TecKMagazine - Marware Sidewinder for 30/60GB iPod Review

Marware Sidewinder for 30/60GB iPod Review

Written by Don Lee
Sunday, 07 May 2006
You have invested a lot of your hard earned money into your Apple iPod, downloaded music and videos but now you have to find a way to protect your investment without hindering its use. Accessory maker Marware has introduced the Sidewinder smart armor for the Apple iPod. The Marware Sidewinder is designed to protect your iPod but to still provide you easy access to all of the iPod’s functions. When I first removed the case from the packaging, I noticed that the case is made of a hard plastic shell and it is about a quarter inch thick. The Sdiewinder sports a clear plastic screen to protect the iPod’s video display. There are cut-outs in the shell to provide easy access to the iPod’s click wheel, Dock, headphone and hold button. There is also an adjustable stand on the back of the Sidewinder that you can pull out so you can watch video comfortably on the iPod. There are some individual parts that you will need to connect to the Sidewinder. First, you will need to remove the cardboard insert on the side of the device so you can slide the cord wrap into the Sidewinder. The removable belt clip snaps easily into the back of the device. The top cover, which provides access to the hold button and headphones jack, slides into the Sidewinder. There is also an insert that is only to be used for the 30-gigabyte iPod. The insert has a soft surface facing the inside of the Sidewinder which is to provide a snug fit for the 30-gigabyte iPod as well as to protect the backing of the iPod. Do not use this insert if you have the 60-gigabyte iPod. Once the iPod is installed into the Sidewinder (I installed the 30-gigabyte one), you will see that the iPod fits perfectly and acts like a second skin. You still have easy access to all of the iPod’s features. The Marware Sidewinder is an excellent protector for the Apple iPod. It fits perfectly with the 30 and 60-gigabyte iPods. The only issues I have is that it is a little difficult to push the iPod out of the Sidewinder, the top cover and the cord wrap. I find that the cord wrap and the top cover can be easily lost because they can be slid out and removed. I would have liked to see both items attached to the Sidewinder instead. The difficulty in removing the iPod will probably become less of an issue once the device has been removed a few times from the Sidewinder. You have to be extra careful not to exert too much pressure on the bottom of the iPod since that is where the Dock port is. The Marware Sidewinder is available in black and white. Overall, the Marware Sidewinder for the Apple iPod will provide a solid defense against long-term use of your device. They are very inexpensive which makes this a good buy because it is better to pay for that little protection now than paying for a replacement iPod later. You can click here to learn more about the Marware Sidewinder for 30/60GB Apple iPods.

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