Works with
iPod Classic
5th generation iPod
The Good
Provides perhaps the most secure protection to an iPod I’ve seen
Covers clickwheel and screen
The Bad
When covered, can’t access controls or hold button, or see screen
Who is the market here?
The Price
US$32.99
Case Logic’s Traditional Tin Case is a fascinating product. As far as iPod Classic cases go, I’ve never seen anything quite like it. It’s a tin case that holds the iPod Classic (and also the fifth-generation iPod), but when enclosed in the case, you lose access to the iPod’s clickwheel, controls, and screen. Certainly the tin cover provides great protection, but for who and at what cost to usability?
Let’s start with the basics, though. The Traditional Tin Case is just what it sounds like – a tin tray big enough to house an iPod Classic, with a silicone liner to protect the iPod from shocks, that is completed by a tin cover that adds a touch of color and style to the package. The case provides protection for the clickwheel and screen by covering them, but leaves access to the headphone jack and dock connector available.
And that’s the part that confuses me a bit. Why cover all the things you need to make the iPod work? Sure, it’s easy enough to slide the cover up and down, but what’s the thinking here? I’m even more puzzled by the 25-year warranty Case Logic offers on the product. That kind of confidence in a product is admirable, especially when most other iPod cases from the company have a warranty of a few years.
The warranty term makes me think that perhaps the case is intended for people working or playing in extreme conditions (construction sites, rock climbing, etc). In that situation, it makes a lot of sense to have an extremely tough case that can take some hits without being too damaged and keep your iPod safe at the same time.
The iPod is supposed to be portable and convenient. This is a larger iPod Classic case than most. It’s also a bit heavier and the sliding face is not terrifically convenient (I can’t see users being able to open it and change songs while walking on a busy street). If heavy-duty users are intended market, the design makes sense. But if the Case Logic Traditional Tin Case is designed as just another option for the average consumer seeking an iPod Classic case, I’m not sure I see the wisdom. It just seems too inconvenient to have to open the case every time you want to change a song.
