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To hard shell or not?

  • Yes! The protection is worth it!

    Votes: 39 42.9%
  • No! They do more harm than good!

    Votes: 52 57.1%

  • Total voters
    91
After looking at all the videos of durability testing, it looks like the biggest problem with drops (what I'm most afraid of) is gouging and denting of the corners. A case may help prevent that.

So, in spite of the advice of this thread, I'm getting one :)

I chose the Kuzy because it's half the price as Speck and has better reviews. Pretty much everyone with a rMBP with Speck for more than a week complained the clamps on the back broke. Fewer problems with Kuzy.

The first thing I'm going to do is change the apple logo to Dell--theft deterrent system! muaha
 
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After looking at all the videos of durability testing, it looks like the biggest problem with drops (what I'm most afraid of) is gouging and denting of the corners. A case may help prevent that.

So, in spite of the advice of this thread, I'm getting one :)

I chose the Kuzy because it's half the price as Speck and has better reviews. Pretty much everyone with a rMBP with Speck for more than a week complained the clamps on the back broke. Fewer problems with Kuzy.

The first thing I'm going to do is change the apple logo to Dell--theft deterrent system! muaha

Can you let us know when you actually receive the case? It says it's compatible with the 2013 and 2012 models, but this year's are slightly thinner right? Hopefully there's no extra material.
 
As an Amazon Associate, MacRumors earns a commission from qualifying purchases made through links in this post.
After looking at all the videos of durability testing, it looks like the biggest problem with drops (what I'm most afraid of) is gouging and denting of the corners. A case may help prevent that.

So, in spite of the advice of this thread, I'm getting one :)

I chose the Kuzy because it's half the price as Speck and has better reviews. Pretty much everyone with a rMBP with Speck for more than a week complained the clamps on the back broke. Fewer problems with Kuzy.

The first thing I'm going to do is change the apple logo to Dell--theft deterrent system! muaha

I bought the Kuzy when I first got my 13" rMBP, for protection. After using it a few weeks I took it off. It did "cheapen" the feel of the product (albeit, thats totally objective), but what I hated the most about it was that the case would flex a little, there were certain areas where is did not sit totally against the surface of the underside and thus would flex and I could feel and hear it squeak sometimes...it bothered me - made me feel like it would scratch over time. It also made my thin lightweight notebook feel a little bulkier - not much, but enough. So I ditched it. It wasn't all that bad, but I can be a little OCD about such things...

I still wanted some protection from scratches, so i purchased the Matte version of the Best Skins Ever skin. I will say it is awesome! Most people do not know it has any protection on it, as the matte version has the same look and feel of the aluminum (they also have a glossy if you prefer..). It was a little tedious to install (like most skins), but came out flawless in the end.
 
As an Amazon Associate, MacRumors earns a commission from qualifying purchases made through links in this post.
I bought the Kuzy when I first got my 13" rMBP, for protection. After using it a few weeks I took it off. It did "cheapen" the feel of the product (albeit, thats totally objective), but what I hated the most about it was that the case would flex a little, there were certain areas where is did not sit totally against the surface of the underside and thus would flex and I could feel and hear it squeak sometimes...it bothered me - made me feel like it would scratch over time. It also made my thin lightweight notebook feel a little bulkier - not much, but enough. So I ditched it. It wasn't all that bad, but I can be a little OCD about such things...

I still wanted some protection from scratches, so i purchased the Matte version of the Best Skins Ever skin. I will say it is awesome! Most people do not know it has any protection on it, as the matte version has the same look and feel of the aluminum (they also have a glossy if you prefer..). It was a little tedious to install (like most skins), but came out flawless in the end.

Same experiences overall, although I returned my Kuzy case after 3 days due to noticeable heat issues, which in turn caused significantly reduced battery life. The Best Skins Ever skin has been an excellent replacement, although I have yet to get rid of the air bubbles on mine. :p
 
I like mine...and no scratches from it. I've taken it off after about a month to check for dust/dirt under the case and nothing...

I also keep it in a sleeve, though, so that might explain the lack of grime...

If you ask me, the people who have a crap load of dirt under their cases resulting in scratches are just pigs and need to clean their stuff once in a while...
 
Can you let us know when you actually receive the case? It says it's compatible with the 2013 and 2012 models, but this year's are slightly thinner right? Hopefully there's no extra material.

I read that some people are having problems with the new rMBP, most aren't. It seems 60/40. I'll post back.
 
Loving the hardshell on my MBA.
I don't know what kind of material they used, but it feels and looks nicer than any other plastic, glass, metal, or soft-touch material I've ever laid hands on. Been using it for a year, and doesn't have a blemish of any sort.. I don't even have to wipe it down cause it resists finger oil like a champ. It's the only case i've ever used for any device that I've never had the temptation to take off

Oh yeah, it also protects against scratches and such.. I can pop it into the backpack without worrying what else I currently have in there. Fits like a glove and doesn't add bulk nor heat.

Image

Which one is that? cool batman logo
 
The Best Skins Ever skin has been an excellent replacement, although I have yet to get rid of the air bubbles on mine. :p

Took me a good hour to install the whole kit, but I'm very OCD....and i found a fine hair under one of the corners on the lid a few days later - peeled up that corner gently just up to the apple logo, cleaned it out, sprayed it w/ some soapy water and squeegeed it out again....and it stuck! I wasn't aware it was "re applicable", but it worked...so far lol. I've been pretty impressed with it so far.
 
I bought two of the Kuzy hard covers for my refurb late 2012 13" rMBP and for my wife's brand new late 2013 13" rMBP. Got the off of Amazon for half the price of the Speck cases. Both fit our Macbooks perfectly and they actually give the Macbook a little bit of grip and keep it from slipping out of your hands easy. I agree that the bare aluminum is nice and I wish I could run around unprotected, but things happens and I'd rather keep it looking new.

I got the Matte Black for mine and my Wife got Oregon Green for hers :p

1463927_10151711632657353_1392165395_n.jpg
 
Can you let us know when you actually receive the case? It says it's compatible with the 2013 and 2012 models, but this year's are slightly thinner right? Hopefully there's no extra material.

It finally came and it works great!

13" rMBP Oct 2013 - Kuzy Hard case

I tested the latches by holding the whole thing upside down by the case.

Here is the video review I made of it.
 
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