I recently acquired a new iPod and immediately set to the task of picking out just the right case. I waited too long to case up my 60GB iPod photo and it had a few small scratches before it was safely ensconced in a protective cover. Not wanting to make the same mistake with my precious black 80 GB iPod video, I decided to put a case on it immediately after I loaded it with music and video. Even though I chose a popular case, I now have a scratched iPod and am not a happy camper.

Case and Stand

I chose the Core Cases Swivel Aluminum Case because it also acts as a stand, so you can stand it up to watch video comfortably. The iPod video model ships with a thick, hard plastic click wheel cover and a rubber plug for the Dock Connector. The case, according to the company, is an anodized aircraft-grade aluminum, although I'm not sure of its scratch resistant rating, if there is such a thing. It has tiny pin-sized clips on the sides and opens completely for iPod insertion. The case snaps closed on the pins, but I suspect exposure to any mildly extreme temperatures, within iPod usability standards, might loosen the connectors as the metal expands or contracts.

The Look

The shiny metallic green cover is a great dark color, not shown well on the site. It sports a specially designed hinge on the top swivels to become a stand when open. While the cover is open though, your iPod is also open to the elements, stray fingers, and totally unprotected. When closed a high clarity polycarbonate screen protector is built right into the cover. The stand slipped quite a bit on my formica table top, plus because of the pull tab to open the case, wasn't stable laterally.

The Protection, or Lack Thereof

The inside is lined with EVA foam to protect your iPod. This brings me to my third and biggest problem with the case; the foam is extremely thin. I sincerely doubt its shock protection abilities. The foam is not well sealed at the edges, where I experienced my own shock. While I carefully put my new precious iPod into the cover, the foam folded over and ding; it scratched my new and expensive device.

I no longer matters to me that I can dock the iPod or plug in any headphones. I don't care that the case comes in five pleasing colors and two sizes for the iPod video. I can return the case for a full refund, but that does not help me with the unsightly scratch next to my hold button. If this is the quality control they exercise on their products, next time I will know better and look elsewhere.

by Ilene hoffman, Reviews Editor