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SephirothXR

macrumors 6502
Original poster
Nov 27, 2008
395
0
I'm going to college and I have a backpack that has a pocket in it JUST for a 15" laptop, but I don't want to leave the MBP in it with all my books. I saw a $35 Incase cloth case, like a bag essentially, and I have a $35 gift card for BestBuy. Is the Incase carrying case good for college, I plan to carry with it everywhere for taking notes, but I'm not entirely sure.
 
Be aware though that the incase sleeve is loose on the unibodys, I have one, and had I known that would have gotten something different. I still may when I feel like wasting $40.
 
When I first bought my Black MacBook, I bought an Incase bag at Best Buy that was very similar to this one:
http://www.turntablelab.com/images/content/1/0/10984.jpg

It was for a 15" notebook, however, so it's not a snug fit, but I like that it has a strap so that I can carry it easily. I can't seem to find them on Incase's website anymore though. I believe it was replaced by their 15" Neoprene Sleeve Plus.

When I bought my 13" MacBook Pro, I bought the AppleSac too. I really like the design, but it does seem to shed a lot. The MacBook is safe as long as you clean the inside of it with a lint roller, and nothing has seemed to get inside of it anymore. But since the case has no strap, you have to carry it by hand if you don't have a backpack, and as much as a love the case, it's a very thin material, and I didn't feel like the MacBook was entirely secure while I was carrying it. My shirt had a lot of fibers from carrying it afterword too, and this was after I ran the lint roller over it several times. I think most of the fibers are gone now though. But I also think that the thinness of the sleeve is what makes it so attractive. So the AppleSac is a good case to protect the MacBook from scratches. I haven't carried it around in a backpack with books though, so I don't know how well it would cope.
 
A soft sided neoprene sleeve will only stop scratches, it won't do anything to stop it being crushed by the books in your backpack.
For college in a backpack with books, you need a hard sided sleeve. My sister has a Booq Vyper which is a great choice. I went with the Tom Bihn Vertical Brain Cell. These are both excellent choices for what you describe. I think the Tom Bihn is worth the extra money though for the extra protection, the thing is tank.
 
The incase neoprene case is a rip-off, especially for the ubiquitous 15" size. You know how companies mark up their "Made for Mac" perifs even though they are essentially the same thing they put out for PCs? Well bags are no different.

Do a PriceGrabber or Google search for "15" neoprene sleeve." You'll easily find them for $10.

If you think these less expensive don't come out of the same Chinese factory as the Incase model I'd like to sell you my rare, and highly collectable vintage Mac Duo 280 for the low, low, price of $4500. You can get double that on eBay I'm sure. Act fast though. Offer ends midnight tonight.
 
If you're going the incase route, visit your local TJ Maxx and you will find a ton of them. (actually I think the neoprene sleeves are Built NY brand)

They are ~ $10-$16.

I got a padded incase sleeve (not neoprene) for my 17" uMBP from there for $16. It's all fuzzy inside and provides great protection.

EDIT: just in case you go drive to your TJ Maxx and don't see any...I'm in the NE PA area. At least they have them here (YMMV).

They also have a ton of plastic shells for the previous gen MBP (with the CD slot in the front) for $10.
 
vyper m3, mine is on the way. nothing fits like that case, fits like a glove
 
I use one of the Tucano notebook sleeves for the 13" uMB that I had and I sold the uMB for the 13" MBP. The sleeve is very very snug and the build quality is excellent. It also has that built in sleeve with the cushion to make sure your computer does not move inside.

I am surprised not many other people mention it

http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B000JMFOIM/ref=pd_lpo_k2_dp_sr_2?pf_rd_p=304485901&pf_rd_s=lpo-top-stripe-1&pf_rd_t=201&pf_rd_i=B000GLDW1C&pf_rd_m=ATVPDKIKX0DER&pf_rd_r=1TJ8WXC96MFTM818ZA44
 
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