Customer Reviews

iSkin eVo3 for iPod with Video 30GB (Eclipse)

5 star:		(50)
4 star:		(27)
3 star:		(5)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(2)

 

 

It is remarkable that, even though there are hundreds of iPod cases in existence, none of them are near-perfect. I tried four different cases, both hard plastic and silicone variants, and the iskin case comes the closest, protecting the ipod but at the same time not rendering the ipod less enjoyable to use.

The case is basically a hybrid of hard plastic and soft silicone. The ipod first slips into a silicone sleeve, which covers every part of the ipod except for the earphone plug and the screen. In addition, there is a hard plastic plate that is then inserted into seems on the front of the silicone case, and this provides the screen protection. Due to the double-seam in the silicone, the plastic plate never comes in contact with the ipod, so you don't have to worry about it scratching.

The case even has a flap that covers the dock connector, preventing dust from entering, yet you can still use the universal dock without removing the case.

The most unique part of this case is that it covers the clickwheel, but the silicone is so thin that it hardly impedes the scrolling. Actually, I think it provides just enough resistance so that you will overshoot your target much less than with the bare clickwheel.

The only real downside I found with the iskin is the clip that comes with it--I would not trust it at all, so I took it off. It would be nice to have a better clip that you can actually use, and it would be really great to have an armband available for it as well, but as I said above, I have yet to find a perfect ipod case. Like most silicone cases, this one does also attract lint in your pockets, etc., but it is not as bad as other cases.

Unfortunately, even though this is a great case, it is not readily available. I couldn't find it in any store, and Amazon only sells it through Marketplace sellers. I ordered from Applelinks, and they delivered it to me in four days. Whatever you do, don't order from the iSkin company directly. I have heard countless horror stories of people waiting a month for their cases. They should re-dedicate themselves to manufacturing these great iskins and let others worry about selling them.

Boy am i glad i ordered this on iskin's website the day the case launched. Its the best possible case you could get right now for your video ipod. it just came today and i am amazed by it. they completly correct any mistakes that the evo2 had. the ipod is completely protected and covered in every spot. with the case on, you ipod itself is not visible except for the screen and through the air holes on the back. you cant tell whether you have a black or white ipod, the case is not translucent. the VISOR thing protects the entire front of the ipod and there is a lip in between the VISOR and your ipod, which means that the edges of the VISOR wont scratch your ipod. (The screen protectors on the evo2 would actually scratch the edges of the screen). whatever scratches your ipod may have had will not be seen anymore, and this thing will make sure it doesnt get scratched again. its well worth the money to get this case even if it means waiting a while.

Here is my review for the iSkin eVo3 for the 30 GB ipod. At first reading all the reviews on the internet, I too was a bit skeptical on what exactly I was going to receive. I even dreaded that the case was going to suck. Previously I had used the Agent 18 hard cover case with the frosted sides. That case, even though it was solid, scratched too easily and the screen was so scratched that the image started to distort. With a video ipod, I thought it was to my best interest to invest in a newer case.

The iSKin came in and I instantly put it in the skin. Removing the belt buckle clip was very easy, after opening the booklet and reading their 'Da Vinci code' method of opening it, it came right off. The visor too was a simple install. Finally my case was inside fully protected. The Visor honestly feels like bulletproof glass, its that thick. Perhaps it adds just a little extra bulk to your ipod but it still fits comfortably in loose pockets and pulling them out is easy as well. Lint is a problem, this case does attract a lot of lint. But using water to wipe it off at the end of the day seems to be doing the trick so far. just wet ur hand n start wiping! That simple. The agent 18 case had one advantage of the ipod being thinner and lighter but this has the looks and the protection i believe.

The eclipse version of this product is not clear black see thru silicon. It is opaque but it still looks really cool and at least you can say you have a black ipod. most cases dont let you say that. I am not a big fan of skin cases, i infact hated them till i got this case. I just hope one day they can make a hard case with a VISOR. The hold button is easy to switch on and off, although sometimes you do not get the feel that you put it on hold. Just look at the screen to see if you did! Don't cut it off as some people have done. The wheel with the grooves over the MENU, ff, rewind, and play buttons make browsing a lot easier as well. Who knew putting a light cover over it would help??

Pros
-Very cool looking
-VISOR looks great and very protective of your baby
-Solid protection
-Grooves over wheel for easier browsing
-Holes in back for ventilation
-Highly clear VISOR for great viewing and its a bit tougher to scratch up. Still be safe with it.
-People sweat your ipod and everyone wants to buy one after they see yours.

Cons
-Adds just a tiny bit more bulk and weight from Agent 18 cases.
-Lint (not a major problem as people say just clean it, your life can't be that busy not to take 2 seconds to clean your expensive purchase)
-That's all really. Unless you hate the feeling of rubber in your hands. It could feel like your holding a michelin tire if you close your eyes but once you open them you will be happy.

I decided to purchase the Special Edition iPod and pay the extra $[...] for it -- I simply liked the color scheme and was upgrading from my 4g, 20GB iPod. So, I needed a good case. I take very good care of my 'stuff', truly love my iPod, so I did some research. I usually start with [...] and this case was very highly recommended. I went to the iSkin site and spent some time looking at their cases (they have a well designed site). I also looked at other cases, but eventually decided upon this one. Here's my analysis...

The pros: The case looks great. It protects all parts of your iPod (both click wheel and screen). The silicone does fit nice and snug. It has 4 separate ventilation areas on the back (a nice feature). It comes with a RevoClip. It is simple and easy to connect your earphones and docking cable. The feel of the silicone gives you a nice grip on the case itself. It looks nice...and does protect your investment (I wouldn't recommend dropping the iPod if possible, though -- you would need something like an oPod Otter Box or a case from Speck if you are prone to clumsiness and require more rugged protection)

The cons: (and this is where I would be one of the 'dissenters', so to speak.) The iPod's on-off switch in the upper left corner is also covered by the silicone. I found it a real pain to get used to operating the switch thru the silicone, so much so that I seriously considered slicing my own little hole there to make it easier to manipulate the switch (I chose not to do that). But it takes some doing to get accustomed to making this work easily...the case definitely attacts lint (though I have found that a damp cloth cleans the case in no time). The Revo Clip is made of plastic that does not impress me, nor would I trust it on my belt. And it takes a bit of 'learning' to take it off the case. And the directions that come with the case do advise one to secure the case/iPod "at all times." ISkin decided to change the visor to a smoky gray -- it is *not* very clear -- unless you use the backlight a lot, or consistently, which will eat up precious battery power, a definite "no-no" in my book. The old visor was fine -- why the change?
Getting the iPod into the case itself (contrary to what other reviewers have noted) is *not* all that easy, and in fact can be rather frustrating, to say the least. Therefore, taking the iPod in and out of the case, like I do in order to play the iPod in my portable speakers, is ill advised. *Note* that as is true with many iPod cases your iPod, when in this case, *will not* fit into most potable speaker systems. I foolishly and/or impulsively believed Iskin when they said that the case was only available thru them -- atypical for me, naive, and I rushed the purchase. The case arrived OK, but the price was an absurd $39.99. My fault, so don't make the same mistake that I did: purchase via Amazon or another site and you will save upwards of $20 or more! (and if you check out the iSkin site they are (or were) offering Cerulean ear plugs -- I would not recommend them. They are not worth it, even with the sale. They reportedly offer enhanced bass -- well, not to these ears. Yes, they match my Special Edition iPod and case quite nicely, but they are no better (if as good) as the ear buds you get with your iPod, so stay away...

My summary: A very nice case, but one that could be a fair amount better.
If you like to take your iPod out of its' case to play in portable speaker syatems, given the difficulties that this creates, I would recommend against the iSkin. If you put your iPod in this case, and essentially that is where it is going to stay, then definitely consider this case, keeping in mind the caveats noted above. Hope that this was helpful...good luck and do your research!

I bought this case with a little hesitation on account of the price and some issues some people had getting theirs before Christmas time. I had no problem with shipping...it came before Amazon estimated. I would recommend buying through Amazon--you at least get their guarantee. The case is well worth the money. Despite being opaque black, it looks great, just as snazzy as the original black ipod. It is difficult to use the hold switch, but it is possible if you use your fingernail. It's not bad enough to warrant cutting up the case. The only complaint I have is that the case seems to be a lint trap on account of the texture of the silicone rubber. Even with some lint, the case still looks good. Not a big deal. Until the clear hard plastic cases start to get thorough reviews, this seems to be the best you can do. Also, as advertised, this case works with the universal dock...a huge plus for me (it is, admittedly, not as easy to get it in there as it was without the case because you have to hold the flap back during insertion...I will probably get used to it though).

Purchased same style but different color (Green). This fits my 20 GB iPod with video.

Pro:
-Not bulky, very thin
-Fits perfectly with holes in all the right places
-Grips my unit, like it's alive, won't slip out and not slippery in my hand
-Hard plastic face where it's needed, not where it's not... wheel access is surprising tactile... wonderful!
-Clip spins/ratchets with firm, loud, definitive locations... doesn't just swivel on a pin
-Clip can be detached very easily if you wish
-Thin skin fits in some (by not all) iPod holders, such as car FM transmitters... my thinking is the thin skin has to be better than other cases
-Bright color makes it hard to lose

Cons:
-Low profile nature of clip not very good for thick belts
-No "complete loop" type holder that I could thread a belt through for absolute staying power, although it seems most others don't offer this either
-Clip can be hard to remove without a place to squeeze, much like a spring-loaded clothes pin... my cell phone holder has this feature.
-A little pricy, but similar to the competition
-I found the lock was too hard to activate so I cut a hole to make it useable for me

Bottom line: we recommend it for you and also bought a blue one for Mom too.

I was a little hesitent about spending $40 on a case but after putting the eVo3 case on my Video Ipod I couldn't be happier. I just sold my Nano(which was all scratched up) and bought the Video. It went straight into the case and I can't see how it could possibly get scratched. The ipod is completely covered, the case is very tight, looks very clean. The hold button is covered but if you have a fingernail its not hard to switch it. The wheel is covered and I was worried it might not be as responsive but you can't even tell, it works perfect!!!!

The iSkin eVo3 is a nice option for protecting your new iPod. The case completely covers my 5th generation iPod and protects it from the wear and tear of everyday use. I found like another reviewer, it was much more effective to trim the cover away from the "Hold" button, this made access much easier. I found it almost impossible to move the "Hold" button with the covering intact. The flap for the dock interface is a bit awkward. I would suggest that iSkin simply cover the entire base of the iPod and leave a simple opening for the dock/cable interface, similar to the headphone jack opening. Docking would be quick and efficient. By the way, you will need to remove any dock adapters in order to place your iPod with the iSkin cover into a universal dock. The cover takes up quite a bit of dock space. Aside from being a bit of a lint magnet and the possibility of the cover's plastic shield getting scratched, I recommend this product to help give your iPod a fighting chance in everyday use.

I have tried the Agent 18 on my iPod that scratched the front of my it and put dots on the back of it. Now that I bought this wonderful case, I haven't received another scratch since I removed it from the Agent 18! The screen protecter (Visor) works great! The lip of silicone keeps it from shifting in place. The click wheel protecter protects the click wheel and has full accessibility. You also get a flat of silicone to protect the USB connecter from dust, and a Hold switch protecter that is a bit hard to use but not to hard. The appearence is very nice and I have always wanted a black case since I got my first iPod, the Nano. My Nano broke because of the Contour iSee, so I didn't try the iSee on my precious Video iPod. I can keep this case on while listening to music from my Bose Sounddock also. Thanks iSkin for a great, protecting, accessible, and beautifully designed case!!!

This is the 3rd Ipod proctector product I have tried and the only one that I can say I am satisfied with. The black rubberized "skin" of the eVo3 Eclipse looks good and fits my Ipod video perfectly. The Eclipse's removeable belt clip has proven reliable enough for working around the house and quick runs to the store. The case cutout(earphone jack) and flap(USB connector)easily accomodate both my USB cable connector and earphone plug. The touch wheel is very responsive through the eVo3 skin. I never use the locking slider on my Ipod so I can't comment on the ease or difficulty of using that switch through the skin. The main reason I bought this case was because it provides a crystal clear view of my Ipod Video's screen. Yipeee! I was dissapointed with the previous two products I owned because their screen protection solutions left my screen looking like crap. With the Elipse case your screen is securely covered by a solid piece of clear plastic that does not touch the Ipod screen. If I could change one thing about the Elipse case I might add a scratch resistant treatment, similar to what's available for eyeglasses, to the clear plastic cover. Then it would stay looking perfect for the life of the product. The Eclipe case may not satisfy everyone but it's a nearly perfect solution for me. If you're still looking for a great protection solution for your Ipod, I recommend that you give it a try.