Customer Reviews

Macbook Air Vertical Sleeve with Shoulder Strap (Gray)

5 star:		(26)
4 star:		(16)
3 star:		(5)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(2)

 

 

More often than not, Belkin comes up with the best-fitting, most-useful and protective case for a laptop or iPod, and at a reasonable price (I see that it's gone up a couple of bucks, but not enough to cause retraction of that last statement). I wish I'd remembered that before ordering a couple of others that will now go unused. I've already dropped my laptop a couple of times, but this case is sufficiently shock absorbent to make such an incident harmless. Also, the vertically-attached strap is perfect--certainly better than no strap at all, and less bulky than a two-point horizontal strap but more secure (while freeing up both hands of the wearer) than a mere handle. It would be nice if Belkin could add a small pocket for a power adapter, but no doubt the overall sleek and clean look of the case would suffer.

Now if Belkin would only make a similar case for an iPad, I might have an item I could give my wife without being required to take it right back to the post office. There are hundreds of "similar" cases going for about 30, but all of them flunk the user's stringent requirements. Many have no strap at all while those that do (sometimes called "Messenger" bags) have an overly elaborate, thick strap plus bulky pockets that are a disservice to the compact dimensions and light weight of small computers like the iPad not to mention an instant "turn-off" to those of us who have been "spoiled" by a product such as the one I'm reviewing.

[Update: I suspect at least one disenchanted reviewer is not talking about the pictured Belkin sleeve. There's nothing shabby or uneven about the quality, which is superior to that of 4-5 computer bags/cases that preceded it. Moreover, the combination of this bag and a 13" Air is guaranteed to make an iPad plus Messenger bag feel like a lot of dead weight.]

This is a perfect complement to my MacBook Air 13" (Late 2010 model). The book fits perfectly into the sleeve, the sleeve itself is wonderfully light and slim yet offers adequate padding. The case does just what it ought to, adding portability and protection without detracting from the slim light feel of the MacBook Air. Even the color is great, an almost perfect match.

There is a shoulder strap but no handle. The photo available when I purchased this showed what could have been a handle, but there is none, just the removable shoulder strap.

The one caveat involves that shoulder strap: it attaches to rather flimsy cloth loops via an unusual plastic rings. I don't have much confidence in either the plastic rings or the loops holding up very well, they seem weak, but I may be pleasantly surprised. In any case, I took off a star the ratings for the strap. Otherwise, it's the perfect bag.

I've added some photos of the strap and illustrating how the MBA fits in the bag.

The case looks much nicer in the photo than in real life. The seams were not even, meaning it's thicker on some parts and thinner in others. I do like the soft inside fabric, but overall it looks and feels rather cheap. Not the kind of case I wanted for my MacBook Air, but I guess it's all my fault for buying the cheap sleeve.

In summary, you get what you pay for. If you want a nice looking sleeve, this is not the product you want.

There's not a lot to say about a product this simple. It fits the MacBook Air perfectly, is light, and thin. Just the thing for carrying the Air by itself when I don't need any other accessories.

The color is a lot lighter than it looks in the photos. A little "blah" looking but for $20 you're not going for high style here. Again, just a simple case.

The Macbook Air Vertical Sleeve performs as advertised. Fits the MBA perfectly and the interior lining is free of anything that could cause damage to the exterior of the MBA. The only thing that would make it better is a small exterior pocket for the power adapter. I use the sleeve mainly as something to protect the MBA and then insert the MBA and Vertical Sleeve in another Laptop Case for transport. It can serve as a Laptop case stand-alone since it has a strap but keep in mind that you can't go far from the power adapter. But, for a morning stop at the local coffee shop it works fine. Great price on the Sleeve through Amazon.


Update: 2/4/2010.

Had to get rid of the case, the clips attaching the carrying strap to the case turned out to be very cheaply made. The strap came off the rings and my MBA hit the tile floor while still in the case. Results: I now have a seriously dented MBA, with a gap in the MBA's case. The case itself did not provide enough cushion to protect the computer. Can't recommend using the carrying straps, as such it becomes only a laptop sleeve.

Amazon seriously needs to update the description for this product. There are multiple Macbook Airs out there now, and this is NOT made for the 2010/2011 11.6" Macbook Air.

I received this today and while I wasn't at all crazy about the color (I would have preferred black), I figured what the heck--it was only $15. I don't have much to lose, especially with Free Prime shipping from Amazon. Plus, I figured it was for my 11.6".

The construction of it is fine for me, nothing amazing. It's very very light. The interior has a thin padding with a soft material to protect my Air.

However. This is not made for the 11.6" Air. It's too BIG. There's 1-1/2" extra space on the side and nearly the same amount of extra space on the top. It is not snug at all. Once zipped up there's a lot of play inside this case. My Air slides all around in there.

Maybe it's fine for a 13" Air, but not the 11.6". Returning now.

The Air Vertical Sleeve is consistent with lightness as the AirBook is to laptops. The vertical design makes it very comfortable under your armpit, it is durable and surprisingly inexpensive, especially compared with the overpriced (some shockingly) cases that seem to be based on the idea that the Airbook is for people who can afford to pay ludicrously high prices. I bought a second one. (Note: the link under the description says it is "without" shoulder strap. Wrong. It is WITH the strap and it is included.)

This sleeve is light and well padded, which is what you want for both protection and easy portability. No point i getting a Macbook Air and weighing it down with something heavy. The strap also makes the Air easy to carry over your shoulder. The price is right! On the negative side, the silver color seems almost to attract dirt and is not particularly easy to clean. Also, there is no provision for the accessories that the Air requires, at least for extended travel and use for presentations: the ethernet adapter, the video adapter, the USB hub, and the power adapter. You will need another little bag for this stuff.

I'm a programmer/designer for an advertising agency and bought a macbook air as a second machine to do mac testing on. I chose the air because I wanted to have a mac to do the testing on, but I didn't want a super-crazy awesome macbook pro that was all decked out. I just wanted a simple machine that could provide me with the things I needed for mac platform testing.

Which brings me to why I bought this case. I use an HP that's totally decked out as my main machine. It's a 17" monster in my backpack, so the air being, well, "airy" was perfect - hardly any extra weight added!

But I wanted the air to be protected in my bag as it's sitting in the same compartment as my main machine.

So I grabbed this perfectly simple sleeve for it and it's exactly what I wanted.

I'm not using this sleeve to carry the air over my shoulder, so I removed the shoulder strap that came with it, and voila!

Slide it in my bag, pull it out when I need it. Perfect.

It's perfect as an in bag protector...I would imagine I'd want more out of it if I used it as a dedicated over the shoulder bag for the air.

For my uses, I have no complaints at all. I love that it's a snug fit for my 13" macbook air and padded just right.

This is the smoothest-looking case that I have found for my Macbook Air 13". I am surprized that Apple does not offer this sleeve. The computer fits snug, there is soft fleece lining, an extra-long strap and high-quality hardware in a satin finish stainless steel. There is no storage in this sleeve, but if thats what you need just get one of those Swiss Army bags with all the pockets. This thing is just smooth and low-key. The color matches my laptop perfectly. Another wonderful product straight out of Compton.