As I mentioned back when the Mobile Mac Weblog debut , we see more laptop products than we can possibly overlay in depth . That ’s specially the grammatical case when it comes to laptop protection , so this week I ’m going to speed through a slew of laptop sleeves and give you my fast impressions . ( I ’m delineate “ sleeve ” here to be a compendious case designed to adjudge just a laptop — either for trade protection when carrying the laptop computer around by itself , or for throwing the computer inside a large old bag or a bag . )
Today I talk about some soft cover charge and intemperate shells ; on Wednesday , I ’ll breed a few leather jackets and rigid vitrine .
Soft covers
Back when I had a PowerBook Duo , neoprene “ peel ” sleeve were quite pop . They protected laptop against scratches and scuff — although not against anything worse than a minor jut — and some even let you use your laptop computer without removing the arm .
now , most laptops run too hot to be used in a sleeve ; on the other hand , today ’s sleeves are quite a morsel more rugged , made of material that offer decent shock protection , as well .
The various LArobes are also among the most attractive and protective soft sleeves I ’ve figure , thanks to a wide range of available colouring , stylish trim , and impressive care to detail . For instance , the zip is color matched , and the zip fastener pulls are broad and easy to grab . On the inside of the sleeve , each seam serves dual obligation as a thick , cushioned lip that offers extra blow protection for the edges of your laptop computer ( as well as a bumper between your laptop and the arm ’s zip fastener ) . Unlike the other two sleeves below , the LArobe is truly asleeve : when unzip , only the top third or so of your laptop is exposed to countenance you to slide the calculator in and out of the case .
The LArobe does n’t check like a close baseball mitt ; there ’s a bit of room — half an in or so , vertically and horizontally — for your laptop to move around inside . But I was instill by the LArobe , both esthetically and functionally . If you just need mild auspices when sticking your laptop computer inside another bag , this is a respectable wager .
( The LArobe is available in sizes for all MacBook Pros , MacBooks , and PowerBook G4s , as well as 12 - inch and 14 - in iBooks . )
Still , if you ’re not interested in the fashionable colors of the LArobe , and you ’re all right with slightly less stupor shelter , the BookCase and BookCase Pro are anywhere from $ 5 to $ 15 less expensive and are still square sleeves .
( The BookCase fits the 13 - in MacBook ; the BookCase Pro is useable for 15 - inch and 17 - inch MacBook Pros . )
Although it sounds convenient , there are three drawbacks to this approach . The first is that , given how hot today ’s notebooks get , surrounding them in a sleeve while they ’re in role certainly wo n’t help with estrus dissipation . The second is that on laptops with a front - ejecting optical cause , the pliable strap actually block the thrust ; you ’ll need to unfasten the front - right hand corner of the arm for use the cause . Finally , I was n’t able-bodied to get a MacBook Pro or a MacBook to shut properly with these elastic straps in place .
Thanks to those issues , I urge using the Skinbook as a standard sleeve ; but if you ’re going to do that , I found the LArobe and BookCase sleeves to be more attractive , more protective , and best - correspond for the same or low price .
operose shells
A mates vendors have released picnic - on polycarbonate shells that protect your laptop computer from scratches ; some are vindicated , whereas others rent you “ change ” the color of your computer . Having used one of these shells on my own laptop since last fall , I can tell apart you that they make well , although there are two possible risks .
The first is that you want to besureto clean your laptop computer and the interior of the shield before putting on the scale , and you should periodically remove the shell and brush out any detritus and dirt that detect its room underneath . If you do n’t , that debris can in reality scratch your laptop ; in fact , because it ’s pressed between your laptop and the case , it can do more damage that if the shell was n’t on . Second , be deliberate not to open up your laptop silver screen too forcefully . The top piece of these shell clips onto your laptop ’s screen and efficaciously makes it thick ; when you launch the screenland fully , the foundation of the sieve is therefore coming into contact with the bottom of the laptop computer earlier than normal and couch additional imperativeness on the screen ’s flexible joint . I have n’t see any existent damage due to this design — again , vernacular to every shell I ’ve seen — but it does make me nervous .
There are two difference between the original 15 - inch SeeThru and the current one : Apple made little change to the organization of ports on the MacBook Pro between the original 15 - inch example and subsequent edition ; to accommodate both layouts , the right - script side of the 15 - inch SeeThru practice a retentive , undivided opening rather than a separate curtain raising for each interface . In addition , Speck has raised the price of the 15 - in SeeThru to $ 50 to match the repose of the origin .
On the other hired hand , the BookShell offers less overall protection : the aforementioned openings on the bottom are quite large ; the entire back edge of the MacBook is unprotected ( compared to just the hinge field with the SeeThru ) ; and instead of individual openings for each interface and the optical thrust , the BookShell entrust most of the right wing and left incline open . Whether this is a good tradeoff to bring through $ 15 is up to you .
