Want to keep your laptop safe? Then take a look at this video review of the rather stylish iSkin Soho laptop sleeve. Pretty in pink, but also available in other colours, the Solo feels very luxurious, but does it offer good protection? Watch the video to find out.
Product: iSkin Soho
Price: £49.99 (as reviewed)
Supplied by: iSkin
Contact via this online form.
Working around the home needn't be boring. The Belkin PocketTop gives you the chance to work in style and comfort. This product is available in some great colours and offers some really nice features that enhance the way you work. Check out the video review to see exactly what we thought. *Update* The PocketTop is currently available in Orange, Silver and Green. Since the video review was made three new colours have been announced, Chocolate with Tourmaline, Dove with Tarragon and Steel with Burnt Orange, keep an eye out on Geekanoids when we have some images for you.
Product: Belkin PocketTop
Model: F8N043eaORG
Price: £34.99
Supplied by: Belkin UK
Contact: +44 (0)1933 35 2000
We are very pleased to bring you our video review of the Racer-X laptop bag from Waterfield Designs. This nicely designed bag is available in a variety of sizes, we take a look at the Apple MacBook version in a rather fetching black/red combo.
Update: In the video we mention not knowing what the zip on the rear of the bag is for. Oooops, this is our mistake, the exterior pocket on the back has a zippered bottom so it can be slipped over handles on wheeled carry-on bags, a very nice idea, sorry we missed it.
We liked the Racer-X, a lot, very high quality material and superb manufacturing quality. The Racer-X should be high on your list if you need to carry your laptop around.
Product: Racer-X Laptop Bag
Price: $169 to $189
Supplied by: SFBags
Contact: 877-546-1040
Outside the US: +1-415-546-1040
When you have a laptop of any brand, it is important to be able to take it with you whilst keeping it safe from knocks and scrapes. The MetroLite from Brenthaven offers a stylish choice, with a very nice quality feel to it. Check out the video review to see just what we thought of it.
Product: MetroLite Carry Case
Price: £49.95
Supplied by: Brenthaven
Contact: +44 (0)20 8400 1275
You might ask when starting to read this review, "How can someone get excited about a surge protector?" Well, it goes without saying that many of us struggle with that spaghetti junction of wires tangled under our desks. Whenever I install a new set-up, things look neat for about five minutes. The moment I move something the cables seem to tangle themselves.
Belkin have offered a lot of variants of surge protector before, but this new 'Compact Surge Protector' certainly breaks from the norm and offers a design that should have been released years ago. The products gives you six surge protected sockets, plus three telephone sockets (on input, two outputs). What makes the unit stand out from the crowd is its design. The unit sits vertically, with three sockets on each side. Also, the sockets face downwards, so when you have equipment plugged in, the wires are pointing in the right direction. Fantastic solution this, as it means you can bundle all your excess cable behind your desk or the equipment itself and keep it hidden away.
You can also route your cables in the traditional way, along the floor. To keep things tidy there is a simple, but effective management clip that is connected to the two metre length power cable. The clip can be slid to any position and your equipment cables can be routed through it. This is a nice addition, just a shame there was not two provided for even more flexibility.
For your money you get a very useful and well thought out design. The unit provides 2,190 joules of surge protection, plus £100,000 of electrical insurance for connected equipment. Belkin also throw in a lifetime warranty, which shows how confident they are of their products. Everyone should protect their valuable computer and other electrical equipment with a surge protector. I strongly advise you to invest in one today, and you won't go far wrong with the Compact Surge Protector from Belkin.
Product: Compact Surge Protector
Price: £24.99
Supplied by: Belkin UK
Contact: +44 (0)1933 35 2000
A friend once said to me that the difference between a PC user and a Mac user is as follows… a PC user buys a piece of kit and gets down to using it straight away, whereas a Mac user will always have protecting their precious kit as top priority over using and enjoying it. I had to laugh to myself, as I have behaved exactly like that myself. I even went so far as delaying the use of my iPod by a day, waiting for a case to be delivered for it. An even bigger investment is a laptop, and being able to protect it from scuffs and scratches, without spoiling the design asthetics or adding too much bulk is also important. Well, the kind people at Speck Products sent me two of their SeeThru cases to review. One for the 15-inch and the other for the 17-inch MacBook Pro. Of note, they also make these hard plastic shells for the 13-inch MacBook too.
The SeeThru comes supplied nicely packaged, and once unwrapped you can see that it is supplied in two halves, one for the base of the laptop and one for the lid. It is made of hard plastic, which is either completely transparent, or has a colouring to it. I had the pink one, which is really suited to the fairer sex, alongside the transparent 17-inch version. At first glance it is easy to see how much thought has gone into the design and quality, so I was really keen to get the case onto the MacBook Pro. Fitting is easy, simply placing the base into the case and giving it that extra little push to snap it into place. It is held on by little tabs, that are hardly noticeable. The lid for the back of the screen is fitted in the same way.
What makes the SeeThru so good, is that it hardly adds any thickness to the MacBook Pro. It also has cut-outs for all of the ports and superdrive, even a small hole for the battery test button on the base. The base also sports vent slots, to help dissipate any heat that in generated. You can keep the SeeThru in place for everyday use, and I am happy to say that it made no real difference to temperature of the laptop, maybe one degree here or there, but this was virtually impossible to measure. When closed the edges meet nicely, and it is nice to see that the beautifully designed MacBook Pro, still looks great.
In conclusion the SeeThru hard shell case from Speck Products is a superb way of cheaply protecting your MacBook or MacBook Pro. You can go for the transparent version, or add a splash of colour back into your (Mac) life, with black, blue, green, orange, pink and red to choose from. The SeeThru is well made and should be high on your shopping list.
Product: SeeThru case for MacBook Pro
Price: $49.95 (regardless of size)
Average UK Price: £29.99
Supplied by: Speck Products
Contact: info@speckproducts.com
If you want to carry your Apple kit, or other computer related items around with you, you shouldn't have to settle for an all black affair, you know, one of those bags that lets everyone know exactly what you are carrying. Something stylish, and more importantly a bag that really works well by protecting your valuable kit. A name that always comes high on an Apple users list is Crumpler, they are well known for high quality and the fact that they are designed for us Apple fans. In the following review I was lucky enough to be able to try their Sticky Date Big Logo bag...
The Crumpler Sticky Date Big Logo is one of Crumplers larger bags and it will swallow anything from a 12-inch right up to a 17-inch widescreen MacBook Pro. Colour combinations also look great on this bag, the black/Blue combination we have here is the most understated, or you can go for the bright firebrick red/lawn or olive/yellow combo. Each bag also come with a high visibility strip on the front, so you can be seen if out and about in the dark.
Styling aside, what about the quality and carrying ability?
Well, the quality is second-to-none, made of what Crumpler call "Original 1000D Chicken Tex", it is a very strong fabric and has a waterproof lining. The buckles and shoulder strap are made of the same material that car seat belts are made from, so they are very strong, and all adjustable. The shoulder strap also has some nice padding, as does the back of the bag, so it is kind to your shoulders and back…
Open up the front flap, which is secured with some buckles and large velcro patches, you are presented with so many pockets and a lot of space. The very first pocket you encounter is zipped, this contains another zipped compartment, two velcro fastened pockets about the size of a 5th gen iPod and some pen holders.
Inside the main body of the bag, are three more velcro pockets for smaller accessories, plus two mesh fronted pockets (again fastened by velcro) where you can store yet more accessories whilst still being able to see what you have in there without having to open them. This central compartment is about big enough to fit an A4 ring binder, maybe two at a pinch.
The back compartment is where you store your laptop. It has a large velcro flap to make your laptop safe and a sleeve for your lappie that can be completely removed from the main bag. This sleeve is made of the same material as the lining and will swallow up to a 17-inch widescreen MacBook Pro. It also has a semi-rigid divider inside, which allows you to segregate some accessories, for example your mains adapter.
So what did I fit in it?
I loaded up the Sticky Date with a 13-inch MacBook, mains adapter and mains cable. Then slotted in my 5th gen iPod, cable yoyo and sync cable, my JVC Everio HDD camcorder, JVC charger, my small Canon digital camera, 4 compact flash memory cards and to top it all off, three copies of MacUser magazine. Now this was getting a little heavy, but still had room to spare... and if you are feeling brave, the bag sports some external loops, so you can hang a Crumpler pouch onto a loop for your mobile phone, few !
I found that the Sticky Date Big Logo was really easy to use. That removable laptop sleeve is really useful, and the capacity is just right for that single day trip. I was able to use the rest of the bag for lots of accessories, with the peace of mind, knowing that my expensive laptop was safe from getting bashed. This is one rugged bag and it looks great too. If you have invested in a laptop and have the need to carry it on business or perhaps on holiday, then please do not spend your hard earned cash without checking out the Crumpler Sticky Date Big Logo or if you need something a little different, you are bound to find a suitable offering from the rest of the Crumpler range.
Product: Crumpler Sticky Date Big Logo
Price: £99.00
Supplied by: Crumpler UK
Contact: crumpler@simms.co.uk
Kensington make a lot of decent Apple gear (and PC bits too), FM transmitters, keyboards, mice, docks, hubs, the list goes on. Here I am taking a look at their Notebook 70W AC/DC Power Adapter for Apple.
This adapter offers a lot more than just charging a specific device, which adds great value. The main unit outputs 70W maximum, so this will determine if it gives enough juice to power or charge your device.
On one end of the adapter you plug the power cord, which comes supplied in the package for a UK, USA, 12V DC (car), and Empower (airplane) socket. It is multivoltage, so is OK with 120V to 240V inputs. The cord for connecting to your power source is pretty short, so the slimline adapter must sit near to the socket.
The other end of the adapter accepts the cord that will eventually connect to your device, this is about 2.5 metres long. On the end of this your plug what Kensington call a 'Smart Tip'. In this Apple oriented package you get smart tips for the older PowerBook G3, iBook etc., a tip for the newer PowerBook G4 series, and a tip for any iPod with a dock connector. So if you are an Apple user most bases are covered.
Other tips are available for a whole host of devices. Various laptops, MP3 players, mobile phones, digital and video camera, and portable games consoles. Checking out the most popular, you can buy extra tips for the Sony PSP, Nintendo DS, Samsung and Creative MP3 players, and almost all the mobile phones seem available. Of note, the new MagSafe connectors found on the latest MacBook and MacBook Pro are not covered, due to Apple's licensing. Even though these tips are not in production at the moment, my guess we may see these sometime in the future.
As I mentioned earlier, this package outputs 70W of power, which will be suitable for most portable devices, with the exception of larger laptops. If this is the case, and you want to cover all possibilities, Kensington do sell a non-Apple specific 120W version. Buying this more powerful option gives you exactly the same flexibility, except you will have to add the Apple Smart Tips to your initial purchase.
The Kensington Notebook 70W AC/DC Power Adapter for Apple has an average street price of £80 and offers a great solution to powering your Apple and other kit, all with one adapter. This is great if you travel, or want to simplify things in your house. If you own an Apple laptop, iPod, PSP, Nintendo DS, and some sort of mobile phone, you can now charge them all with one device. Well done Kensington, this is a superb product.
Product: Kensington Notebook 70W AC/DC Power Adapter for Apple
Model Number: 33335EU
Price: £80 (average)
Supplied by: Acco UK Ltd.
Contact: 0845 603 1730
The Elevator from Griffin Technology, well there is no hiding that I love Griffin products, but maybe it has something to do with the ease of use, the winning designs, or perhaps that they are such a Mac friendly company. A few years ago I purchased an iCurve, which was and still is a beautifully designed stand, that I sat my PowerBook on, and it sat there at a nice comfortable height for working on at my desk. When I heard that a new product was being launched, I must admit to being a tad worried. With a design so good, why change it? How could it be improved.
So, onto the new product, the Elevator is made up of three pieces. A right and a left side support stand and a brace made of of clear perspex that holds the two supports in position. The support stand's are made of brushed aluminum and match the PowerBook, MacBook Pro and Cinema Display perfectly. They are also curved at such an angle that is just right. This coupled with the simple slot-in perspex brace, really compliments the simple, yet totally effective design.
I tested the Elevator with a small laptop, namely a 12-inch PowerBook, which sat just fine the two supports, so anything larger than this will also be fine. My main laptop is a MacBook, and I also use a 21-inch Samsung widescreen monitor. Sitting the two side-by-side, the top of my MacBook was now almost level with the top of my external monitor. So I now had the joy of using a dual-screen display in a comfortable manner.
Of late, you may have noticed that my reviews have been covering products that improve the way we use our computers. The Mirra chair just last week, offers improved sitting positions. Well, the Elevator is Griffin's most ergonomic offering to date, it raises your laptop up 5.5-inches, to a very comfortable working height. Use it in conjunction with an external keyboard and mouse, and you will no longer be uncomfortably arching your neck to view your laptop screen.
As well as the improved working position, you have an added benefit for your laptop too. The airflow is greatly increased, so your laptop stays a lot cooler.
So, the Elevator does much the same as the iCurve, but with more style. The supports also seem more substantial, and I would be comfortable perching a 17-inch laptop weight on top of this stand. If you use your laptop a lot at a desk, I cannot recommend this product enough. At $39.99 it really is a no-brainer, it is a sensible purchase, that does a job very well and looks cool at the same time.
Product: Elevator
Price: $39.99
UK Street Price: £27.00
Supplied by: Griffin Technology
Contact: +1 (615) 399-7000
One of the first things Mac owners want to do after firing up their new purchase is to protect it from scratches. MacBook, PowerBook and iPod owners from all corners of the globe (if only it were square) spend money on cases, skins and bags. Well, in the form of Speck Products 'See Thru' case, I think they are on to a possible winner here, so let's take a look.
To date, the only shipping See Thru case for laptops is the MacBook Pro version, the Core2Duo revision and the MacBook will follow. This is a hard case, made of translucent plastic and is available either completely transparent, or as reviewed here in red. The red is a very punchy colour and really looks superb.
The case itself comes supplied in two halves. You fit the top half first to the back of your screen, it just slips on and four small clips hold it in place. The bottom half is a little more tricky, with four clips securing the back, near the heat vents on the MacBook Pro. The back has to be put in place first, then the rest of the case is held on with two smaller clips. These small clips do not prevent the MacBook Pro from closing in the normal way, so you don't even notice they are there.
Once in place you have to be ready for the wow factor. It really shines and makes the MacBook Pro look even sexier than it did before. All of the ports remain accessible with the case on, nothing is obscured at all. It even made the screen/lid of the MacBook Pro feel more rigid, so may go someway toward preventing any warping in the future.
If you are worried about heat, there are plenty of vents on the bottom of the See Thru case, so no worries there. Removing the case, if you really need to is a bit worrying. I suppose the fear is that one of the little tabs will scratch the MacBook Pro casing, but fear not, so long as you are careful, the See Thru case can be easily removed, leaving no damage at all.
Everything about the See Thru case made me smile. The fit is spot on, the finish is excellent, no sharp edges and it makes your laptop look really great. The all important factor of protection is also addressed, any knocks or scratches will be taken by the See Thru instead of marking the silver finish to your MacBook Pro.
I can highly recommend this product and hope to bring you a review of the MacBook version when available.
Supplied by: Speck Products
Price: $39.95
Contact: 650-463-8918
Link to product.