UPDATED JULY 18TH!
The focus of this list is cases that are tailored to fit the Macbook. For everything else there's the "monster thread" (henceforth MT) in the Pro forum.
As it turns out, MacBook dimensions = Vaio S Series dimensions...
MacBook 13 dimensions: HWD = 1.08x12.78x8.92 inches / 2.75x32.5x22.7 cm
Sony Vaio S Series 13 dimensions: HWD = 1.18-1.39x12.3x8.85 inches / 3-3.5x31.2x22.4cm
This is a dynamically-updated thread. Post a lead below, and I'll get the rest of the info up here in alphabetic order by brand name.
Please note that I haven't seen a single one of these bags in person; all information here is based on research. Caveat emptor and all that.
The Tailor-Fit Macbook 13" Sleeves List
Available Today
AppleSac
AppleSac Sleeves Handmade. "Protect your cherished computer in either idaho or pink burlap, or fleece, fur, or terry cloth sleeves." A unique look (ugly). Probably not too protective (no info on site reg. this). $30+$4 shipping.
See a pic.
Bitolithic
Laptop Protection Pack -Package deal includes blue 1.5mm neoprene work-in sleeve w/ velvet interior, matching accessory bag, and keyboard cover, all for
$35 $41+$8 shipping ($49). Made in Australia.
Via email (very fast & friendly): "We prevent the sliders from coming into contact with the laptop by extending the sleeve material all the way to the zipper TEETH, it doesn't stop at the edge of the zipper."
Cardiac Dave: "Not padded well enough to provide a high level of crash protection, but it will definitely protect against scratches and light bumps while it sits in your backpack."
JSW @ MacRumors: "I am very happy with this product for a number of reasons."
Ben Leung @ Whirlpool: "The Bitolithic sleeves are well made, with double stitched zippers around the front and sides of the laptop. ....Also had a little problem with my screen protector being too thick, Emiliano from Bitolithic had a new one in the post to me the next day."
Booq
Vyper XS2's gonna bite you. Booq says: "We sandwiched durable, semi-rigid high density foam between a layer of 1682D cross-weave ballistic nylon on the exterior and a super non-scratch lining on the interior." $55+$10 shipping. (It was released six weeks early!)
millsE @ Whirlpool: "i have a 12" Booq Viper and i am very impressed with it, i had a ridiculously clumsy stumble at school, somehow i tripped over 2 chairs, didn't fall over and managed to gain balance again, and then i stumbled over a further chair, my shoulder bag with my 12" ibook in it fell off my shoulder and i stepped with quite some weight onto the laptop, and all is fine."
Brenthaven
Edge I work-in protective nylon sleeve available in black and light blue. "Patent-pending CORE Protection System protects all 4 corners and 2 side panels." Includes handle and shoulder strap. $50, free shipping.
As demonstrated in one of the most helpful animated gifs ever, one can see that the CORE system
is designed to keep your notebook standing on end if you drop it on a pillow.
Dferra: "I actually returned my Brenthaven Fusion and got a Sleevecase and bag from Waterfield..."
DeerPack -
DOES NOT FIT!
Hardshell Sleeve VS doesn't fit. I'm only keeping the listing here because it was listed before.
Fabrixcases
Fabrixcases are handmade fabric cases for scratch and light bump protection. Twelve styles/colors available. $33+$9 shipping.
[size=2]
Foof
Foofbags are gorgeous little cloth sleeves, handmade to order (takes 3-6 working days) in Australia. The listed prices are in AUD (1au=76cents). Simple sleeves are 36AUD ($27); the crazy ones are 42AUD ($32). Worldwide shipping is a very reasonable 9AUD ($6.75).
If you live in Europe or Singapore, or live in the US and want a foof for your Treo,
local retailers are listed here.
Don't miss the
Foof Care site, which includes an interesting shot of an inside-out Foof. They all seem to include a nice liner. These things look well-made.
Sally Summersgill (via PM): "I bought the red corduroy cover becuase it was cheap. The fabric is like dress material, like a pair of old corduroy trousers, and you can imagine what happens when you catch the cover, it just rips apart."
acky3000 @ MUG Singapore: "The quality of the foof products speak for themselves. they are really of a good quality, have a nice fit to your Apple products."
kaido, who posts all over this thread, likes his.
MacCase
(This is both "available now" and "pre-order"... read on.)
The famous
MacCase sleeve with the logo window is now available for preorder in the MacBook size! "Nylon fabric wrapped over a dense foam" is "lined with a soft velvet cloth." Velcro-closing, with a
new weird design on the back. (Dueling Pac-Mans?) Tons of satisfied customers are all over the web. $30 + $10 shipping.
And right now, there's a lovely deal:
Order the 13", you'll get it in July, but for the meantime you get a 14" sleeve shipped to you right now -- free sleeve, free shipping. (International orders might have weird problems here; I'd recommend emailing Maccase about that.) In the end you have two sleeves for the price of one. As for me: All I have to do is get used to the idea of the logo hole, which I find pretty corny. YMWV. Available in three colors (all for the same price).
Enginerd: "It certainly isn't a bad case, but it is quite thin and light so it's not for shock protection."
Radtech
ScreenSavrz: A fancy keyboard cover. $15+$5.
Sleevz is a very thin three-sided protective slip. Stylin'. Probably best if you already have a laptop bag w/padded compartment. $25+$5.
MacTruck: Super heavy duty suitcase protection, not yet released. $200.
Sony
Sony VAIO® Neoprene Carrying Case (includes AC Adapter Case) VGP-AMC1: The title says it all! Two basic black neoprene bags each emblazoned with small, removeable "Vaio" patches. $23+$5.50 shipping from Sony.
The best price can be found on shopping.com or something similar. Search for "VGP-AMC1." Mine was $22 inc. shipping.
I have one of these, and I like it. Bare bones backpack protection for the best price available.
See my pictures
Tom Bihn
Bihn bags are made in Seattle! Tom Bihn (a real person) has been making and selling reliable bags for
over thirty years.
Read the Bihn blog post about Macbooks bags.
$7 flat rate shipping, all orders.
It seems that the following bags are shipping very soon, if not right now. MacBook is size 6.
Brain Cell -- Hard sleeve w/ mesh pocket on side. Good copy: "Cradled in 8mm thick soft foam padding, your laptop hangs suspended in a 4mm hard corrugated plastic insert that protects from the front, back, and bottom. The sides are protected by dense cross-linked closed-cell polyethylene foam. This offers the toughest protection you can get for your laptop in a case that is still light and minimalist." $50.
Soft Cell -- "[F]eatures an exterior made of durable 500 Denier Cordura and an interior of super-soft brushed nylon." Whatever that means. $30.
Archetype -- expensive, funky-looking work-in case. Three styles: "Genuine Cork fabric (made of real cork), Galvanized Majilite (a durable synthetic leather made to look like galvanized steel), and Snow Leopard Ultrasuede (contains no leopards, we promise)." $95.
Waterfield Designs
Sleevecase: Velcro-closing neoprene fun. Macbook size: 13.
Made in San Fransisco. All over the web (and the mega-bags thread under the Powerbook forum), you'll find highly satisfied WF customers.
Expensive, though:
$40 for a sleeve with three sides. (Doesn't look too protective.) $65 for a sleeve with a closing flap. And more options for D-rings and a shoulder strap (add $12-$18) and "piggy back" (extra pocket, $22).
$6 shipping.
Dferra: "Reasons I went with Waterfield: style, function, and build-quality. ...Waterfield exceeded all three."
decrypt (p.2): "I'm extremely impressed...."
sensorfreaky (p.2): "Well-crafted and has quality written all over it. Fits my new MacBook like a glove and the vertical orientation is perfect for when I want to charge it while it's safe in the sleeve." (his post includes pictures)
Wrappers I need to improve this entry, there are other products
Wrappers are like the boring white version of the Foof. Made-to-order, sort of customizable, minimalist, machine washable (?), no claims to durability or explanation of the materials used. Anyone with further info here?
The Tailor-Fit Macbook 13" Bags List
Popular on the forums:
-Booq
Mamba S
-STM
Small Alley
What else belongs here? Post a note or send me a PM if you think a bag should be listed...
Available For Pre-Order
Probably coming soon, or something
Be.ez: Le13 seems to be a thin, two-pocket case with (seatbelt style?) strap.
It's listed on the "
coming soon" page, and you can read a "
teaser advertisement" for it, poorly translated from French. No dates are mentioned.
This guy has a little more information (mostly: it will cost L45 inc. VAT in England). And you can read
here that it'll be available in July for $85.
This is a picture of this bag... or IS IT???
Crumpler: The
School Hymns ($40) are purty. They updated their web site design and added a Macbook Pro 15. Macbook 13 coming soon?
Here's a link to the catalog that skips the incredibly annoying flash intro.
Marware: We can probably expect a 13"
Sportfolio (thin neoprene sleeve w/ lined zipper) out of them soon.
MaxUpgrades: MaxProtect II is a hard mini-suitcase for the MacBook Pro 15. "Synthetic leather," "unsurpassed rigidity." It'd be nice to see this for the MB13...
watch this space.
red maloo: Can you say "rip off"? "
One layer of high quality felt that folds around your laptop"... for... $90! Great... I'll buy six.
Shinza: The ZeroShocks are fab. No word of a 13" yet.
Keep checking back here...
STM: Basic black neoprene sleeves and a
work-in polyurethane foam sleeve. Also:
Other stuff. (But is it all truly Macbook? The 13" Small Alley is 12.2 x 9 x 1.6 inches -- too narrow on the long side and too big on width and breadth.) Macbook sizes coming soon. Aussie manufacturer, sold in the US by
Radtech.
Tumi:Case finder. Check back for the Macbook...
These bags don't fit
This list is for elimination purposes, so I don't check the same link twice. Some manufacturers list products as being suitable for the Macbook 13 when they don't match the Macbook's dimensions. Boo, hiss.
Case Logic
Deer NSB-3
Spire:
Horizontal (size M) and
Vertical (size S).
Help! I don't git it
Axio
has a terrible Flash-based web site, and some very expensive "Hardcases" that may or may not be sized properly for the Macbook. Who knows? The interior is "adjustable" somehow. Someone help me out with this...
Laplogic
has one of the most confusing web sites I've ever seen. They make about
thirty different kinds of heat-blocking lap-desks and also a sickeningly ugly line of
computer jock straps. I have no idea if anything there fits the Macbook.
Other laptop protection and accessories
ShieldZone
Cable Organizer
