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Indestructible tech assumes the worst
There's a growing, not-so-subtle message coming from the designers and manufacturers of accessories for our favorite gadgets. They're telling us we are one massive, collective, irresponsible spaz.
An obsessive trend toward "indestructible" iPhone cases, FireWire devices, and flash drives is pushing into the consumer market. One or two of these products would indicate that savvy companies are identifying the occasional need to protect a sensitive electronic gadget from extreme wear and tear or the sudden impact that can come with traveling and use in hostile environments. But the drive toward stubborn durability leaves one to wonder what product engineers think we average consumers are out there doing with our expensive toys.
The hand-wringing is never more evident than in the iPad market. A tour of this year's Macworld Expo would leave you convinced iPad owners walk around in constant, abject anxiety of dropping or otherwise smashing the glass faces of their beloved devices.
Armored and water-resistant cases abound, including the Dry Case, the Marware C.E.O. Hybrid, the Swivel Pro, and The HandStand iPad Holder. The latter wraps your iPad up so tight it could paddle a small floating craft or serve as a well-starched Ping-Pong paddle. Does the average user need that sort of protection surfing the Web from their living room? Or are they using their iPads to prop up tables or flip omelettes? … Read more
