Why does it seem impossible for companies to make portable devices that are well, rugged? I've heard quite a few horror stories of people with iPhones and fancier cell phones that are fragile and bust apart at the smallest fall, and then the pain in the ass they go through trying to deal with warranty / etc.

Hello - these devices go into pockets, purses, bags, they get lugged around, left on desks and are bound to fall and hit the floor once in awhile. Really, a cellphone/ipod/PDA/mp3 player/whatever falling a few feet to the ground should NOT break it.

If my computer monitor falls into the ground, I sort of expect it to be fucked up after - its not meant to be moved around frequently. But if my cell phone falls onto the ground - I fully expect it to work after. Unless said fall also landed it down a flight of stars, then under the wheels of a passing car.

Don't drop you phone. Dont' use your phone in the rain. It is very simple. You will have no problems. You dropped your phone and blame it on shitty material. The material has nothing to do with the fact that the unit was dropped. I'm sure if you call RIM or read the manual, it recommends not dropping it. The Manual is very good documentation that is only effective if read.

This crazy thing called accidents happen every now and then. Some of these accidents happen often enough with certain types of devices, that the manufactures should consider this when making said device, and try and make them withstand those accidents within reason.

I'd say dropping your cell phone is one of those accidents that any cellphone should be able to survive within reason.

*note: my current and last cellphone have been rugged buggers that have taken a surprising amount of abuse, and kept on working. I just find it baffling that people think its acceptable for a phone to break after a fairly common and minor accident.

i have dropped my bb numerous times - it still works, it's just less pretty

there are such things as holsters and skins (metal ones too) so you don't scratch it or possiblly prevent a drop from becomming a dent/crack.

I have cracked open many BB's and repair them myself with a used one laying around.

this is ideal:

quote:

Originally posted by jsibilin there are such things as holsters and skins (metal ones too) so you don't scratch it or possiblly prevent a drop from becomming a dent/crack. I have cracked open many BB's and repair them myself with a used one laying around. this is ideal:

my friend has that for work and has broken it like 3 times getting into his car lolol

quote:

Originally posted by Irishaddict my friend has that for work and has broken it like 3 times getting into his car lolol

that is a metal case,, is this guy running it over with his car??

ahahaa

no the clip thing breaks off from the metal part smarty pants

The problem is that consumers demand cheaper, slimmer phones - something's got to be sacrificed.

The first generation blackberry (the enormous blue plastic one) can be thrown against a wall and it will still work. It's incredibly durable, but ugly as hell.

These new phones do so much that it's inevitable they will break easier than previous generations, especially when there's a constant rush to get new products to market at the cheapest possible price.

Yeah, 'durability' doesn't seem to enter anyone's decision making process anymore.

quote:

Originally posted by Cosmic Fur Yeah, 'durability' doesn't seem to enter anyone's decision making process anymore.

Would you blame them?

Less durable = More repairs ($$$) + More units sold ($$$)...

Since majority of the BB users (or at least in the past) were for companies, I can imagine that there probably weren't as many complaints.

" IT Man...my BB doesn't work.....oh its broken...just buy me a new one"

Things are starting to change and might continue to change and BB's become more mainstream with the general public...people like me who can't afford to buy a new one off the street...