[amnon]

Hi,

I know that there are aluminum cases out there for the 8700. Personally I think they are very ugly and don't consider one.

What I am curious about is whether somebody makes a replacement shell made of a stronger material than the plastic the original shell is made of.

Having an aluminum shell to replace the gray parts of the original shell (i.e. front, back and battery cover) would be great in my opinion.

What do you think? Any people here that actually know about aluminum manufacturing that could comment about the feasibility of this?

Amnon

[akfirecop]

Wirelessly posted (BlackBerry7290/4.1.0 Profile/MIDP-2.0 Configuration/CLDC-1.1 VendorID/100)

That is a good idea...don't know if such a thing exists

[radimus]

No, not really a good idea. Putting your BB into a metal box is not good for the radio reception.

[Borgus]

Wirelessly posted (BlackBerry8700/4.1.0 Profile/MIDP-2.0 Configuration/CLDC-1.1 VendorID/100)

Sounds like a good idea, but I don't know of anyone that makes one. I think it'd be hard to install though.

[amnon]

Originally Posted by Borgus

Wirelessly posted (BlackBerry8700/4.1.0 Profile/MIDP-2.0 Configuration/CLDC-1.1 VendorID/100)

Sounds like a good idea, but I don't know of anyone that makes one. I think it'd be hard to install though.

Not harder than opening and closing the BlackBerry, which is of course harder than putting the BB in a case or holster.

If we're talking about alternate shells, I would also like to see an alternate shell with recessed screen protection, may be even class 5 dust proof (the screen - keyboard would probably be too hard to do).

I guess it all depends on demand...

I still think that an aluminum shell would look awesome...

[cooperpwc]

I don't think that aluminum is necessarily the answer. A good tough polycarbonate case with a recessed screen would be excellent. It had occurred to me that Seidio might be just the company to produce this. But I don't know if there is a big market for a product that requires the user to void their Blackberry warranty...

[KonTiki]

And pray tell how will they know if you switched cases. Keep the original one in a drawer someplace if problems develop with yout BB replace the old one, no one needs to know.

[cooperpwc]

Oh I agree. And I hope that one is produced on that basis- I'll buy it.
I was just wondering if it might be a market-limiting factor since some people could be skittish about the warranty angle.
I certainly didn't intend to discourage the production of such a case. Rather I encourage it!

[stripesace]

Warranty is only a year, and honestly, how much stuff after about 4 months of use is covered by warranty? after a year you're looking at a new phone anyway.... If it aint broke in the first 5-6 months, it aint gunna break.

This is exactly why my next laptop isnt going to be an investment, just a 500 dollar bottom line dell that I can throw in my bag and not worry about, no warranty, outsideof whats included in the price. So what if I spend 500 every year and a half on a laptop? My last laptop was 2500 bucks, and I'm looking for something small to carry around to suplement my blackberry when I'm on the road.

[KonTiki]

I too would encourage making cases that one could exchange, my biggest beef however is with the size of the case of the 8700 series. I like and want a full keyboard, the difference in size between the 8700 and the 7250 bother me. For the most part I want the convenience of a full keyboard and ease of typing. The 87oo compromises that with the smaller, tighter keyboard. For the people that complain about the 7250 size while using as a phone close to their ear, I say get a bluetooth headset. Mine never leaves the holster for a call. For using in my hands, i like the bigger size in my hand because a) it feels safer and more secure, and b) the bigger size allow the bigger hands like mine ease of typing. So I would hope that when Verizon gets around to releasing theirs it is in a larger case format, though I sincerely doubt that RIM in their infinite wisdom will deviate from what they have already in their eyes have studied as being the better format. I would love to see a 7250 size case that could then be retrofitted to the 8700s.

[gwar11d2]

Originally Posted by Borgus

Wirelessly posted (BlackBerry8700/4.1.0 Profile/MIDP-2.0 Configuration/CLDC-1.1 VendorID/100)

Sounds like a good idea, but I don't know of anyone that makes one. I think it'd be hard to install though.

I would definatly buy one... It's not that much different than my buying a new keypad/shell for my Nokia phone, etc (besides the fact the Nokia was designed to have the shell taken on/off).

Carbon Fiber, Titanium, Aluminum, (something stronger than what I have), or clear for those people who are interested in looking at the guts of the berry.

Seido? Would you be interested in selling such a thing?

[KonTiki]

The only thing is that if anyone like Seido does take the Gambit on this one, is please do not forget the 7200 series. Everyone always shoves us aside and passes us up. These devices are true work horses and they are here and will be around for some time to come even if they were all discontinued tomorrow morning.

[gwar11d2]

Originally Posted by KonTiki

The only thing is that if anyone like Seido does take the Gambit on this one, is please do not forget the 7200 series. Everyone always shoves us aside and passes us up. These devices are true work horses and they are here and will be around for some time to come even if they were all discontinued tomorrow morning.

I agree, however the 7200 series shells are already pretty durable (I gave my old one away to a friend of mine and I loved it). What I don't like about the 8700 series the the overall build quality...however that being said I enjoy the faster processor and EDGE much much more...

[amnon]

OK, then. Hopefully someone will take on this case (pun intended )
I agree that aluminum may not be the only option.
I think we can all agree about this:
1. More durable materials than the current BB8700 shell.
2. Use a material that is of a certain color, don't paint it.
3. Recessed screen cover.
4. Sealed screen cover (to solve the dust problem that sometime exists).

And some more items I thought about:
5. Replace only the gray parts and screen cover to keep the cost down.
6. Haven't seen the 8700 from the inside, but may be add something to keep the keyboard more snug.
7. make the screen cover from a scratch resistent material or bundle screen covers (should be easy if the screen is recessed).

[cooperpwc]

That's about right.
I always wondered why products like the 8700 (or iPod) don't come with something like the screenpatronus already installed.

[gadgetfanatic]

Originally Posted by radimus

No, not really a good idea. Putting your BB into a metal box is not good for the radio reception.

Very true. When I first got my 8700 I ordered one of the aluminum cases for it. When it finally arrived I was very disappointed to learn that it dropped my recep. by 2 bars. Sent it back.