The most obvious solution is to carry a travel monitor as well as a laptop. That comes with its own set of issues — they add even more weight and bulk, plus you have to keep track of another cord or two. And many USB monitors aren’t worth the hassle as they don’t perform well.

Is the $199 Lenovo ThinkVision LT1421 portable monitor any different? At 2.4 pounds (with the cover, 1.8 without) it’s not too heavy, but does it perform well enough to make it worth the weight?

Design

The ThinkVision features a 14-inch matte display and measures 13.2 x 8.6 x 0.85 inches, just a little larger than a MacBook Air (12.8 x 9 x 0.68 inches). It won’t take up too much space in a bag and, depending on the size of your notebook, may even be able to fit into the laptop compartment alongside it.

With the ThinkVision, you only have to keep track of three things: the monitor, the detachable cover, and the USB cord that both connects and powers it.

The cover serves double duty; it protects the screen during travel and provides a flat surface for the monitor when in use. It’s possible to use the ThinkVision without it, but it’s nice to have something sturdy and flat to sit it on. It’s useful on beds and small/cramped hotel desks.

It’s harder than it should be to snap the cover on sometimes, as it’s just one solid piece of plastic without snaps or flaps, but that’s a minor quibble.

On the back, the adjustable kickstand is sturdy enough to hold the monitor in a wide range of angles. The red, rubber tip also keeps it from sliding around or shifting, even if you do.

You’ll also find the brightness adjustment buttons on the back and the miniUSB port. The monitor comes with a Y split USB cable; miniUSB on one end, two normal USB 2.0 connectors on the other.

Performance

Despite having two USB connectors on the end, many users won’t have to take up two ports to get the ThinkVision LT1421 powered up. Some older laptops may not offer enough power in individual ports, but newer ones do. I tested the monitor on a MacBook Pro, the Acer Aspire Ethos, and the Samsung NF310. In each instance I only had to use one of the USB connections.

The matte display has a max resolution of 1366 x 768. Despite not being glossy, it has decent horizontal viewing angles. Vertical angles are narrower, but still not bad. The end result is that users won’t need to keep to a narrow sweet spot when placing the monitor.

Once connected and all drivers installed, each computer recognized the monitor right away and connected to it in under a minute. It registers just like a second monitor connected via VGA or HDMI with all of the same options, such as desktop mirroring or extending.

During testing, I didn’t note any lag, refresh, or performance issues with the LT1421. From playing 720p and 1080p video to moving windows between one screen and another, everything moved as smoothly as I’m used to.

The one drawback is the color depth. Overall, the ThinkVision displayed bright colors and deep blacks, but in images with color gradients I saw some pixilation. Transitions aren’t so smooth. This is really only a problem for people who work heavily with images — best to keep them on your notebook’s monitor. For web surfing, reading documents, etc., this isn’t very noticable.

Ease of Use and Setup

Before plugging in the monitor, users must install the DisplayLink drivers from the included CD or download them from Lenovo.com. Given that the audience for this product likely includes many ultraportable users (not to mention netbooks), I wish Lenovo had included the drivers on a USB drive instead of a CD.

After installation and a reboot, all users need to do is plug the monitor in. There are no extra utilities to worry about. To control the monitor, simply go to Windows’ or OSX’s normal monitor settings areas.

Who Is The ThinkVision LT1421 For?

As part of the Think line from Lenovo, the ThinkVision is obviously aimed at the business crowd. Business travelers, to be exact. Those who often find themselves in hotels, unfamiliar office spaces, or on the road. If having two monitors at home is your ideal setup, then this travel monitor makes a sweet addition to your kit.

The company also touts it as a good tool for presentations in a pinch — just aim the ThinkVision at your audience and keep your notebook’s screen turned toward you. If you’re traveling with a small ultraportable, having a larger display to watch movies on during your downtime is also nice.

However, given that it is the size and weight of a second notebook (an ultraportable, yes, but still), it may not be worth the hassle if you don’t travel a lot and only take the occasional business trip. However, being a person who falls into that camp myself, I would still consider buying one because the work I do when I travel for business is intense enough that having another monitor would make me so much more productive.

The Bottom Line

Given its excellent performance, I highly recommend the ThinkVision LT1421 to business travelers and power users. It’s light enough not to make a huge difference in your travel bag and won’t require an extra case or burden you with many more cords. The $199 price tag is reasonable, considering the benefits.

Lenovo ThinkVision LT1421 Portable Monitor Review is a post by K. T. Bradford from Notebooks.com.

How It Works

The TechSafe Cable Lock has dial number combination locking system, like those you find on bike locks, connected to a very heavy steel cable that they coated with a hard rubber to make it smooth. You feed the cable around something heavy like a large table leg and fish the locking mechanism through a large eye at the end opposite the cable lock. The system comes with three metal clamps that you feed between the laptop’s lid and body.

The lock fastens to the clamp when you push the button to reveal a hook that grabs the end of the clamp as it protrudes from the back of the laptop. Release the button and the lock pulls the hook attached to the clamp inside the large metal lock.

Scramble the combination to set the lock.

Griffin TechSafe Cable Lock hooked up to MacBook Pro

I often use my computer at an Atlanta Break Company nearby. I’m nervous about leaving my computer to use the restroom or to get up and grab a refill of my Diet Pepsi. I also hate having to pack everything up just for a quick pitstop. The TechSafe Cable Lock would make a thief think twice before trying to steal your laptop.

No cable lock or Kensington lock will keep a determined thief with enough time and opportunity from stealing a laptop. But a device like the TechSafe Cable Lock will make them think twice and delay them enough to protect your computer.

Video Review

Not Universal Enough

The system seems to work well with those computers that are compatible. The cable won’t be cut easily. The lock system feels sturdy enough to do its job. My son claims to have seen a YouTube video on how to crack the combination on a lock like this. The good news I tried his system and it didn’t work! +1 for Griffin!

Unfortunately, as I said above, the TechSafe Cable Lock doesn’t work with two of the three laptops I tested it on. The company’s description makes it clear that the system won’t work with a MacBook Air. However, they list almost every other manufacturer saying:

The TechSafe cable lock fits a wide variety of PC laptops and netbooks, from Dell, Acer, HP, Lenovo, Toshiba, Asus, Sony and more. It’s also compatible with Apple’s most recent additions to the MacBook and MacBook Pro lineup.

It lists Toshiba, but I know that the Toshiba Satellite L745 I tested it with didn’t work. You can see that in the video review above. The reason? The gap between the lid and body of the computer is too wide for the metal clamp to stay in place if a thief grabs it and pulls even slightly. You will have to test it out on your system. Look at the gap between the lid and body. If yours is wide, find another solution or don’t leave your computer unattended, which is actually good advice no matter what.

If you have a MacBook or MacBook Pro I can assure you this will work and work well. It may be compatible with other computers that have a narrow space between the lid and body.

Cost and an Optional Accessory

The Griffin TechSafe Cable Lock costs $29.99 directly from Griffin. If you find that it will work with your system, then you might also want to try out the TechSafe Locking Security Clamp, which clamps to a table and has a place where you can run the cable from the Cable Lock to secure it. It costs $19.99, but is currently out of stock from Griffin.

Pros

• Strong lock
• Cable too think to cut
• Works with computers that don’t have Kensington Lock
• Can’t easily be “cracked” like some bike locks can
• Good price

Cons

• Not compatible with MacBook Air
• Computers with wide gap between lid and body are incompatible

Griffin’s TechSafe Cable Lock: Not Universal, But Certainly Secure is a post by Kevin Purcell from Notebooks.com.

The Ristretto I reviewed is made for the MacBook, 13″MacBook Pro and 13″ MacBook Air. There is also a smaller version which is designed to fit the MacBook Air 11″ just right.

After using this Tom Bihn bag for a few trips and as a daily driver, I am impressed with the protection, comfort and ability to carry exactly what I want; without tempting me to take along more than I need.

At $120 this bag isn’t cheap, but as I recently told a college, it’s worth every penny. If you want a cheaper Macbook Air bag, check out the Timbik2 Quickie XS which Xavier just picked up at GottaBeMobile.

Protection

The notebook section of the Ristretto offers good protection thanks to a padded compartment, complete with a fold over lid that seals the top of the notebook in and keeps it protected as well. The padding carries over to the bottom of the bag, so you won’t ding up your Macbook Pro when you set the bag down.

There is a small amount of space ion between the padded notebook compartment which is just the right size for an iPad or an Android tablet. This area is not as padded, but I felt safe placing my tablet in this small section with the screen facing the padded notebook compartment.

As you move further away, you have a zippered compartment and an open area with pockets. I routinely kept a Macbook Air charger in the zipped compartment as well as a MiFi and a review phone in the other pockets. I was hesitant to keep the phone in these pockets because the top of the Ristretto buckles in place in one spot, leaving an open area, but during my use I didn’t drop anything I kept in these pockets.

The open area was empty for the first few days, but turned out to be just the right size for carrying my Nikon D5100 around town. This section isn’t padded, so I wouldn’t do this on a flight or without some additional layer of protection.

Carrying Power

As you can see, I was able to fit quite a bit of tech in a very small bag. The Tom Bihn Ristretto is one of my favorite notebook bags because it allows me to carry something very small, without feeling like I have to make choices about what I carry. Normally when I pick up a bag that is this size I end up switching to a bigger bag within 2 weeks, but as long as I am taking my Air with me, it’s in the Ristretto.

As you can see, I was able to fit quite a bit of tech in a very small bag. The Tom Bihn Ristretto is one of my favorite notebook bags because it allows me to carry something very small, without feeling like I have to make choices about what I carry. Normally when I pick up a bag that is this size I end up switching to a bigger bag within 2 weeks, but as long as I am taking my Air with me, it’s in the Ristretto.

Comfort

The small Ristretto is also comfortable to carry thanks to the upgraded shoulder strap. This option bumps the price up $150, but is worth it if you plan to carry as much gear as I do on a daily basis.

Recommendation

The Tom Bihn Ristretto for 13″ MacBooks offers a killer combination of size and well laid out storage space. At $120, it is well priced for the value it delivers. I would be hesitant to use the inner pockets for anything important if I had to put the bag flat through a scanner, but for any other situation they are deep enough to keep your gadgets safe. You can purchase the Tom Bihn Ristretto in several color combinations to suit your taste.

Tom Bihn Ristretto 13 MacBook Air 13″ Bag Gallery

Tom Bihn Ristretto Review: An Amazing MacBook Air Bag is a post by Josh Smith from Notebooks.com.

Fitbit Tracker display

The small device is about the size of a USB stick, so you hardly know it is there. When you get close to your computer (within 15 feet) the Fitbit Tracker will upload your current activity through the included base station. While you are out, the Fitbit Tracker shows you how you are doing by telling you your steps, calories burned, miles traveled and shows you a flower that grows as you are more active.

I  tested the Fitbit Tracker out for a the past month and a half and hardly noticed we had it on our clothing or in a pocket. It was interesting to see how active, or un-active, we were in a given day. Compared to RunKeeper, which is best used for a specific activity, the Fitbit Tracker is with you everywhere, giving you a better picture of your day. The small size makes it compatible with working out or just working.

Activity

Fitbit activity log

The Fitbit Tracker provided an accurate accounting of steps taken, and as long as you enter your height and weight correctly you should see a reliable accounting for distance traveled and calories burned. The distance was a little off, but you can make adjustments to this to fine tune the device. The Fitbit Tracker is not water-resistant, but you can add additional activities like swimming to the online tracking center.

Sleeping

Fitbit sleep tracker

At the end of the day, strap your Fitbit Tracker to your wrist with the included soft band and you can also track your sleep. I really enjoyed getting a better picture of my sleep habits, and it turns out I sleep better than I thought. The report lets you know how long it took to fall asleep, how long you were really asleep and grades your sleep. It takes a few nights to get used to the band, but after that, I didn’t notice it.

Data

All of this information is uploaded to the Fitbit Tracker website where you ca splice and dice your data to see how you are doing. You can track food intake and weight on the site, bringing all of your health information into one place that provides pretty ways to track your data.

If you want to dive deeper and get more comparisons to other people in your peer groups you can pay $50 for a premium membership. With this you can get a “trainer” which looks at your activity levels to help you be mor active or lose weight, dive deep into your data, compare to other users and track your progress against custom goals.

Mobile Access

There is no mobile app, but you can see your progress on a slick webapp that works on the iPhone, iPad and Android devices. Keep in mind that you won’t see your most up to date data while on the go, because your Fitbit Tracker needs to be near the base station to upload your activity.

Battery Life

The Fitbit Tracker has a self-contained battery which lasts 7 to 10 days. We found that it was almost always closer to 10 days, and gave us plenty of warning so we could recharge the device overnight.

Downside

FitBit Tracker size comparison

As I mentioned, the device is really small. Combine this with the fact that it is meant to be worn on your clothing and taken everywhere and you have the potential for a big problem. While we didn’t lose the Fitbit Tracker during an activity, there was more than one time where it ended up in the laundry basket after a late evening walk.

fitbit on pocket

Unfortunately, last week I didn’t remember to get it off my shorts quick enough and ran it through the wash. The Fitbit Tracker will turn on, but no longer holds a charge. If you Google, “Fitbit washing machine,” you’ll see that this is a common occurrence.

If you happen to send your Fitbit through the wash, or damage it in some way, you can get a replacement for $49.99 by emailing support@fitbit.com. This won’t keep your Fitbit safe, but it is better than buying a new Fitbit Tracker at full price.

The only other issue I ran into was that a bump would sometimes activate the “trip” mode, but this didn’t appear to affect tracking as a whole.

Is the Fitbit Tracker worth $99

During my time with the Fitbit I enjoyed the tracking and I am certain other data and fitness geeks will as well. Because it can track all aspects of your fitness and sleep automatically and allows you to log your intake the Fitbit Tracker is definitely worth the $99 price.

The only real downside we found was that the device is not able to take a trip through the washer. Most gadgets can skip this, but one that is designed to be attached to clothing every day should be a little more resilient.

Before you start using the Fitbit Tracker, look over Fitbit Tracker 101 and the product manual, otherwise you may wonder why the Fitbit Tracker is flashing at you suddenly.

If you love to analyze aspects of your life the Fitbit Tracker is a fun, automatic way to track your activity and sleep habits and worth the $99. I do recommend that you find a spot to put your Fitbit Tracker each evening when you grab a shower so that you don’t accidentally send it through the wash like I did.

Fitbit Tracker Review: Small and Awesome Fitness Tracker is a post by Josh Smith from Notebooks.com.

Mimobots thumbdrives come in a variety of characters.

The Mimobot drives range in capacity from 2GB to 16GB and start at $22.95 for the 2GB models. The higher capacity drives can run up to $59.95. The USB drives are more expensive than your run of the mill drive, but you get a work of art instead of a piece of plastic.

Mimobot Open

Mimobot sent over a collection of super heroes and villians for us to test out, including The Joker, Batman, Hal Jordan and R2D2. These drives include detailed faces and realistic looking attire for each character. Each drive has a similar shape, but a unique look for the character from dark and twisted to bright and clean, depending on who the drive looks like.

The front has curves to give definition and there are even tiny arms on the side of each character. The rear is smooth and pretty flat so that you can plug the drive into most USB ports. To get to the port, just pull of the head of your superhero.

The USB drives are well constructed and haven’t shown any wear while carried loose in our bag over the past few weeks. If you are concerned about scratching, pick up a Spacesuit for $6 which will protect your Mimobot while it is on the road. Transfer speeds are pretty standard for a USB 2.0 drive.

Mimobots make a fun gift for comic and science fiction fans. There is a price premium, but it is worth it for fans of DC Comics, Hello Kitty, Star Wars, Transformers and other characters. You can find the drives at Mimoco.com and specialty retailers across the U.S.

Mimobot Review: Fun Thumbdrives With Character is a post by Josh Smith from Notebooks.com.

G-Form got their start protecting elbows and knees with their sporting goods line. They applied that experience making pads for the body to making a case for notebooks and the iPad. The result is the Extreme Sleeve, available for laptops and the iPad 1 or 2.

The company grabbed attention when they posted a few videos on YouTube: one of them dropping a bowling ball on an iPad, and one of them dropping the iPad from a plane and the other of them dropping a MacBook Pro off a 20-foot porch. The sleeves protected both machines without a scratch, dent or crack.

We thought that was amazing and wanted to put the sleeve case to the test. We reached out to G-Form, who sent us one of each color of their laptop cases to test.

Our Tests

The laptop sleeve works and looks cool doing it. While we were not willing to drop a bowling ball on our MacBook, we did repeatedly drop it on many surfaces: including a table top from about two feet high. When the MacBook survived we got more daring and dropped it on a carpeted floor from about four feet.

Confidence building, we dropped it on a concrete floor and outside on a driveway. That last one was an accident, actually. The good news is that the computer survived every drop without a scratch. Some commentators asked if the case would survive if dropped on a corner. G-Form said that it would and we can confirm that. When we dropped the computer on a driveway by accident, it didn’t land flat on the bottom but hit on the DVD side of the computer. When a smaller surface hits there is more force focused on that spot, but the case did its job and the MacBook still works. I’m using it to write this.

While the case is not water proof it is water-resistant. If you get stuck in a rain storm or spill a small amount of Coke you will be okay.

Extreme Sleeve looks like American Gladiator body armour

How it Works

The outer material looks like the body armour you would see in an episode of American Gladiators. It is the design and pattern that does the work. When the case’s PORON XRD material comes in contact with something like a bowling ball or a floor it absorbs the blow and stiffens instantly. Even though it is soft to the touch it suddenly becomes rigid, protecting whatever you have inside the case.

Description of the Sleeve

The sleeve is a zippered case with a soft interior to keep from scratching your equipment. The outside is soft and feels good. It doesn’t have a plastic feel but rather a smooth finish that is easy to keep clean (it can be wiped off with a wet rag or towel). The pattern looks cool too. We were given a yellow and black sample and prefered the black, but can see the appeal of the bright yellow for those who like to draw attention to their machine.

Recommendation and Pricing

We can recommend the case without many reservations. But keep in mind this is a simple sleeve case and our 15″ MacBook Pro was a snug fit. We usually carry around a charger and mouse when we travel. You can’t do that with the G-Form Extreme Sleeve. They don’t fit. If your computer is thicker than a MacBook Pro it won’t fit either. The case is available in sizes and prices as follows:

• 11-inch – $69.95
• 13-inch – $79.95
• 15-inch – $79.95

Those with a 17-inch computer or very thick 15-inch machine need not bother since they don’t make one larger than 15 inches.

Pros

• Excellent protection against drops and bumps
• Soft interior protection from scratching
• Fits perfectly on MacBook Pro
• Looks Cool
• Easy to clean

Cons

• No room for accessories
• No 17-inch model
• Won’t fit computers thicker than a MacBook Pro

G-Form Extreme Sleeve Review: Looks & Acts Like Body Armor is a post by Kevin Purcell from Notebooks.com.

The HP WiFi Mobile Mouse retails for $49. 99 and is available starting today from HP.

Connection Process

Instead of figuring out how your notebook’s specific version of Bluetooth pairing software works, or messing around with a dongle and multiple connect buttons, the HP WiFi Mobile mouse is a set it and forget it mouse. HP was able to make the WiFi pairing process simple to set up and best of all, once we set it up, we didn’t have to do it over and over again, like you do with many Bluetooth mice.

When you hear WiFi mouse, you might be worried you can’t use the mouse when you aren’t connected to the Internet, but don’t. The mouse connects directly to the WiFi card on your notebook, so you can use it anywhere as long as you have your notebook WiFi card turned on.

Design

The HP WiFi Mobile Mouse fits nicely in the palm of a standard size hand for comfortable use. You wouldn’t want to use it for 8 hours every day, but it is just right for use on the go.

The mouse has more buttons than we normally see on a mobile mouse with a total of 5, including dedicated forward and back buttons on the left and right now.

Usability

The HP WiFi Mobile Mouse handled well in our monthly of testing with several notebooks. The mouse is accurate and if you need to make a change, you can increase the resolution of the sensor to handle different surfaces and sensitivity needs.

The buttons can be customized to handle numerous tasks. You can’t set button customizations on a per program basis, but there are plenty of options to set the button actions to.

The scroll wheel is also decent and customizable in terms of how many lines each movement should scroll on screen.

Conclusion

The HP WiFi Mobile Mouse is a great choice for users sick of pairing and repairing Bluetooth mice and dealing with lost dongles on their portable mice. The connection process is straightforward and unlike Bluetooth, it’s hard to find a notebook without built in WiFi.

The HP WiFi Mobile mouse may be more expensive than some Bluetooth competition, but the easy setup, pairing that doesn’t quit, small comfortable size and 5 mouse buttons make it well worth the premium.

Pros:

• Long battery life
• WiFi connection means no dongles
• No need to re-pair on each connection
• Comfortable size

Cons:

• Pricier than entry level mice

HP WiFi Mobile Mouse Gallery

HP WiFi Mobile Mouse Review: No Dongles or Re-Pairing Needed is a post by Josh Smith from Notebooks.com.

Design

While some notebook stands are too bulky to take with you, the AViiQ’s weighs only 5.5 ounces and collapses flat to fit in the notebook compartment of your computer bag. The AViiQ Portable Quick Stand is so thin, you will barely notice it is there.

The stand is made from four long slices of plastic that look metallic. They are held together by silicone rubber that comes in five colors, allowing you to find one that fits your style. AViiQ says that the Portable Quick Stand will work with smaller notebooks like the MacBook Air or larger 17″ computers.

The stand has a 12 degree angle which raises the notebook off the table offering increased airflow for cooling and a higher angle for those who prefer this angle while typing. People who have good touch typing form will like that angle.

Unfortunately, like many users, we are lazy and rest our wrists on the front part of the laptop. As a result the angle is a little too high for comfortable typing. Very few of our staff find this kind of angle useful for typing. The good news is the stand can be used at a lower angle, even if it was not designed to be used that way. Below you will see what we mean.

As you can see, when you fold the edge with the smaller pieces in on itself instead of putting them at the base of the triangle, the angle is much lower. This is a more comfortable angle to use while typing.

Functionality

The  AViiQ Portable Quick Stand is quick and easy to set up, just press along the folded edge and it turns into a triangle that forms the base of the stand.

There is a bit of a trick to make the stand work without your notebook sliding off. Our MacBook Air has two rubber feet on the bottom. We positioned the apex of the triangle just below those feet and it stays in place (see above). Another option is to have the top groove grab the back edge of the lid of your laptop (see below). This won’t help if your laptop doesn’t have a lid that folds back as low as the back edge of the MacBook Air’s lid.

If you place the top of the Quick Stand against the MacBook Air’s flat metallic base, the notebook will slide off of the stand. Also, the AViiQ Portable Stand is a little unstable while you type, especially for those who bang on a keyboard. If you are a heavy typer the notebook will bounce a little while on the stand. Finally, you cannot use the stand on your lap at all.

Value

At $39.99 the AViiQ Portable Quick Stand is on the high side. While the portability is a nice feature, the weaknesses above make the Portable Quick Stand too expensive for us to recommend. Typically stands in this price range offer more functionality and importantly a sturdier base to type on.

Pros

• Light
• Small
• Colorful trim
• Easy to set up

Cons

• Unstable
• Many notebooks will slide off
• Bouncy while typing
• Can’t be used while typing on your lap
• Too expensive

AViiQ Portable Quick Stand for Notebooks Review is a post by Kevin Purcell from Notebooks.com.

KB Covers carries a number of keyboard covers designed to help you master applications like Photoshop, learn Mac OS X shortcuts as well as clear covers that keep your keys clean. These covers work with the MacBook, MacBook Pro, MacBook Air and there are also models available for the Apple keyboard. We had the opportunity to review the Photoshop, Mac OS X shortcuts and Clearskin KB Covers for this review.

Who are KB Covers For?

KB Covers come in a variety of models to serve a wide range of users. We believe that Photoshop and other specialized application users will be some of the primary customers, but the inclusion of an OS X keyboard shortcut keyboard means that these covers are also a nice accessory for new Mac owners. The Clearskin covers are a good fit for users that want some keyboard protection without obscuring any keys.

Design and Usability

The KB Covers skins are soft and flexible, allowing for a nice typing experience while on your MacBook Pro keyboard. The edges of the keys are somewhat firm which takes some adjustments in typing styles if you don’t often hit the center of the keys, but within a week we had adapted to the new feel.

Note the edges remain in place when the key is pushed.

One added bonus is that the KB Covers will dampen your keystrokes a little. You won’t be silent, but you should be noticeably quieter in libraries and classrooms.

The colors of the shortcut keyboard covers are uniform and bright, and look like they will wear well over time. Hunt and peck typers may have difficulty when trying to type extended documents with the Photoshop and OS X shortcuts KB Covers due to the extra information on each key, but the best part is you can easily remove the cover if you aren’t using it and reinstall it when you finish.

KB Covers Options

KB Covers makes keyboard covers for numerous Mac notebooks including the current and recent generation MacBook, MacBook Pro and MacBook Air. They also have iBook and other specific Mac models.

As far as uses go, KB Covers covers a wide range of programs and games including the following apps.

• After Effects
• Avid
• djay
• Final Cut
• Lightroom
• Logic Pro/Express
• Photoshop
• Pro Tools
• Traktor Pro
• World of Warcraft

KB Covers tells us that they don’t just slap any old shortcut on these covers. They consult with well known power users to find out the best shortcuts to include for maximum timesaving and efficiency.

KB Covers also handles a number of special uses such as changing the language on your MacBook Air keyboard to your native one. There are also covers to add large type lettering, Dvorak layout and even a blackout cover to force touchtyping.

Recommendation

Keyboard covers aren’t for everyone, mainly because even the thinnest skin will be noticeable to people who know their keyboard better than the back of their hand, but the KB Covers skins and covers are some of the nicest we have used. The OS X shortcuts keyboard cover has already taught us a few new tricks and is well worth it for new Mac owners. The various other specialty covers are also a good way to learn shortcuts and become more efficient. The Photoshop KB Cover is also proving indispensable as we test out Photoshop CS 5.5 this week.

Perhaps the best part about these covers is that you can use them while you need the shortcuts, protection or noise dampening; and remove them easily if you need to type for extended periods at home.

Pros:

• Fit great
• Numerous types ad styles
• Very thin
• Keep food and small amounts of liquid out of computer
• Dampens sound of typing

Cons:

• Edges of keys are stiffer with cover on

KB Covers Keyboard Skin Gallery

KB Covers Review: Add Shortcuts and Protection to Your MacBook Keyboard is a post by Josh Smith from Notebooks.com.

Protection

The Speck SeeThru snaps onto the top and bottom of the MacBook Pro. The one complaint I had about the MacBook Pro when I reviewed it was that the aluminum case was susceptible to scratches and required protection. The Speck SeeThru gives it that protection without adding noticeable weight or bulk to this already large computer. It also means you don’t really need to have a sleeve if you like to carry your computer around without a bag.

Looks

The added benefit with the Speck SeeThru cover is that it looks good, depending on taste. As I was typing up this review, a person at a nearby table in the coffee shop where I’m sitting walked up and said, “Wow! What a beautiful color.” She was said it made the computer really stand out. If you want your computer to stand out, the Speck SeeThru is for you. For those who are more reserved, the bright blue color of the model we tested might not be your choice. We like it!

There are other colors including:

• Pink
• Red Satin
• Pink Satin
• Purple
• Black
• Purple Satin
• Clear
• Aqua

We tested the Aqua cover. It does look nice and allows the glowing apple to show through. But we could see how some more subdued personalities would prefer the black or clear covers.

Durability

Notice the faint scratches - better a plastic case getting scratched than an expensive computer

What is more important to us is the protectiveness of the case. It does keep you from scratching the lid of your MacBook when putting your computer into a bag with some other sharp objects like the edge of a mouse or some metal USB cable connectors. In Josh’s review he found that the MacBook Air cover scratched easily. You will see from the picture above, there already are some scuff marks on the Speck SeeThru we tested as well. They are faint and you have to really be looking for them, but they are there. It would be nice if the plastic was harder and didn’t scratch at all, but better the Speck case get scratched than your expensive aluminum MacBook.

We did not drop the computer while using it, so we can’t say if it protects in that situation. A drop is likely a bit beyond its intended capabilities.

Functionality

The good news is the cover does have cutouts for all the ports and connectors. It also has some non-skid feet on the bottom to keep the computer from sliding around even on slick surfaces like our glass desktop.

We did like how the case is functionally unnoticed as you use your MacBook Pro. We didn’t feel the case as we rested our rest on the front of the MacBook Pro while typing. The cover has a tight fit and the clips that hold the case in place are on the sides, rather than along the front where our wrists rest. We know this is a poor typing habit, but one shared by many other users, so the fit and placement is important.

On the bottom there are vents to keep the MacBook Pro from getting too hot. The added benefit of having your computer in the case is when it does run hot, the case keeps your hands from getting as warm as you carry it or your legs from getting as warm as you type on your lap.

Installation and Removal

In Josh’s review he found that it was pretty easy to snap the Speck SeeThru on and off of the MacBook Air. We had no problem snapping it on. Getting it off was a little more challenging for the MacBook Pro model. In fact Speck has a video showing how to install and remove the case (see below). The difficulty we had removing the case is not a significant issue since we don’t plan to be removing it and re-installing it often.

Value and Recommendation

At $49.95 we see the Speck SeeThru as insurance plus decoration. It protects your MacBook Pro from getting dings and scratches while adding some color. If the latter is not important just pick one of the more subdued models. We think it is a good buy and are glad to have the cover protecting our MacBook Pro.

Pros

• Looks nice
• Protects well
• Cutouts placed just right
• Doesn’t add bulk or weight
• Hardly noticeable while using MacBook Pro
• Good value

Cons

• Scuffs easily
• Can be hard to remove

Speck SeeThru for MacBook Pro 15″ Adds Color and Protection is a post by Kevin Purcell from Notebooks.com.