Guess it's time to put in my 2¢ worth!!
Since I possibly out-obsess all of you I'm going to pipe in with my experiences with laptop protection. I own/have owned upwards of 25 laptop enclosures (see, I told you I'm obsessive) in the last 12 years of hauling a laptop with me everywhere. I've slowly gravitated to the more practical smaller, lighter laps just because I'm getting too old to carry heavy stuff around anymore. My main lap - for the last 2 years - has been a 13" macbook but I'm about to take possession of a new macair after picking one up at the Apple Store a few days ago. The main problem (all cosmetic, possible scratching and size/bulk questions aside) with protection for a laptop is the impact suffered when it gets dropped - from any height! Shockproofing material - the more the better - is all important which rules out most form fit sleeves right off the bat. I'm currently using a Vyper XS2, a Codex 13 and an Axio hard sleeve for different situations because in the short run they provide adequate protection, are handy to use and are small enough to pack in luggage. I would say the Axio is, of the 3, the best protection but I like the handiness, size and weight of the Codex - and it does, surprisingly, offer pretty good protection with its space age shock layer material. Now I know the temptation is to have a bag that one can carry accessories in BUT my personal experience is that having stuff in the same container as the laptop greatly increases the possibility of damage if and when (eventually) dropped! I have another case that I think offers the best ultimate protection (short of a foam padded aluminum case which I shun because of the bulk) - that would be an Axio hardcase motorcycle backpack style carrier with no other stuff in it except soft items. They are not all that expensive and they are tough and efficient - my macbook was recently dropped about 8 feet down some concrete steps and was completely fine in all ways in its Axio backpack. I even know of two instances where a laptop survived an actual motorcycle accident in one of these Axio packs. Mine is carbon fiber, heavily shock foam padded and the laptop is suspended in the middle of it if it is otherwise empty. Other advantages are that it can be carried on one or both shoulders as a backpack and is fairly light given its strength. It is the best combination of value, protection, looks and transporting for my book! So............there you go, hope this helps.
