by Noah Kravitz, Reviews Editor

23 February 2006

Keep Scratches on the Outside
Contour's iSee cases for iPod 5G and nano are excellent hard shell cases for the style-conscious iPod owner who wants a little more protection than a softside case can offer. Though each case has a few minor quirks that some users may find unappealing, in general these are excellent, attractively priced iPod cases.

Both cases are made from impact resistant polycarbonate that's see-through to show off your iPod's good looks (hence the "iSee" moniker). I particularly like the way my black 5G iPod looks in the case -- the clear plastic of iSee gives the iPod a slightly more rounded look without at all masking the music player's aesthetic. Both sizes of iSee include removable belt clips, and the nano version features Contour's "EZCord" system to manage your headphone cable.

iSee comes in two pieces - front and back - and snaps together into place around your iPod. You place your iPod in one half of iSee, lay the other half on top of iPod, and snap it shut. It's a simple system that works and holds tight without scratching or otherwise harming your iPod itself. Removing your iPod from the case is accomplished by unsnapping iSee back into two pieces. While not quite as easy as sliding an iPod in and out of a softside case, using iSee is not at all difficult and, of course, affords more protection against sharp objects and impacts than a cloth case could.

I should note that while neither case adds much at all to the overall size of an iPod, they did add enough to make my iPods (the 5G, most noticeably) too large to fit into several dock-based accessories without removing them from the case. I can't really fault Contour for this, as I've yet to try an iPod case that doesn't cause this problem with docks that actually cradle the iPod (as opposed to flat-based docks like DLO's HomeDock). iPod skins can be compressed or moved out of the way, but that's not really possible with a hardshell case.

Clip, Clip, Clip to the Belt...
Both iSees come with a detachable belt clip that snaps on and off of the main case by way of a spring-loaded hinge. Both versions of the clip are made from the same clear polycarbonate as the case itself, and both are sturdy and secure when in use. The difference in my overall ratings for the two cases (5/5 for the nano, 4.5/5 for the 5G) comes down to the clips themselves.

iSee 5G's clip is reminiscent of the clip used on Contour's Showcase in that it aligns the iPod horizontally relative to your belt when in use. I find pros and cons in this solution: On the upside, the horizontal alignment is more comfortable than the standard vertical alignment when walking, exercising, or otherwise moving my legs. The iPod feels pleasantly secure against my waist and doesn't bounce against the top of my leg at all.

The downside to this solution is that the belt clip doesn't swivel, so it's hard to read the player's screen when it's clipped to your belt. The difference between reading a screen sideways using iSee and reading it upside-down (using a standard vertically-aligned case and clip) is like apples and oranges. However, many other cases feature swiveling belt clips that make it easier to twist your iPod around to a semi-readable position without taking it off of your belt.

The case also features lanyard clip so you can use Apple's lanyard earphones to hang nano upsidedown around your neck (or wherever) when its secure inside of iSee. Another small, but very nice design touch on Contour's part.

I've been using both cases for awhile now, but as I tend to throw my iPod 5G in my back quite a bit, that size iSee has gotten more of a workout. What I can say, it works. Having a hardshell case makes me a little less of conscious of what else I throw in the same bag/pocket as my iPod Ñ as such the iSee has a bunch of scratches on it including one fairly sizable mark (from a screwdriver? an extra-sharp pen? I have no idea) that I'm really glad isn't on my iPod itself. Scratches aside, iSee is none the worse for wear as the integrity of the case is sound and crack-free and the belt clip and snap-open/shut functionailties still work like new.

Overall? Excellent.
Contour has a winner on its hands with the iSee series of clear hardshell iPod cases. While I do wish they offered a swiveling belt clip to please everyone, as they stand now both the 5G and nano versions offer very sleek, stylish protection that's a notch sturdier than a softside case. Without considering the price, I wouldn't hesistate to highly recommend either model (Contour also offers iSees in 20-gig, 40-gig, and iPod mini sizes). Seeing as the cases sell for only $21.95 (nano) and $25.95 (5G), it's a no-brainer. These are great products made even better by their price tags. Compare prices at PCPrices.

iSee for iPod 5G and nano, and the rest of Contour's line of iPod cases, are available direct from ContourCase.com

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Get the best price for your new iPod at PCPrices/iPod