Protecting my MacBook, inside and outside of the Ristretto

[Z60mUser]

Hello everyone. I have a new 13" MacBook (the black one). I am thinking about getting an Incase hardshell. My most important question is, will the MacBook still fit in the Ristretto with this hardshell case on it? It seems like a pretty tight fit already.

Secondly, does anybody have any suggestions for keyboard covers (the standard choice seems to be iSkin's), or protective other devices, skins, etc. to protect my MacBook, its keyboard, its wristpad, the trackpad, etc. from gunk, food, cat hair, etc.?

Thanks in advance!

[Foggy Morn]

I'd say maybe, but it would be a very tight fit.

I have a MacBook Air and the Ristretto, and with the slipon Incase neoprene sleeve it just fits. The flap will close, but not as completely as it does without the Incase sleeve on.

Note that this is with the neoprene sleeve; I don't have a hardshell case (or a Macbook, for that matter) so I can't test that directly. Here's the one I have:

Incase neoprene sleeve for the MBA

This is predicated on the assumption that the Ristretto for the MBA is the same size as for the Macbook.

[rabergnc]

I think the iSkin is the best choice out there. I used to use one when I had a 15 in Powerbook. It fits the Macbook but I guess I am less concerned about spills than before. I do use a TB keyboard cover when I close the Macbook - bought it when I had the Powerbook - it was/is good for keeping keyprints from the screen and adds just a touch of cushioning when the book is closed. I do not have the hard shell but I agree that it would likely be snug.

[AVService]

Funny that you would ask this as I too just got a Black MacBook.
I was on the phone yesterday with TB and Incase and others asking these same questions.

First of all though the Incase hard case is BEAUTIFUL and SEXY it does not let you open the Mac past about 90 degrees.
I consider this unacceptable and I will either take mine back or hack on it next week.
I am trying to determine if all of the hard cases suffer the same issue and I think it is looking like they do.

Anyway the idea of one with the hard shell fitting in the Ristretto is not promising either. The Incase has a non-slip surface and there is no way it will go in if it is snug at all.

The Speck Shell is glossy and might go in and there are a few other shells of plastic that look possible but I can not find any more out until Monday.
Very frustrating.

I want a case that I can work out of but that does not add a lot of bulk.

I hope others chime in with a solution?

Ed

[Foggy Morn]

...

The Incase has a non-slip surface and there is no way it will go in if it is snug at all.

...

This is sort-of true for me - it's not too hard putting it in to the Ristretto, but it's a major pain getting it out. The hard case looked much smoother, so I thought it would probably be easier to insert than the neoprene.

I love the form of the Ristretto, though there are times I wish it was a tad larger (in all dimensions - [edited to add:] except maybe the width (side to side, not back to front). That seems fine.).

[reina]

Just chiming in to say the Speck see thru case fits into the size 1 brain cells with a 17" macbook pro

[AVService]

Well this morning I pulled out every Brain Cell(not literaly) and sleeve I could find in my closet and gave each of them a try with the hard cased macbook to see if any would work.

It turns out that several were not too bad and if they were loose enough the macbook would go in and out easily.

I can not tell what size the Brain Cells were that worked as I don't see a lable on them anywhere.

I also have several Waterfield sleeves for 15" Powerbooks that worked very well.

Just an F.Y.I.

[Darcy]

AVService -- Your Brain Cells might have a small white tag with the size number on it under the care label, depending on how old they are.

This thread has more information on using a Speck case with the Brain Cell.

[jonjake]

I don't think you're going to be able to improve on the Macbook protection of the Ristretto by adding anything to the mix. The Macbook fits tightly and securely in the sleeve, with little room for anything that's going to significantly improve the degree of protection.

I tried the Ristretto with my Macbook and while I liked the bag overall, I didn't feel the thin padding in the laptop sleeve was enough protection for my Macbook. I am much happier with my Zephyr/Brain Cell combo, which has kept my Macbook in minty shape despite lots of travel and abuse.

[travls]

FYI: About MacBook keyboard covers

I bought an iSkin keyboard cover for my MacBook and thought I was doing a good thing. However, the MacBook runs hot and, as I found out from an Apple employee at the Genius Bar, part of the cooling comes from air intake around the keys.

I continue to use the iSkin on my desktop machines but have discarded it for laptops.

[Z60mUser]

Any sense on what size brain cell you would need for a MacBook in an incase hardshell? The manufacturer's website only gives interior dimensions... http://goincase.com/products/detail/...l-case-cl57119

[jonjake]

Um, you can't fit a Brain Cell inside an InCase hardshell -- both products are designed to form-fit snugly around a Macbook. It's either/or, not and.

Any sense on what size brain cell you would need for a MacBook in an incase hardshell? The manufacturer's website only gives interior dimensions... http://goincase.com/products/detail/...l-case-cl57119

[AVService]

Um, you can't fit a Brain Cell inside an InCase hardshell -- both products are designed to form-fit snugly around a Macbook. It's either/or, not and.

The way I read the question was that the Incase website only lists the interior dimension of the Incase,case.
I can not imagine why they would as it is exactly the same inside as a Macbook is outside?

Anyway I can not see a tag anywhere with size info on the Brain Cell I have that would work with the Macbook nor is there a care tag on it.
It is an older one with the old logo,fasteners and snaps.

It works very well with the Incase'd Macbook and though it is a little tall this allows me to adjust the suspension for max. bump protection in case I drop it.

It seems I have no Bihn gear directly for the 15" Macs but I do have both a Waterfield size 11 sleeve and a 15" Waterfield Racer-X case.
The Incase'd Macbook fits just fine in both of these.
It is slightly less wide than the 15" Mac but this only helps slide it into and out of both cases due to the anti-slip coating of the Incase case.

One note about the Waterfield sleeve vs. the Brain Cell is the protection they both provide and the space difference it needs.
The Waterfield sleeves are great and for any given fit they are at least 1/2 as thick as the Brain Cell.I can just get two Sleeves in the same space as 1 Brain Cell.
That said,the Brain Cell gives some superior protection due to the semi-hard properties and due to the sling inside if the case is properly adjusted.

Both are excellent cases they are just different.

For now as I still am not sure about the Macbook fitting my needs I will be using either of the 3 cases I already have and the Incase shell as the best part for now is that I already own them.

Ed

[Z60mUser]

Is it possible to block users on this forum?

Anyway, I now have an incase hardshell for my macbook. I like it already; it looks good, it feels good, it has a tight grib, and I know that the exterior surface of my macbook isn't going to get marred or scratched when being handled or used. Also, I can confirm that the macbook-inside-the-incase-hardshell *will* fit in the Ristretto. It is tight, but it will go in and out serviceably, though it sticks out a little at the top, but it will close fine and there wasn't much room for anything else in the bag in the first place.

The question is, will the macbook-in-the-incase-hardshell fit into a Size 6 Brain Cell. I think, yes. The hardshell only adds about 2mm in dimensions to the size of the computer, so I think it will fit, if tightly. Any suggestions from the folks in Seattle?

[jonjake]

Nice comment. That should encourage people here to help you.

Is it possible to block users on this forum?