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The Road Warrior Review - MacCase Classic Case 2008 For MacBook, iBook and PowerBook

The original Macintosh iBook, first introduced just over nine years ago and affectionately dubbed "the clamshell," was arguably the most visibly striking notebook computer form factor Apple ever built - the only challenger IMHO would be the MacBook Air, but I think the clamshell iBook bests even the Air, with the former's bright, two-tone colored livery, voluptuously rounded corners, and handy built-in carry handle. Trivia points: the original iBook is one of the largest laptops Apple ever built, while the MacBook Air is the smallest.

Not everyone was immediately smitten by the iBook's radical design and expansive proportions. In my original The Road Warrior commentary on the machine in JUly, 1999, I observed:

"This new Apple portable is visually arresting, in iMac-style translucent "ice" white with "rubber" gripping surfaces and highlights in either Blueberry or Tangerine iMac flavor colors. The Keyboard is essentially the same excellent design used in WallStreet and Lombard, only in the iBook it is transparent with keycap highlights in the appropriate flavor color. The trackpad is silver-white.

"The full-size keyboard is a clue to the fact that this iBook is not a subnotebook by any stretch of the imagination. In fact at 13.5 inches wide and 11.6 inches deep, my measuring tape tells me that iBook is nearly an inch wider and over an inch deeper than the PowerBook G3 WallStreet, which is considered a bit of a porker. It's no lightweight either, tipping the scales at 6.7 pounds, which makes it both bigger and heavier than the "full-size" Lombard PowerBook. The iBook's behemoth proportions are a disappointment to me, and it still leaves a big hole in Apple's product line where a thin, sleek, subnotebook should be.

"Apple emphasizes that iBook was designed specifically with students in mind, with no doors or latches to open and break, no hot-swappable devices that can fall out, be lost, or get stolen, no sharp edges, and rubber overmolding that is up to four times thicker in some areas than the plastics used in traditional PowerBook designs. Apple says iBook was designed with the thought that it might spend much of its life in a backpack. Some of this sounds a bit like making a virtue of necessity, but the iBook should be a durably portable portable."

However, the clamshell iBook grew on me over time. I came to appreciate its funky looks, and my prediction was correct about its ruggedness (statistically it's one of the most reliable laptops Apple ever built), and I think it has aged rather gracefully, not seeming old-fashioned even nine years later. The clamshell was eventually made in five colors over its roughly 20 months in production: Blueberry, Tangerine, Graphite, Indigo, and finally Key Lime - a model that was only sold through The Apple Store, and which is my personal favorite aesthetically.

Others liked the original iBook's look right off the bat, including the folks at MacCase who came out with an Apple-specific laptop case inspired by the iBook's design and color livery back in 1999, and which they have re-introduced for a new generation of Apple laptops as the 2008 Classic Case in direct response to requests from MacBook and iBook owners.


The Classic Case's styling is inspired by the rounded shape of the clamshell iBook, offered in a choice of all five colors and a 1999-esque price tag of under $50.

"We created the market for Apple laptop cases in 1999 with the launch of the first briefcase for the clamshell iBook," says Michael Santoro, MacCase's President and Chief Creative Officer. "Despite the unorthodox design, the case was extremely popular. It actually became the de facto solution for the iBook."

"Demand for the case was high but Apple kept developing new products, and so did we," Santoro continues.  We had no plans to continue the case after it sold out, but requests continued and then escalated with the launch of the 13" MacBook. The unique design really taps into the 'anti-status quo' element within the Apple community.  We are happy to continue being a part of that. While we did not change the basic shape, we did improve the original with details like be molded rubber corner protectors, and an air mesh interior floor that allows the processor to cool after use, and fully structured side walls offering greater protection from bumps and falls. Features like our signature logo window and two-tone front face remain."

The "new" MacCase Classic case is made to fit the 13-inch MacBook, and therefore can also nicely accommodate 12-inch dual-USB iBooks and 12-inch PowerBooks. I was delighted that the review unit arrived in my favorite Key Lime front panel color.

The rest of the case is black, inside and out, save for the inner panel of the full-width back pocket, which has a flap-closure secured with Velcro, and can accommodate papers, file folders, magazines, and small peripherals, cables and so forth.

Inside, the case is generously padded on all sides, top, and bottom, and has two Velcro-closure nylon straps that hold the computer securely in place.

As Mr. Santoro noted, the padded bottom panel is faced with a mesh fabric to aid in cooling the computer down, while the sides and some 3/5 of the top panel start of a soft plush fabric (the other 2/5 is faced with nylon taffeta fabric).

The top/front panel has a double-zipper closure that unzips about 270 degrees to provide completely unimpeded access to the internal compartment. There is also a double pocket on its inner face that can be used to carry cords, cables, other small incidentals, perhaps even a small mouse.

The clear plastic window in the center of the front panel allows the Apple logo on the computer's lid to show through to the outside world when in situ.

Besides the MacCase Classic's inner padding, it has internally-structured side walls and the molded rubber corner protectors that Michael Santoro mentioned, as well as an extra layer of textured, waterproof nylon armoring on the bottom of the case.

The MacCase Classic has a briefcase-style handle with a generously dimensioned soft rubber grip for comfort, and there is also can adjustable nylon mesh shoulder strap with a comfort shoulder-pad, faced with non-slip "traction" material, that attaches to the case with substantial, metal, quick-release swivel connectors. The main closure zippers also have metal pull-tabs.

I was impressed with the high quality of materials, workmanship, and hardware in the MacCase Classic case, which are extraordinarily good on all counts. The case looks great (at least if you like the clamshell iBook look and color themes), offers excellent protection for your 'Book in a compact, lightweight package, and is reasonably priced. Its only real shortcoming is a lack of storage capacity for peripherals and other extras, but that's more an observation than a criticism, since providing that capacity would make the case bigger and heavier. As it is, I think a good balance has been struck between size, and capacity with this case for its intended purpose, which is transporting and protecting your laptop in an elegant, pleasant-to-carry unit rather than taking a portable office with you.

The case comes in five colors (Tangerine, Blueberry, Keylime, Indigo and Graphite) and is available at
http://mac-case.com/Products/MacCase%20Classic.html

MacCase products are available at mac-case.com , MacMall, Small Dog Electronics, MacConnection and Amazon.com.  For further information, please visit our website or contact Customer Service at 866-526-2247.


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cmoore@macopinion.com

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