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Product: Hard shell cases for Unibody MacBook
Developer: Speck (SeeThru Satin), Uniea (Haptique)
Minimum Requirements: Unibody MacBook
Retail Price: $49.95 (SeeThru Satin), $49.95 (Haptique)
Availability: Out now

Both of these cases are getting the exact same rating from me. That sounds wimpy, I know. “We call upon you to steer us in the right direction,” you cry. “Pick a winner, Hiner!” Well, I am, but you’ll have to decide which contest you’re watching.

The SeeThru Satin from Speck and the Haptique from Uniea are both hard shell cases for your 13” aluminum unibody MacBook. They’re not bags, mind you. They don’t have handles and zippers and nifty little pockets for your iPod and whatever motivational book you’re reading at the moment. They’re simply protective shells for your laptop, not unlike your typical iPhone or iPod case. Each is sized specifically for the unibody MacBook, likely with the intent of being slid into another bag when you need to lug it around. Yet despite this basic approach to functionality and design, there are some important differences between the two.

Round One: Application

Both the SeeThru Satin and the Haptique come in two pieces; one for the top and one for the bottom of your MacBook, obviously. You apply the bottom piece first by resting it on your desk and then placing the MacBook inside. Keeping your MacBook shut, you then put the top piece on, and you’re done. Well, with Haptique, anyway. Although both are hardshell cases, the Haptique allows for a little more give than the SeeThru Satin, so it was easier to apply. With the SeeThru, I had to also open the MacBook and snap the corner latches into place. Not a big deal there, although after doing this a second time I noticed a tiny piece of red plastic on my keyboard; the lip over the center of the case had broken off. This in no way affected the SeeThru’s ability to hug the MacBook, but it doesn’t inspire confidence.

Removal of the case is also easier with the Haptique, again because the plastic just has a little more give. Speck’s website even mentions you may have to use a credit card to pry the case off your MacBook if you’re having trouble. A credit card? And risk scratches? No. If you see yourself frequently removing the case from your MacBook, the Haptique is definitely the way to go.

Round Two: Fit

When it’s on your MacBook, the SeeThru Satin looks like it could’ve been the original design. It’s built to match the curves or the MacBook, and looks totally natural when covering it. The thin, curved design adds hardly any bulk at at all to the computer itself, making for a very nice fit in your carrying case and and attractive appearance when sitting on your desk. The fit is part of the reason why it’s more difficult to get on and off, but that’s the price you pay.

For proof of this, look at the Haptique. Rather than hug your MacBook, the Haptique has squared off the edges, which makes it look bulkier and more PC-like. The benefit here is that the case doesn’t rest right up against the MacBook. Rather, a series of ridges around the lip hold it firmly in place, and the top piece contains soft pads to keep your computer from touching the plastic. This minimizes the risk of scratches, yes, but the added bulk and harder edges will turn off some people, including yourself while you’re working on your laptop; because of the tighter fit and more subdued colors of the SeeThru Satin (more on this in a bit), there’s less to notice around your screen’s edges when working.

Both cases offer ventilation and full access to all ports, obviously.

Round Three: Design

Here, we get decidedly subjective, but I fall on the side of the SeeThru Satin. This is partially because of the curved edges mentioned above, but also just the use of color. The SeeThru, with its semi-translucent frosted finish, looks really sweet. When I flew out to San Francisco for MacWorld expo, I actually got a compliment on the case from the security lady. Flying back with the Haptique on, no comments. The SeeThru Satin comes in black, purple, cranberry, pink and yellow. I tried out the cranberry, and I’m pleased with the choice, although I’m confused as to why shades of green and blue aren’t offered. Pink? Yellow? Purple? Are they marketing these to my five-year-old daughter?

The Haptique, on the other hand, comes in white, black, pink, blue, green and orange. Better color choices, but the implementation of the color isn’t nearly as nice. The case is frosted like the SeeThru Satin, but not translucent, which gives them a cheap plastic look. The colors are also a bit too bright, and the combination of these two factors makes them look a bit like a kid’s toy. This effect is minimized with the black and white models, which appear much more professional. If you want some color, though, I recommend checking them out in a store to see exactly how they look.

The Haptique case gets some extra points for doing a better job of repelling fingerprints and smudges, but the SeeThru Satin evens things up again by doing a better job of letting the Apple logo shine through. Both cases get points for including rubber feet on the bottom to hold your MacBook in place.

And the Winner is…

As I mentioned at the start, it depends upon what you were scoring on. Both cases offer solid protection from scratches, scuffs and fingerprints. The SeeThru Satin looks better, but the Haptique is easier to work with. The Haptique is gentler on your MacBook, but the SeeThru Satin fits it better. When all the scoring is done, both do their job, but each seems to concentrate on a different aspect of computer protection. Figure out what’s important to you, and choose accordingly.