When you purchase a smart shone for as much money as the Blackberry Bold
9900 can run you, you start to think about protection of your investment. I
will give RIM credit for upgrading the included case to a much more solid
feeling and protective case than I have seen in some previous Blackberry
phones, but that protection only lasts while the phone is in the case. If you
are as inclined to drop things as I am, it can get nerve-wracking any time you
have to take the phone out to answer it, or look anything up on-line. That is
where a case like the Otterbox Defender comes in pretty handy. It
includes a rugged but nice feeling silicon rubber outer covering, a holster,
and a high impact polycarbonate shell. Also included is one screen cover.
One thing I find entirely lacking for this purchase from Otterbox is any type
of adequate installation instructions.
Installation is fairly self explanatory, and that is lucky since the instructions from Otterbox pretty much are a short series of small drawings on the inside of the cardboard package. For an extra installation aide, I recommend searching on YouTube for Otterbox Defender on Bold 9900 installation procedure. There is a video that walks you through it. The installation high points follow:
Out of the box, you will have the silicon layer stretched over the assembled polycarbonate shell. Remove the black rubber outer covering. Then, you will have to separate the top and bottom portions of the polycarbonate shell. Mine unsnapped fairly easily at the left center of the shell.
Prior to installation of the case, install the screen cover if desired. My Bold already had one installed so I am saving the included one for later.
Now place the Bold 9900 into the bottom portion of the shell. Position the top in place making sure it lines up in the same way as it had been prior to separation of the pieces. Snap it together again making sure it is firmly together with your Bold inside.
Position the rubber outer covering around the now enclosed phone. Make note that there is a ridge around the silicone shell opening that will need to be worked into a corresponding groove in the polycarbonate shell. This may take some work, but it is the only way the case will stay together in use. As you do this, it is also a good idea to make sure the button covers on the new defender case match the buttons of your phone and work easily.
Now try to place the case into the holster. I have to agree with some other reviews I have seen that the holster is a potential weak point in this case. Note that the screen has to be in towards the body, as the Bold in the case will not otherwise be firmly held. There are two spots in the polycarbonate shell that line up with the holster to hold the phone as it snaps into the holster. Unlike other combination cases I have used, this one has no extra top latch to press to remove the phone. You have to pry the phone away from the holster to remove it. It can happen when doing this, that the lower portion of the silicone shell will loosen. This part of the design could be better.
In use the 9900 is nestled securely in the Defender case combination. There are raised buttons covering the Bold volume up/down buttons on the right side. There is also a raised button over the convenience key on the lower right side, and for the keyboard lock key on the top of the phone. There are silicone flaps that cover the earphone jack and the USB/charger port on the left side of the Bold. These allow full function and an extra layer of dust protection. I have read elsewhere that previous models of the Defender seem to have keyboard covers along with the screen guards. There is no keyboard protection with this particular one, but the camera lense and flash are covered by a plastic shield.
In use, the Defender does emulate normal case functions of Blackberry provided by use of a small magnet mounted into the holster. The holster includes a belt clip which is fully rotatable and able to be fixed in any position with a click. It is suggested that the ratcheting belt clip be used to provide a stand for the phone. I am not sure if that is really a usable feature. It seems a bit out there to me.
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