Some comments from Brian McLaughlin of the University of Hawai’i School of Ocean and Earth Sciences and Technology (SOEST) working on a cabled underwater observatory anchored just off of Waikiki Beach Mr. McLaughlin’s comments… What works well: - For the most part, the housing is nice the blackberry seats well inside and has never unclasped. - Keyboard presses are nearly always accurate. - Track wheel usage is g The Otter Box doesn’t add a whole lot to the size. The blackberry is large to begin with anyway. I can still use one hand to operate it. What could be better: – Definitely not water proof, probably not water resistant. The gasket and speaker membranes probably do a good job of keeping out dust, but a light shake of the housing while just under the water’s surface allows water inside. Splash proof, maybe. – The screen is illegible in sunlight, indoor conditions require the brightness on the blackberry to be turned up to max. – Track wheel adapter does need to be re-seated sometimes and this works to get more accurate track wheel clicking.I feel that is it robust and have more confidence I won’t break the blackberry from dropping it. If I were to use this on a boat, I still would take great care to keep it dry. Depending on the retail cost and inconvenience in replacing the blackberry, a good sacrifice if the housing were to be damaged due to a drop. — Brian E. McLaughlin Oceanographic Research Specialist Department of Oceanography School of Ocean and Earth Science and Technology University of Hawaii at Manoa Honolulu, HI 96822 Technology Industry