Having said that, if you work in tough conditions and need a case to protect your Blackberry Curve, go get an OtterBox.

I'll be honest, when Bob said he wanted me to try out this new case for my Curve, I was less than enthusiastic. I've tried case after case, but I've never found one I like. This one, though, did the trick. Here's my take.

The Good....

- It was easy to set up. The clear plastic that came with the outer shell was easy to wrap onto the phone. The casing snapped right into place and the sleeve went on with ease.

- Protection is above par. I've dropped the phone several times from different heights since I put the case on, and I've not experienced any technical problems with the phone. It also got knocked off a clipboard into some wet grass at my son's football game where normally it would've gotten soaked -- but again, no problems. In fact, I took the case off a few days ago and the phone still looks brand new.

- The keyboard was still easy to use. When I put the sleeve on the phone, I wasn't sure if the molded keys in the plastic were going to line up correctly, and even if they did, I didn't think the keys would respond as well. I was wrong. I've not had any problems with the clear plastic and, in fact, have loved the extra protection they offer. Other buttons on the phone respond perfectly.

- The sound quality is still excellent. Both outgoing and incoming calls have been as clear as they were before I started using the case.

The Bad....

- The case is big. One of the things I liked about the Curve was that it was smaller than the old 'brick' style Blackberries of old. I could fit the Curve in my pocket without a case and it never got in the way or felt uncomfortable. The case makes the phone feel like it's the same size as the old Blackberries, so you pretty much have to use the holster on the belt. I've never been a fan of those.

- It garners attention. This is both a bad and a good. I had at least 20 people ask me if I was talking into a Game Boy when using the phone with the case. I got kinda tired of explaining to people what I was talking into. However, the combination of the size and the black and yellow colors stand out, so I guess that helps OtterBox get some recognition. And now that I think about it, it's good that people notice it. I left it on a bench at an amusement park and someone grabbed me to remind me that I left my phone.

Bottom line: If you need great protection from the elements (barring complete submersion) and don't mind the size, the OtterBox 'otter' be your next case if you have a Blackberry Curve.