Has anyone dropped their MBP with the Incase hard case?

[HLdan]

While there are lots of careless people out there, there are also plenty of careful people who for one reason or another dropped their macbook pro's or damaged them in some way due to impact. For example, what got me thinking about a case was the other day, I slammed on my brakes in my car and my MBP started moving towards the dashboard. If I had slammed on my brakes harder, or if there weren't books on top of my MBP increasing the normal force (and concomitant static friction between the MBP and carseat), the MBP would have hit my dashboard, potentially damaging it. Such an event would void the warranty, something I'm more concerned about than mere scratches or even dents.

You make a great point, however unless you're looking for a more slimline looking case such as those hard shells a well padded case such as the Incase bag (www.goincase.com) would greatly reduce shock especially in terms of the example that you used about hitting hard on your brakes.

Every situation will be different for many people. You may not find reviews on the web of tests being done to show a Macbook being dropped inside of the hard shell cases. Just my opinion, but I don't think many reviewers are willing to do "crash dummy" tests on their Macbook Pro as it's a high risk. The impact could still shatter the glass.

 

[J&JPolangin]

...here's a novel concept, try being careful with your laptop...

 

[analytical44]

...here's a novel concept, try being careful with your laptop...

Thanks for the useless comment chief. Accidents do happen, even with those who are OCD careful. For future reference, you should probably keep those golden nuggets of knowledge in your pocket.

I'm not sure how it would work with a fairly large aluminum object but I know the Incase Slider has protected my iPhone from some brutal falls (4+ feet on more than one occasion and no dents, cracks, etc on the phone). I'm assuming the material of the cases is similar so I would bet the Incase Hardshell would protect your Macbook from getting dings/dents (so long as the fall isn't anything too intense). Again, this is speculation based on my experience with the Slider/iPhone so I could certainly be wrong. Just my 2 cents

 

[mikes70mustang]

I never received a physics degree, but I did take 6 classes as an undergraduate as electives. However, this is basic high school physics.

I am not saying a sleeve case is ideal, but it is much better than a hard case. You stand a chance with a sleeve. A hard case would require a miracle.



I am not trying to be patronizing, but this statement shows a basic lack of understand of inertia. You seem like a gearhead, so it is the same problem you have in an auto accident;

1. car goes 70 mph
2. car hits reinforced brick wall and come to a stop
3. driver continues to move 70 mph until he hits something to stop him (hopefully a seatbelt or an airbag))

The same thing happens with in innards of electronics. Unless you are talking about a Panasonic ToughBook, which is engineered for a fall by mounting the components with shock-absorbing materials.

Your theory would work if the computer parts were not fastened down. Thats where your logic fails. Everything is secured. Do the parts just sit loosely in your computer?

But in the slip case scenario, the macbook is the "person" and the slip case is the car. Except the "car" in this instance is made of inferior material that would absorb little if any impact. A slip case made of tire rubber would be more effective.

 

[mikes70mustang]

Thanks for the useless comment chief. Accidents do happen, even with those who are OCD careful. For future reference, you should probably keep those golden nuggets of knowledge in your pocket.

I'm not sure how it would work with a fairly large aluminum object but I know the Incase Slider has protected my iPhone from some brutal falls (4+ feet on more than one occasion and no dents, cracks, etc on the phone). I'm assuming the material of the cases is similar so I would bet the Incase Hardshell would protect your Macbook from getting dings/dents (so long as the fall isn't anything too intense). Again, this is speculation based on my experience with the Slider/iPhone so I could certainly be wrong. Just my 2 cents

well the forces that are applied to a falling phone are much much less than the forces put upon a laptop. Like for instance, an iphone and a mbp, are comparable to stopping a car, and stopping a heavy haul semi.

 

[Hayduke60]

I'll wade into this one. When I worked for Palm, there was an industry standard minimum fall height for hand held items. We had to design the cases to withstand a fall from a desktop, not quite 4 feet. Cell phones, calculators and such all needed to meet this requirement, or at least they did. Laptops also had to meet this requirement. Plastic (some) has an amazing ability to absorb shock. It's tough yet resilient enough to spring back into shape. Aluminum on the other hand, is very malleable. If dropped it won't spring back like a plastic cased computer might. A hard plastic skin on the outside of an aluminum case would flex enough to cause the aluminum inside to deform, a padded case would offer a small amount of protection but would be overwhelmed if the fall was very far. The closed cell foam, like that in a bike helmet would be the best choice. It would need to be about half an inch or so thick though to do any good. That'd be option two, option one would be to just hope and pray that you don't drop it.

 

[J&JPolangin]

Thanks for the useless comment chief. Accidents do happen, even with those who are OCD careful. For future reference, you should probably keep those golden nuggets of knowledge in your pocket...

... aluminum is a foolish metal to make a laptop out of due to the malleable properties... I see this as a move by to get out of paying out on apple care repairs to drive their margins higher as forums like this push the necessity of applecare (and yes, I have applecare on my iMac which doesn't move and my whitebook)...

 

[DoNoHarm]

I'll wade into this one. When I worked for Palm, there was an industry standard minimum fall height for hand held items. We had to design the cases to withstand a fall from a desktop, not quite 4 feet. Cell phones, calculators and such all needed to meet this requirement, or at least they did. Laptops also had to meet this requirement. Plastic (some) has an amazing ability to absorb shock. It's tough yet resilient enough to spring back into shape. Aluminum on the other hand, is very malleable. If dropped it won't spring back like a plastic cased computer might. A hard plastic skin on the outside of an aluminum case would flex enough to cause the aluminum inside to deform, a padded case would offer a small amount of protection but would be overwhelmed if the fall was very far. The closed cell foam, like that in a bike helmet would be the best choice. It would need to be about half an inch or so thick though to do any good. That'd be option two, option one would be to just hope and pray that you don't drop it.

Hmm... so the problem is the aluminum and neither solution is really ideal.
I'm curious, if you had to drop your MBP with either a soft case or the hard case, which would you choose?

 

[mikes70mustang]

I'll wade into this one. When I worked for Palm, there was an industry standard minimum fall height for hand held items. We had to design the cases to withstand a fall from a desktop, not quite 4 feet. Cell phones, calculators and such all needed to meet this requirement, or at least they did. Laptops also had to meet this requirement. Plastic (some) has an amazing ability to absorb shock. It's tough yet resilient enough to spring back into shape. Aluminum on the other hand, is very malleable. If dropped it won't spring back like a plastic cased computer might. A hard plastic skin on the outside of an aluminum case would flex enough to cause the aluminum inside to deform, a padded case would offer a small amount of protection but would be overwhelmed if the fall was very far. The closed cell foam, like that in a bike helmet would be the best choice. It would need to be about half an inch or so thick though to do any good. That'd be option two, option one would be to just hope and pray that you don't drop it.

Yes like i said. Those neoprene slip ons are woefully to thin to do anything. The hard case would definitely be better.

 

[Hayduke60]

If I had to drop my little pro, wrapped in what's on the market today. I'd choose that form fitting plastic one that snaps on. It wraps around the sides, making it stronger. I still don't see it fairing well taking the plunge off a desk though. If it was closed when it fell then I'd want a neoprene sleeve over the top of the plastic cover, to take up some of the impact. It's a crapshoot anyway as to what will hit first and what damage will be done. Anything you do is only gonna make it a just wee bit better. To hold fast is your best option.

Oh, and, aluminum is actually a really good material for a lappy. Apple just went too far with making the unibodies light. In doing so they removed a lot of the aluminum's strength. Add a few millimeters to the wall thicknesses here and there, you get a stronger, less flexy case. The lids warping is a clue that they machined the cases too thin.

 

[J&JPolangin]

... aluminum is actually a really good material for a lappy. Apple just went too far with making the unibodies light. In doing so they removed a lot of the aluminum's strength....

... for heat dispersion its a good material, if it was thick it would be ok too but then no one would want to carry it... also what grade of metal is it?

I have several high grade billet forged aluminum parts on my motorcycle but those are thick and strong (and I don't plan on dropping my motorcycle)...

If only I could cram the uMBP 13" innards into a Sony Z series carbon fiber body...

 

[atticus18244fsa]

I plan on buying a Speck hardshell when the new ones come out as well as a soft case. The shell is to prevent from scratches and dents while the soft case is for short falls and better protection.

 

[DoNoHarm]

I just thought I'd update this thread. I've been using the incase for a few months. The first day I installed it on my laptop, I was very impressed with the feel of the material. I've been using it exclusively since it's installation without a neoprine cover. I take the computer everywhere in my backpack or bicycle pannier. I've noticed that the case has absorbed the daily impacts by cracking here and there. The cracks are upto 2 inches in length. I haven't had any serious drops yet. The one downside is that you really increase the thickness of the macbook. I'd give the incase a B rating and I'll probably continue to use it.

 

[mikes70mustang]

I just thought I'd update this thread. I've been using the incase for a few months. The first day I installed it on my laptop, I was very impressed with the feel of the material. I've been using it exclusively since it's installation without a neoprine cover. I take the computer everywhere in my backpack or bicycle pannier. I've noticed that the case has absorbed the daily impacts by cracking here and there. The cracks are upto 2 inches in length. I haven't had any serious drops yet. The one downside is that you really increase the thickness of the macbook. I'd give the incase a B rating and I'll probably continue to use it.

Been using mine for over a year and no cracks, dust, or scratches