Whats the best case for a MacBook Air?

[02ranger]

My stepmother is a high school teacher and is getting a MacBook air from the school system where she works, and she wants to put a shell case on it for protection. What do you guys recommend?

Thanks in advance!!

I have no idea if this is where this should be posted, so I apologize in advance if its not right.

 

[amdhunter]

http://forums.anandtech.com/forumdisplay.php?f=45

 

[02ranger]

http://forums.anandtech.com/forumdisplay.php?f=45

I started to post it in All Things Apple to begin with, I had it typed out and ready to hit Submit, but I changed my mind since that category is under Software. I didn't think it belonged there. It's all good though, esquared moved it for me and now I know..........

 

[Stable]

I'm considering buying one mainly because the battery life is supposed to be great. I only use it for word processing, browsing, and multimedia and occasionally use Photoshop but I never edit videos or anything. This will be my second Apple computer since my PowerBook G4

 

[TheStu]

A lot of people like the Speck cases OP.

 

[Rottie]

I love Speck cases this is my second Speck case. Both are Clear See Thru case.

 

[02ranger]

I love Speck cases this is my second Speck case. Both are Clear See Thru case.

I keep reading that the speck cases don't hold up very well, and that they have poor ventilation causing the laptop to overheat. Is that true in your experience?

 

[RampantAndroid]

I keep reading that the speck cases don't hold up very well, and that they have poor ventilation causing the laptop to overheat. Is that true in your experience?

Any case will create ventilation issues. Apple designs their laptops to use the metal case as a giant heatsink...putting plastic over that metal will prevent it from getting airflow, and you'll be relying solely on the internal fan to do the cooling. Does she NEED a case? The only thing I've done is a sticker on the back of the screen...nothing else. Yeah, it got scratched on the bottom...but I don't care, the screen and keyboard are fine still. Just get a screen protector IMO.

 

[MrColin]

I like these hammered cases from incase:
http://goincase.com/shop/incase-hammered-hardshell-case-for-macbook-air-13#color/70

Mine keeps my MBP nice and warm and I think it looks neat.

 

[KeithP]

While not exactly a shell case, being that she is a teacher she might like the BookBook case from Twelve South.

http://www.twelvesouth.com/product/bookbook-for-macbook-air-retina

-KeithP

 

[02ranger]

Any case will create ventilation issues. Apple designs their laptops to use the metal case as a giant heatsink...putting plastic over that metal will prevent it from getting airflow, and you'll be relying solely on the internal fan to do the cooling. Does she NEED a case? The only thing I've done is a sticker on the back of the screen...nothing else. Yeah, it got scratched on the bottom...but I don't care, the screen and keyboard are fine still. Just get a screen protector IMO.

I don't think she's terribly concerned about breaking it herself, but since she'll be taking it to/from school, there's a chance it could get broken at the school. The kids aren't very careful with things. That being said, she's also kinda hard on electronics, and these are just on loan from the school, so its a "you break it, you bought it" situation.

I'll check out all these cases, and thanks for all the suggestions!! I'm still open to more, though...........

 

[Rottie]

I keep reading that the speck cases don't hold up very well, and that they have poor ventilation causing the laptop to overheat. Is that true in your experience?

Sorry for delay. I have zero issues with Speck. The ventilation flows on both side and on the back. no over heat at all if it did I wouldn't recommend you one.