Engadget.com Posts Custom Laptop Cases
by Darren Murph 
posted Apr 17th 2009 at 12:00PM
This whole global economic crisis, and its resulting massive loss of jobs got us thinking. We here at Engadget didn’t want to stand helplessly by, announcing every new round of misery — including today’s news from Toshiba and Sony Ericsson — without giving anything back — so we decided to take the opportunity to spread a little positivity. We’ll be handing out a new gadget every day (except for weekends) to lucky readers until we run out of stuff or companies stop sending things. Today we’ve got delightful LAbesace LIME DROP messenger bag for 15-inch laptops, complete with a rugged nylon exterior, plenty of room for your smaller gizmos and a sign that says “Kiss Me, I’m Famous.” Read the rules below (no skimming — we’re omniscient and can tell when you’ve skimmed) and get commenting! Hooray for free stuff!
Big thanks to be.ez for providing the gear!
Gallery: be.ez LAbesace LIME DROP
The rules:
- Leave a comment below. Any comment will do, but if you want to share your proposal for “fixing” the world economy, that’d be sweet too.
- You may only enter this specific giveaway once. If you enter this giveaway more than once you’ll be automatically disqualified, etc. (Yes, we have robots that thoroughly check to ensure fairness.)
- If you enter more than once, only activate one comment. This is pretty self explanatory. Just be careful and you’ll be fine.
- Contest is open to anyone in the 50 States, 18 or older! Sorry, we don’t make this rule (we hate excluding anyone), so be mad at our lawyers and contest laws if you have to be mad.
- Winner will be chosen randomly. The winner will receive one (1) be.ez LAbesace LIME DROP case for 15-inch laptops. Approximate retail value is $89.99.
- If you are chosen, you will be notified by email. Winners must respond within three days of the end of the contest. If you do not respond within that period, another winner will be chosen.
- Entries can be submitted until Friday, April 17th, at 11:59PM ET. Good luck!
- Full rules can be found here.
Wooden MacBook case for would-be Amish road warriors
by Thomas Ricker posted Jan 20th 2009 at 8:37AM
Cut down a tree to save a Mac? Sure, it’s better than using your face. These unpriced (hey, if you gotta ask…) wooden slip cases with leather lining and magnetic enclosures are designed and custom crafted by Rainer Spehl to fit 13-inch MacBooks or 15-inch MacBook Pros. While that’s clearly a last-gen MacBook Pro pictured, we’ll bet that Rainer will build the case to whatever dimensions you’d like just as long as you’ve got the cash to back up that pretty smile. Else, why not roll your own.
[Via SlipperyBrick and Notcot]
TSA-approved Solo CheckFast messenger bag caters to netbooks
by Darren Murph posted Dec 22nd 2008 at 5:40PM
So, you’re tired of removing and replacing your netbook each and every time you waltz through an airport (or a different terminal at Sky Harbor International — great planning there, Phoenix), but the current crop of TSA-friendly bags are simply too large for your tastes. Clearly, Solo has felt your pain, as the CheckFast Netbook messenger bag is only big enough to handle netbooks 11-inchers or smaller. Our good pals over at Gadling were able to take it for a spin, and even being avid travelers, they were mighty impressed. The build quality was top-shelf, there was plenty of extra storage room and the $35 price tag was found to be downright delectable. Still in need of a last-minute gift? You may have just found it.
DIYer gets crafty with plywood laptop case
by Darren Murph posted Oct 17th 2008 at 9:43PM
We thought the AirMail was our most favorite niche case of all time, but the homegrown Ply Laptop Case is really making a case (ahem) for top honors. After hours upon hours of masterful plywood bending, sanding and carving, the wooden case you see above was created. Internally, the case is lined with cork to “provide additional heat resistance and protection,” and best of all, those with the requisite skills can make one to hold any size machine you can dream of. Now, if only there was a TSA-approved version…
[Via MAKE]
Tom Bihn’s Checkpoint Flyer laptop bag in the wild, reviewed
by Darren Murph posted Oct 7th 2008 at 10:04PM
We could tell from the press shot that this here laptop bag was far and away the most beautiful of the TSA-approved bunch, and a recent review over at Gadling confirms it. Put simply, the Tom Bihn Checkpoint Flyer is “fantastic,” and even the reviewer found himself startled at just how much he dug it. The build quality was remarkable, the ease of use was commendable and the design itself was obviously worthy of praise. The only real rub is the bloated sticker; the price of admission is a stiff $220, and that’s before you add in any useful straps or extra packing cubes. ‘Course, you’re probably wondering how this thing fared in real-world use, and we’re happy to report that no cavity searches were required when passing through security on a flight from Chicago to Amsterdam. Check the full writeup and a hands-on gallery in the read link.
Tom Bihn’s Checkpoint Flyer: a TSA-approved bag worth owning
by Darren Murph posted Aug 19th 2008 at 2:54AM
Now that the TSA has doled out the official verbiage about what it considers a checkpoint-friendly laptop bag, expect to see the usual players toss in an option or two for frequent fliers. Thus far, all we’ve seen are cases that get the job done while throwing style to the wind in the nearest dumpster; now, however, we’ve a better option to choose from. Tom Bihn’s stylish Checkpoint Flyer meets all of the TSA’s requirements while still looking like a briefcase we wouldn’t be embarrassed to be seen with. The 2.6-pound bag is crafted from US 1050 denier ballistic nylon and 500 denier Cordura and includes a trio of pouches on the outside, splash-proof zippers and ten smaller pockets for stashing those increasingly rare bags of peanuts / pretzels. It’s available now in three colors for $220 (yeah, we know, but it’s made in the US of A).
[Via Electronista]
Targus introduces checkpoint-friendly Zip-Thru laptop case
by Darren Murph posted Jul 30th 2008 at 8:53AM
As we surmised earlier this month with the formal introduction of Mobile Edge’s trio of TSA-approved laptop bags, the flood of competitors are now rushing out. One of the first out of the gate is Targus, delivering its Zip-Thru 15.4-inch Corporate Traveler Laptop Case. Just the first in the outfit’s sure-to-be-long line of checkpoint-friendly bags, this one measures in at 16.93- x 6.5- x 13.98-inches, weighs 3.74-pounds, is constructed from durable black ballistic 1680 denier nylon and can — of course — slip under those airport scanning machines with your precious machine still tucked inside. Unfortunately, it won’t be available for summertime travel (look for it to land in October), but you can go ahead and budget in $99.99 well before Q3 gets sticky.
[Via CrunchGear]
BUILT’s Laptop Backpack keeps your files close, peripherals closer
by Darren Murph posted May 9th 2008 at 10:27AM
Not one to just follow the crowd, BUILT has thrown an interesting twist on the oh-so-popular Neoprene laptop case. The Laptop Backpack enables users to tote their 12- to 17-inch machine right on their back along with textbooks, LAN party flyers and a copy of The Daily Bugle; you’ll also find a couple of smaller compartments for storing peripherals and accessories. The material itself is water- and stain-resistant, and the pack is available in two sizes to fit all but the most atypical of frames. According to BUILT, the new wave of laptop carrying should begin today at $80 a pop.
[Via BeSportier]
Soyntec Wiffinder bags can detect WiFi nets, can’t be traded for bail
by Thomas Ricker posted Jan 9th 2008 at 2:24PM
P.S. “Wiffinder” is not a typo. We agree, WiFinder would seem a more appropriate name.
[Via coolest-gadgets]
Microsoft busts out its own rolling laptop case?
by Darren Murph posted Jul 8th 2007 at 12:04PM
Here’s an intriguing one. While casually browsing the always spontaneous pages of Costco’s website, a rather interestingly-badged rolling laptop case managed to appear, but the Microsoft branding induced a bit of head scratching. ‘Course, Microsoft’s no stranger to the peripheral market in general, but we can’t say we’ve ever known Redmond to take on the laptop case biz before. Hey, you’ll need something to shove that multi-touch machine (or Oracle’s newfangled ultraportable) in, right? Click on for a few more shots of the $99.99 accessory.
[Thanks, Phil]
Apple pays woman to “de-Pod” her product
by Evan Blass posted Sep 4th 2006 at 5:30PM
In a move that will be seen as gracious by some, extortionist by others, Apple has offered to pay a New Jersey woman an undisclosed sum to rebrand a laptop bag she sells so that it no longer includes the word “pod” — but not before reminding her in a letter that she was in potential violation of the closely-guarded iPod trademark. Until recently, Medford Lakes resident Terry Wilson had been selling her protective case under the name “TightPod,” which as we all learned from the ugly little Profit Pod incident, is dangerously diluting the brand significance of Apple’s cash cow. Unlike the electronic Profit Pod, however — which Apple referred to as “a small, flat, round corned rectangular device with a display screen” — we can’t see all that many people confusing a furry computer case with the world’s most recognizable audio player. Still, you gotta do what you gotta do to proactively protect your brand, we suppose, so we’re just waiting by the mailbox to receive a big fat check that will allow us to begin the long, painful process of rebirthing the Engadget Podcast as the Engadget Zencast.
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