I see a lot of people worried about damaging their new minis, so I thought it might be a good idea to post some general tips, and things to avoid doing that may cause damage. I should say that my mini is damage-free after almost a week. :)

? Don't slide the mini in and out of the armband and belt-clip, mostly to avoid damaging the rubber nodule on those accessories that holds the mini in to place. HOWEVER, when you "snap" the mini out of these accessories, be extra careful to not accidentally gash the mini's screen cover on the edge of the clip -- that's almost happened to me once or twice, so I think it's worth being a little extra careful when removing it from those clips.

? Do not store your mini in a pocket with loose change, keys, or any other hard objects that could potentially scratch the unit. My feeling is that the minis themselves are probably pretty darn scratch-resistant, but metallic objects could potentially cause a scratch.

? The LCD screen protector is likely a weak point, in terms of being the easiest spot on the mini to scratch. Definitely go for a screen protector, one of those little plastic squares that sticks to the plastic, especially if you are prone to having your belongings get a bit marred.

? Don't put your mini face-down on a table or other object, you are much more likely to scratch the screen that way. Also, the clickwheel is most prone to muck/dirt/grime becoming visible, so sticking it face-down could cause it to pick up some nasty stuff.

? While I don't think it's realistic to have 100% clean fingers all the time when operating your mini, if you have pencil graphite, lead, or anything mucky like that on your fingers, do yourself a favor and try to wipe them off before using your mini. You might want to have a few moist towelettes on your person for this purpose!

? Joggers/runners/athletes/etc. -- if you work out with your mini, beware the sweat factor! Sweaty fingers are no good, especially if moisture creeps into the open ports of the mini, or the edge of the clickwheel or clickwheel button.

So far with a little bit of thought, my mini looks brand new after almost a week. All in all, this is a very sturdy device, and I expect it will hold up well over the next several years.

Anybody else have any other "mini safety tips" to add? :)