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The iPhone is unquestionably one of the sleekest, most attractive electronic gadgets ever designed -- and one of the most expensive. One slip and your new crown jewel could end up scarred for life or even damaged beyond repair. But who wants to mask the beauty of their iPhone with an ugly case?

To protect or show off, that is the question.

Enter Contour Designs' iSee with an elegant solution: it's a crystal clear polycarbonate case precisely molded to fit your iPhone that adds protection yet allows its beauty to shine through.

Cases for electronics fall into two categories. There are "working" cases, which are the kind you never (or rarely) remove as the device is fully useable while in the case. Other enclosures require you remove the device to work with it. Everyone has their preference and there are advantages and disadvantages to both. Personally, I'm lazy: if I have to fiddle with a case constantly, I'll end up leaving it off, and then my device is without protection when it needs it most.

The iSee is a working case: the only time you'll need to remove the case is if you want to use the iPhone dock. This isn't a problem for me, since I don't bother with the dock but just connect the power cable directly and you do not have to remove the iSee for that.

The case is in two parts, a front and a back, which easily snap together via a built-in plastic clip. Once locked in place, the fit is snug and the case is extremely secure. It features full all-around protection with curved corners and precise openings for the 30-pin iPod connector and speakers, the camera on the back, the volume and ringer switch on the side, and the earphone jack and power button on the top. Unfortunately, these openings mean the jacks are left exposed, so you can get lint accumulation in your headphone jack, for instance. If that's a problem for you, a different kind of case might work better.

The face of the iPhone is left clear so you can access the touch screen; there are molded openings on the front for the ear speaker and Home button. A nice touch are three rubber bumpers on the back of the case which helps keep it from sliding when placed on a table or other slick surface.

One feature I really like about the iSee is that there are indentations in the middle of each side of the shell. These are there for the belt clip locking mechanism, but they are really handy for finger placement when you're using the iPhone as a phone. Your fingers just naturally fall into these grooves and you hold the phone more securely than an iPhone without a case.

One disadvantage of this kind of case is that it leaves the screen unprotected. Some people prefer a case with a flap or something that covers the front, but that requires more hassle to use the device and I prefer instant access. If you just want to protect the screen from scratches, you can apply sheets of plastic film transfer to the LCD (I use some designed for my old Palm PDA).

Another way to protect the screen is to use the included belt clip and place the iSee facing inward instead of outward, effectively giving the face a cover.

I've never been a fan of belt clips for iPods, but I love using a belt clip with the iPhone. iPods tended to be "stick in your pocket and forget about it" devices for me, but the iPhone is something I need to access quickly and frequently. Digging for a ringing iPhone deep in your pants pocket while you're driving is not a good idea.

My first iPhone case was a rubber "skin" type case and while it provided some protection, it was extremely difficult to get in and out of the belt clip. Many times it was faster to rip off the entire belt clip to answer the phone than the tug the gripped iPhone out of the belt clip. Even worse, twice I thought I had it locked in the clip only for it fall out when I walked (once onto a concrete path).

I am pleased to report that the iSee belt clip is far superior. It's essentially a form-fitting plastic tray with button lock at the top. Once the iPhone is locked in place, it's in securely, and the design makes it almost impossible to walk off with it half-locked. Yet it's easy and quick to remove the iPhone at the touch of the release button. You can even use the iPhone from your hip as the screen is completely accessible (unless you place it in face first).

I should also mention that the belt clip swivels so you can wear the iPhone vertically or horizontally. Horizontal use seemed odd when I bought the case, but in practice it's much better than vertical as it is the same orientation as the belt line and causes less interference when sitting.

The only problems I encountered were that sometimes the tail of my shirt would get caught between the clip and my iPhone, blocking the phone from going in, and that the spring on the belt clip is a little weak and sometimes I found it didn't hold to my belt as securely as I wanted. Both of these just require you to pay a little attention to what you are doing so they are minor issues.

Though I didn't want to risk my iPhone by test dropping it in the case, judging from the durability of the plastic shell this case should provide ample protection for your iPhone. It's not going to protect it from a heavy man stepping on it, a car driving over it, or a drop in a toilet bowl, but it should be fine for routine tumbles and bumps. My only concern would be that a hard fall might cause the plastic case to scratch or crack, which might necessitate replacement, but then a case is a lot cheaper to replace than an iPhone.

Bottom Line

But these are extremely minor quibbles. The positives of the design far outweigh such issues. Overall I really like the iSee. It's lightweight yet strong, and the clear form-fitting polycarbonate shell does not distract from the sleek beauty of the iPhone. The included belt clip can be used or not, depending on your preference, but I swear by it. I love having my iPhone handy and immediately accessible on my hip. It's hardly noticeable in terms of weight and bulk and the convenience is terrific. Recommended.

Stars: 4.5

macopinion@designwrite.com