THIS IS A SPONSORED POST. You’ll see a couple of these this week!
I got my first cell phone in 1995, not long after I got sober, because I needed a way to call other sober people when I was losing my mind. I often could be found on my work breaks in my car in the parking lot of the book store where I worked, sobbing on the phone about my challenges of getting through the day sober.
In 2008, my life was quite different. Sobriety wasn’t hard for me anymore, I was working for myself, and I had a major crush on the shiniest bit of new technology – the iPhone.
I got my mitts on one after saving up for a long time. I got the 3 moments before the 3S came out, so it was much cheaper than usual, and I was in LOVE. Now I could catch up on email while at the playground with my daughter or at a work event. Soon, all the social media sites had apps out that made it possible for me to do about two thirds of my work while I was out and about. I was no longer tethered to my laptop.
Eventually I got the 4 after my 3 started to slow down to the point of not being functional and not holding a charge. I had that four for over two years, and it’s still a damn good phone. But this winter, my Christmas present was upgrading to the iPhone 5 with it’s beautiful camera and faster speeds and Siri and… everything.
I’m not ashamed to admit it: I love that phone.
Two weeks after I got it, Tori dropped it and the screen shattered. Poor girl; she was so afraid I’d be mad at her. Of course it wasn’t her fault; I gave her the phone because we were unexpectedly at a memorial for a friend of ours and she was bored, so I gave her the phone with headphones to play games and entertain herself. She sobbed and sobbed as I assured her that it was fine, I still loved her, it wasn’t her fault. Poor thing.
Not only was it my fault for giving her a phone where there were concrete floors, but… I’m embarrassed to admit this one: it didn’t have a protective case. I have no good excuse for that, except that I love the sleek lines of the phone by itself, and it fits perfectly in my bra without a cover on it.
I know. I’m an idiot. You don’t have to remind me.
When I replaced the phone, I knew I needed to get a good cover. After much research and, frankly, a bit of resignation, I realized that those cute little phone covers I see just aren’t enough protection. I needed more
So I got this, the Otterbox Commuter Series case in black.
I’m not going to lie; it’s bulky compared to other cases, but thanks to it’s funky combination of rigid protection with rubber, it really works. It also has that critical raised lip so the glass of the phone doesn’t hit the ground when it falls face down.
The phone is just as pretty, too – but it is a bit more obvious that I have a phone in my bra now, alas. I guess I should go back to carrying a purse. Heh.
I was compensated for this post and given both an additional Otterbox phone cover and an iPad cover, even though I don’t yet have an iPad but a girl can dream.
{ 12 comments… read them below or add one }
My daughter also has an otter box for her phone. Her husband’s phone dropped and the screen broke, no insurance , so they learned a lesson.
I used Speck Candyshell case for years with my iPhones, but they always cracked across the bottom. So, this time I purchased an Otterbox & same thing happened! Cracked right across the bottom! : (
They do have a 1 year warranty, which is nice, but I just bought it on October 30th! I don’t want to have to replace it every 2 months!
Good luck with your case!
I have an Otterbox I put on my phone when the Grandkids are around. I love how it protects. I don’t worry in the least when they play with it.
I too have an otterbox and have had one on every iphone since the 3 and you know what? That 3 and the 3g are now my kids itouchs and are in perfect condition. They have survived two or three toddlers each and we can’t say enough good things about them. My husband thought they were too bulky as well but you re purchase after a broken screen for full pop and change your tune.
A good case is beyond awesome. Back at the down of time, when I had a Palm III, I dropped it on the subway platform and the damn thing skidded across the platform and onto the tracks, landing face down. The metal case I’d bought to protect it from scratches in my purse protected it from damage when it fell and it landed in a spot where trains didn’t touch it when they ran over, so it was fine. Since then, I don’t go caseless. Won’t do it.
OtterBox is headquartered in my city! They don’t just make iphone and ipad cases, they make covers for all kinds of phones and other equipment. :)
Needless to say, when we finally switched to “smart” phones, we got OtterBox cases for them. I’ve dropped mine a few times, no big whoop.
Yup, Otterbox is my husband’s phone cover of choice, too. I cringe a little at the price – but it’s certainly less expensive than a brand-new smartphone.
I use OtterBox cases on the devices I carry to work. They’re like the tanks of the case world, plus you can wipe them down with germicidal wipes at day’s end.
I have an Otterbox too. With 4 kids, it seems my phone takes a lot of abuse! Love my Otterbox.
I have an otterbox, too. I’ve managed to drop my iphone all the way down the concrete and rebar CTA stars several times with NO ill effects to the phone at all. The first time it happened my heart stopped as the phone hit each freaking step and bounced to the next one down the full flight of stairs. Another commuter said “OH MY GOD. SHIT.” picked up the phone and handed it to me… then asked what kind of funky case I had and if it worked or not. SPOILER: it totally worked and my 2 year old phone works as well now as it did when I first got it. I have never had a cell phone last for 2 years. They usually crap out at 11 1/2 months.
Cecily, I have an iPad, birthday present, and my grands love to play with it. I could use an otter for this thing. Hubs uses Otters on his phone too.
Keep up the good writing.
I have to admit, I do not buy extended blah blah blah service contracts. When I was buying my iPhone, I took one look at my 4 year old who was playing with the display phones and added the contract.