Personal Made Public

Well, I was surprised and heartened by the recent election in Iraq. To have so many people vote (about 57% of eligible voters) in the face of terrorist threats not to do so shows the deep-rooted desire of most Iraqis to have a voice in the future of their country. Of course, the choice they make may not be a Western-style, secular representative democracy like we might prefer -- but that's what freedom is about: getting to choose the shape of your society.

My optimism is somewhat tempered, however, by an article I saw from the New York Times dated 9/4/1967 entitled U.S. Encouraged by Vietnam Vote: Officials Cite 83% Turnout Despite Vietcong Terror.

If Vietnam didn't make it with an 83% turnout, what are Iraq's chances with only a 57% turnout?

Posted by Kevin at 05:47 PM | Permalink

The Good: The case cover is detachable and contains a pocket for your earbuds. A detachable belt clip and an armband are both included. A bottom "hatch" exists so that you can plug in your iPod without removing it from the case. The case has substantial rubbery padding around the sides so as to offer good impact resistance.

The Bad: The cover is a little too small, so the scroll wheel does not line up well with the opening. The tightness of the sleeve will also tend to scratch your iPod if you remove it from the case often. I've also found that when running on warm days using the armband the Sportsuit can cause your iPod to overheat and lock up so that you cannot reboot or shut down (remove it from the case and put it in a cool place for 10 minutes to get control again). I also find the armband to be a bit large. I'm a small, but fairly muscular, guy. I have to tighten the armband to just about its limit. Women are likely to find the armband too loose for them to use, especially when active.

The Verdict: Great idea and great features are marred by poor manufacturing. Runners should beware of the problems with heat dissipation. Overall, the Sportsuit Convertible is overpriced. I'm shopping for a better case that will meet my needs.

Posted by Kevin at 05:15 PM | Permalink