One of the problems being an early adopter is not having accessories like device cases for your gear. I started using a Blackberry Pearl 8100 last week and was using a case I sewed out of painting canvas for a few days to keep things in my pocket from scratching the screen. Today I sewed together an interim case using an old laptop screen protector/keyboard cover from Other World Computing. I used a quarter to trace a thumb-slide hole.
Right side out
Inside out
The right side out version looks nice and the fit is snug, like a condom for my cell phone. But because I put the shiny leather side out and the velvety side in, the phone doesn't slide out as nicely as when it's inside out. I also like the way the case feels inside out, so I may try it that way for a while. Of course, when a better, more appropriate case comes out, I'll probably just use that and dump this one, but you gotta make do with what you have or can make. This serves its purpose for now.
I guess I'll also post more thoughts on using the Pearl a little later. Still testing it out to see if the SureType works for me or if I should send it back and wait for the 8800 with the full keyboard. I'm a Sidekick refugee, having owned the I and II, so I've got lots of nits about the user experience, but the form factor and speed are working for me so far.
Comments
10/13/06 @ 11:28
Even better, find a way to put a small magnet in there. The keypad & backlight switch on & off (and, if selected in the Security options, the phone locks) when a magnetic sensor inside the lower half of the Pearl passes by a magnet.
I found this out while sliding it into & out of its T-Mobile case, which itself has a magnetic closure.
12/25/06 @ 17:46
Why not just buy a Blackberry case? I did a google search and found oodles of them for sale and all under $30 bucks!
12/25/06 @ 20:20
Because I had the Blackberry when the first came out, before any cases were available. This was a temporary case. But I returned the camera within 2 weeks.
08/13/07 @ 19:06
why did you return the phone? i'm trying to decide whether or not to keep mine.
it's a drag that there's no automatic keyguard (unless i spend ANOTHER $40 on a magnetic case).
08/14/07 @ 06:47
I didn't like the keyboard and predictive typing. At the time, there was no synching solution for Mac as well, so couldn't get my contacts and calendar synched up. That may not be the case anymore, however.
I'm going to wait for the next generation iphone. I have a while to wait on my current phone contract.
12/19/07 @ 13:16
Did you get the new iphone? Looks better than this I would say.
12/19/07 @ 13:21
Yes, I've got the iPhone. Glad I didn't go with the Pearl.
02/20/08 @ 09:28
Nice idea I have a MDA Vario2 It really needs a case but the one that comes with it is just too big for my pocket, doing like you've just done would be smaller and neater.
02/20/08 @ 16:01
i am going through your blogs and i find that you are really a very creative person, and that was great creating a case for blackberry pearl, i gotta nokia n95 8gb recently though haven't use any product of blackberry yet
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