Blackberry 7100T SkinTight w/ Holster

As per other reviews this product is awful...
The screen protector caused scratches and moved constantly...

I have replaced it with the proporta aluminum case.

NOT RECOMMENDED but a great idea nonetheless

Good idea, BAD design and execution

Rating: 1

Unlike previous Speck 'rubberized' cases I've used and been quite pleased with for various iPods, this SkinTight case for the RIM BlackBerry 7100t is an abomination, particularly in regards to the screen protection strategy. Prime fault lays with the necessary openings cut into the case needed to operated the 7100t, but I believe a large part of the problem also can be traced to the unnecessary sizes of some of these cutouts as well, among other design faults.

The two front panel cutouts for the screen and keyboard are as tight as they can be and generally work well, althought the top three buttons of the keypad (phone on, phone off, Bookmarks) are hidden by a strip the case itself (though the shape of each of these keys is embossed into the rubber). There are two additional cutouts for side controls and jack/port access, as well as cutouts in the back for the rear grill on the phone and the mic, and for the flashing operations LED. But it's the side cutouts that I believe are the biggest problem: they're simply too big for access required of them, making the remaining case material along the edges that are shared with the screen opening too thin and 'unstable' to work well in keeping the clear, hard-plastic screen protector in place.

The way the protector works is that it's a flat piece of plastic with a thin flange along its perimeter edge; in place it rests on the 7100t's own screen. This flange is supposed to slip into slits molded along the rubber edge of the case's screen opening. But the KRATON case material is so soft and pliable that the case "frame" around the screen opening isn't rigid enough to keep the flange edge in the slits, or more importantly, keep the protector from shifting around against the phone.

Moreover, it seems like the flange on the protector just isn't large enough to keep things in place. Put the phone in a pants pocket, and I can count on the screen protector moving around or even partially popping out. Because the protector does move around, great care must be taken to minimize dirt and contaminants between itself and the 7100t's own screen, otherwise as I rudely found out the protector itself can do EXACTLY what it's supposed to protect against: scratch the phone's LCD screen.

At $33.99 there's NO WAY this thing is worth it. Even at $28.99 (for the blue case, which is what I bought) it's a waste of time, effort and money. The constant wrestling I do trying to keep the protector's flanges in place are a MAJOR irritant. I switched from a Krusell leather case to this one, mainly because the Krusell had a full clear plastic cover over the keyboard that hurt the tactile feel during typing. But at least I never got a scratch on the phone's LCD when using the old case.

Big Thumbs Down.

Great idea!

Rating: 5

I'm not really a gadget guy, and what gadgets I do have get pretty beat up. When the company gave me a Blackberry so I can "stay in touch", I needed to at least take care of the thing. So, I bought this skin from Speck Products. Its is absolutely awesome!

No more dings or scratches. I'm a minimalist and for that, the Blackberry Skin is perfect! A cool look, not bulky. Easy access to the buttons. They did their homework on this product.

A must have for anyone who owns a Blackberry. I also see they have these for the Treos.

By Speck

The Mobile Phone Saving Network

Blackberry 7100T SkinTight w/ Holster - Blue