I own several Pelican cases. When I saw the options for cases for my MacBook, I knew that this case would be just what I needed.
The MacBook 13.3" fits snugly inside the case. The case says 13" notebooks, but the extra width of the MacBook is accepted. The case is shipped with small foam large and small spacers. I used the large spacers but placed them inside the top lid of the case so that the notebook screen wouldn't be opened when I opened the Pelican.
I don't have any worries now when I toss my notebook into a backpack and travel. I felt uneasy about having to take my notebook out of my Pelican 1510 carry-on case when gate-checking my carry-on luggage for small regional jets.
I have had my MacBook for 18 months, during which time it has lived mainly in its neoprene sleeve from Incase. I have used it lightly, handled it gently, and moved it out of the house rarely (at most once per week). It has been transported, in this Incase sleeve, inside my padded bookbag, with at most 1 or 2 other paperback books, nothing major.
And yet the MacBook has developed many fine hairline cracks--along corners, radiating from the Apple logo, etc. Not highly noticeable, but unacceptable. I appreciated that the Incase sleeve is minimalist--but really, it offers no cushion and no support at all in the most sensitive areas of the laptop: the wide, unbuttressed single-layer plastic sheet behind the LCD screen and the corners of the notebook. If I had kept the laptop in a computer bag, this might not have been a problem. But if I had bought a computer bag, why would I have bought the neoprene sleeve?
For those of you in a similar situation to mine--you would rather do without a bulky computer bag (easily recognized as such, no less)--I would recommend this Pelican case.
The arguments -againstthe Pelican case are these:
--It will consume much more volume in your bag than the flimsy Incase sleeve.
--It lacks a carrying handle.
--It seems a little over-the-top.
--It's a little difficult to open.
The arguments -forthe Pelican case are these:
--It is, really, a very small case considering its efficacy.
--It will still fit inside your bookbag nicely.
--Its "over-the-top" protection may just save you another $1500 for a new MacBook, or at least a few hundred in premature repairs or data-recovery due to physical damage.
--It won't open without your permission.
None of the other hard plastic MacBook cases offer the same level of protection. All the translucent shells leave every port gleefully unprotected--moisture, dirt and dust, all can go right in. Would you carry your laptop through the rain in that? Even the Incase sleeve is full of vent-holes along the edges--Why?
Admittedly, there are a couple moulded foam cases which do seem to offer some protection--the Booq Vyper, for instance. The Booq case is a little lighter, much flimsier, costs the same--but might suit some tastes. I have not seen many raving reviews.
A note for MacBook owners: the width of the MacBook will fit very snugly into the case, with little to no room for padding on that axis. For this reason, purchase the case model with the pick-n-pluck foam. The padding will need a bit of tweaking to suit your Mac. I feel assured that my MacBook is very well protected in that dimension, as well.
Very satisfied.
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Just so everyone is aware, this case will NOT fit the Macbook Pro 13". All the reviewers who said otherwise are incorrect and it is highly annoying, so if you don't want to return this item don't buy it.
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The box comes with some thin foam that lines the inside. This is not the "pluck foam" but rather a very thin foam -"convoluted lid foam" in their description which is customized to fit the inside of the box.
With the lid foam, the Macbook Air 13" and the MacBook Pro 13", will not quite fit. You need about another 1/8 of an inch. So you have to remove this foam. Then these two products will just fit but there is no room for any padding between the computer and the hard plastic of the box at the sides. If the box were 1/8 inch bigger from side to side, it would be perfect.
It is not the end of the world, but it would be a lot nicer for users of these computers if the case were a few mm larger. So I have to take this foam lining out. (or I could cut out the part of this foam piece that extends up the sides and leave the rest)
I can use any foam I want to pad between the top and bottom of the computer or the front and back, but there is no room for ANY foam at the sides. It seems bizarre. Perhaps, Window PC 13" computers are a few mm smaller from side to side.
Of course, the iPad and the Macbook Air 11" fit in with LOTS of room at the sides. I wanted this case because I transport computers to a summer house by way of a small boat and I wanted a small case that would keep the computer completely dry. I will probably use it for my iPad and find something else for my Macbook Air 13"
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Bought this case for a macbook pro 13". It fits very snugly with no extra room for foam on the side. It is a good size and light, but pretty WEAK! If i stepped on the case it would damage the computer. Not what I expected from Pelican. Hopefully they aren't using this flimsy plastic for all their cases
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I eagerly awaited the arrival of this bag because there were design elements that I appreciated in theory before even laying hands on one: magnetic closures for the front instead of noisy velcro, ballistics Cordura all around the bag, not just on the bottom, safety belt webbing for the strap, and the intriguing grid-it system. My other motivation for grabbing it was I wanted a bag that had a somewhat nondescript exterior, no obvious bells and whistles, something that didn't scream "steal this bag!"
