, but on the otherhand it really changes the feel of the phone. The iphone went from feeling like I was holding the future to feeling a lot like any ole phone, somewhat like the 3g/3gs with the rounded edges. I do like the fact that holding on to it is easier and there is less feeling like I will drop it.
I also like that they use the same volume buttons and almost the same sleep button. This keeps the integration/user experience high and except for feeling different than a native ip4, really doesn't feel like there is a case on it at all, just feeling like a different phone.
I don't like the dock connector, but from looking at it, there was only so much more plastic they could have taken away before losing the structure of the case. I will likely be modifying any cable the needs it with a file or dremmel before I would modify the case itself. One idea that I wish they could have done, was to have a bumper with an integrated dock extender that would plug into the bottom and then stretch the case over the rest of the phone and would have provided a flush dock port like the original phone has.
I will probably keep using the bumper unless Apple completely comes up with a fix for the antenna issues that goes beyond changing the display of the number of bars. Only then might I be willing to risk carrying it without a bumper to get the intended look/feel of the iphone4.
So after a couple days of use, I have a couple thoughts on the bumper from a traditionally non case using user. First, I have to say, as far as cases go, it's pretty good and doesn't add a whole lot of bulk to the phone, but on the otherhand it really changes the feel of the phone. The iphone went from feeling like I was holding the future to feeling a lot like any ole phone, somewhat like the 3g/3gs with the rounded edges. I do like the fact that holding on to it is easier and there is less feeling like I will drop it.
I also like that they use the same volume buttons and almost the same sleep button. This keeps the integration/user experience high and except for feeling different than a native ip4, really doesn't feel like there is a case on it at all, just feeling like a different phone.
I don't like the dock connector, but from looking at it, there was only so much more plastic they could have taken away before losing the structure of the case. I will likely be modifying any cable the needs it with a file or dremmel before I would modify the case itself. One idea that I wish they could have done, was to have a bumper with an integrated dock extender that would plug into the bottom and then stretch the case over the rest of the phone and would have provided a flush dock port like the original phone has.
I will probably keep using the bumper unless Apple completely comes up with a fix for the antenna issues that goes beyond changing the display of the number of bars. Only then might I be willing to risk carrying it without a bumper to get the intended look/feel of the iphone4.
