Blackberry 9700 case

February 1, 2011 2:27 PM

My 17-year old son is on his third Blackberry 9700 screen. At $130 a pop to repair it, it's getting rather expensive! Can anybody recommend a case, armour or force field that will protect it? He doesn't want a holster.

He usually keeps it in the front pocket of his jeans. First time the screen broke when he dropped the 'phone and we figure that the second time was due to flexing. I've googled like crazy but ended up even more confused, so I thought I'd turn to the hive... In Toronto, if it matters.

posted by HarrysDad to technology (16 answers total)

Does he pay for replacements? If not, go with that.
posted by schroedinger at 2:29 PM on February 1, 2011 [25 favorites]

Yeah, I know blaming the victim is looked down upon here, but drive to literally any cellphone store and buy him a case. Then tell him the next repair is on him.
posted by 2bucksplus at 2:31 PM on February 1, 2011 [3 favorites]

Otterbox 9700 cases.
posted by sharkfu at 2:33 PM on February 1, 2011

2nding Otterbox. I drop my iphone at least once a day, my two year old throws it around, it's fallen onto concrete and then I've run over it with the stroller - not a scratch on the phone. We also got one for my 13 year old's ipod touch, which would surely be smashed by now without it.
posted by artychoke at 2:37 PM on February 1, 2011

2bucksplus got it almost right. Drive to literally any cell phone store and let HIM buy a case. Then tell him all subsequent repairs are on him.

Also, assuming he has kept the phone in the front pocket of his jeans, leading to the sad history of screen replacements, I think there's a lesson here; like maybe learning to live with a holster or other alternative.
posted by imjustsaying at 2:45 PM on February 1, 2011 [3 favorites]

When I broke my Blackberry's screen (two huge cracks/breaks right down the middle of the screen), I repaired it by putting a piece of clear packing tape on it that covered the entire screen. I was careful not to leave any air bubbles in the tape.

You could still see the cracks, of course. But you could read the screen just fine.
posted by The World Famous at 2:47 PM on February 1, 2011

Otterbox it is then! Thanks sharkfu and artychoke. BTW, if I'd wanted parenting advice, I would have asked for it.
posted by HarrysDad at 2:50 PM on February 1, 2011 [12 favorites]

Not a direct solution, but if you ever move away from Blackberry I can personally attest to the strength of smartphones utilizing Corning's gorilla glass.
posted by Civil_Disobedient at 3:14 PM on February 1, 2011

Just wanted to pop in with another Otterbox recommendation. Mine is the bomb. It's the only reason my poor phone still works.
posted by Neofelis at 3:23 PM on February 1, 2011

Where exactly did HarrysDad say the kid isn't already paying for the repairs? I realize we like to question assumptions here, but the question is What can we do to reduce repair costs? not I'm tired of paying to repair my kid's phone.
posted by stefanie at 3:56 PM on February 1, 2011

I'm interested in this question because I'm about to get an iPhone and need a serious case. Y'all recommend Otterbox, but but there are a couple different lines of Otterbox cases - which do y'all recommend?
posted by radioamy at 4:26 PM on February 1, 2011

Otterbox Defender is the one you want if you are spazzy like me. It has a piece of plastic that covers the glass. They are about $50 at normal stores, but you can find them for $20-$30 on ebay. They are giant and bulky, but they really protect the phone.
posted by artychoke at 4:30 PM on February 1, 2011 [1 favorite]

I can also recommend the Otterbox Defender.
posted by misha at 4:45 PM on February 1, 2011

Otterbox Defender is the only way to go.
posted by PareidoliaticBoy at 4:59 PM on February 1, 2011

The Otterbox Defender is the only reason my screen-porch-installing boar-hunting airboat-driving swamp-buggy-having FIL is allowed to have an iPhone.
posted by fairytale of los angeles at 9:54 PM on February 1, 2011

I have an Otterbox for my BlackBerry, which I've dropped while on a moving bicycle as well as while climbing a mountain. My BlackBerry is three years old and still looks new. Everyone above is giving you good advice.
posted by cranberry_nut at 4:36 AM on February 2, 2011