Product Description

BoxWave's Armor Case is a form-fitting, aluminum metal case that is designed to protect your Microsoft Zune 80GB from everyday wear and tear.

Product Details

• Brand: BoxWave Corporation
• Dimensions: .26 pounds

Features

• Form-fitting case designed to perfectly fit your Microsoft Zune 80GB
• Made of anodized aluminum that is strong yet lightweight
• Designed with a clear plexiglass window that protects your Microsoft Zune 80GB's screen so you can easily read your display!
• Interior is padded with a thin layer of foam that holds your device securely in place
• Accessible openings give quick access to button functions, camera, and charging/synchronization port

Customer Reviews

Bulletproof your Zune
OK, in all honesty I don't think the Armor case could stop a bullet, but it is very sturdy. Placing the Zune in the case is very simple, just pop the clasp on the left of the case, slide the Zune in, and then close the case again. The interior of the case is lined with a thin layer of a foam rubber type substence, so the Zune is kept very snug within, and protected from potential damage caused by moving within its case (one of my minor concerns before purchasing the product).

Access to the controls and ports is very good - with there being only a minor problem with scrolling up on the Zunepad without bumping into the lip of the case - but it's not an issue once you're used to it. Access to the ports comes from a small cutout at the base for the power/transfer cable, and the top of the case being mostly open.

The case comes with a clip, that requires a small protrusion be screwed into the back to use. The Zune can them be snapped in and out of the clip very easily. It also comes with a Lanyard, which also seems easy to use, although I have had no reason to use it myself.

The only real downside to the case is that it does add a slight but noticeable amount to the Zune's weight.

Pros - Tough, Stylish, Well produced, nicely thought out.
Cons - minor issue with using the up on the Zunepad, adds a small amount of weight to the Zune.

Protection that works
Pluses,
1) metal case
2) inner padding
3) plastic cover for zune screen, not an empty cut out in the metal
4) zune stays cool inside the case. I was worried the zune may heat up since the case is very snug.
5) good access to buttons and headphone jack
Minuses,
1) door opens on opposite side. Does NOT open like a book. Hinge is on opposite side which makes for awkwardness in openning. Also case is too hard to open with one hand (in case you were wondering) so that could not be the cause of the hinge being were it is.
2) plastic screen protecter is great except i have a hard time seeing the screen in sunny days outside. This could be actually a zune issue rather than the case.
All in all, the only way to protect the zune. it is cheap enough to splurge on the investment. And that comes from a guy who broke two mp3's by dropping them countless times.

Very good case for use on belt
I use my Zune on a daily bike commute and doing yard work. Belt clip option was important to me as I previously had gotten used to using a belt clip with a cell phone. For me, a belt clip was better than pocketing the phone or the Zune. I can operate the device on the fly without looking at it, and this isn't as easily accomplished when the Zune is in a pocket.

Also, the case is sturdy (see my update below). Obviously protects against scratches on Zune's glass screen and on the molded plastic face. It also seems to offer some protection for drops--wife dropped my Zune day after I got it in the case, from chair height. No damage to Zune and no noticeable damage or warping of the case itself. Don't think I would trust the lanyard, given the weight of the Zune/case combination, but belt clip mount was great.

Overall, I prefer it to the acrylic cases (though I don't discount the value of those as my daughter's 30gb iPod Video is in virtually perfect condition after two and a half years after being encased in an acrylic cover on day one--in the meantime, she's destroyed two phones).

Overall, I recommend the Armor Metal Case, especially if you're interested in belt mounting.