Customer Reviews

Belkin Acrylic Case with Kickstand for Zune 80/120 GB (Clear)

5 star:		(11)
4 star:		(5)
3 star:		(5)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

It was really tough to find a case for the Zune 80 that isn't a wallet type case so I felt pretty luck to find this at Amazon and to get it without waiting a month. It's nice looking case and it seems pretty rugged. A couple of things I didn't like...
- the 'hold' switch in the top left is pretty hard to access since it's so recessed once the case is on
- same problem with the headphone jack. some headphones may not fit
- It's tough to use the 'touch' feature of the control pad since the pad is now surrounded (at the top and bottom) by the case
- the front of the case that covers the screen was scratched pretty badly right out of the box
- the belt clip/stand seems to work pretty well as a stand in landscape mode but doesn't seem stable in portrait mode. Also the belt is not very securely attached to the case

I bought this case a few months ago as it was the ONLY one I could find with a clip that converted to a kickstand by rotating and pulling away from the case (therefore allowing you to watch vidoes the right way). I do love it, however the plastic scratches quite easily and therefore I am buying another one. I have searched far and wide and still cannot find another case that will meet my needs like this one does. For under 15.00, I don't mind having to replace it every 6 months or so. Possibly, there will be other options when my new one scratches up.

Great quality... Zune fits perfectly into the protective case and it looks great. All buttons remain easily accessible and fully functional. For anyone who wants to keep their zune scratch-free I highly recommend the case.

Pros:
- Excellent protection
- Protects corners
- Silver panel is a nice touch
- Kick stand swivels for landscape view
- Bundled with mounting accessory
- Acrylic doesn't attract debris like rubber cases
- Translucent showcases Zune originals and other designs
- Brushed aluminum front panel
- Compatible with most headphone jacks

Cons:
- Large, bulky and obtrusive
- Screen panel not clear
- Translucent design showcases wear & tear
- Useless and fragile belt clip
- Access to key lock is almost impossible

Thoughts:
It is one of the handful of Zune 80/120GB second generation cases out there. I bought this because it was the only one that would ship out here.

It is solidly constructed and offer a large area of protection. Protection is especially needed in the corners, where the most damage is inflicted from drops and bumps. So far, I have dropped my Zune 120 once and it was only from 2 feet but the case did it's job. The corner was just at just the right angle and the front panel popped off. The Zune stayed in place and was well protected from the fall. It didn't seem to have gained any internal damage since then. The front panel has had this 1x2mm circle that looks like an oil spot. I've wiped and cleaned it, but the circle still shows.

Be sure to buy a screen protector even if you decide to buy this. Game stop sells a good one as a PSP screen protector 2-pack as long as you just cut them to size.

The mount accessory is too small to be effective. Double sized 3M tape does a better job. Forget the mount accessory and use 3M tape to the kickstand itself. The kickstand doubles as a belt clip, but it is too weak and has too much play. I highly stress that you never use it as a belt clip.

The fit is snug and the Zune is secured in place. There are strips of rubber that hold the Zune in place and server as shock absorbers, although they are quite thin and small. The touch feature on the pad is hindered but they work for the most part. The clearance for the jack provides enough room for almost all headphones. The major gripe is that the key-lock slider is inaccessible. I can only think of using a cut piece of grip tape and securing it to the slider. It may see like a nitpick but when carrying around my Zune, having that key lock makes the difference between inadvertently having dead-weight or a fully charged media player.

While acrylic does a good job of protecting, having a translucent one does showcase the wear and tear. The front panel is starting to show its age. All the rubber contacts show through the translucent design too. I suppose it's good for protecting and showing off your Zune if you have those original designs, but it's not for me. A nice matte black or solid dark finish would have been better. Even better if it was made of the same brushed aluminum finish as the front panel. Overall not a bad design. Maybe it is just the quality control, who knows? I would have gotten the wallet type, but those didn't offer the protection, especially of the corners. If I had to choose a second time, I'd rather get another case. Maybe Pelican or Otterbox can answer the call...

Bottom line:
Recommended with reservations. Serves its job in protecting but has hindrances. Be sure to buy this with a screen protector.

This Belkin Acrylic Case is the second best thing I've ever purchased on-line. The Best being the Zune MP3 player I bought this case for. I highly recommend this product, I particularly like the belt clip it has.

The Belkin Remix Metal Acrylic Case with Kickstand for Zune 80/120 GB is not a bad case to protect your Zune. It has a number of pros but a number of cons too. There are fewer cases available for the Zune than for iPods, and in general it's harder to get a good deal on one. I figured for about two thirds of the list price, it was worth giving this a try.

I have one of the Remix cases for a different MP3 player. This case has the additional attachment for a belt clip, but contrary to the description does not seem to work very well as a kickstand. Additionally it does not seem like something that could be used as a belt clip if you were moving around a lot. So the clip attachment is definitely a disappointment overall.

There was no additional documentation within the product case. A quick scan of their website provided no additional documentation. If there is a way to use this attachment as a kickstand that I just did not understand, please feel free to let me know in the comments.

One disappointment I had with this case is that the contact spots it creates on the screen give me a fear that my screen might get scratched. So before you can really install your Zune in this case and take it out with you, you really have to purchase an additional screen protector to go between this case and your screen. Other cases I have purchased included one, but this one did not.

If you want to use your control key as a *touch pad* this case's metal front definitely crops a little to close to the center pad. I personally disable that on all my Zunes and only use it as a directional pad, but this is worth noting.

So this case will do a decent job of protecting your Zune, provided you have a screen protector first or don't mind contact spots and scratches. But if you are planning on using the kickstand and belt clip features, they not 100% of the way there.

I will still be looking at other cases and I fear I may just have to pay full price for one of the larger leather ones.

Good luck.

This case has many good qualities.The fit is excellent and all controls and ports are easily accessable.The acrylic is of high quality and does not interfere with the screen clarity.Now the down side,the belt clip/kickstand.This will come off if you think about a light breeze.If you are never on any surface besides carpet you might be okay.As a stand this works,but as a belt clip,lets just say I'm glad no one was taking my picture as my womans 120 gig zune hit the tile floor.The case did it's job the zune was undamaged but won't take another chance.

Just watch out for the sharp edges. Gloves are recommended when opening and closing case.

Holes all line up properly. I've dropped the Zune + case from waist height to pavement, and both ended up just fine. The hole for the headphone jack is a bit small; if you have a plug with a large head, it might not fit, but I haven't had this problem with any of my equipment. Screen is fully protected and has stood up to use without getting badly scratched.

I truly recommend this product, protects your Zune like no other, as a gadget lover, giving it my best score.