Tucano Second Skin vs. Crumpler School Hymn

[bobpensik]

Well as you can most likely tell from the topic title i have narrowed down my choice to a Tucano Second Skin or a Crumpler School Hymn.

I am having a tough time deciding which would be best for my 12" PB. From the manufacturing websites they are both about the same size, and not much bigger then my PB in general. I am most concerned about the thickness and both claim to be 1.2 inches thick, how bulky do they seem??

I have poured over all the forums related to laptop sleeves and cases here and in many other places, but just can't seem to decide between the two. Both seem to have great reviews, and both will end up costing about the same (I live in Canada, so shipping kills me!! lol)

If anyone has experience with both or either, how good is the padding on these cases. I will be using them in a backpack, and i will have books in the backpack as well, so i need something that stand up to that wear and tear. I am very careful with my PB but sometimes things happen, and i want to be protected.

How are the cases built? I don't intend to sit on my case, but i need something with a little padding. How has your sleeve held up? are you satisfied with your sleeve? do you wish you had bought something else?

Thanks for any information you can give me!

 

[Pomme]

Hi there! I bought the Tucano for my iBook, and I've been nothing but pleased. It sounds like you'll be using it for exactly the same purpose I bought mine. I slip my Tucano-clad 'Book in my backpack, along with a couple of textbooks and other student-type junk, and off I'll go. The Tucano's been perfect. It offers total scratch protection and a decent amount of impact protection, too. It's not the heaviest duty sleeve on the market, but it's exactly what I needed.

I like the neoprene a lot. It's very low-key looking, but it fits like a glove. It's not hideous, either, which I noticed in a lot of cases I looked at. I thought about getting the Crumpler because I liked the color options, but I didn't like the vinyl, faux-leather outside thing that a review mentioned. Also, the Tucano was a lot less expensive.

It's really well-built, from what I can tell. Mine still looks brand new after a couple of months of use. It's got some great added touches, too, which I like. There's a little lip inside the zipper which protects your laptop from the zipper. It's an awesome sleeve, and an amazing value.

I hope this helped!

 

[cluthz]

I've also a Tucano Second Skin for my 12".
It's great! Be sure to get the black version since the grey one
since it gets easy dirty.

-tb

 

[Pomme]

I got the grey, actually, and haven't had any problems yet with visible dirt. Since it's going into another bag, it doesn't seem to get too dirty. If you go with the Tucano, pick based on preference, and don't worry too much about the neoprene. This thing can take a beating!

 

[EJBasile]

Where can you buy the tucano second skin in the US?- I can only find it in UK stores online

 

[bobpensik]

Thanks for your input guys, i am really leaning toward the Tucano. I would still like to hear more opinions, and any opinions on the Crumpler

Oh and you can buy them at...
Royal Business - http://www.royalbusiness.com/default.php/cPath/700_755?osCsid=a1645394a0d7825e12bb2494a4053794
ERWinComp - http://www.erwincomputers.com/tucano.html
D-Compute - http://www.d-compute.com/advanced_search_result.php?search_in_description=1&keywords=tucano&x=9&y=9
Fry's Outpost - http://shop1.outpost.com/category/O...ok+Carrying+Cases/Notebook+Cases_resultpage_2

I personally am in Canada, so i can only get them from D-Compute

 

[manosira]

I don't know about the tuscano, but I bought the crumpler for my new PB just a few weeks ago. I was a little hesitant at first, because of the price, but after having it for a while, I am ultra please. I prefer the harder case crumpler to the other soft cases out there. I stick it in my packpack, my messenger bag, and it works great. I even carry it around with just the case sometimes. It fits the PB snuggly, so there's no room for sliding inside. Having said that also, there's an inside protective cover from the zipper, so it wont' scratch your PB when you open or close it. I chose the silver 15" Crumpler to match my 15" PB, but be warn, the silver 15 ones are hard to find in the U.S. I had to get mine from Canada, but it was well worth it. I guess if your looking for something that will just protect your PB and is cheaper then the tuscano should be fine, but if your looking for something to protect it and offer you some style, and you don't mind spending a little bit more , then I would go for the Crumpler.

 

[stevehaslip]

i have a black tucanno for my 12" and its great. I wouldn't throw it around in it though. Mind you i wouldn't throw my powerbook around! from the photos i've seen i think that the school hymn is probably a little more hardy but then its also a little more expensive. Its up to you but it depends on how you are gonna be transporting it around.

 

[bobpensik]

Anyone else have any experience with either sleeve?

 

[velocityofjack]

Crumpler School Hymn

I have the Crumpler School Hymn, and I love it. That being said, I can't really comment on its usefulness as I purchased it for the powerbook that I don't have as of yet.

Every once in a while, I take it out and play with it.....
I live a sad existance.

Hehe, just kidding, but one thing to add, the outerskin is kinda pleather-y, which isn't a bad; it just was not what I had expected. The pictures made it look like neoprene or some sort of nylon.

It looks really nice on my bookcase though. I got the red one, like manosira said, the silver (and also black) were sold out at the time.

I can't wait to have something to put inside of it. =)

 

[aswitcher]

I have a crumpler for my 17.

It kept it scratch and dirt free for a few months now with constant backpacking. I really like it and haven't seen anything better.

The side walls are pretty solid, not flexing as the images of the other seem to.

The zip is nicely kept from touching the pb with an internal lip.

The insides are nice and soft.

I really like the way the case zips all three sides, allowing me to unzip but keep it inside the case when on public transport to help protect it and for quick closedown.

I think the silver looks by far the best. The black, blue and red look a bit too bold in their shiney vinyl. If they did those colours a big darker (no, not the black) in a textured mat finish I probably would have gone one of them

 

[jasonwood]

Hi Bob,

I sell the School Hymn here in Canada. Shipping is $6 wherever you are, and there's no customs clearance or duty.

The School Hymn is the smallest sleeve I know of. They've foregone padding in favour of a thin hard case with a soft interior.

One thing that annoys me is that the 15" & 17" versions are perfectly form fit for the Apple PowerBooks - but the 12" version is a little big, so there is some room to move around. I guess they designed it before the model was available.

While annoying, I don't feel that the extra space compromises the protection offered, but hey, I have to like it, it's my job.

Seriously though, it's a cool sleeve and if you're in the GTA and want to come through Oakville, you can stop by and take it for a test drive! (just don't come unannounced, I work from my parents' basement and I'm not always here!)

www.storeos.com

 

[mleok]

School Hymn for PB 12"

I was wondering if the reason why the School Hymn for the PB 12" has some wiggle room is due to it being designed for the iBook 12", which is slightly larger. I've seen reviews where people have used the School Hymn for the iBook, whereas the Tucano Second Skin has versions for both the PB and iBook, and therefore provide a snugger fit.

 

[NATO]

I have the silver crumpler for my Powerbook 15" and couldn't be happier. Like you, I was stuck between that and the Tucano and I'm glad I chose what I did. Basically with the Tucano you're adding a soft layer of protection which is good for keeping your PB scratch/dust free etc, but I love the crumpler because it feels like its providing armour to the Powerbook given that its made of a thick 'vinyl'-style material with soft fabric inside.

I like the fact that rather than sliding the Powerbook into a Tucano case, you just unzip the crumpler, lift up the 'lid' part, set the Powerbook in and zip it up again, there's no friction at any point.

I certainly feel much better travelling with my PB inside the crumpler, within the padded laptop section of my backpack. It really does protect it. Not to mention that fact that the vinyl-style material will repel any water, should you be unlucky enough to encounter any near your PB.

The one downside that I've heard of is as mentioned before, while the 15" and 17" crumplers fit the PB snugly, the 12" doesn't fit quite as snugly. It mightn't be much of a problem though, as the material in the Crumpler isn't the sort to allow the PB to move around.

Good luck choosing between the two, it wasn't easy for me either!

 

[mkrishnan]

IIRC, there are two different 12" Tucano's, one for the iBook 12", and one for the PB 12", which is slightly smaller. That might have to do with the fit issues. I have ther 12" one for the iBook and an iBook 12" (natch ), and the fit is ver snug. I use it sometimes when I carry my laptop and other things in a small messenger bag, but the backpack I have has a built-in sleeve that elevates the laptop from the bottom of the bag and pads it against other stuff.

I really like the Tucano, but I would not recommend it for anyone expecting anything more than scratch protection out of it. I really don't think it'll protect against weight or pressure on the 'book in any meaningful way. If you want that, then one of those hard cases like you mention are much better. But for scratch guarding, the Tucano is elegant, light and fits well.

BTW, have you ever seen a neoprene case for a cell phone or PDA, like the ones sold under the BodyGlove label? That material and thickness is very comparable to the Tucano cases.