WaterField Designs is one of the first computer luggage vendors
getting cases for the new 17" Unibody MacBook
Pro out the door with its custom-fitted, protective SleeveCase.
The company says that having its manufacturing operation in San
Francisco enables it to design and ship custom cases for new electronic
devices lightning fast.
The new size 17-3 SleeveCase is available for pre-order from
sfbags.com now and will ship January 16, 2009. WaterField also offers a
17" MacBook Pro compatible version of its Racer-X case, an example of
which I've been using to pack my 17" PowerBook G4 around
with for the past three years.
Waterfield computer bags are high-end products, with first class
design, workmanship, and materials. They are made, as the company
proudly affirms, in San Francisco, where rents are high, labor
expensive, and the competition fierce. Consequently, they are a bit
pricey, but the discerning customer will perceive value for money
spent.
The
Waterfield look is distinctive and understatedly tasteful, striking a
sweet spot between being jaunty and buttoned-down. Carrying one won't
make you look like you're just coming from a board meeting, but it
would have fit in perfectly well if you actually were at one.
The Waterfield SleeveCase, like other Waterfield computer bags,
can be ordered in a wide range of configurations, sizes, and the
accessorization. Some 30 different size options are available,
including ones to fit every Mac notebook model. The SleeveCases are
designed both as a standalone product and to serve as an inner
protective module for Waterfield's larger computer bags like the
VertiGo, Cargo, and Cozmo models, with which it can be purchased in
ensemble bundles called "Mambo Combos".
"To
protect your investment, it is important to cushion your 17" MacBook
Pro while in transit," explains company owner, Gary Waterfield. "You'll
want your case to fit snugly for optimal protection. The WaterField
Designs case is an exact fit for the new 17" MBP dimensions and it's
very protective. For scratch protection, our Suede Jacket Sleeve is a
great option; it doubles as a screen-cleaner too"
SleeveCases secure and protect your 'Book, whatever size, without
zippers, allowing quick access to the laptop. They combine a rugged
ballistic nylon outer shell with a high-grade, 6mm neoprene interior
that absorbs shock as it cradles the computer. A handy loop at one end
lets users hold the SleeveCase while easily removing the notebook.
Travelers passing through airport security can leave the laptop
protected in the TSA-friendly sleeve while it makes its way through the
x-ray apparatus, thereby minimizing loss or damage at security
checkpoints.
SleeveCases are available in horizontal or vertical orientation
(people who carry the SleeveCase inside a typical backpack will prefer
a vertical SleeveCase, while if the SleeveCase is to be used in a
horizontal case like the Waterfield Cargo, then you will probably
prefer a horizontal SleeveCase), with or without the closure flap, and
with two shoulder-strap options.
I've
used two SleeveCases; a basic flapless, strapless model in Size 14 that
fits my Pismo PowerBook
(above), and a fully tricked-out Size 8 unit that snugly embraces my
12-inch iBook
(below), complete with optional flap ($15) and suspension strap of
1-1/2" nylon webbing with a fixed shoulder pad (complete with
"traction" panel) and very high quality quick-release carabiner hooks
on stout swivels that snap onto beefy metal D-rings fastened to the
Sleeve Case with stitched web loops ($18). A regular strap is $12. As a
nice service to its customers, San Francisco Designs will retrofit
SleeveCases returned for upgrading with the shoulder strap options for
the standard option price.
Both
SleeveCases feature Waterfield's tasteful, understated styling in black
ballistic nylon with textured Indium accent across the bottom.
The basic SleeveCase has a robust closure strap of 2" nylon webbing
that fastens with a generous Velcro™ panel, while the flap on the
other case also is secured with Velcro, in both instances making for
security with quick access.
Both cases have a full-width pocket on their external back panels,
which oddly (I thought) has no Velcro or zipper to retain items
deposited therein.
Moving inside, the SleeveCase is lined and padded with 1/4" or
3/16" Neoprene "wetsuit" type material, which serves the dual purpose
of protecting the computer against bumps and bangs, and the finish from
scratches. Actually, I'm guessing that it actually is wetsuit material,
which seems appropriate to the SleeveCase's California origins.
Everything is beautifully stitched, and the materials have a rich,
luxury feel.
Perhaps some readers are saying to themselves something like:
"SleeveCases sound convenient and nice to carry, but what about
peripherals like the computer's AC power adapter and perhaps a mouse
and some cables?"
Not to worry - while the computer entirely fills the SleeveCase's
internal compartment, and the external pocket can only accommodate very
thin items like papers or a magazine, Waterfield offers a solution to
peripherals carriage in the form of a small, clip-on auxiliary case it
calls a "Piggyback", which describes its function like handily.
To use the Piggyback, it is necessary to also order the
shoulder strap option, since the smaller bag clips onto the same
D-rings used to attached the strap via quick-release snap hooks.
Made from the same ballistic nylon as the SleeveCase outer shell and
with reinforced zippers, the Piggyback has soft divider pockets inside
to protect your power adapter, even a small external drive or other
bits and incidentals. The internal pockets aren't quite large enough to
accommodate my Pismo's "flying saucer" power adapter, but the 45 watt
adapter of my iBook fit neatly, and there's plenty of room in the main
body of the bag for that awkward saucer (not one of Apple's better
ideas). The Piggyback is a $22 option.
In summary, if you need a laptop bag that won't look out of place in
any setting, no matter how upscale, or just appreciate top-drawer
quality, you owe it to yourself to pay a visit to Waterfield's website,
where you can choose, customize, and accessorize a case to fit your
machine, your lightweight laptop carriage needs, and your tastes to a
"T".
Basic Waterfield SleeveCases are priced from $38 to $45 plus
optional extras. Other Waterfield solutions to fit the 17" MacBook Pro
(and other laptops) that are available now include:
- Suede Jacket Sleeve 17" fit: $35
- HardCase size 17": $249
- Racer-X Case 17": $189
The 17-3 SleeveCase is compatible with the Large Cargo ($219-$269)
Large Cozmo ($189-$219), and X-Large VertiGo ($89). To protect
accessories see the Gear Pouch ($19-$25), CableGuy ($19-$25), and
Keyboard Cases ($29-$49). All products available exclusively from
WaterField Designs.
