My first mobile was a Nokia 5110. Aside from being easy-to-use, I remember the phone's toughness. It was literally built like a tank. I've dropped it so many times, and it continued working. Sure, the battery became a little lose, but I never experienced any significant damage. I was even tempted to throw it at a window, knowing that the glass wouldn't survive.

Fast forward to recent times. Over the last three years, I've gone through three units. That's because whenever I've dropped a phone, it usually breaks into pieces. So when I discovered the advantages of "skin-tight" protective cases, I was very happy. The translucent material completely covers the device, protecting it from scratches, and provides slight cushioning.

The point is, wouldn't you agree that most of today's gadgets are wimps? It seems like manufacturers focus less on durability, instead using "toughness" as a marketing tool. For example, Nokia's handhelds seem less sturdy, and the manufacturer packaged robustness as a new model, the 5500 (which by the way can really take a lot of punishment).

What do you think? Do you agree that smartphones and PDAs are less durable today? Do you have any gadget experiences that prove or disprove what I said?