Expert’s Rating
Our Verdict
Since the release of the 11 - column inch MacBook Air last October , we ’ve reckon a caboodle ofbags and casesdesigned specifically for Apple ’s 11 - in laptop computer , range from the sleek and thin to the ornamental . WaterField Designs ’ $ 79MacBook Air Smart Casedoesn’t snaffle the heart the direction some of the tacky options do , but it nevertheless may be my favorite yet .
The Smart Case is a rectangular arm made of piss - resistant nylon ( available in Green , Flame , Copper , Pine , Pearl , or Black ) , with leather accents on the border and a layer of padding on the interior . It handle to preserve the MacBook Air ’s slim form - factor while pack on bed of auspices . The entire DoI is encompass in “ Ultrasuede , ” keeping your estimator free from scratches , and rigid - credit card inset run up between the suede leather and nylon layers allow a mo of shock shelter . The result is a sheath that ’s neither completely rigid nor floppy , but with the MacBook Air inside , it feel as sturdy as a arm twice its size . When empty , it keep back its shape praiseworthily ; in fact , if you ’re working on a desk that ’s a routine too humble for your laptop , or you want to keep the zephyr off your lap , the Smart Case makes for a nice shock .
As the Smart Case has no fuss or strap to keep your Air from sliding out , the sleeve is designed to fit the laptop quite snugly — which , as we ’ve discovered with several other 11 - inch sleeves and cases , can make it unmanageable to murder your computer . WaterField ’s solution is to adorn the bottom edge of the sleeve with a buddy-buddy , chocolate-brown - leather grummet made of the same leather as the edges of the case . You snap up your laptop with one hand and pull the sleeve off , using this grommet , with the other . On the occasions when I witness my laptop too difficult to remove by top - tugging alone , the loop was of swell service .
The Smart Case also offers a small amount of storage in the cast of a mesh pocket on the outside for carrying a few cord , a set of earphone , or some business posting . WaterField publicise this pocket as a place to store the Air ’s baron adapter , but in my experience , this work only if you use the AC adapter with its basic wall sparking plug . Adding the adapter ’s long power cord makes it too bulky for the mesh ( and the arm ) to handle .
Like the other WaterField bags and sleeves we ’ve test , the Smart Case is impeccably design , with no stitch out of place . It may not be the tatty casing out there , but it more than makes up for its simple blueprint with fun accent colors and solid protection . And — much to my surprise — it remains slim enough to slide easy into my ( relatively modest ) 11 - inch - wide satchel , which intend that for the first time , I do n’t have to care about carry an extra udder if I want to lug my laptop computer to and from work .
( I tested the 11 - inch variation of the Smart Case , but it ’s also useable in a version for the 13 - in MacBook Air for $ 89 . )
