Ask any iPad owner and they will tell you that taking good care of the iPad is their number one priority.  I’m sure many iPad owners have a microfiber cloth to wipe down the “fingerprint magnet” screen and some sort of protective back cover or sleeve to protect the “scratch magnet” backing.  As for myself, I have done all that, but I’ve always wanted something with a bit more protection since I take my iPad in and out of the office daily.  That’s where WaterField’s iPad Exo SleeveCase comes in.

WaterField’s bags are famous for the ability to customize a perfect bag for yourself.  Most of their bags and sleeves allow for customization in trim style and orientation, options for a strap or d-rings, and the ability to add a piggyback pouch.  I was sent the horizontal iPad Exo SleeveCase with the leather trim.

The leather trim has quite a smooth, shiny surface to it.  It’s sewn on nicely with no loose threading.

On the bottom of the Exo SleeveCase, a loop strap is sewn over the leather trim.  The loop strap is put there so you can hook your finger through it while pulling out the iPad.  I’m not sure if it was really necessary to include the loop strap since it’s relatively easy to remove the iPad from the sleeve without using it.

On the back of the Exo SleeveCase is a pocket for slim items like the sync cable or headphones.  It’s a very tight fit for the iPad charging adapter though.  I usually carry some papers around with me in that pocket.

Protecting the iPad inside is high-grade neoprene that wraps the iPad on all sides.  The outer layer of the Exo SleeveCase is made of ballistic nylon.

The Exo SleeveCase has enough room to accommodate a naked iPad or an iPad with the Apple Sleeve or a similar protective sleeve.  Currently I have my iPad in a Newer Technology Clear Case, which fits in the Exo SleeveCase easily.  The Exo SleeveCase’s flap is held down with velcro.  I don’t mind the loud sounds that the velcro makes, but would prefer if the flap used magnets.

All WaterField’s products are made in San Francisco, and they proudly put their “made in” tag on their products with their toll free number and web address.  But the placement of the tag is a bit confusing to me, since part of the tag is covered by the back pocket.  It would’ve been better if they relocated the “made in” tag to the outside of the back pocket.

The Exo SleeveCase price ranges from $49 – $54 (for the SleeveCase only).  The shoulder strap, d-rings, and piggyback pouch cost extra.  The price is extremely good for such sturdy protection for the iPad on the go.  I really liked how I could customize the Exo SleeveCase to get what I needed.

Filed in categories: iPhone, iPad, iPod related, Reviews

Tagged: iPad, sfbags, Sleeve, waterfield

WaterField iPad Exo SleeveCase Review originally appeared on The Gadgeteer on November 18, 2010 at 11:00 am.

Australian based company foof offers handmade protective fabric sleeves for the MacBook, iPad, iPhone and other devices. These sleeves have a simple open topped design void of zippers, velcro flaps, etc. Available in a variety of eye catching fabrics that will appeal to both men and women, they have a soft lining that will protect your device from dirt, and scratches. They remind me of the Colcasac Macbook sleeve that I reviewed. Pricing: $38 AUD for MacBook Sleeves, $28 AUD for iPad Sleeves and $18 AUD for iPhone/iPod touch, which works out to be almost the same price in US $’s given the current exchange rate.

Filed in categories: iPhone, iPad, iPod related, News

Tagged: iPad, iPhone, Sleeve, Spotlight Gadgets

foofbags – Simple and effective iPad, iPhone protection originally appeared on The Gadgeteer on October 16, 2010 at 5:58 pm.

Booq Boa is a snug fit on a bare iPad

The iPad really wants to travel with you. More than any other computer I have ever used, this device just begs to be taken on trips out of the house. With its huge glass screen, however, what to carry it in becomes a question of real importance very soon after acquiring one.

The fine folks at Booq make some innovative carrying solutions, primarily for the Macintosh. Once the specs for iPad were released, they must have gone into full-on heads-down design mode, because soon after release, they had several options, one of which, the Boa, was sent to me for testing.

Coverage is full - except on the top edge

The stiff back has a nice tweedy feel.

Filed in categories: iPhone, iPad, iPod related, Reviews

Tagged: iPad, Sleeve

Booq Boa Skin iPad Sleeve Review originally appeared on The Gadgeteer on October 7, 2010 at 8:00 pm.

Saddleback Leather Company offers a variety of rugged leather bags, suitcases, duffles, wallets and accessories that have earned the reputation of becoming heirloom quality items that your family will fight over after you’re dead. I don’t know if Macbook Pro laptops will be around at the time of my demise, but if they are, I give my family permission to wrestle over the Saddleback Leather Macbook Laptop Sleeve that I was offered for review.

The Laptop Sleeve MAC as it is called on Saddleback’s website, is a simple leather sleeve that has been designed specifically for Apple’s Macbooks and Macbook Pros. The sleeve comes in 3 sizes:

• Small (13 ¼” x 9 ½” x 1″) – 13″ diagonally measured screen of Macbook & Macbook Pro
• Medium (14 ¾” x 10 ¼” x 1″) – 15″ diagonally measured screen of Mackbook & Macbook Pro
• Large (15 ¾” x 11″ x 1″) – 17″ diagonally measured screen of Macbook & Macbook Pro

Available in Chestnut, Carbon Black, Dark Coffee Brown and Tobacco Brown, I was sent the 15″ version in Tobacco Brown.

The sleeve is an open topped holder made of thick full grain boot leather and lined with pigskin which is super strong. This isn’t a super soft leather sleeve that you’ll want to nuzzle against your cheek. It’s not rough to the touch, but it is semi rigid. If you’re more into soft leather products, give it some time… with use, this sleeve will soften too.

All edges have been sewn with industrial heavy gauge marine grade thread.

My 15″ Macbook Pro fits like a glove in the sleeve. A tight glove though…

Sliding it into the sleeve for the first time wasn’t much of a problem, but removing the laptop required two people. One to hold the edges of the sleeve and one to pull out the Macbook. No, I’m not kidding. Leather stretches with use though, so after a few times, it gets easier.

Although the Laptop Sleeve is made well and looks gorgeous, there are a couple of reasons why I wouldn’t use this sleeve as my only means of protecting my Macbook Pro. The first reason should be obvious – there’s no flap on the sleeve, leaving the whole top open. The other reason is that although the case does have neoprene padding between the exterior leather and pigskin interior on the front back and sides, there’s not enough padding that I would trust  the sleeve to completely protect my laptop from a fall of more than a foot or so to a hard surface. In my opinion, this sleeve works best as transport type of laptop protector inside another more padded case like a briefcase or laptop bag. Or even something just to keep the dust off your laptop when it’s not being used while sitting on your desk. It is also a great way to make your friends envious when they see you using it. With a 100yr warranty, this sleeve will last much longer than your laptop and your friends. What more could you want?

(Note: The Saddleback Leather links in this review to the Saddleback Leather Company website are affiliate links.)

Filed in categories: Laptops and Gear, Reviews

Tagged: Laptop, Sleeve

Saddleback Leather Company Macbook Laptop Sleeve Review originally appeared on The Gadgeteer on September 27, 2010 at 11:00 am.

After one month, I’m still loving my iPad. 90% of the time it’s left sitting on my coffee table at home, but the other 10% of the time I carry it with me to other locations via my gear bag. I haven’t found the perfect play through case for it yet and am not sure I ever will. I’ve pretty much become a caseless person these last few years. I like to use my gadgets naked (the gadgets, not me). But that doesn’t mean I don’t want to protect my favorite gizmos when I’m transporting them from location to location. That’s where a good sleeve comes into play. Today I want to show you a sleeve that will probably outlive anyone reading this review. It’s the iPad Pouch from Saddleback Leather Company.

Most of the images in this review can be clicked to see a larger version.

The Gadget Pouch Large as Saddleback calls it, is made from one piece of 4 – 5oz full grain boot leather. It’s stitched on two sides to create a 8 ¾” x 10 3/8″ ((22.2cm x 26.4cm) sleeve. It is available in several colors including Tobacco Brown, Carbon Black, Dark Coffee Brown, and Chestnut. I was sent the Tobacco Brown version of the sleeve.

The only marking on the sleeve other than the natural scars and scuffs in the cowhide is the Saddleback Leather Company logo.

The image above gives you an idea of how thick the leather is that is used to construct this sleeve. Industrial marine-grade U.V. resistant polyester thread has been used to sew the two sides.

From the quality of the leather, to the stitching, the workmanship of this pouch is top  notch.  I was unable to find any defects its construction.

The iPad slides into the pigskin lined sleeve from the top opening and fits like a glove. It’s not too tight and not too loose. It fits just right. I didn’t find it difficult to insert or remove the iPad.

My sleeve is still really new, but it will eventually lie flat once it has had time to break in. This sleeve will protect the iPad from everyday wear and tear while looking really nice doing it. I really love the natural look of all of Saddleback Leather’s products. There is something about them just feels more ‘real’ than all the mass produced bags on the market.

The only down side to this product would be that it does add some bulk and weight to your iPad. The sleeve alone weighed in at 9 oz. on my electronic scale. Add the iPad and you’re up to 2lbs. If that doesn’t bother you, then grab one for your iPad. It will be the only sleeve you’ll ever need.

(Note: The links in this review to the Saddleback Leather Company website are affiliate links.)

Filed in categories: iPhone, iPad, iPod related, Reviews

Tagged: iPad, Sleeve

Saddleback Leather iPad Pouch Review originally appeared on The Gadgeteer on May 10, 2010 at 12:00 pm.

Amazon didn’t show Kindle 2 owners any love when it came to including a case for the ebook reader. If you’re still trying to find a case to protect your reader, you might want to head over to OCTO Style and check out several of their offerings, including their seamless leather sleeve. It’s made from genuine embossed Italian leather and has a soft non-slip microfiber interior. There are 4 colors to choose from and each sleeve is available for less than $75.

Filed in categories: eBook Readers and Gear, News

Tagged: Kindle, Sleeve, Spotlight Gadgets

Slide your Kindle 2 into an OCTO Sleeve originally appeared on The Gadgeteer on November 29, 2009 at 3:43 pm.

Skooba’s new Netbook Neo Sleeve is a form-fitting, padded neoprene zippered case that protects your 10 inch netbook from everyday abuse such as bumps and scratches. You can carry the Neo by itself with the included shoulder strap or inside another larger gear bag. There’s even a zipper compartment on the front that provides space for accessories such as a power adapter. The Skooba Netbook Neo Sleeve is available in the 4 colors: Abyss Black, Blizzard White, Deep Ocean Blue and Inferno Red, each with a contrasting charcoal front pocket. You can grab one now for the very wallet friendly price of $19.95.

Filed in categories: Laptops and Gear, News

Tagged: Netbook, Sleeve, Spotlight Gadgets

Skooba Netbook Neo Sleeve originally appeared on The Gadgeteer on November 23, 2009 at 4:26 pm.

I am always heralding the virtues of Waterfield’s bags and pouches. Today they have announced a protective suede jacket for the Motorola Droid Android phone from Verizon. You can get one with and without a pocket. $9 with, $13 without.

Filed in categories: Android related

Tagged: Sleeve

Waterfield wants to protect your Motorola Droid originally appeared on The Gadgeteer on November 10, 2009 at 5:00 am.

Let’s go natural and earthy! No, I am not talking about getting naked and rolling around in the dirt. I’m talking about an earthy (looking) sleeve for your laptop. These sleeves from ColcaSac are being sold as MacBook sleeves, but other laptops will fit in them too. Let’s check it out.

ColcaSac offers several styles of their sleeves, but I’m just going to tell you about the Romana. This Green sleeve is made of a heavy canvas (click the image to see a larger view) made of hemp, jute and cotton. It that may look like it the fabric would not be soft to the touch, but it is.

Plush Sherpa fleece lines the interior and flap the sleeve, to protect your laptop from scratches. A wide strip of Velcro keeps the flap securely in place. In my opinion, the Velcro detracts from the style of the sleeve. I would rather see buttons or a snap used instead.

I was sent the 15″ version and am happy to report that my 15″ MacBook Pro fits perfectly. I’m sure that the fleece padding will provide protection the laptop from everyday bumps and knocks.

This sleeve would be handy to use with other bags that do not have a special padded laptop pocket.

A flat open topped pocket is located on the exterior of the sleeve. The fact that it is open topped is a bit of a bummer though. As is, I don’t use it much because I’m afraid I’ll lose the contents.

I love the look and feel of this sleeve. It stands out from the sea of boring neoprene sleeves and feels rugged enough to last for quite a long time. My MacBook Pro likes it, and I like it. Actually, I would love a jacket made from the same material

Filed in categories: Laptops and Gear

Tagged: Macbook, Sleeve

ColcaSac MacBook Sleeve Review originally appeared on The Gadgeteer on October 21, 2009 at 5:35 pm.

I have reviewed several Noreve cases over the years. All of which had that initial new leather smell as you open the box, top-quality leather, and fine ‘old-world’ craftsmanship. The Noreve leather sleeve for Apple’s 13″ MacBook is no different.

This slipper case is perfectly tailored for the aluminum 13″ MacBook. The laptop slips smoothly into place and is surrounded by soft fabric and a decent amount (5mm) of foam padding on all sides.

The sleeve has no other compartments, just the main pocket for storing your MacBook. Definitely an elegant, minimalistic design.

The handcrafted leather has a soft, supple feel to it. Very similar to a fine wallet or high quality pair of Italian shoes. I would have to say, if there was a negative to this sleeve it has to be the thin-ness of the leather.

In the two weeks of use, the piping on the edge of the Noreve sleeve is starting to show a bit of wear.  Due primarily to sliding the slipper case into and out of my computer bag.

The stitching is immaculate, laser straight and perfect in every way.

The zipper closure is relatively standard. Good quality but nothing to write home about.

That said, how the zipper pulls together the padding underneath is great engineering on Noreve’s part….so the zipper never touches the aluminum body of the MacBook.

This case comes in 5 colors and three leathers:

• Perpetual Selection ($89.24): Black and pink
• Ambition Selection ($95.62): Chestnut
• Exceptional Selection ($101.99): Dark vintage and Sandy vintage

Overall, I like this slipper case but I definitely would not call it rugged. And while Noreve’s Leather Sleeve will protect your laptop from harm, it may not withstand the rigors of travel or a great deal of abuse. Admittedly this leather case is several (to many)  times the cost of its neoprene counterparts that offer the same basic functionality. None the less, this is an excellent case for those that desire good laptop protection while making a subtle fashion statement along the way.

Filed in categories: Laptops and Gear, Travel Gear

Tagged: Case, Sleeve

Noreve Leather MacBook Sleeve Review originally appeared on The Gadgeteer on July 17, 2009 at 4:08 pm.

You can never have too many cases and bags, I always say!

The Toffee Brief (in red), the Toffee Case (black) and the MacBook Air

I tend to shy away from frilly, and lean towards clean and utilitarian.  These two items from Toffee are for the MacBook Air I just bought.

When I first opened the box, I was greeted with the intoxicating leather aroma.  Nothing like it!  These are similar to, but not quite the same as the Toffee Leather Sleeve.  Let’s take a look at the simple flap-sleeve first, called the Toffee Case.

The Toffee Case is a leather sleeve with a flap.  There are no other zippers, pouches, pockets, or attachements.  It’ strictly for the laptop and nothing else.

A magnetic snap keeps the flap securely fastened.

The inside is lined with a soft fabric.  No other pouches on the inside or outside.  The Toffee Case adds some bulk to the MacBook Air, but not that much.

It has just enough padding to protect from minor bumps, but I would not anticipate a laptop surviving a fall to the floor, and I’m not willing to test this!

The Toffee Brief features a zippered main compartment, a front accessory pouch, and retractable handles.

The Brief, with the handles retracted, makes it easy to stuff into a larger bag.

Unfortunately, the accessory pouch is very small.  I tried stuffing the MacBook Air’s power supply.  This was the result!  Oh well.  The pouch is better suited to thinner items.

The detail and stitching is quite attractive.

Open up the Brief and you’ll see the inside is lined with fabric, and has corner straps for the laptop’s edges.  The zipper is also nicely recessed to minimize contact with the laptop.

The straps held onto the MacBook Air very well, and stayed on when I opened the case.

There is enough room to access the MagSafe power connector as well as the pop-down headphone/USB/video ports.  However, you can see there isn’t a lot of room for ventilation.  The MacBook Air’s vents are on the bottom edge towards the back, and as you can see from the photo, there isn’t much room for airflow with the padded liner material.  While it’s possible to work out of the case, I wouldn’t do it for extended periods of time to avoid cooling issues.

Filed in categories: Laptops and Gear

Tagged: Bag, Macbook, Sleeve

Toffee Leather Laptop Sleeve and Brief originally appeared on The Gadgeteer on April 26, 2009 at 1:00 am.