The second-generation Microsoft Zune has been available in the United States for a few months now and it’s only a short while away before Canadians will be able to get in on some Microsoft-flavored portable music and video too. The trouble for Canadians is that because this is the first time the Zune will be available north of the 49th parallel, there aren’t going to be that many options when it comes to accessories and other paraphernalia for it. This is in sharp contrast to the Apple iPod, as the latter has been around for a lot longer. Even when a new iPod model emerges on the market, all the major accessory makers jump at the opportunity to make a new speaker dock, skin, or some other accessory designed specifically for the shiny new iPod.
Thankfully, the good people at Agent18 are coming to the rescue of Zune owners as they have developed a fantastic case to go with the Zune 80GB Media Player that we reviewed earlier. Dubbed the Dragon Shield, this polycarbonate case will protect the Zune from all the usual bumps, bruises, and scrapes. This way, you won’t have to worry about the occasional drop or brush up against a harsh surface.
Features and Specifications
Because this is “just” a case, you’re not going to find anything all that groundbreaking with the Agent18 Dragon Shield for the Zune2 80GB. Even so, it seems like Agent18 has done a good job with the construction and you can easily tell that the quality is better than some of those el cheapo iPod cases you may have at the dollar store or thrift store.
According to the official product page, the Dragon Shield — which retails for $24.95 — comes with the following features:
- Simple snap on/off design
- Clear carbonate back and front lens protection
- Access to all connectors and buttons
- Compatible with Zune 80 player
Yeah, it’s not the most exciting feature set you’ve ever seen, but it does what it needs to do and it does it well. I have to note that this is a hard case, as I’m sure you’ve noticed, so fans of silicon cases will have to look elsewhere. I have a generic silicon skin for my iPod nano myself and I enjoy the grip provided by the rubberized surface.
The hard plastic of the Dragon Shield does not afford this same level of grip, but there is a slight texture to the polycarbonate. This way, it’s not too slippery. Overall, I’m pleased with the choice of materials.
Snap On and Off Design
The Dragon Shield is comprised of two pieces. What you do is place your Zune into the front piece, ensuring that it’s in there nice and snug, and then you snap the back piece into place. This is about as simple as can be and as far as I can tell, it’s a perfect fit. No wobbling here.
Getting your Zune out of the case isn’t quite so easy. In one of the corners is some separation between the top and bottom half of the Dragon Shield. When I tried to simply pry the two pieces apart, it didn’t really work. The provided instruction said to use a coin (or something similar), stick that in the slot, and then rotate the coin. This worked like a charm, but you may not always have a coin handy. I guess your wedding ring will have to do.
Built In Screen Protector
Seeing how the Zune is not a touchscreen device, Agent18 was able to employ a very effective screen protector in the Dragon Shield. All they’ve done is include a clear plastic portion where the Zune display happens to be. As a result, you don’t have to worry about getting a scratch on that beautiful color display. Then again, because the Zune uses a glass screen rather than a cheap plastic one, this isn’t much of a concern to begin with. Even so, it’s a nice inclusion on Agent18’s part.
The design of the case also affords full access to all the ports and controls. This is an absolute necessity, to be sure, but I’m almost inclined to say that they should have had some sort of mechanism to protect the dock connector. Your Zune is not fully protected by the Dragon Shield, because bits of dust and stuff can still get into the connector. Because of the cutout for the Zune Pad and buttons, you may also accumulate some crud over time.
I think this is just a necessary evil and it’s not something that will be easily overcome. The alternative would be some sort of silicon skin, but I’m not sure if the Zune Pad would still be functional underneath the silicon.
Conclusion
All in all, I’m quite pleased with the Agent18 Dragon Shield for the Microsoft Zune 80GB model. The clear polycarbonate casing has a nice thickness to it and it should afford plenty of protection for your valued portable media player. The trouble with the hard plastic is that there really isn’t much in terms of grip, even though the surface has a slight texture to it. I’m not sure if it would have taken away from the overall “clean” appearance of the case, but Agent18 might have been able to deploy subtle rubber grips on the sides.
The inclusion of an integrated screen protector is handy and it does not detract from visibility, both in terms of menu navigation and video watching. The controls are fully accessible while the Zune is in the Dragon Shield, and there was not an excessive level of thickness to the plastic to hinder operation. All ports are also available, though I would have liked to see some added protection for the dock connector.
Priced at $24.95, the Dragon Shield from Agent18 probably isn’t the cheapest Zune case on the block, but it’s certainly not the most expensive either. Seeing how the second-generation Zune is still relatively new, you don’t have too many options when it comes to protective cases. The Dragon Shield is a solid choice and earns this editor’s recommendation.
Pros
- Very nice quality polycarbonate casing
- Integrated screen protector is handy
- Very easy to install
- Offers fantastic protection against minor damage
Cons
- Lack of grip could cause slippage
- Debris accumulation a possibility with cutout portions
- No protection given to dock connector
- A little pricey for just some plastic
Overall Rating: 9.0/10
