The Best Bag for Your 'Book (Part 4)
Posted 08/15/2007 at 11:54am
| by The Mac|Life Staff
The Case-Mate Signature Suit swaths your MacBook Pro in the finest Corinthian leather. OK, we don’t really know if the leather’s from Corinth (probably not), but Case-Mate chose soft, supple, genuine leather that feels like a luxurious but comfy pair of driving mocs. The molded case attaches to your ’Book effortlessly, using clear plastic straps on the top, over the screen, leaving all the ports, the Apple logo, and space on the bottom for air circulation uncovered. Only two downsides: You can’t plug in a DVI cable for an external monitor while this case is on, and it’s quite pricey.
SIGNATURE SUIT
COMPANY: Case-Mate
CONTACT: www.case-mate.com
PRICE: $159.99
SPECIFICATIONS: fits a 15" MacBook Pro only (other sizes available)
Gorgeous, supple leather. Laptop snaps in and out easily. Key ports left accessible. Also available in black, green, and white.
Pricey. Case is just a couple millimeters too close to the DVI port, making it impossible to use an external monitor when case is on.


If you’d prefer something more affordable that doesn’t use actual animal hide, the iSkin SOHO could be the solution. It’s got a pebbled texture and reverse stitching that comes in a variety of colors. Otherwise, its design is nearly identical to the Crumpler case below.
SOHO
COMPANY: iSkin
CONTACT: www.iskin.com
PRICE: $64.99
SPECIFICATIONS: fits a 15" MacBook Pro (SOHO for 13" MacBook is available for $59.99)
Reverse stitching in a variety of colors adds a touch of style to an otherwise fairly standard laptop case.
Pricey compared to other vinyl cases. Does not vent heat when ’Book is used inside the case.


Crumpler’s MacBook Pro School Hymn 15" zips closed on three sides, protecting your laptop in a case that you won’t be embarrassed to show off at school or the office. The case is obviously made from leather-look vinyl, but that’s not such a bad thing, especially if you hang out with members of PETA. It’s on the bulky side, though, considering that you can’t store anything but your ’Book inside. You can work on your laptop with the case lid open, but only in short stints; the ’Book heats up on the bottom and there’s no way to vent it.
MACBOOK PRO SCHOOL HYMN 15"
COMPANY: Crumpler
CONTACT: www.crumplerbags.com
PRICE: $50
SPECIFICATIONS: fits a 15" MacBook Pro (other sizes available)
Smart styling without harming any animals. Easy to zip and unzip. Also available in black, green, and blue.
Faux leather a bit cheap-looking. No way to vent a MacBook Pro.
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