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my original iPhone and 3G were both caseless. I just used a BSE - bestskinsever - to cover the sides and back and for the original and first year of the 3G had a PowerSupport Film on the glass. Then I took it off and went naked. Dropped my phone several times getting out of the car with it in my lap and it never had any damage, not even to the skin, even landing face down on the street a couple times. However, I started out naked with a Gelaskins vinyl decal on my iPhone 4 back and sides. And I dropped it on the sidewalk and I am usually very careful (Never have it in my lap in the car anymore), and it chipped the edges/corners of the glass on the face. Problem with the iP4 is that there is no bezel meeting the glass, so the edges of the glass are the most vulnerable. Now, I would normally go caseless, and it is a good point that you can get a replacement front or back online for about $75-125. Not sure the current price or what Apple charges. But I got a nice case from Marware that is similar to the Apple Bumper. But with a back. Actually comes with 2, one with a clip for belt, stand for video/FaceTime, and a strap that the clip attaches to for running/working out. You can very easily pop the bottom of the band, slide the flat back out and put the clip back in to run/workout. And the plastic has a great feel. It is a very nice case and I am really happy with it. I would like to go naked, but this case is great. Marware Sportshell Convertible. $45 but got it from Amazon $18. They also have the Custom Shell which has a clear back but the same band. I might pick that up so I can still have the Gelaskin decal on the back and see it.
 
I had a 3G for ~17 months that was naked, and since then I've had a 3GS for ~11 months - also naked. They do show some wear and tear after a while, but it beats having a case on it. I've never done any serious damage to either one.

I will probably upgrade to the next version in July. The iPhone 4 does seem a bit more vulnerable than the older iPhones, but I'll probably go naked with the new phone too. If you're careful, you won't drop it. I used to drop my crappy old cell phones all the time (every few months or so). I knew they'd survive it, so I was less careful.
 
Just ordered two back protectors from bestskinever to complement the Power Support crystal protector that's gonna go on the front. I worry about the back being scratched while in a case, and since I'll have both sides protected eventually I might even try a bumper somewhere down the line.

Now to see if I can get that damn camera hole lined up.
 
Here's mine in a very minimal case. About an 18 inch drop.
ouxdea.jpg


I have an otterbox now.
Crap, I have a very similar case on my phone. D:
 
I had a 3G for ~17 months that was naked, and since then I've had a 3GS for ~11 months - also naked. They do show some wear and tear after a while, but it beats having a case on it. I've never done any serious damage to either one.

I will probably upgrade to the next version in July. The iPhone 4 does seem a bit more vulnerable than the older iPhones, but I'll probably go naked with the new phone too. If you're careful, you won't drop it. I used to drop my crappy old cell phones all the time (every few months or so). I knew they'd survive it, so I was less careful.
I'm careful.
 
Going caseless is fine and believe it or not, Apple will replace the phone if you drop it and crack it from less than 4 feet.
The apple rep told me they will replace it ONCE. Anyone can say it was from less than 4 feet.

Mine was about 18 inches. They replaced it. It was still a pain in the butt to deal with. Mine's always in a good case now.
 
I have no case on my iPhone 4

I keep it inside this one

This pic is the one for the 3G, but it is the same as the iPhone 4. The one for iPhone 4 of course being flat in the back. It's a very nice tight fit.

blk_SmartPocket_Callid_iPhone3G_3GS.jpg
 
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To all those people who are afraid to drop their phones: do you all have butterfingers or seriously sweaty palms? Do phones jump out of your hands? I'm being totally serious.
 
I dropped my caseless iPhone 4 in an elevator the other day. Five feet, flung in some random direction (because I tried to catch it) and it slammed hard on the ground. I was sure the glass was shattered, but not even a scratch was found on my phone! The glass is a lot stronger than I thought.
 
It is a choice and a preference but everyone that says they haven't had any problems going caseless must realize that every one of those broken screens didn't have any issues either until that one time. Everyone that posts about a broken screen always say that they never had a problem until.... You hit any glass at the right frequency it's wasted.

Someone commented in a earlier post that they got minor scratches on theirs and that all phones get some scratches. I guess they've never met anyone like me because I have had every cell phone and PDA ever made and I can only remember one scratch I got on my Iphone original model and that was because I cleaned it too much.

My daughter had a 3GS for 2 years and on the week that I was going to order her a new Iphone 4 she dropped the 3GS on the carpet and the screen shattered into about 100 pieces. So much for selling that one.

I'm pro choice on using a case.
 
Well, dammit, there it is. My first scratch. Damn thing didn't even last a week. (Bought it on 10/29)

Totally, absolutely kicking myself for not buying the Power Support protectors at the Apple Store the day I bought the phone. (I didn't buy 'em because I wanted the crystal finish, which Apple doesn't carry, which I bought straight from PS when I arrived home that night.
 
Well, dammit, there it is. My first scratch. Damn thing didn't even last a week. (Bought it on 10/29)

Totally, absolutely kicking myself for not buying the Power Support protectors at the Apple Store the day I bought the phone. (I didn't buy 'em because I wanted the crystal finish, which Apple doesn't carry, which I bought straight from PS when I arrived home that night.

You had the phone with nothing at all?

Where was the scratch? I am guessing the back.

Maybe when you put it down somewhere.
 
You had the phone with nothing at all?

Where was the scratch? I am guessing the back.

Maybe when you put it down somewhere.

Oh, no, I have it in a Speck PixelSkinHD.

The scratch is on the front. Maybe about a quarter of an inch. Bottom right-ish.

Think this'll be my first and last smartphone. Goin' back to the RAZR if this thing ever spontaneously combusts.
 
Well, dammit, there it is. My first scratch. Damn thing didn't even last a week. (Bought it on 10/29)

Totally, absolutely kicking myself for not buying the Power Support protectors at the Apple Store the day I bought the phone. (I didn't buy 'em because I wanted the crystal finish, which Apple doesn't carry, which I bought straight from PS when I arrived home that night.

You realize that it's just a phone right? A phone that will be out of date within the next year, and old tech by the time your contract expires.

In my experience, if you take decent care of your phone it should last you for at least 3 years. By the time it starts looking shabby, you're going to want to get the newest version any way. If you want to save something, you should invest in artwork or something that is meant to improve as it ages. Technology (no matter how pretty it is), is planned obsolescence. I doubt you would be able to find anyone who would prefer their very first iPhone over the iPhone 4.
 
You realize that it's just a phone right? A phone that will be out of date within the next year, and old tech by the time your contract expires.

In my experience, if you take decent care of your phone it should last you for at least 3 years. By the time it starts looking shabby, you're going to want to get the newest version any way. If you want to save something, you should invest in artwork or something that is meant to improve as it ages. Technology (no matter how pretty it is), is planned obsolescence. I doubt you would be able to find anyone who would prefer their very first iPhone over the iPhone 4.

Of course, but I'm like this with everything from my computer to my handheld gaming stuff. And one day maybe I'll get over this light bit of materialistic side I have in me, because at the end of the day it doesn't matter.

But it does bother me that I just dropped $300, and I've already taken the first step in it looking bad.
 
Of course, but I'm like this with everything from my computer to my handheld gaming stuff. And one day maybe I'll get over this light bit of materialistic side I have in me, because at the end of the day it doesn't matter.

But it does bother me that I just dropped $300, and I've already taken the first step in it looking bad.

You're lucky you're in the US.

I am in Thailand. Unsubsidized. I paid about $800 dollars US. 23,000+ baht.

Does it look like this one?

iphone-4-scratch-2.jpg


so you had this case

Speck-PixelSkin-HD.jpg


I have this thing from owning a Blackberry. If the phone is not in my hand, then it is inside something. Because the BB comes with a leather pouch, so i got used to it.

My iPhone lives here

smartpocket.gif


Actually, I bought this before I got the phone. It went from the inside box to inside there.

Not sure how much it is to fix a screen, but if it's on the bottom part near the home button, then no problem. Doesn't affect your viewing pleasure.

Get a screen protector. It will protect the screen and you may not even be able to see the scratch with the screen protector.
 
smartpocket.gif


Actually, I bought this before I got the phone. It went from the inside box to inside there.

Not sure how much it is to fix a screen, but if it's on the bottom part near the home button, then no problem. Doesn't affect your viewing pleasure.

Get a screen protector. It will protect the screen and you may not even be able to see the scratch with the screen protector.

Similar to that scratch, yes. Screen protector is on it's way but they'll be at least another day or two of use before it arrives. Another day or two of it going in and out of my pocket.

Again I should have got the damn protector they had at the Apple store but I figured "Bah, a few days without one until I get the one I want in, I'll be fine, at least I have a case."

Edit: I can't help but feel that the mere act of sliding it in and out of the case above would eventually scratch the screen.
 
Edit: I can't help but feel that the mere act of sliding it in and out of the case above would eventually scratch the screen.
It can, because mine scratched that way a couple of weeks ago. Never a scratch on my original iPhone, so I didn't bother with a screen protector on this one either. I'm a little sorry about that now, but not completely, because I hate the feel of those things.

The other catch with using a sleeve is that you can still drop the phone while pulling it out to use it, or putting it back. Yes, I've done both. Still, it's the way I prefer to carry mine, these are just things to be aware of.
 
It can, because mine scratched that way a couple of weeks ago. Never a scratch on my original iPhone, so I didn't bother with a screen protector on this one either. I'm a little sorry about that now, but not completely, because I hate the feel of those things.

The other catch with using a sleeve is that you can still drop the phone while pulling it out to use it, or putting it back. Yes, I've done both. Still, it's the way I prefer to carry mine, these are just things to be aware of.

what about yours??
 
For me it's pretty simple:

iPhone 4 with no case but anti-glare screen protector.

iPad with a leather folio style case with no screen protector.

With constantly taking my iPhone in and out of my pocket I use a screen protector to protect the always exposed glass. For me, a case on the iPhone just adds too much bulk and makes the iPhone uncomfortable to use.

I use a folio style case for functionality on my iPad and since I'll always have the screen exposed only when I am using it, I'm not worried about scratches. Besides, it would be a shame to put a screen protector on the awesomeness that is the iPad's 10" glass screen.
 
Still pissed at myself. Last time I listen to anyone online "Oh yeah, I've had every generation of iPhone and I've never had a scratch!"

Goddamn ********.
 
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