I wonder how long the GoPro device lasts before a consumer replaces it. In my mind, a GoPro is something you wear on your head while doing crazy stuff. Even if GoPro never makes technology improvements, it seems like people would be destroying them as part of normal use, like other types of athletic equipment.
The case, in my experience, is nigh on indestructible. I have dropped it from the top of a hundred foot ice climb, thumped it in 10 foot Indonesian surf, and kicked it around in my bag more times than I can count. It is extremely durable.
The biggest problem with the product is the battery life is utter crap, particularly in extreme weather conditions. In the cold, on a full charge, it will last about 30 minutes. Overall, it is a truly amazing product and they have made it possible for the average Joe to document his adventures without spending thousands of dollars on hiring a professional photographer/videographer.
Skydiver with 3 GoPros in the family. I started with the 1, got my wife a 2, and then I upgraded to a 3. The V1 is still alive and kicking, but the image quality was so much better on the 3 that I felt like I had to upgrade.
Also, we see new jumpers every year, and the first thing they want to do is start jumping with a GoPro (even if we don't want them to for safety reasons).
I think they're doing a good enough job with new features that people like me will keep upgrading for a while.
Dropped one without the case: lens onto concrete floor and it chipped it.
Consequence of fumbling while trying to take it out of the case for SD card retrieval and charging. Now, I unmount the case, take it to a desk in a carpeted room & open the case.
I found mine washed up on a beach in a waterproof case (had no way of identifying the true owner). No idea how long it had been floating in the ocean before it washed up on the beach, but it works perfectly.
I had the mount for my GoPro break while I was descending a mountain road at around 75 kph on a road bike. The camera careened down the road for who knows how long. The SD card had popped out of the camera, but in the end both the camera and the card still worked, and I use both to this day.
The waterproof case is strong, however the camera's have a 1 year warranty, and shitty hardware so if you actually use the camera don't expect it to last you very long. I've RMAd at least 5 of them over the years and many of my friends who use them have had bad experiences as well.
I imagine that many people end up losing the device instead of destroying them, given the number of stories where people drop the cameras out of a plane, have the camera film a car crash from the interior, etc. and they survive with some impressive footage.
Largest users Ive encountered are motorcyclists and a number of RC flyers I know use them also.
I have a Contour strapped to my Monster, good for recording track days and the daily commute (for insurance).
